The Arizona Republic

The ultimate beer-lover’s guide to Phoenix brews

- Tirion Morris

Craft beer has exploded in Arizona. Since 2017, more than 20 new breweries have started selling beer in the state, and with new breweries opening regularly, Phoenix is transformi­ng into a bona fide beer city.

For craft beer lovers that means more to drink, more breweries to visit and less effort required to hunt down a pint made close to home. Some beer destinatio­ns serve great food and outstandin­g beer. Others offer a comfortabl­e patio. There are even spots perfect for the whole family — dogs and kids included.

No matter what you’re looking for here’s a guide to some of the breweries, tap rooms and craft beer destinatio­ns within Phoenix’s city limits. Keep an eye out over the next few weeks for neighborho­od guides to Mesa, Tempe and more.

Hit these spots for a great patio

With its four dog-friendly beer gardens throughout the Valley, including one in the Arcadia area, O.H.S.O. Brewery and Distillery takes the cake for sip

ping beer outdoors with your pup. For those who live closer to downtown, try the new O.H.S.O. outpost, Little O’s, which also offers plenty of outdoor seating.

The patio and beer garden at Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company in downtown Phoenix offers a fire pit, Adirondack chairs, picnic tables and lawn games making the gravel-covered space a perfect place to spend an afternoon. The ever-rotating tap list that highlights beers made with Arizona’s natural ingredient­s is on point as well.

Another must-visit brewery in downtown Phoenix, Greenwood Brewing offers not one but two large patios complete with misters to keep customers cool. The woman-owned brewery features beers that celebrate female entreprene­urs including the Herstory Pale Ale, the company’s flagship brew.

And if you’re spending the day on Roosevelt Row and want to add another beer stop to your itinerary, hop across the street to The Theodore, a beer bar and bottle shop from local entreprene­ur Justin Evans. The bar features a wide array of local and national craft beers on tap and fully-stocked fridges of bottles and cans to go.

Between the production location in Tempe and a new location coming to downtown Phoenix, Huss Brewing Co. fans have multiple options for getting a pint of Papago Orange Blossom Ale. But Huss’ uptown Phoenix location is a particular­ly lively and casual place to spend an afternoon. The taproom is tucked at the back of Uptown Plaza on the northeast corner of Camelback Road and Central Avenue.

Details: O.H.S.O. Brewery and Distillery, 4900 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 602-955-0358, ohsobrewer­y .com/arcadia. Little O’s, 521 W, McDowell Road, Phoenix. 602) 254-6899, little osaz.com. Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company, 201 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. 480-462-1836, azwbeer.com. Greenwood Brewing, 922 N. Fifth Street, Phoenix. greenwoodb­rews.com. The Theodore, 110 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. 602-675-2013, facebook.com/Theodore BeerBar. Huss Brewing Co. 100 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-441-4677, hussbrewin­g.com/taprooms.

These breweries have great food

Don’t miss the burgers at Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company, especially

the notable PB&J burger topped with bright green chile jam.

If you’re looking to get away from the crowds downtown, head over to Grand Avenue to look in the quirky shops and snag a beer at Grand Avenue Brewing Company. This gem opened in May 2019 inside a historic 1940s warehouse. Garage doors can roll up when the weather is nice, and mainstays on the food menu include a juicy pulled pork sandwich, a selection of tacos and the brewery’s signature smoked baked potatoes.

Also near downtown Phoenix is Walter Station Brewery. Located just north of the airport on Washington Street east

of 40th Street — and just off the light rail — this restaurant and pub opened in February 2019. Grab a beer and sit on the patio or enjoy the high ceilings of the dining room, which was once a massive garage for fire trucks. Along with a rotating selection of brews, including the decadent Coffee & Cream Blonde Ale, Walter Station offers a food menu with specials including shareable flatbreads and giant sandwiches.

Details: Grand Avenue Brewing Company, 1205 W. Pierce St., Phoenix. 602-670-5465, grandavebr­ew.com. Walter Station Brewery, 4056 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-368-8402, walterstat­ion.beer.

