Visiting Chandler/Phoenix 1/3-1/13

Discussion in 'Southwest' started by xenjoiii, Dec 13, 2013.

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  1. xenjoiii

    xenjoiii Pundit (895) Jul 24, 2010 New York
    Trader

    Hey all,

    I'm going to be visiting AZ for the first time, right after the New Year. Any notable breweries to check out near Chandler/Phoenix? I've been told that SanTan Devil's Ale is a must try. Any and all recommendations are much appreciated, especially if they're for local sours/barrel aged beers!

    Thanks, and cheers!
     
  2. bigbelcher

    bigbelcher Initiate (0) Jul 10, 2003 Arizona

    You might want to read other forum posts, plenty of suggestions already there. Only local sour beers you will get are from Arizona Wilderness (intentional) and Old World Brewery and Desert Eagle (both unintentional), barrel aged beers are hit or miss when they will be around but a number of places do them occasionally but most of the releases revolve around events like the Strong Beer Festival in February.

    Notable-not in any order. Four Peaks, Sun Up, Huss, Papago, Arizona Wilderness, Fate, San Tan, Lumberyard, Dragoon, Mother Road.
     
  3. Jefeipa

    Jefeipa Initiate (0) May 6, 2009 Arizona

    Where are you staying?
     
  4. mhenson42

    mhenson42 Maven (1,409) Nov 20, 2011 Texas
    Trader

    I'm visiting Phoenix right now. We hit Papago the other night... Had a great time. Good food and beer and had a nice bottle shop.
     
  5. DinoFight

    DinoFight Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2013 Arizona

    Yep, what city are you staying in?

    But, like the post above hinted at. You are safe to avoid Old World and Desert Eagle beers. San Tan and Four Peaks our are largest breweries. San Tan Devils ale and especially Four Peaks Hop Knot are good. The food at both locations is great as well. If you are unable to make it to those breweries you can easily pick up cans of those beers at any bottle shop and most grocery stores or covienance stores. Arizona Wilderness and Fate brew some of the best beers you will find in the Phoenix area. They are both small batch so you will not find bottles or cans of thier stuff anywhere. Same goes with Papago. But, with Papago you will find a bottle shop inside as well for your shopping pleasure. Sonoran is also quite tasty. They make a really good root beer also. You can usually find bottles of it at the larger bottle shops that also sell soda like Bevmo or Total Wine & More.

    Dragoon makes a world class IPA but they are located in Tuscon which is about an hour and a half away from Phoenix. No bottles or cans but they do have kegs around the valley so it can be had. If you really want to try it, shoot me a message before you get here and I can easily find out where it is tapped.

    Lumberyard is great as well but they are located up North in Flagstaff. However, they do bottle so it's easy to find around town.
     
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  6. teraflx

    teraflx Initiate (0) Feb 4, 2013 Arizona

    Fate Brewery in Scottsdale is one of the best in town IMO, though not really going to find sours/aged beers there. They do however have some top notch Stouts/IPA's.
     
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  7. xenjoiii

    xenjoiii Pundit (895) Jul 24, 2010 New York
    Trader

    Thank you all for the suggestions! I'm going to be staying in Chandler, but will have access to a car; and have a considerable amount of free time to kill.
     
  8. DinoFight

    DinoFight Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2013 Arizona

    Chandler is a good middle ground. You will be close to San Tan and Wilderness for sure. Four Peaks is located close by in Tempe and Papago not much further in South Scottsdale. Fate is a little further out in more Northern Scottsdale. But, with our freeway system it doesn't take long to get to them or any others you want to visit.

    Just a heads up. Four Peaks has 4 locations. 2 in Tempe, 1 in Scottsdale and 1 in the airport(terminal 4). All of them except the one on Wilson St. serve food. That location is a big tasting room. There are usually food trucks around or you can bring in your own food.
     
    teraflx likes this.
  9. bigbelcher

    bigbelcher Initiate (0) Jul 10, 2003 Arizona

    Based on where you are staying add BJ's in the Chandler Mall, even though it is a corporate chain it will be close and they do make some good beer at that location.
     
