Craft Beer

Craft Beer

Arizona Road Trip: 5 Breweries off the Beaten Path

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5 Arizona Breweries to Check Out During Your Next Weekend Getaway

DAVE CLARK | APRIL 14, 2017 | PHOENIX NEW TIMES

There’s nothing quite like the sound of the open road, cranking the tunes and mentally ejecting from the day-to-day working life for a weekend of fun. Phoenix residents love to venture out to cooler spots as the weather heats up, and what better reason to get out of town than to check out a new brewery … or five?

No matter where your plans take you, we have the perfect Arizona watering hole for you to check out while you’re there.

That Brewery
In the Tonto National Forest
3270 AZ Route 87, Pine

Scenic Route 87 is not only a beautiful and easy drive from Phoenix, but it’s also something of a precursor to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The sensory overload of pine is hypnotizing, and very similar to the aromas found in many hop-laden IPAs. Pine, citrus, and fruit are key descriptors of an IPA, and that’s exactly what any hop lover will be looking for after this drive. That Brewery doesn’t disappoint, offering three different varieties of hoppy IPAs along with their pale ale. Located in a small building just past the Natural Bridge State Park, there’s even a volleyball court outside. If the weather doesn’t agree, there is a full-service dining area and bar inside the building, with classic rock playing on the jukebox. A full menu is available along with a rotating lineup of That Brewery’s beers. The Monsoon Mud Stout and Chocolate Creamsicle Porter were the standouts on our visit, with Knotty Nut Brown, Barefoot Pale Ale, and Road Rash IPA also doing the job.

Verde Brewing Company
In the Prescott National Forest
325 South Main Street, Camp Verde

Verde Brewing Company builds on the Verde Valley’s agricultural prowess to fulfill their mantra of “Beer for Life.” They start the cycle by using local ingredients in their beers. Even their hamburgers are locally sourced. Verde Brewing provides a number of different brews, including two stouts, BullPen Stout (a rich bourbon stout) and Honey Pot Stout. The honey is locally sourced and prevalent in several of their beers. If honey is your thing, they also offer a Honey Brown, a beer with rich toasted malt flavors. It is also a key ingredient in the very popular Off To Jail Pale Ale, both a fan and owner favorite. Copper Canyon IPA and its 90 IBUs will satisfy the hop seekers of Arizona, while Red Neck Rodeo and Saison fill out the current beer lineup. The food menu provides lots of choices from typical bar favorites such as nachos, onion rings, and wings to full entrees, many of which are featured on different nights of the week. Three steak options, salmon, and penne marinara are staples along with a huge list of sandwich and burger options. Nightly specials include the fish and chips on Friday, prime rib on Saturday, and chicken piccata on Sunday. Occasionally, Verde Brewing will feature live music — check their website for up-to-date information on live performances. This is a great spot for someone traveling to or from the Sedona, Cottonwood, or Prescott areas, just a short drive east off I-17.

Oak Creek Brewing Company
In the Coconino National Forest
336 Route 179, Sedona

People travel from all over the world to see Sedona’s famous red rocks. And the hiking and mountain biking are also some of the country’s best. All that outdoor activity works up quite a thirst, and Oak Creek Brewing Company has been satisfying for more than 20 years. Oak Creek’s owner is a trained brewmaster and incorporated a rarely used brewing art known as spunding into the production of Oak Creek’s beers. Spunding is the process of trapping some of the natural carbon dioxide given off during fermentation and using it to carbonate the beer. This produces a somewhat smoother carbonation that is very pleasant on the palate. Speaking of the palate, the full menu is reason alone to check out Oak Creek and if you’re not too distracted looking at the beautiful outdoor sites, you can watch the meals being prepared in the display kitchen. Grab a “fire kissed” pizza or a rotisserie chicken. The beers at Oak Creek have won numerous awards, including the gold lager, hefeweizen and pale ale. But no beer here is finer than the wonderfully crafted Nut Brown Ale, which showcases rich, toasted malt flavors with a hint of pecan-like nuttiness, with just enough hops to balance the malt sweetness and allow the beer to finish crisp. Don’t leave Oak Creek without trying at least one. And if you like it as much as we think you will, you can find Nut Brown Ale in bottles at fine craft beer stores all over Phoenix. Located in the historic Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village, you can enjoy some window shopping or maybe catch a live musical performance in the courtyard before or after your brewery experience.

