Category: Craft Beer

We finally have an opening date for the much-anticipated Desert Eagle Brewing in downtown Mesa. Co-owner Jeff Bryant says he and partner Joe Campbell are planning to open the city’s first microbrewery Friday, Oct. 5, in conjunction with downtown’s monthly

It’s a big day at Red Robin: The national burger chain launches its beer milkshake today. The concoction is made with Sam Adams Octoberfest beer, soft-serve vanilla ice cream, vanilla syrup and caramel. The shake, which costs $5, will be

Gordon Biersch will tap its seasonal FestBier, an amber lager, and offer samples of its limited-time Oktoberfest menu from 5:30-7:30 p.m. today at its Tempe restaurant and 5:30-7:30 Wednesday at the Gilbert restaurant. The food includes German sausage with sauerkraut-mashed

If you missed the Thursday’s Arizona debut of ApriQuat pale ale – the beer brewed at Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp by James Swann from Whole Foods Chandler and Jim Lolli from the Hungry Monk  – another keg will be tapped at

Last week, we told you about Sierra Nevada‘s ongoing Beer Camp, an opportunity for craft beer fans from around the country to spend a hands-on instructional weekend at the California brewery. The highlight? Each group that attends the camp collaborates

Taste of Tops hosts a Big Sky Brewing promo from 6-8 p.m. tonight with three of the Missoula, Mont., brewery’s beers on tap. Featured will be Olde Bluehair, a barrel-aged barley wine; Big Sky IPA; and Ivan the Terrible, an imperial

SanTan Brewing‘s annual Oktoberfest – the festival – is still a few weeks away, but the downtown Chandler brewery already has tapped its annual Oktoberfest – the beer. The outdoor festival, now in its fifth year, takes place Saturday, Sept.

Today is Blue Moon Friday at Nicantoni’s Pizza in Gilbert. A blue moon – a second full moon within a given month – occurs tonight. It’s the first time blue moon in three years; the next won’t happen until 2015.

Three beers from New Belgium‘s “Lips of Faith” series will be tapped for this week’s Friday Beer Class at Whole Foods Chandler. The small-batch, experimental beers are Peach Porch Lounger, Super IPA and Bretta Beer. Peach Porch Lounger, a just-released

At 6 p.m. tonight, the Hungry Monk will be pouring Oskar Blues’ G’Knight imperial red ale on a nitro tap. For the uninitiated, infusing a beer with nitrogen creates a denser, creamier foam that adds a terrific mouthfeel to the beer. Nitrogenation

You’ve probably heard about baseball fantasy camps and rock ‘n’ roll fan camps. But beer brewers fantasy camp? Sierra Nevada launched exactly that back in 2008, inviting fans from across the country to its Chico, Calif., brewery for a two-day

If you missed Monday’s Green Flash Brewing promo at Flanny’s, you get another chance today when the San Diego brewery will be giving away free glassware at the Handlebar. The event starts at 6 p.m. at the Apache Junction craft

Lake Havasu City’s Mudshark Brewing will bring 10 beers to Tempe tonight for a tap takeover at World of Beer. On tap: Upriver lager, Dry Heat hefeweizen, Full Moon Belgian white ale, Morning Buzz coffee stout, Wild Watermelon wheat, Scorpion

Mixing beers probably has been around for as long as there’s been beer. In recent years, however, the art of “beer blending” has risen to new heights. Learn about the latest trends from the brewers from SanTan Brewing and Sonoran

Handlebar Pub & Grill – the one in Apache Junction, not the soon-to-open (and unrelated) one in Tempe – will be giving away free growlers tonight as part of a Ska Brewing promo. The craft beer bar will have two

If you want to try the rare Tree House Apricot Sour from Odell Brewing, this may be your only chance: the Hungry Monk will tap the only keg in Arizona on Thursday. The sour ale (5.5% ABV) will be part of

Four Peaks Brewing has tapped a collaboration beer it brewed last month with nine new Arizona brewers. The nine: Mother Road, Mischief, Freak’n Brew, Arizona Wilderness, North Mountain, That Brewery, OHSO, Fate, Granite Mountain, and Desert Eagle. Most of the nine

