Two Sioux Falls beer makers are brewing up a mystery collaboration batch that could be ready to hit taps in a matter of weeks.

Brewers from Fernson Brewing Co. and WoodGrain Brewing Co. gathered together over beer-making equipment Wednesday to start the batch.

It was only a matter of time before the two teamed up, Fernson co-founder Blake Thompson said.

“We’ve been meaning to do a collab with WoodGrain for a couple of years now,” Thompson said. “Our schedules have just have never lined up.”

Both breweries accelerated the Sioux Falls beer scene when they opened in 2014 and 2015, bringing two different business models and a combined emphasis on quality, locally made brews.

WoodGrain’s approach focused on smaller, creative batches, sold direct to patrons at the business’ downtown taproom. Fernson’s scale was larger and brewers canned and shipped their product to retail stores across the region – while also operating a taproom in downtown.

But Fernson made a recent update to its northern Sioux Falls brewery that made it easier to collaborate with friends at WoodGrain, Thompson said. Fernson installed a smaller five-barrel pilot system that allows it to experiment with new flavors with less liability if things don’t turn out as expected.

“It’s giving us the opportunity to get to be more creative,” Thompson said.

In the years since WoodGrain and Fernson have opened, the beer-makers at both breweries have continued to become close, Thompson said.

Owners of both breweries agreed the flavor and style of the batch started this week will for now remain a secret. It takes about three weeks to brew and will be available at both WoodGrain and Fernson taprooms, Thompson said.

“We both kind of started off the same time here in town and we’ve become good friends over the years,” he said.