Pueblo Vida Brewing
115 East Broadway Boulevard, Tucson

This small Tucson brewery has been getting a lot of buzz in the brewing community, especially for the hop-forward beers. And there are no shortage of hop options to choose from at Pueblo Vida. Four IPAs and two pale ales means hops dominate more than half of the current lineup. Those not particularly hop-savvy need not fear; malt forward options such as the house favorite Bavarian Hefeweizen, the Table for One Saison and the Breakfast Stout (finished with cold brew coffee from a local roaster) give patrons some non-hoppy options. And for those who like to hang somewhere in the middle, the Paradox dry-hopped American brown ale may be just what you’re looking for. Pueblo Vida’s passion is brewing; striving for quality, uniqueness, and repeatability. The aim of owners Kyle Jefferson and Linette Antillon is to create an authentic beer drinking experience by brewing unique and world-inspired beer styles that are locally crafted with the highest quality ingredients. Pueblo Vida is open seven days a week, and often, Tuesdays are infusion nights where a certain house beer is infused with exciting and exotic spices or other ingredients to give it an entirely new character. Pints and Poses happens on Sundays, when you can do a little yoga before your Sunday day drinking. Hey at least you’re breaking even, right?

Wanderlust Brewing’s Head brewer Jesse Kortepeter filling a barrel with beer that will age and develop character.
Photo: Nathan Friedman

Wanderlust Brewing Company
In the Coconino National Forest
1519 North Main Street, Flagstaff

True, the taproom at Wanderlust is only be open Wednesday through Saturday, and this one is slightly off the beaten path compared with other Flagstaff breweries, but the creativity and top-notch beers are worth adjusting your schedule to ensure a trip here is part of your vacation plan. Wanderlust was created five years ago by owner Nathan Friedman with a focus on Old World traditional beer styles crafted with new modern and local twists. Wanderlust constantly rotates seasonal and specialty releases around their three year-round staple beers. Chateau Americana is a Belgian pale ale, highlighting beautiful Belgian malt character with subtle but pleasant hopping, while Pan-American Stout is a vanilla coffee stout made with Mexican vanilla extract and locally sourced coffee. 928 Local is an 8 percent ABV farmhouse ale that is the brewery’s flagship beer, brewed with local honey and fermented with a locally harvested yeast domesticated by the brewery. Wanderlust has an extensive barrel aging and sour program, some of which gets bottled from time to time, to their fans’ delight. Wanderlust tends to focus on approachable yet unique styles with an emphasis on local first. The consistency and quality control practiced by head brewer Jesse Kortepeter are evident in everything they do at Wanderlust.

 
Dave is a Certified Cicerone and former professional brewer. When he’s not doing something beer-related, Dave enjoys writing, listening to, and performing music, hiking, skiing, and watching baseball.
This story originally published in the Phoenix New Times April 14, 2017.
Craft Beer

Fulfilling The Call of the Arizona Wilderness

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Beer Connoisseur      Issue 25

Co-founders Jonathan Buford and Patrick Ware sit together on one of the few unfilled patio tables, pondering Arizona Wilderness’ next move. They think about the brewery that has come so far so fast, with a future as bright as the Arizona sun. What’s next? It’s hard to say, but chances are Ware and Buford will choose the right path, as they have serendipitously done so many times before.

Growing up in Arizona, Patrick Ware developed a love for the outdoors – hiking camping with his Dad. While studying at Arizona State University, he split time between his studies and homebrewing, eventually taking an internship at Gordon Biersch under the tutelage of Dieter Foerstner, who would soon help him land his first professional brewing position with SanTan Brewing in Chandler, Arizona.

Meanwhile Jonathan Buford was living in Ohio, though he longed to return west, where he first fell in love with the Arizona landscape. Ultimately, he decided to follow his heart. Armed with only his 1988 Chevy Nova and $300 ($100 of which went toward gas), he struck forth to the Copper State.

Buford’s entrepreneurial spirit initially led him to open a window-cleaning company, which he helmed for six years. All the while, though, Buford’s passion for craft beer was brewing. Listening to audiobooks about beer and brewing while washing windows, he was determined to one day open a brewery of his own. Once more, his true calling bubbled over.

A regular at local watering holes, Buford was often mistaken for some guy named “Pat.” When this became a regular occurrence, he determined to track down his doppelganger and get to the bottom of the situation.

Buford soon figured out that the mysterious “Pat” was none other than Ware, who had become the head brewer at SanTan Brewing Company. He introduced himself, and the two shared stories of their love of the Arizona countryside. After telling Ware of his goal to open a brewery focused on local terroir, Buford offered to make Ware head brewer of the venture, and Ware accepted.


Jonathan Buford and Patrick Ware founded Arizona Wilderness on a shared vision of a brewery that embodied the land it was built upon, such as the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, shown here.