Here are a few new beer destinatio­ns worth trying

Great news for residents of north Phoenix: breweries are moving in. Family-run Front Pourch Brewing opened in August 2019 and Simple Machine Brewing Company is right around the corner. The industrial-styled taproom is bright and airy with large windows for customers to keep an eye on the line at one of the food trucks often parked outside. Simple Machine also offers a selection of beers in cans including their signature Camper Red Ale.

Though it’s not a brewery, Grand Avenue’s newest drinking destinatio­n celebrates craft beer. Opened by two former Wren House Brewing Company employees in Fall 2020, The Wayward Taphouse offers 16 beers on tap and a fridge stocked with local and national offerings. Sip a pint while taking in work from local painters and artists inside the historic building or catch some sun on the patio that shares seating with Grand Avenue favorite Novel Ice Cream and a selection of other small businesses.

Details: Front Pourch Brewing, 1611 W. Whispering Wind Drive, Ste. 7, Phoenix. 623-277-0526, frontpourc­hbrewing .com/about. Simple Machine Brewing Company, 701 W. Deer Valley Drive, Ste. 1, Phoenix. 623-469-9199, simple machinebre­wing.com. The Wayward Taphouse, 1028 Grand Ave., Phoenix. thewayward­az.com.

Don’t overlook these hidden gems

Drivers passing by might miss Wren House Brewing Company because it looks like, well, a house. But the 1920s bungalow in which its located is a piece of Phoenix history. On tap, you’ll find a mix of traditiona­l style beers and outof-the-box brews like the lactose and fruit filled Las Frescas series. During the pandemic, Wren House operated as a takeout-only business, so check Instagram to see if the tiny taproom is open for beers at the bar. And if you’re looking to hop around to a couple of breweries in the same day, check out Helton Brewing Company just up the street on Indian School Road.

First Draft Book Bar is the perfect place to sip on a local brew after perusing the aisles at Changing Hands Bookstore, where the coffee and beer bar is located. The bar menu features almost entirely local brews with a couple big names dotted in. Kings Beer and Wine, meanwhile, is a candy shop for beer lovers. The store sits in a strip mall off Central Avenue, sharing parking with Domino’s Pizza and Subway. Many might overlook this gem, but beer fridges stocked with hard-to-find cans and a small bar in the back prove this is an essential stop for craft beer fans. Discounts are offered on build-your-own 6and 12-packs.

Details: Wren House Brewing Co. 2125 N. 24th St., Phoenix. 602-2449184, wrenhouseb­rewing.com. Helton Brewing Co. 2144 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 602-730-2739, heltonbrew­ing .com. First Draft Book Bar at Changing Hands Bookstore, 300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-274-0067, changing hands.com/firstdraft­bar. Kings Beer and Wine, 2811 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. kingsbeerw­ine.com/index.

 ?? NICOLE NERI/THE REPUBLIC ?? Candy Frogozo of North Mountain Brewing pours a taster during the One Water Brewing Showcase, featuring beers brewed with recycled water from The Advanced Water Treatment Plant at the Scottsdale Water Campus at Canal Convergenc­e art festival Nov. 8, 2019.
NICOLE NERI/THE REPUBLIC Candy Frogozo of North Mountain Brewing pours a taster during the One Water Brewing Showcase, featuring beers brewed with recycled water from The Advanced Water Treatment Plant at the Scottsdale Water Campus at Canal Convergenc­e art festival Nov. 8, 2019.
 ?? ARIZONA WILDERNESS ?? The Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company is located in downtown Phoenix on Roosevelt Row.
ARIZONA WILDERNESS The Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company is located in downtown Phoenix on Roosevelt Row.
 ?? HUSS BREWING COMPANY ?? Papago Orange Blossom is a perennial Phoenix favorite.
HUSS BREWING COMPANY Papago Orange Blossom is a perennial Phoenix favorite.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States