Helio Basin Brewing Co.

 

 

Visited here today with Da Boss for lunch and a couple of pints. Located on the fringes of the trendy Arcadia district, one of those areas of Phoenix that are kind of scary but you are kind of wowed by some of the houses in the area.

Vibe was cool despite the fact it was the 11:00 am hour on Saturday, classic alternative music setting the mood. Ample seating, would guess capacity for 100-125 inside with 3 distinct sections. Bar seating capacity was maybe 10.

Quality of the beers was solid, nothing spectacular. Beers are clean, flavorful, and simple - something woefully underserved in Phoenix 7-10 years ago. - Helio Basin would have been a "go to" place back then.

Service was solid and friendly. There were two guys at the bar and us. I would like to come back during happy hour to get a better take.

Selection was limited to 10 or so house brews.

Food was very good. I had the Sonoran Sausage which translated was a foo-foo brat - it was very flavorful! Da Boss had the Sonoran tacos which i sampled and were very good as well.

Overall i was impressed with Helio. Definitely would return in the future!

It's located within a shopping district, which feels a bit odd. Inside is a large two-tiered open space with the brewing equipment behind glass on the right side. Garage doors provide open air into the dining area on appropriate weather days. Staff was not very plentiful (3 outside of the kitchen, and 2 of those were working the brewing equipment), but they were helpful. Beer selection was slim (~8 taps), but spanned a diverse array of styles. Food was good as well.

 

 

 

 

 

Beers use lots of local ingredients that they proudly display on the wall. Not the largest selection. But a good diversity. Service was friendly, slightly forgetful but quick to remedy with more brews.
Belgian Blonde uses local honey, very tasty, even for me who isn't a big fan of blonde brews.
American IPA is standard, on the grainy side. Slightly disappointed, but I'm big on the IPAs and DIPAs. Pale Ale is better for the hop lovers with a smooth finish. Hoppy Amber is definitely a hoppy treat.
Coffee porter was subtle, using local Kohi coffee, and not too heavy like some of the thicker coffee stouts.
Autumn Oak Nut Brown was more like a strong tasting porter or stout with a heavy alcohol flavor, but not too high (8.0% abv)

Chef takes her role vary seriously. Ghost pepper hot sauce not for the faint of tongue.

Great music for the 90s youth generation with the good Sublime, 311, Marley vibes.

Great stop for anyone visiting the Phoenix!

If you are ever in the Phoenix area - this is a must try place. The staff are knowledgeable, professional and friendly. The place is clean and inviting (check out the men's bathroom for a surprise - great job on the décor is all I have to say). They only have their beer, no guest selection, and it is only 7 beers on tap. But they are all great - really! The Blackberry Wheat is my wife's favorite and their pale ale is better than Sierra Nevada's best try. What I really have to rave about is the food. Not a big selection, but I've been twice with my wife and we've tried 4 different things now and been amazed. This is restaurant quality in a brewery. Take the drive, it is worth it for sure.