It took Buford’s life savings, a highly successful Kickstarter campaign and an outside investment to fund the brewery before Buford could set everything in motion. Unfortunately, things weren’t so peachy. Without warning, the investor got cold feet, and Buford was left scrambling to find a way to come up with the funds to complete the project.

Originally, Ware was to be an employee, not an owner, but the only way Buford could pay Ware was in shares of ownership. Now partners, they scrounged together every last penny to get the doors open.

When the doors did open on September 2, 2013, the pair still owed their contractor $36,000. Buford had 60 days to come up with the money or the contractor threatened to take possession of the brewery. It took until the final day before the contractor was paid and Ware and Buford were brewery owners.

A traditional brewpub, with one main dining room, a small bar and modest patio, Arizona Wilderness opened in Gilbert, Arizona, a growing, thriving town southeast of Phoenix. The 17 employees were settling in and business was good.  Not even six months into their existence, a nationally known beer publication announced that Arizona Wilderness had been voted the “2014 Best New Brewery in the World” which changed their fortunes overnight.  Local Phoenix news stations appeared wanting interviews.  Craft aficionados from all over wanted to experience the wunderkind brewery.  They doubled, then tripled, the workforce to keep up with demand.  Two hour waits at the door were the norm.  Full serving tanks of beer became a pipe dream; at one precarious point their stock dwindled down to their final two beers.  Only through hard work and the divinity of the yeast would enough beer be produced for the thirsty public.

“Arizona Wilderness” is a way of life for both Ware and Buford.  Hiking, camping and enjoying nature is what they live for.  Photographing nature is one of Buford’s biggest passions and might have been his profession had the brewery not panned out.  Buford’s amazing photos are looped on the brewpub’s TV screens.  Most of the beers have names that reflect the Arizona landscape.  DC Mountain Imperial IPA, a highly hopped double IPA and their second biggest seller, Superstition Coffee Stout, are both named after a local Arizona mountain ranges.  Refuge IPA remains their best selling beer and is arguably the best IPA produced in Arizona.

Everything at the brewery centers around Arizona, including building relationships with local farmers and businesses.  Sourcing local is always a priority including trading spent grain to farmers who provide beef for the brewpub’s extensive menu.  Their incredible Blood Orange Gose is made from Arizona grown blood oranges, Sonoran white wheat and locally sourced salt.

Because of the continued success of the brewpub Arizona Wilderness recently opened an additional tasting room onsite. Within this room resides Ware’s baby; a new, humidity controlled barrel aging room to satisfy the pair’s fondness for Belgian-inspired brewing.

In an unending quest for brewing knowledge, Ware and Buford have traveled extensively to learn from and collaborate with some of the world’s best brewers.  Travels have produced collaborations with Almanac of San Francisco, Way Brewing of Brazil, Lervig in Norway, among others. None match the “star factor” of collaborating with Logan Plant, the owner of North London’s well known Beavertown Brewery who also happens to be the son of Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant.  After collaborating in England, Plant came to Phoenix, the group traveled north to Sedona, picked local pine cones which they later smoked and added to a collaborative smoked gratzer.

Arizona Wilderness has brought to life what their souls envisioned. There is an “it” factor there; an infectious energy that draws people back again and again to the brewery.  Nature, artisanal craft beer and a passion for both; a recipe for success in Arizona.

Craft Beer

Reason #1,256 to visit PHX: Helton Brewing

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Brewery Review: Helton Brewing Company in Central Phoenix

DAVE CLARK | SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 | PHOENIX NEW TIMES

Drive down Indian School Road just east of Highway 51, and you’ll find Helton Brewing Company, an upstart brewery in central Phoenix that’s created and operated by brewmaster Brian Helton. At this new drinking spot, there’s a noticeable emphasis on beer education — the walls are adorned with beer and brewing information and the employees are beyond knowledgeable, even bordering on beer geekdom, which we mean in the most complimentary of ways.

Inside the tap room, drinkers can enjoy five different Helton brews, along with a few guest beers. And with one or two tastes, you’ll probably notice Helton has done his homework. All five beers we sampled were well-made, ranging from above average to excellent.

Amber Ale: 5.6% ABV, 25 IBU
This beer is very malt-forward with flavors of caramel, toffee, and toasted malt. Ambers can range from complete malt showcases to borderline IPA, and this one definitely falls on the malt side. The hops are subtle and just enough to balance. It’s a good introductory beer for those just getting into craft or a fine beer for those who tend to shy away from “hop assault” beers.

