BREWERY REVIEW: Threes Brewing

My search for the best beer in New York continues….

 Of all the breweries that have opened in New York over the last few years, none are quite like Threes. It’s smack in the heart of burgeoning Gowanus and seems to be perpetually packed with people.

One of the tour companies I work for (Urban Oyster) had an annual team-building event and Threes was one of our stops. It made total sense since many of our tours involve beer and local breweries. It was a Sunday night and I was shocked to see Threes jammed with people. On a Sunday night. Good thing we had a reserved table in their party room.

So what makes Threes so unique (and popular)? Well, there’s so much to do here. Threes refers to the address (333 Douglass Street), the triumvirate of owners, and the three uses for the space: brewery, bar, and event space. If you want to drink their house-crafted beers, you can; but you can also listen to live music; eat some local Brooklyn dishes; drink some coffee; or just hang out at the bar.

First off, the food. In lieu of a hiring a chef, Threes brilliantly rotates a pop-up of an already established food business. When I visited, Mile End was slinging their smoked meat sandwiches and poutine. Currently, they have some dishes from brothers and chefs Eli and Max Sussman’s upcoming restaurant.

Secondly, we got to take a personalized tour of their brewing facility. The brewhouse is on display for all to see, but public tours are currently not offered. In a small, compact facility they brew 15 barrels of 20 different beer styles (not all are available for tasting at all times). Unfortunately, no flight is offered but most of their beers come in two different sizes. So order small and you can do more tasting.

I started with the Table Beer, a small light wheat saison with a refreshing finish. It did have a bit of sourness, but a creamy wheat body and a slight bubblegum note. It has more complexity than your typical starter beer so this might not be for every wheat lover. But it’s a good beginning to the night if you like a bit of bite in your beer.

I also tried the Mechanical Spring, which is another of their farmhouse saison beers. It had a big juicy body with a finish of bitter burnt orange. Quite tasty.

The Wandering Bine was their third saison on the menu (do you see a theme here?) and it might have been my favorite of the three. This one was also big and juicy with a more pronounced grain and yeast flavor with a finish of bitter fruit and sweet grains.

And my final beer was a big one. It’s called Superf*ckingyawn and it is not a saison, but rather an Imperial Pale Ale at 9.4% ABV. My guess is this will be their breakout beer since people still go crazy for hops and this balanced quaff is no exception. It’s well-rounded with bracing grapefruit and tropical fruit notes mellowed out by a hint of pine.

The third component to Threes concept is the large event space. There was some cool live music happening when we were at the space, but their website also lists visual art displays and cocktail lectures in the coming weeks.

We have breweries in New York that are also restaurants or tap rooms, but none that complete the full triangle of three purposes. Threes is a unique and special place and we’re lucky to have it.

To get a closer look on Thress, check out this short video I made with Tastemade:

Threes Brewing

Is Threes Brewing the best brewery in NY? Despite no regular brewery tours or a flight sampler, Threes offers a reason for everybody to visit. If you like gatherings, local food, and lots of beer you’ll appreciate this place. 8 out of 10.

Is Threes Brewing’s Table Beer the best beer in NY? Their starter beer is refreshing and complex, but some of the bitter and sour flavors are a bit too pronounced for a wheat ale. 7 out of 10.

Is Threes Brewing’s Mechanical Spring the best beer in NY? This one was a bit more complex and I give it an 8 out of 10 for the well-rounded bitter orange juiciness.

Is Threes Brewing’s Wandering Bine the best beer in NY? 8 out of 10 for walking the line between big juicy fruitiness and mild grain sweetness. A very nice saison.

Is Threes Brewing’s Superf*ckingyawn the best beer in NY? Most hopheads will go crazy for this bold bitterness and I appreciate its balance and potency. 8 out of 10.