At 6:30 p.m. Friday, Fox Cigar Bar in Gilbert will tap a firkin of Mango Habanero IPA from Fort Collins, Colo., brewer Odell. The tapping will be part of a special 6-10 p.m. tasting featuring Casa Magna cigars. Other Odell

If you’ve ever delved into the world of craft beer, you’ve probably encountered the term “firkin.” It’s an Old English measurement equivalent to a quarter of a barrel – or, in layman’s terms, 72 pints. It’s the most common size

First Round Draft, the longtime sports bar on the northeast corner of McQueen and Warner in Gilbert, officially unveils its new look today. The revised menu features handcrafted burgers and sandwiches, housemade soups and sauces, and more fresh ingredients. The bar

Flanny’s welcomes California sibling breweries Port and Lost Abbey for its monthly tap takeover Thursday. Starting at 6:30 p.m., the Tempe restaurant and craft beer bar will be pouring: SPA (Summer Pale Ale) Mongo double IPA HOP-15 double IPA Wipeout

In the wake of Arizona’s new growler law, the Watering Hole, the craft beer bar at Whole Foods Chandler, has launched a Growler Happy Hour. From 4 p.m.-close Thursdays and Sunday, get $3 off all growler refills. The price applies

Just a few years ago, most people’s experience with nitrogenated beers was limited to Guinness. Today, thanks to the fast-growing craft beer industry, nitrogenated beers are becoming more common. These beers use nitrogen to replace most of the carbon dioxide

A couple months ago, MXSW interviewed Dave Walker, one of the owners of Firestone Walker. He mentioned his Paso Robles, Calif., brewery would be releasing a couple of cool new beers this summer: a black rye IPA and a hoppy

My Wine Cellar & Bistro will host its second-ever beer dinner at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30. The five-course menu will pair craft beers with chef Sarah Baer’s food. Beer dinner menu Reception:  Lost Coast Great White Ale (served with Chef

After two days of pre-opening parties, World of Beer in downtown Tempe opens its doors to the general public today. WoB is focused on just one thing: beer. And we’re not talking about Bud and Miller. See their list of 58

Flanny’s kicks off its new growler sales with a Ska Brewing promo tonight. From 5:30-7:30 p.m., the south Tempe craft beer bar will be pouring the Durango, Colo., brewery’s Pinstripe red ale and Nefarious Ten Pin imperial porter. On Saturday, Flanny’s

Thursday’s Firestone Walker beer dinner, part of the Double DBA release party at the Hungry Monk, has changed formats. The formerly four-course group dinner, organized by Cooking with Beer, has been switched to a three-course pairing menu available anytime after

Downtown Chandler’s SanTan Brewing won two medals – one gold, one bronze – at the U.S. Open Beer Championships in Atlanta. SanTan’s Epicenter took the gold in the American amber/red category, while its flagship Devils Ale earned the bronze for

World of Beer, a Florida-based chain of craft beer bars, will open next Wednesday, Aug. 8, on Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe. The 3,300-square-foot space will have 58 beers on tap and 500-plus in bottles and cans. Opening-week festivities will include:

Cooking with Beer and the Hungry Monk are teaming up for a Firestone Walker Beer Dinner on Thursday. The dinner will be held in conjunction with a release party for Double DBA, a new double-strength version of the California brewery’s

Bend, Ore., brewery Deschutes will hold the Valley release party for its Chainbreaker white IPA from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Hungry Monk in Chandler. The Monk will be offering samples of four Deschutes beers – Chainbreaker, Black Butte porter,

A sold-out crowd of 80-plus people enjoyed the seventh edition of Beer & Donuts at Il Vinaio on Saturday afternoon. The semi-annual event pairs four housemade gourmet doughnuts with four craft beers at the downtown Mesa restaurant and bar. Saturday’s

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

Colorado’s Odell Brewing will be the subject of tonight’s Friday Beer Class at the Watering Hole inside Whole Foods Chandler. Among the beers on tap will be four from Odell’s pilot brewing system: Footprint, Sabotuer, Shenanigans and Pond Hopper. Saboteur