Scottish Ale: 7.0% ABV, 30 IBU
Rich malt flavors provided by authentic Golden Promise malt create notes of toasted brown sugar and toffee. It’s an initial sugar rush that transitions into a semisweet finish on the back of the palate. Though the somewhat-sweet finish could  benefit from a touch of roasted barley, this beer does feature the caramelized notes indicative of a traditional Scottish ale. There are no perceptible hops in either the bitterness or the flavor; this is clearly the malt showcase that Scottish ales are intended to be. At 7 percent ABV, this very well-made Scottish style ale actually borders on the stronger “Scotch Ale” style also known as a “wee heavy.”

IPA: 7.7% ABV, 75 IBU
Helton IPA features three of the “C” hops: Centennial, Chinook, and Columbus, which provide a symphony of hop flavor and the appropriate bitterness for the style. Individually, aromas of orange citrus (Centennial), pine (Chinook), and grapefruit (Columbus) are apparent, yet the three different hops converge to create a new, unified flavor. Medium mouthfeel and medium-high carbonation create a pleasant creamy effect with no lingering astringency despite the high hopping rate. Clear and deep gold — almost light amber in color — with a lasting head, this IPA provides a great hop nose and clean hop flavor. The malt provides a solid backbone and balance, with flavors of Italian bread crust and some lightly toasted caramel notes. It’s definitely a hop-forward beer and finishes crisp and clean.

Milk Stout on Nitro: 6.5% ABV, 35 IBU
You’ll notice deep molasses-like roastiness along with semisweet chocolate and hints of coffee in this brew. And the nitrogen provides a smooth and silky profile. The roasty notes lead the way, and are much more dominant than the chocolate or coffee notes, both of which appear to be all malt-derived, rather than coming from actual chocolate or coffee additions. This is definitely a great dessert beer.

Pilsner: 4.5% ABV, 12 IBU
Immediately eye-catching, this pilsner pours an inviting, clear yellow with a non-persistent white head. Aromas and flavors of crisp grainy malt sweetness lead, while Sterling hops provide a slight spicy and black pepper note in both the aroma and, to a higher degree, in the flavor. At just 12 IBU, the bitterness is very slight and more like a helles-style lager, although the hop flavor drinks more reminiscent of an authentic pilsner. Helton Pilsner is highly carbonated, which produces a nice effervescence. Overall, it’s nice to see local breweries willing to spend the time to make a quality lager, which can take upwards of triple the time an ale takes to produce. In this case, the wait is well worth it.

Helton Brewing Company is located at 2144 East Indian School Road in Phoenix. For more information, check the Helton Brewing Company website.

 
Dave is a certified cicerone and former professional brewer. When he’s not doing something beer-related, Dave enjoys writing, listening to, and performing music, hiking, skiing, and watching baseball.
This article first appeared in The Phoenix New Times September 19, 2016.
Craft Beer

Connecting With the Arizona Wilderness

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Connection Saison at Arizona Wilderness Brewery Is An Entirely “Arizona Born” Ale

DAVE CLARK | OCTOBER 17, 2016 | PHOENIX NEW TIMES

The Beer: Connection Saison
The Brewery: Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company
The Stats: 5.9% ABV

Since opening about three years ago, Arizona Wilderness Brewery has established itself as one of the best, most interesting breweries in the state. Often known for using nontraditional and locally grown ingredients, the Gilbert brewery has been called the “World’s Best New Brewery” and has worked with everyone from top local chefs to a world-renowned gypsy brewer.

All of which is to say, it should come as little surprise that the innovative brewhouse has now produced an entirely “Arizona-born” ale. Called Connection Saison, this beer features both malt and hops grown right here in the Grand Canyon State. The Belgian-style beer was made with a malt grown in the Verde Valley and hops harvested in Elgin, which have been brought to create a Farmhouse Saison ale.

The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit environmental agency, led the charge to find a way to grow malt in Arizona that would require less water than a traditional crop. The classic Harrington varietal of malt was picked for production in the Verde Valley, and according to Nature Conservancy Transactions Director Kimberly Schonek, the malt didn’t need to be irrigated at all in the month of June, “which was extremely beneficial to the Verde River.” Schonek tells us a similar corn crop may require at least a foot of water during the same time period, so growing this crop was not only beneficial to the brewers, but also to the Verde River, where preserving the water is vitally important.

The hops, meanwhile, were grown in southern Arizona at the Copper Hop Ranch in Elgin. Four different hops were used in the Connection Saison including traditional varieties such as Cascade, Columbus, and Nugget, as well as a nontraditional varietal known as Arizona Neomexicanus.

