Worcester's 3cross Fermentation Coop Reopening Friday

WORCESTER, MA — After an unexpected closure last winter, Worcester's 3cross Fermentation Coop — the state's first coop brewery — is planning a grand reopening event Friday at its new taproom.

3cross closed last February because of plumbing problems that prevented the bathrooms and other fixtures from working properly. The brewery will reopen in the same building, but in a reconfigured (and well-plumbed) space.

Since the closure, 3cross has been selling beer in cans at the taproom, and at restaurants and package stores around the region. But co-owner and beer tender Heather Odell says they've missed the community of having a sit-down experience.

"We missed our people. We have some really amazing regulars who are coop members that we got used to seeing and having conversations with. We're excited to get back to that," she said.

The grand reopening will feature a popup by the extremely popular ramen purveyor, Wooden Noodles. There will be 10 beers on tap, including some new additions, like the "blender bike" milkshake IPA.

3cross first opened in 2014, and is one of Worcester's five craft breweries along with Redemption Rock, Flying Dreams, Wormtown, and Greater Good Imperial Brewing. But it's the only one that operates as both a consumer and employee coop. Beer drinkers can apply to become a coop member, which means you get to vote on corporate decisions — and get 20 percent off merchandise.

A soft opening was planned for coop members on Thursday night, Odell said, where they were set to pick a nonprofit to donate tips to (3cross has a no-tipping policy, so any cash left for servers goes to a local charity).

Part of 3cross' mission, Odell said, is to foster community. There's no Wi-Fi and no TVs, just conversation and beer.

"We want to encourage people to talk to each other, to have a community; it's a big part of who we are," she said.

If you go ...

3cross Fermentation Coop
4 Knowlton Ave., Worcester
Friday, 4 to 10 p.m.; Saturday noon to 10 p.m.
www.3cross.coop