Third Street has summer on the mind

Third Street Brewhouse is already thinking summer.

"When you've already had a 70-degree day, you can't hardly wait to taste a summer beer," said Third Street vice president/general manager Doug DeGeest. "We just couldn't wait any longer."

So the brewery brought its summer seasonal honeydew melon-flavored wheat ale called Hunny Do back to its Cold Spring taproom Friday.

Third Street regional sales manager Mike Illig said the beer is slowly returning to liquor stores and bars this week.

"In the past we've had so many people request that we make this a year-round beer," DeGeest said.

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While Hunny Do is keeping its seasonal status, the beer is available about a month earlier than when it was released in 2013 and 2014. DeGeest said it's also scheduled to be available through August, about a month longer than past years.

Hunny Do will be part of a new 12-can variety pack called a Third Street Triple Tote. It will also feature year-round selections: a pale ale called Three Way and a brown ale called Lost Trout.

The packs come in corrugated boxes, a thicker style than the traditional fiberboard boxes. They're expected to hit the market in early April.

"It's heavy duty and ready to go outdoors this summer," DeGeest said.

But before Third Street can focus too much on summer, they'll be concentrating on a busy week.

They're expecting new DCI-made stainless steel tanks to arrive, which is part of an expansion that will increase Third Street's brewing capacity by a third. In addition to brewing Third Street products, the Cold Spring brewery contract brews with a number of partners.

Third Street is also hosting a fundraiser from 1-5 p.m. Saturday called the Three Way Zero K.

The event is modeled after charity 5K races, except participants in the Zero K only have to move a few feet and are rewarded with a pint of beer and a finisher T-shirt.

"We are always looking for new, unique ideas," explains marketing director Krista Amundson. "We are hoping people have a lot of fun with it."

Participants are asked to sign up in teams of three. Cost of the event is $60 per team, and teams can make reservations through Tuesday on the Third Street website.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Cold Spring Jaycees.

"We built this taproom to be part of the local community," DeGeest said. "And we like to do fun things here."

Follow Jake Laxen on Twitter @jacoblaxen.