At the kick-off event for the beer, we were able to smell and taste the grain and hops used in the beer. The malt had a very pronounced and pleasant aromatic quality, and when tasted, it provided a level of sweetness that was more intense than traditional brewing malts. More flavors in the malt means more flavors in the resulting beer and that was definitely the case with Connection Saison.

Lemon citrus fruit with hints of tangerine and light black pepper were all present in the beer’s flavor, though all flavors were subtle and balanced and nothing stood out as dominant. A traditional saison tends to be very highly carbonated, containing a “bite,” but this beer does not possess that quality.

Zero hops were used for bittering, with all of the bitterness instead being extracted from the hops used in the whirlpool, which happens at the end of the brewing process. This provided a subtle, soft bitterness and allowed the malt flavors to shine and be in the forefront. And since the hops were added only at the end of the brewing process, traditional methods of measuring international bitterness units don’t apply and the actual IBUs for this beer are unknown. It’s not a bitter beer by any means, instead possessing a pleasant sweetness from the malt and, at the same time, a slight tartness from the yeast.

The beer was well-attenuated, though less so than some traditional farmhouse saisons, which created a more rounded mouthfeel and flavor profile due to the malt’s pleasant sugars. The body was medium-light, typical for a saison, and the mouthfeel was creamy. Saisons are known for producing a lot of yeast-derived flavors and aromas, and this beer was no exception. Connection provided citrus, black pepper, and other spicy yeast phenolics and esters of pear and apricot to go along with the flavorful bread-y malt flavors.

In a sentence, Connection is a subtle, elegant, and fresh beer with flowing flavors that work harmoniously together. The fact that it was made with ingredients grown and harvested in Arizona, using environmentally conscious methods, is an added bonus.

For more information, check the Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company website.

 
Dave is a Certified Cicerone and former professional brewer. When he’s not doing something beer-related, Dave enjoys writing, listening to, and performing music, hiking, skiing, and watching baseball.
This article first appeared in the Phoenix New Times October 17, 2016.
Craft Beer

Best Spring Beers in Phoenix, AZ

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5 Local Spring Beers to Try Right Now
DAVE CLARK | MARCH 21, 2017 | PHOENIX NEW TIMES

It’s an annual rite of passage. Spring signals the end of the season for bigger, stronger, more robust beers and opens the proverbial door for the lighter, easier-drinking beers to take over. Since Arizonans don’t want their beers to weigh them down, they seek lighter options as the weather warms. Sometimes that means less alcohol or lighter-bodied beers, while other times it’s about lighter color or even beers with fruit. To that end, we are showcasing five locally made beers that are perfect for the spring season.

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Craft Beer

You Wanted the Best…

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10 Best Beers Made in Metro Phoenix
DAVE CLARK | AUGUST 22, 2016 | PHOENIX NEW TIMES

Thanks to the growing number of craft breweries in metro Phoenix, there are more great beers being brewed in the Valley than ever before. And when it comes to selecting the best, we’re getting pretty technical — judging flavor and aroma, of course, but also appearance, mouthfeel, drinkability, and ability to pair with food.

From what might be the most famous Arizona-made beer to a stout that’s always worth waiting for, here are 10 beers made in metro Phoenix to put on your must-try list.

Grooving with a Pict Scottish Ale from North Mountain Brewing

This Scottish-style ale features rich caramel and toffee malt aromas and flavors. There are no perceptible hops aromatically, and at only 21 IBU, it contains just enough hops to create balance. The beer is nicely attenuated and not too sweet, despite being a showcase for malt flavor. The 6.3 percent ABV means it’s a beer of substance, but not too heavy. The name is a reference to an early, somewhat obscure Pink Floyd song, which would be a great listening accompaniment while enjoying this flavorful beer.

Helton Pilsner, from Helton Brewing Company

This authentic German style pilsner utilizes some the finest noble hops in the world, Saaz hops of the Zatec region of the Czech Republic. These hops along side authentic, world-class German malts and yeast strains, produce a pilsner that will make you think you’re in the heart of Bavaria! Crisp, clean, brilliantly clear and eminently drinkable, this is the type of beer you may want to spend an entire afternoon getting to know.

Cane and Ebel from Two Brothers Brewing

Two Brothers Brewing originated in the suburbs of Chicago, but recently opened a brewpub in Old Town Scottsdale. Cane and Ebel is the brewery’s flagship offering, a rich, robust, hop-forward beer, reddish in color and full of flavor. A fairly heavy-handed hop bittering regimen packs a punch, and keeps the beer crisp and dry, while a symphony of hop flavor intermixes with layers of malt. Caramel and lightly toasted bread malt flavors play alongside the hops with the rye, giving this brew additional flavor as well as crispness on the finish. This beer is flavorful, complex, and should be enjoyed slowly, as it packs a punch at 7.0 percent ABV.

