Our first brew was in June, 2015 at our first location in Farmers Branch. It was a GPA (German Pale Ale), called a “Baby IPA” by our distributor. We had 3 full-time employees and no volunteers. What a journey we have had since then. We started in a small warehouse with equipment from a now defunct brewery and ended up in a historic shed in Downtown Carrollton. The first two years of operating we didn’t have a taproom and we only had three beers on tap! The last eighteen months of life in Farmers Branch included a non-heated and non-airconditioned warehouse. We made sure the new brewery in Carrollton had some areas that had cold-air and heat.
Our goal from the beginning was to brew quality beer and to have something for everyone to enjoy. We felt like that would be the foundation of any success we might enjoy. We have many long-term employees and volunteers who were there early on. It is rewarding to look at our taproom and recognize some of the same customers that showed up at first taproom in Farmers Branch. Along the way, there have been some wonderful dogs like Whisper, Scout, Brutus, Bailey and many more that brightened our day.
Gavin and I met when he was looking for resources to brew his own beers. Since brewery school in Germany, he had wanted to open a brewery named 3 Nations Brewing. I have to admit, my first taste of craft beer was a GPA by Gavin prior to 3 Nations opening. My beer palate has never been same since. I love stouts, IPAs, sours, fruit beers and just about anything that Gavin brews. Each Friday he brews a special new beer for the weekend. It is my favorite day of the week.
Downtown Carrollton has been magical for us. There is entertainment all around us with great restaurants, antique and clothing shops, coffee shops, an axe throwing facility and always something going on down on the Square. Saturday is always fun as we meet so many interesting visitors from Fort Worth, Denton, Austin, Houston and East Texas. We love live music and every week we have bingo and trivia. This fall we are hosting a cornhole league. We have recently opened up a full-service restaurant called 3 Nations Biergarten Grill on our patio which serves some of the best beer food I have eaten. Tom Grace and his catering team are a full-service kitchen on loan from the State Fair of Texas on our patio.
Come visit us and be prepared to have some great beer, make new friends or meet current ones at our brewery. Well behaved children and dogs are allowed. You will be greeted with a smile and served with a desire to please.
John
