Tempe, AZ Beers?

I was in the Phoenix area in May before driving up to the Grand Canyon for a rim-to-rim backpacking trip. I hit the Total Wine in Tempe - 8544 South Emerald Dr. Emerald Center Tempe, AZ 85284 (480) 753-4225 I bought a sixer of Sculpin IPA and Union Jack, both of which tasted great at the end of the hike. As I recall this T-W also had growler sales. You might also want to hit Papago Brewing up in Scottsdale.

 

Look for Dragoon IPA on tap, they are out of Tuscon, but they send thier kegs to the valley. I would also pick up some Marble beers, especially the IPA. Other than that, sounds like you have things covered.

 

We moved here from the MW 3 yrs ago and the beer scene in AZ has really grown since then! A few suggestions for you would be:

Angel's Trumpet Ale House on 2nd St. - probably the best tap selection in AZ.
Flanny's in Tempe - John rotates 20+ taps and has some unique bottle selections.
Fate Brewing in Scottsdale. They're doing some really nice stuff and you can only get at the brewpub.

For a store, try Sun Devil liquor, they're a sister store to Tops that you've already tried.

Enjoy your visit!

 

I'm also in the area, coming in from out of town (from Los Angeles) and have just started beer shopping. What type of beers are you into??

As far as bottles go, if you're into barrel aged saison/tart beers I'd recommend anything (but especially Surrette) from Crooked Stave. They dont get too much distribution so I've already stocked up on a few bottles. For west coast IPAs on the more hop forward level, stuff from Port Brewing or Green Flash will do you right. Not sure if Lagunitas Sucks makes its way out to you in FL, but its one of the best IPAs of the season.

I'm going to be doing the rounds of the breweries in the next few days and I hear Huss, Fate, Arizona Wilderness and Papago are the way to go.

 

Get to the Yucca Tap Room. Have a few beers and then take stuff home. People always forget they have a package license (and they also horde stuff there) so sometimes there's great beers there long after they've gone everywhere else.
They may still have The Abyss now for example.

At any decent bottle shop, including the ones you've been to, I'd recommend you not miss Uinta's Hop Notch if you see if fresh (comes in bottles and now cans as well)
as well as basically everything in the Crooked Line from Uinta.

Also look for Wasatch White and Hop Rising and Wasatch Polygamy Porter and Rueuze from the Bruery.

go to Whole Foods Tempe and look for 50/50 Eclipses..they have lots of them.

Mikkeller Black Fist just arrived (I know Tops has a few left, I'd bet Sun Devil Liquors does too)
Odell Fernet Porter is in town and that's an AMAZING beer not to be missed if you are adventurous.

Also I second everything from Marble and Santa Fe Brewing. they both make excellent stuff. (Marble IPA, and Santa Fe java Stout esp)

Tenaya Creek Monsoon DIPA and Imperial Stout are both pretty good too.

I'd also take advantage of any/all Crooked Stave and Funkwerks offerings that you can afford.

 

Those four places sure are a good start. I'd alo recommend San Tan Brewing too. They're now doing a limited Pilot series that is very good.

Enjoy your tour!

 

Papago Brewing should be a must stop. Great selection and prices. I'd add Firestone Walker, Odell, Ska, Lumberyard and Four Peaks to the beers you can't get and maybe even add a growler or two. Destihl beers are on tap at Papago and are very nice if you are into sours and their is still some 50/50 Eclipse floating around.