Street Cred Black IPA from the Beer Research Institute

Street Cred pours black, resembling a porter or stout; however, aromas of pine, citrus, and a hint of black licorice quickly let you know this beer is all about the hops. A front-of-the-palate citrus bite blends into chocolate, toasted, and roast notes. Some resiny character accentuates the crisp, dry finish and acts as a perfect counterpoint to the richness of the chocolate flavor. Medium body and carbonation provide a somewhat creamy feel, and a slight, pleasant hint of alcohol warmth provides some complexity along with the dark malts and the hops, helping to make this the definition of a balanced beer.

Pride of Nottingham ESB from Mother Bunch Brewing

This beer is the star of Mother Bunch’s lineup, and can definitely be consumed in quantity. ESB stands for “Extra Special Bitter,” which could also be considered a British Pale Ale. Earthy hops and toasted biscuit notes in both the aroma and flavor provide a lot of flavor up front while remaining light on the palate. Outstanding attenuation and just the perfect amount of bittering hops make this beer finish pleasantly crisp. This beer can compete with any ESB made this side of the Atlantic.

Kiltlifter from Four Peaks Brewing Company 

This beer makes the list on reputation, consistency, and its indelible mark made on the Arizona beer scene for the better part of the past two decades. Kiltlifter features malty sweet flavors of caramel, toffee, and light hints of roast and subliminal smoke. This beer has bucked the hops trend that’s seemingly overtaken the craft beer community. With rich, caramelized flavors throughout and enough hops to balance, Kiltlifter maintains quite a drinkability despite its 6.0 percent ABV. This six-time Great American Beer Festival medalist pairs well with barbecue and smoked meats. And though some might argue that this isn’t even Four Peaks’ best offering, it is unquestionably their most popular. It’s found a way to appeal to all types of beer drinkers, and can be found virtually everywhere in Arizona, making it an essential part of any list pertaining to Arizona-crafted beers.

Kolsch from Wren House Brewing Company

A fairly new addition to the Phoenix brewing scene, Wren House produces a classic Kolsch-style ale that showcases biscuity and lightly toasted bread malt flavors. There’s no perceptible hop aroma, with just a hint of noble hop flavor provided by the Saaz hops. This brew finishes crisp and clean, thanks in part to the nontraditional addition of honey malt, which adds a hint of pleasant sweetness that dissipates into the finish. At 4.8 percent ABV, you can definitely knock back a few of these brews — which is perfect, since it’s easily Wren House’s finest offering.

White Russian Imperial Stout from Sun Up Brewing

Only brewmaster Uwe Boer could convince Phoenix-area residents to line up for an Imperial Stout of almost 10 percent alcohol strength in the middle of the summer, but that’s just what he does with White Russian Imperial Stout. This beer packs a week’s worth of flavor into a glass, with rich chocolate, coffee, and very light roast notes. The beer is as black as a moonless night, with a dense, light-brown, long-lasting head. Some pleasant rum-like alcohol sweetness balances the chocolate and coffee. Creamy with a viscosity thick as a milkshake, this is definitely a sipping beer, best consumed in small quantities when taking the light rail home, since the 9.4 percent ABV will catch up to you pretty quickly.

Candy Bar Milk Stout from McFate Brewing Co. 

Call it fate or call it “McFate,” but either way, people flock to Scottsdale for this cult-favorite beer. The name says it all — this beer drinks like a liquid candy bar. According to the brewery website, this stout is made with honey-roasted peanuts, cacao nibs, vanilla bean, and a touch of sea salt. The aroma is subtle, while the flavor is loaded with chocolate and a pleasantly sweet, though properly attenuated. finish. At 6.0 percent ABV, this beer is by no means light, but still manages to drink easily. And now that McFate Brewing (formerly Fate Brewing) offers two locations on the north and south ends of Scottsdale, it’s easier than ever for fans to get their Candy Bar fix.

Refuge IPA from Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. 

Imagine a relaxing drive through the northern Arizona forests, where you experience a sensory overload of aromatic pine. Well, the vibrant hop bouquet of Refuge IPA, made with Chinook and Simcoe hops, provides a similar experience. Cascade and Columbus hops give it additional aromatic complexity with notes of grapefruit citrus and a hint of tropical fruit, while malt provides sweetness with notes of caramel, giving the beer a nice depth of character. Simply stated, this is not only the metro Phoenix area’s best IPA, but arguably the best beer made in the state. And we’re not the only ones who think so. Besides awarding Refuge IPA an extremely respectable score of 98, RateBeer.com proclaimed Arizona Wilderness “The World’s Best New Brewery of 2014.” Best of all, you can get this excellent brew in cans for extra portability.