  10. Jefeipa

    Jefeipa Initiate (0) May 6, 2009 Arizona

    good beer bars in or close to Chandler are Hungry Monk, Whole Foods Chandler, Flanny's, and Fibber Maggees
     
  11. xenjoiii

    xenjoiii Pundit (895) Jul 24, 2010 New York
    Trader

    Checked out Fate Brewing yesterday and was pretty underwhelmed. When I arrived, they had just replaced their chili/vanilla stout with a new oatmeal stout without cleaning the draft line. Needless the oatmeal stout was tainted with ancho chili; quite amateur/embarrassing, from a brewers standpoint.

    I plan on visiting Wilderness this afternoon.
     
  12. DinoFight

    DinoFight Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2013 Arizona

    Sorry for your bad experience at Fate. Never had any issues there like this as they are normally right on top of everything.

    My guess is your AZ Wilderness trip will be much better. They are one of our more adventurous breweries right now and are always thinking up and brewing new beers.
     
  13. xenjoiii

    xenjoiii Pundit (895) Jul 24, 2010 New York
    Trader

    It happens. Their table saison was quite nice, along with the root beer and pizza. As you may know, they have a strawberry rhubarb berliner that was crashed yesterday - should be available for you guys soon!

    In other news, just got back from Arizona Wilderness. The staff is super nice and the beers are wonderful - especially the Refuge IPA and Peloncillo Porter with brett & roasted dates (I missed the Peacan Pie brown aged in Jack barrels by a day!). The burgers were delicious as well. Its always nice to see a brewpub that is littered with empty Cantillon bottles. I'll definitely be stopping in to fill some growlers to bring back to NY. I'm going to miss this place for sure.
     
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  14. DinoFight

    DinoFight Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2013 Arizona

    Glad you enjoyed Wilderness. For being so new out of the gate they really do it right there.

    The Refuge is a great one. Another they brew but not on tap right now is their Doz Cabezas IPA. I like this one even more than the Refuge. Let me know if you ever want anything from them in the future. Would be glad to help get it your way.
     
  15. kerry4porters

    kerry4porters Maven (1,495) Dec 31, 2012 Arizona

    I know these guys have been bad talking Desert Eagle but they are one of my favorite Brewers Period Their dunkel Is top Notch and there apple wheat tasted likea cider should they also have a Dipa I sampled when I went Last time and their Ryediculous alewas pretty tasty sour kinda like a sour candy without beinv too sweet . they are definately worthchecking out they have a friendly staffand Brew on site pretty cool imo no food there but you arefree to order fromany numberof eateries ...one time some friends and I ordered a Pizza while drinking their and we asked if they had any ranch for our pizza the bartender brought out a bottle as well as some plates. :slight_smile: Also Sleepy Dog has a delicious milk stout and hefeweisen
     
  16. DinoFight

    DinoFight Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2013 Arizona

    Your joking or had too much to drink.....right?
     
  17. kerry4porters

    kerry4porters Maven (1,495) Dec 31, 2012 Arizona

    Youre entitled to your opinion just as I am to mine man. Just because you dont like something or appreciate doeant mean ithers dont everyone I have taken there has thoroughly enjoyed themselves just sayin
     
  18. xenjoiii

    xenjoiii Pundit (895) Jul 24, 2010 New York
    Trader

    I can't stay away; I went back two days ago to try their sour mashed wit bier with orange, and am squeezing in one last stop in to try the new barleywine they tapped yesterday.
     
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  19. DinoFight

    DinoFight Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2013 Arizona

    Great to hear. I am truly impressed by them myself. Very hard to believe they are a brand new establishment. They just keep creating more and more unique styles.
     
  20. DinoFight

    DinoFight Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2013 Arizona

    Not saying you can't have your own opinion. It was the part about them being one of your favorite brewers that caught me off guard. First time that I have ever seen those words describe Desert Eagle and I have been involved in the craft community and AZ craft since around '99 early 2000.
     
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