Huss Brewing, PHX Beer Co. to merge as Zonafide Beverages

🍺 Major news for the Valley’s craft beer community: Huss Brewing, the second-largest craft brewery in Arizona, and PHX Beer Co., the 12th-largest, are merging into a partnership called Zonafide Beverages.

Both breweries will retain their independent identities and brands, but brewing operations will be consolidated at the Huss production facility in south Tempe. It’s not clear what will happen to PHX Beer’s brewhouse in Phoenix.

Steve Robbins, who was hired as PHX Beer’s president last year, will serve as CEO of Zonafide. Huss co-founder Jeff Huss will assume the role of Zonafide’s brewmaster.

PHX Beer started in 2011 as Phoenix Ale Brewery, but was sold and renamed in 2019 after the deaths of co-founders Greg Fretz and George Hancock. Its core beers include Zanjero juicy IPA, Bird City lager, and Arizona Gold.

PHX Beer also owns Sonoran Brewing, best-known for its popular white chocolate ale that has spawned several variations.

Jeff and Leah Huss launched their brewery in 2013. Its core beers include Scottsdale Blonde, Copper State IPA, and Koffee Kolsch. They bought Papago Brewing, whose popular flagship is Orange Blossom Ale,  in 2016.

Leah Huss will continue to work for the company and guide the Huss brand.