 
Dave is a certified cicerone and former professional brewer. When he’s not doing something beer-related, Dave enjoys writing, listening to, and performing music, hiking, skiing, and watching baseball.
This article first appeared in Phoenix New Times August 22, 2016.
Craft Beer

Huss Brewing Opens New Location

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 In Uptown Plaza in Central Phoenix

APRIL 17, 2017    DAVE CLARK   PHOENIX NEW TIMES
 

Huss Brewing Company officially opened their new taproom in Uptown Plaza in Phoenix on Friday, April 14. The brainchild of the husband and wife team of Jeff and Leah Huss, Huss Brewing will continue to brew their beers at their Tempe Brewery and all beers available at their Tempe sampling room will be available at the new taproom.

Featuring both Huss and Papago beers, the new location has a wide array of flavors, colors, and alcohol strengths suiting virtually all tastes. Since acquiring the rights to the Papago brands last year, brewmaster Jeff Huss has really stepped up his game. Huss has quite a resume as a brewer, having spent seven years honing his skills as head brewer at BJ’s Brewery of Chandler before creating his own brewery.

Other standouts include Huss’ bestselling Scottsdale Blonde, a German kölsch style ale that is light in body, easy drinking, with a nice balance of malty sweetness and just a hint of fruity character. Magic in the Ivy, an ode to the famous vines that grow on the walls of Wrigley Field in Chicago, Huss’ hometown, this pale ale provides a nice, crispy hop character while balancing nicely with the bready malt flavors.

Koffee Kölsch is Scottsdale Blonde with an infusion of cold-steeped coffee beans that provides all the pleasure of iced coffee with a kick. The current Husstler seasonal offering is Alt Amber, another German-influenced beer that is crystal clear and a beautiful shade of amber, showcasing the caramel-like malts. Barrel Aged Juicy Fruit Kölsch is a 6.1 percent ABV kölsch with flavors of mango, peach, and pleasant alcohol. Aged in Stranahan barrels, this beer is full of flavor and aptly named, tasting remarkably similar to the gum of the same name.

On the Papago side, Orange Blossom may be a fantastic seller but Coconut Joe is the can’t-miss. At 5.5 percent ABV and just 16 IBU, this beer is a marriage of coffee and coconut, harmoniously intertwined with the coffee leading the aromatics while the two are equally balanced in the flavor.

The beer comes in multiple shapes and sizes. Thirty-two-ounce pitchers, traditional pints, half pints or a sampler of four mini-beers give patrons plenty of opportunities to try the entire lineup. Sunday through Friday, enjoy $6 pitchers until 6 pm from the year round offerings and seasonal Husstler collection. Wine and hard cider are alternatives available for the non-beer drinkers.

Leah Huss is a culinary school graduate and finds a way to “do as much as possible with as little equipment as possible,” according to Jeff Huss. The menu at the new taproom is simple but varied, featuring a delicious Bavarian pretzel which is served with spicy mustard and warm queso. The Crispy Prosciutto features smoked prosciutto, wild blueberry jam, and prairie breeze cheddar. The cheese board makes a great pairing with a beer sampler. Just looking for something to munch on? Check out the nosh menu, which gives you options of olives, popcorn or nuts. For those looking for a full meal, Huss allows you to order from any of its neighboring restaurants including Lou Malnati’s and Shake Shack. This family-friendly taproom encourages you to bring the kids and Huss even handcrafts its own Lola’s Sodas so the kids have something to get excited about.

The Bavarian pretzel is a great option to enjoy alongside your beer sampler at Huss Brewing's Taproom in Uptown Plaza.

The Bavarian pretzel is a great option to enjoy alongside your beer sampler at Huss Brewing’s Taproom in Uptown Plaza.
 

After neighborhood concerns, Huss agreed to not feature live entertainment and also built a wall just outside the building to reduce potential noise.

The bar at the Huss Brewing Taproom encourages conversation among its patrons.

Huss Brewing Company’s taproom is located in UptownPlaza at 252 East Camelback Road, 480-234-9944. Hours are Monday through Thursday 3 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday noon to 8 p.m. The Tempe brewery and taproom remains open, located at 1520 West Mineral Road, Tempe, 480-264-7611. Check out the Huss website for more information about Huss Brewing Company.

 
Dave is a Certified Cicerone and former professional brewer. When he’s not doing something beer-related, Dave enjoys writing, listening to, and performing music, hiking, skiing, and watching baseball.
 
