I had heard talk of a brewery on Cambridge Street since it opened about a year ago. I drive down Cambridge Street quite often, but I never saw a brewery or any signage, so it’s been an “out of sight, out of mind” kind of thing. I’ve been meaning to stop in, but life has just taken over and other craft beer destinations have become my destination – but not today.

On the day I was to meet with Dave Howland, the owner and brewer at 3Cross, I had difficulty finding the brewery. Then, it hit me: It’s the old Playoff Arcade! This is actually an excellent location for a brewery/tap room; it is enormous inside – 5,500 square feet – and has a large parking lot. 3Cross will need that space with the entertainment it offers. There are trivia nights, and local musicians such as Big John Short, The Hip Swayers and Zack Slik have played here recently.

3Cross gets its name from the classic spoke-lacing pattern of a bicycle wheel. They are cyclists here, and this is a bicycle-themed brewery. In addition to a large amount of bicycle-themed decorations on display, there are numerous places to store your bike should you take a ride down, which is encouraged. Some beer names are cyclist-centered, including Single-Speed, which is a single-hop IPA utilizing whatever hop Howland is liking at the time.

Speaking of beers, there is an ever-rotating selection. While some breweries become pigeonholed, 3Cross brews an ever-changing variety of beer. Over the past few weeks, I have seen a Baltic porter, a single-hop IPA, a brown ale, a milk stout and a strong Belgian ale. Howland sometimes leaves the beer as is; sometimes, he introduces chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon or other flavors. If you are not in the mood for a beer, he also offers other beverages. The night I was there, a house-made ginger beer was on tap, as well as a kombucha. Kombucha is a fermented green tea beverage that is not only refreshing but has a high probiotic content that some claim has health benefits. The bottom line: There is always something different here.

Howland is not like most brewers. While most are looking to expand as far as they can while increasing production, Howland just wants to be known as a great local brewery with a tap room, a neighborhood pub. According to the 3Cross website, “Our focus is on serving our community, and we want to be known as a local, Worcester brewery. Our taproom will always come first, and it’s unlikely that you’ll ever see 3Cross beer sold too far from Worcester. “

Presently, you can only purchase 3Cross beer at the brewery. You can either enjoy a glass in the tap room or you can purchase a growler to take home. Dave told me he has plans to distribute to a location or two locally, but I will let him break that news.

For more information, visit 3crossbrewing.com.

By Kerry Cyganiewicz