Mesa’s first microbrewery is only about a month away, according to Joe Campbell, one of the owners of downtown’s much-anticipated Desert Eagle Brewing.
“We’re shooting for the end of summer – maybe late August but probably September,” he says. “We don’t want to open with just one beer, you know?”
In fact, Campbell and business partner Jeff Bryant are planning to brew at least 12 different beers. Contrary to published reports, Campbell says no guest beers will be on tap.
“We’re hop heads,” the longtime home brewer says. “If you like hops, we’re the place you’ll want to be.”
Campbell is particularly excited about his Russian Imperial Stout and Red Ale, and says many of Desert Eagle’s beers will be aged in oak or bourbon barrels.
The brewery will have a tap room but no kitchen. Campbell says he’s working on setting up a regular rotation of Valley food trucks.
Desert Eagle will seat about 50 people inside and another 50 in a sidewalk beer garden that’s already built in front of the brewery, which is located on the north side of Main Street between Robson and MacDonald.
Campbell says the brewery is planning to open with a bang.
“Everyone in downtown Mesa is telling us Saturday nights are the only time we’ll draw a crowd,” he says. “But I think we’ll start by being open seven nights a week and inviting everyone to come downtown to check us out.”
