How we got here
After years of working on the podcast “3 Beers In” together, head brewer and co-owner Ross Winner spent some time homebrewing and presented co-owner Clint Bradley with the idea of creating beer full time.
When their initial location for the brewery in Hutto fell through, they decided to settle down in Round Rock and that’s when 3rd Level Brewing was born in June 2023.
“It kind of tracked with the origin story of the first level being the podcast, second level being homebrewing and the third level being the brewery,” Bradley said.
When walking into the brewery, attendees may notice the motherboard bar front as well as the trinkets and video game, anime and television show art pieces framing the walls. The concept of creating a “nerd-centric space” was inspired by the lack of breweries with a more relaxed, inviting atmosphere that offered a wider of selection of non-IPA drinks, Bradley said.
“There are barcades and stuff, but that wasn’t really what we were going for,” Bradley said. “We were going for more like a brewery that could double as your man cave, if you don’t have your own space for a man cave.”
With board games, books, comics and gaming consoles, the brewery creates an atmosphere where customers can participate in plenty of activities while drinking beer. Bradley said the brewery has become a space for the nerd community to meet new friends and talk with people who have similar interests.
“My favorite part is allowing people to come in and talk about all these things,” Bradley said. “Some people tell me that they don't feel like they really talk about this kind of stuff with anybody else, and it's nice for them to have a venue that can foster that kind of community for them.”
Individuals interested in organized games can look forward to one of the brewery’s many events held most days of the week, including trivia nights, crafting events, trading card events, Super Smash Bros. tournaments and Dungeons & Dragons nights.
When it comes to the beer, Winner dove head first into the brewery scene and studied up by reading about water chemistry and is always crafting a new recipe, Bradley said.
Customers can find a variety of beers named after references such as Slim Chance, an American light lager; Shell Shocked, a sour, fruited beer; and Dead Horse, an IPA with citrus and tropical flavors. Half of the taps are available throughout the year while the other half is constantly changing.
For those not interested in beer, the brewery offers a handful of canned ciders, wines and non-alcoholic options.
Bradley said he hopes the podcast can make a return once the brewery expands its staff. He said they would like to highlight other brewery owners and taste each other’s beers live on the podcast.
Beyond the podcast, Bradley hopes to one day move beer production off-site and continue providing a space for the community for a long time.
- 1201 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock
- www.3rdlevelbrewing.com
