3rd Planet Brewing is the type of small craft brewery that is an experience and not just a place to grab a tasty beverage. At their primary location, guests can enjoy a fresh pint surrounded by good company, live entertainment, and plenty of games.
The 3rd Planet Brewing is located within the coastal community of Niceville. The business keeps an overall universe theme, having named its original location “Launchpad” and its newest location, the spot where people go for one of their fresh craft beers, the “Mothership”. 3rd Planet Brewing’s Mothership location lies just a few blocks from the water, just one block north of E. John Sims Parkway and its intersection with Revell st.
To say that 3rd Planet Brewing is a staple of the community may seem like an oversell, but in fact, it almost doesn’t quite underscore the company’s value enough. This craft brewery is owned by two military veterans who dreamed of producing high-quality beers within a cool and comfortable environment. Part of creating that environment was to utilize food trucks for a food-friendly, dog-friendly, family-friendly environment. The city of Niceville, at the time of their opening, didn’t have a food truck ordinance and so 3rd Planet Brewing worked to push one through. Their hard work was successful and today, at their multi-acred Mothership location, food trucks often hang around serving up fresh Florida food to enjoy with a cool pint in an even cooler environment.
3rd Planet Brewing’s Mothership location is massive. When you pull up into the parking lot, you will notice three adjoined buildings: A barn-sized industrial building on the left where the beer brewing happens, a house-looking building where patrons primarily enter, and a long window-walled building with its own doorways and tons of tables and chairs within. To the right of all the buildings is a massive yard with its own deck full of umbrellaed picnic tables stretching from the third building. In the furthest right corner of the yard is a wooden pavilion that serves as a stage for live entertainment.
Live music, weeknight trivia and bingo, and one-day festivals are regular occurrences at 3rd Planet Brewing. You will find a full calendar of all of their events on their website and Facebook page. When visiting the craft brewery on a quieter day or evening, make your own entertainment with their yard games like extra-size Jenga and inside board games.
Naturally, at the heart of all operations at this Niceville business is the beer. 3rd Planet Brewing creates quite the list of delicious beers, several of which have won some prestigious awards. Popular flagship options among their line-up include:
Dank Side of the Moon
This is a highly popular New England-style IPA that is dry-hopped with notes of Citra, Mosaic, and El Dorado hops. The result is a juicy IPA with its bitterness largely restrained.
Bear Creek Bramber
The Bear Creek Bramber is an ale that is profiled as a mash-up of an English brown and American amber. This craft beer thus boasts a complex malt profile with notes of toffee, nuts, and dark fruit.
Beach Bohemian
This craft beer features a Czech pilsner profile with subtle notes of cracker and honey coming out of its pilsner malt hops. The final taste is marked with a clean and crisp finish that is a great choice as a sunny afternoon beer.
Insider Tips:
-Events happen here just about every weekend and on the rare chance they don’t, 3rd Brewing Company is still likely to be packed. Remember, this place is very dog and kid-friendly. If you don’t like jostling with crowds and would prefer a quieter experience, aim for a weekday afternoon or evening without an event.
-The yard in front of the stage is massive, featuring soft green grass that is plenty roomy. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs to pop out in front of the stage for shows or for otherwise optimum enjoyment of their outdoor space. You are likewise welcome to bring your own food.