Helio Basin Brewing, a new craft brewery named after the Valley of the Sun, will open this summer in Phoenix’s Arcadia neighborhood. It takes over the former Clicks Billiards building on the southwest corner of 40th Street and Thomas.
“Helio is play on the Greek word for ‘Sun’ and Basin is a catch-all for Valley, which we felt was a nice fit for a Phoenix-based brewery,†says co-owner Dustin Hazer, who’s partnering with friend Mike Conley on the venture.
Hazer has a decade of professional brewing experience, including a few years at Four Peaks Brewing and, most recently, four years as brewmaster at Southern Tier Brewing in western New York. Conley, an MBA graduate of the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU, currently is a bartender at Arizona Wilderness Brewing in Gilbert.
The 8,200-square-foot brewery will have a 15-barrel brewing system that will be visible to customers. Hazer and Conley plan to offer six core beers – mostly American-style ales – as well as seasonal and limited-release ales.
“Quality is our primary focus, top to bottom,’’ Hazer says. ‘‘Dedication to the quality and consistency of the beer, the food, the service, and the atmosphere are all top-tier priorities at Helio Basin Brewing.â€
There will be 135 seats, ranging from communal tables to two-tops, and a large space next to the brewhouse for private parties and charitable events. Chef Tamara Stanger will head the kitchen; she most recently worked at The Henry, a Fox Restaurants concept at 44th Street and Camelback.
Hazer says the build-out is slated to take 12 weeks, so look for an opening in early summer.
