Visiting Chandler/Phoenix 1/3-1/13

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.

 

Where are you staying?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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. Also Sleepy Dog has a delicious milk stout and hefeweisen

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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.