This article first appeared in The Phoenix New Times April 17, 2017.
Craft Beer

Six Best Beers for Summer in Phoenix

by admin

Best Craft Beers for Summer and Where to Get Them in Metro Phoenix

DAVE CLARK | JUNE 20, 2017 PHOENIX NEW TIMES

Summer is officially upon us, which means it’s time to break out the light, crisp, summer brews. We’ve rounded up six craft beers that should be in your fridge, cool box, or pint glass right now.

Founders PC Pils
Founders Brewing, Grand Rapids, Michigan
5.5% ABV, 45 IBU

Pleasantly crisp and perfectly clean, PC Pils is an American take on the classic European Pilsner style that replaces traditional floral hop characteristics with a citrus-meets-pine character. While Noble hops of Germany and the Czech Republic have been the preferred choice of Pilsner brewers for centuries, Founders put an American spin on this brew by using some of the most popular American varieties for their blend of piney Chinook, citrusy Cascade,and orange-like Centennial. American hops, by nature, tend to be a little more aggressive with a bigger feel than their European counterparts, and their use in this beer, along with its above average ABV of 5.5%, give it an initial “bigger than pilsner” sensation that quickly fades into the familiar pilsner crisp, clean finish.

Find it in Phoenix: Available in 15 packs, PC Pils is perfect for that weekend outdoor activity and can be found at Total Wine or at any of these craft-centric bottle shops.

Schofferhofer Grapefruit Hefeweizen
Schofferhofer Brewing Company, Germany
2.9% ABV

Schofferhofer claims to produce the world’s first hefeweizen grapefruit beer, and we’re not here to argue. Best served cold, it’s a true 50/50 blend of Schofferhofer Hefeweizen and carbonated juice, which results in a low ABV of 2.9%. The grapefruit provides a zesty, tart character that works well with the traditional banana and clove of hefeweizen. This is a refreshing, easy-drinking, lighter-bodied wheat beer that is perfect for sipping throughout a hot, sunny afternoon.

Find it in Phoenix: Find Schofferhofer in many grocery stores; it’s almost always in stock at Sprouts Farmers Markets or grab one at Brat Haus, 3622 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale.

Pedal Haus Brewery

Mexican Amber Lager
Pedal Haus Brewery, Tempe
4.4% ABV, 18 IBU

Also known as an Austrian Vienna lager, a reference to the birthplace of the style, most “Vienna” lagers are now produced in Mexico. As the story goes, when Mexico won its independence, Maximilian proclaimed himself Emperor of Mexico and, like many of the Europeans who had migrated into Mexico, he craved the taste of familiar beers from his homeland, Vienna. This particular lager is made right in Tempe by brewmaster Derek “Doc” Osborne. It is a fantastic beer for hot Arizona summer days, and pairs especially well with food as the hops and carbonation act as a natural palate cleanser making every bite taste like the first. Try it with saucy meat, chicken, and pork, or good old-fashioned red-sauce Italian food.

Find it in Phoenix: Go to the source, Pedal Haus at 730 South Mill Avenue in Tempe.

Watermelon Ale
Phoenix Ale Brewery, Phoenix
4.8% ABV, 20 IBU

Watermelon Ale is an American wheat beer infused with watermelon flavors that are added during conditioning. This process provides a fresh, lingering watermelon finish. Located in the heart of the city, Phoenix Ale Brewery & Kitchen has a full service menu to pair with your refreshing summer ale, which pairs especially well with summertime classic, chicken fried chicken and smashed red bliss potatoes.

Find it in Phoenix: Have a pint of Watermelon ale at the Phoenix Ale Brewery & Kitchen, 3002 East Washington Street.

Huss American Lager
Huss Brewing Company, Tempe
4.7% ABV, 12 IBU

This is one of the finest lagers produced in the state of Arizona. It’s flavorful, refreshing, palate cleansing with a crisp finish. Hopped with German Tradition hops, the pleasant aromatics capture your senses before the glass reaches your lips, and they carry through to the finish. Brewmaster Jeff Huss’ use of authentic pilsner malt provides a soft, grainy flavor and mouthfeel that sits light on the palate. Carbonation is on the high end, which increases the refreshing quality of the beer.  This Husstler summer seasonal is available from Memorial Day through the end of September.

Find it in Phoenix: This beer is available from Memorial Day through the end of September at both Huss Brewing locations: 1520 West Mineral Road in Tempe, and the taproom at 100 East Camelback Road. American Lager is also available in cans at many craft beer shops around Metro Phoenix.

This article first appeared in The Phoenix New Times June 20, 2017.

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