A few months after 3 Stars Brewing closed two summers ago, our own Mike Stein lamented the 3 Stars-sized hole in DC’s brewing scene. In terms of beer, nowhere was that more true than in the end of Peppercorn Saison. The 3 Stars’ flagship was the last regularly-brewed saison in the District.
Well, it’s back, thanks to 3 Stars alums now brewing at City-State.
It’s a jovial atmosphere in Edgewood, Northeast DC, the morning of Friday, August 2. Meth Gunasinghe was 3 Stars lead brewer at the time of their closing; he’s now a few months into his tenure at City-State, and he’s thrilled to be sharing the brew deck with former 3 Stars head brewier Brandon “Millhouse” Miller, now of Manor Hill. Millhouse brought another 3 Stars alum with him for the brew day: Javier Rosa. Former 3-Stars general manager, and current beer buyer for Odd Provisions, Jon Mitchell is present as well. All of this is taking place under the auspices of City-State head brewer and former 3 Stars Funkerdome barrel master Greg Schmidt.
Schmidt took over brewing duties in late 2023, and City-State added Gunasinghe from Atlas earlier this year, so the rebrew comes from two people who know it well. Unfortunately, this brew takes place the day before I head to the beach, and I have to leave to tie up loose ends before other 3 Stars alums make their appearances.
The saison began as a Mike McGarvey homebrew, and was one of the first three beers 3 Stars launched with, though it was then named Urban Farmhouse. In 2012, we noted: “Green, white, and a handful of pink peppercorns go into the boil, which also includes a generous amount of wheat. The former is obvious on the nose, and plays well with the spicy esthers from the yeast. The latter is clear in the body and appearance of the beer, which finishes with a vegetal aftertaste, almost like biting into a fresh red pepper.”
Peppercorn saison should be available at City-State on Friday, September 6. This batch is draft-only. We hope you’ll join us in raising a glass to the past, the present, and the future. Can’t make it on Friday? DC Beer is hosting a beer share at City-State on Sunday, September 8!
