Hi all! Midwest Beer Advocate here! I'm going to be in Phoenix (Scottsdale) this weekend and am wondering if anyone has recommendations for breweries, bars, or bottle shops and distro stuff that I should try to get my hands on. I'd really like to try things unique to the area and am good with pretty much any beer style. Thanks in advance for any recommendations.
You will find lots of recommendations (from others and myself) if you search the Southwest forum for Arizona or Phoenix/Scottsdale. The main two things, though: • AZ Wilderness is almost universally considered the best brewery in the state. Worth the 15-30 min drive to Gilbert. • The most notable out-of-state distro we get that you don't is probably Modern Times. Highly recommend their stuff. Other don't miss IPAs in the state (other than Refuge from AZW) are Dragoon and Tower Station.
Thought I looked the page over well this morning before posting. Just noticed that there's an AZ thread halfway down the page. Guess that's what I get for posting before 7am. I'll check that out - sorry for the repeat thread!
I beg to disagree on a few points. I have AZ Wilderness way down on my list, I think they are the most OVERRATED brewery in the state. I find most of their beer to be underattenuated and under carbonated. They make a lot of unique beers but that does not make them the best. IMHO, Huss, Sun UP, Mother Road, Lumberyard, Wren House, Dragoon and Fate are far superior to AZ Wilderness. Mother Road Tower Station, Sun Up Trooper and Huss That'll do are the States top quality IPA's. In addition to Modern Times I'd add in Ska, Odell, Firestone and Hess.
I actually said "almost universally" with you in mind. I'll agree that they sometimes "miss" but overall I think I'm impressed by them most often. Their burgers and fries are really good too, which is a big deal for me. I'll give you Tower Station, but I wouldn't consider Trooper or That'll do in the same league as Refuge and Tower Station. I'd put Dragoon's IPA up there as well for my top 3 AZ IPAs. Agree with all of the other out-of-state suggestions you made as well, especially Hess and Ska.
The Tombstone IPA's are top notch as well. I served a sixtel of each at our holiday party and they were both consumed rapidly. Matt is making some great stuff.
I would agree, however he is going to be in Scottsdale and Tombstone isn't readily available anywhere on a regular basis in the Phoenix area and it is not packaged.
Which, if any, of the above that you guys have been mentioning are packaged and available in Scottsdale area?
Everything should be pretty easy to find up there, I believe, excluding Wren House, AZ Wilderness, Fate, and Tombstone, as they don't distribute packaged beer. Of course, at any of those breweries actual locations, you can get carry out sales, but as far as bottle shops, no.
I'd go to either Papago Brewing in Scottsdale or Tops in Tempe for the double header, great taps at both places and hundreds of bottled beer choices to go at both places. Both places have beer centric employees who can help you out with whats good.
I am also headed to Scottsdale and won't have time to do much beyond swinging by Safeway on the way to or back from the golf course. Looking for a recommendation for the best local, widely available canned ipas. Thanks!
Not in any particular order but Lumberyard, SanTan, Huss and Sun Up are probably available at Safeway and I would include Mother Road but I doubt that it will be at Safeway. Papago and Tops are both pretty close to the airport so I'd see if you can swing by one of those places for a better selection.
Now that I've got lagers out of the tanks and we are pretty well stocked on taproom beers, our Phoenix distribution will be more frequent. Our canning line date was pushed back, but I still have hope that we will start sometime around June. In the meantime, bottling will begin later this week with 500 mL bottles of barrel aged beers. By February 19th, I plan to have a Strong Scotch Ale aged in Islay Scotch Casks (intensely scotchy, will be pleasing for fans of scotch, but may be a shock to those who expect any semblance of subtlety), Imperial Sout in Woodford Rye Barrels, Breckinridge Bourbon, and Woodford Bourbon, plus a Berliner Weisse aged in first use, toasted oak. We will also have a new single hop pale ale featuring Cascade that was awarded with this crop's Cascade Cup award and a new double IPA
Don't forget about Craft 64 in downtown Scottsdale. Always locals on tap and really good food. Plus you have McFate Brewing with 2 locations in Scottsdale as well.
Thanks again for all of the comments. We had a lot to do in the couple of days I was there, and I only made it to AZ Wilderness. The food there was really good. The beer was kind of a mixed bag. They had a mosaic dry hopped pale ale that was pretty good. The saison was a little more piney tasting than most of that style, which was interesting. I couldn't get into the oyster mushroom stout - I drank it, of course, but it was a bit too funky for me. Next time I'm down that way, I think I'll try Ohso (it was within walking distance of where I stayed) and Papago - maybe branch out from there. You guys have a really nice city down there. I forgot how much I liked the architecture and mountains.. If any of you ever find yourself in MN, shoot me a PM. I'll get you hooked up with the good bottle shops and breweries. I might even have a Darkness or 2 for trade. Thanks again and take care.
You are turning out some great beers! Had your IPA and Stout courtesy of my buddy Chris over at GCM and they were spot on. Every time he has you on tap I will be carrying my growlers over for a fill. Glad to hear we will be getting your stuff more regularly in the future. Looking forward to bottles and cans! Continue the great job my man! You have become my #1 AZ Brewery. I am planning on heading down your way to visit hopefully soon. Cant wait! Cheers!
