Three Rings Brewery | McPherson, KS

Beer Trip: Three Rings Brewery in McPherson, Kansas

When we think of a grassroots brewery, Three Rings is the first place that comes to mind. We have been periodically visiting them for years, and it’s been awesome to see how they have slowly evolved as their beer has taken off in central Kansas.

The Brewery

When we first discovered Three Rings, they were located in a garage at the back end of a lot and the full taproom couldn’t have been much bigger than 10’x10’. We used to stop in, fill our growlers of beer, and head on our way. It was a couple of years later that they put in a spacious outdoor patio where you could finally gather with friends to enjoy their brews. Fast forward to today, and their facility is vastly different. While still on its original lot, the taproom is now up near the road and you are greeted with a rustic front patio that is half open and half covered. The indoor space maintains the rustic theme with barn wood and stone accent walls, whiskey barrels, and corrugated metal artwork sprinkled about. While the space isn’t huge, it was very cozy on a chilly afternoon.

What impressed us more than anything on this visit was their service! We were traveling through town with our dog and our 2-year-old son. Jen, the taproom manager, took us right in and we had a dog water dish, high chair, and entertainment games set up at our table before we could even decide what we wanted to drink. You could tell that she was a local favorite with all of the locals greeting her by name. We’re sure she makes their trivia nights on Wednesdays a big hit. Thanks again for your hospitality, Jen!

The Beer

Brewing beer runs in the blood of the father and son owners of Three Rings, as they can trace the profession back through a family lineage of over 500 years. They have fine-tuned the process over the last few centuries and, today, feature roughly a dozen brews on tap - plus a few additional offerings in cans. The menu consists of 6 flagship beers and they rotate out the rest when things run dry. Having visited many times, we find that one of their favorite staples is Wanderlust. This red ale has a rich, malty taste with just a bit of hoppiness mixed in. Our top choice for this visit was definitely Smoke on the Water, which is a smoked beer. Smoked beers go one of two ways in our opinion: they either taste like you are sipping a bottle of liquid smoke, or they provide a rich, mouthcoating smokiness while still allowing the beer to quench your taste buds. Their Smoke on the Water is the latter and hit the spot after our long drive.

Food, Merch, & More

You won’t find a full kitchen menu at Three Rings, but they do have pizzas, soft pretzels, and chips and peanuts available for purchase. Additionally, every Friday, they partner with a local food truck to meet your hunger needs. Along the wall near the bar, you will find their merchandise which includes some really cool shirts, various glassware, and keychains. They also can all of their flagship beers and have a nice to-go selection of 6-packs available to take home.