Last month, a few of the contributors to The Beer Bros. website got together with Rob Sizemore and Matt Weber at Sleepy Dog Brewery to brew a collaboration beer. The result – an ESB, or Extra Special Bitter – will

Ahwatukee wine and cheese chop Wedge & Bottle is celebrating the start of the Summer Olympics by offering an English cheese plate for just $12 Friday and Saturday. In addition, there’ll be a 15 percent discount on select beers and

Fox Cigar Bar in Gilbert hosts a New Belgium tap takeover Friday. The Fort Collins, Colo., brewery will bring a modest six beers, but they will include two Belgian-style ales that never before have been on draft in Arizona: Abbey

Handlebar Pub & Grill is offering a Tapas & Tasting special featuring beers by Colorado brewery Oskar Blues on Thursday. The menu and beer pairings: 1st course: Watermelon salad (feta, spring greens, rainbow carrots & heirloom tomato tartare). With Mama’s Lil Yella

Sleepy Dog Brewery now is open on Tuesdays. And Sundays. And Saturday afternoons. The Tempe production brewery’s new hours: 4 p.m.-midnight Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Unlike most Valley breweries, Sleepy Dog, which opened in

Sacramento, Calif., brewery Rubicon will the subject of tonight’s Friday Beer Class at Whole Foods Chandler’s Watering Hole. Rubicon’s Rose Bud, an American strong ale, will be featured, and there’ll be lots of swag. The fun starts at 7 p.m.

Handlebar Pub & Grill hosts an Alaskan Brewing promotion from 6-8 p.m. Friday. The Apache Junction bar will have the Juneau, Alaska, brewery’s small-batch Freeride APA and Raspberry Wheat on tap. In addition, Handlebar just rolled out the latest version of

If you’re a fan of Sleepy Dog‘s new seasonal Monje Azul, you’re in luck. The Tempe brewery’s Belgian-style blue agave ale will be the new year-round house beer at Il Vinaio in downtown Mesa. “We were approached by (beer distributor)

Queen Creek Olive Mill will host its first-ever Sangria Social from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. In addition to its signature red and white sangrias, the mill will have several specialty sangrias, including ones made with beer and sparkling wine. There

New Belgium will be the subject of this week’s Friday Beer Class at Whole Foods Chandler, which will have the Fort Collins, Colo., brewery’s Brett Beer wild ale, 1554 enlightened black ale, and Belgo IPA on tap. The much-buzzed-about Brett, a

Kudos to everyone who came out for James Schmitt‘s fundraiser Wednesday at SanTan Brewing. I’m told the day-long event exceeded all expectations, raising $12,500 for Schmitt’s medical care. Here are the raffle winners: Dana Hubbell: Skin care package Gene Davidson:

The Handlebar Pub & Grill in Apache Junction will host a Big Sky beer promo at 6 p.m. tonight. Featured on tap will be the Missoula, Mont., brewery’s Big Sky IPA, Moose Drool brown ale, and Trout Slayer wheat ale.

Superstition Farm in southeast Mesa will host an ice cream social called “Moos, Booze & Schmooze” Thursday, July 19, sponsored by The Barter Group and its new Edible Exchange. The Scottsdale-based Barter Group launched Edible Exchange, a new barter concept for

The local craft beer community has donated an impressive list of raffle items for Wednesday’s all-day fundraiser for SanTan Brewing cellarman James Schmitt, a bystander who accidentally was shot in the back while walking his girlfriend to her car in a

True to its name, Le Freak Ale is a bit freaky. Its maker, San Diego’s Green Flash Brewing, calls it “out of the box,” an apt description for the unique cross between an American Imperial IPA and a Belgian Trippel.

The Brew Brothers will be the hosts of tonight’s Friday Beer Class at Whole Foods Chandler. They will discuss the blending of beers and share some samples. The event starts at 7 p.m. and costs $5.

Lucky Break is going to the dogs this week: Buy a hot dog platter or a Sleepy Dog beer at the Tempe sports bar and billards hall and it’ll donate all the proceeds to Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

Four Peaks Brewing has released the list of 15 beers it’ll bring to Flanny’s monthly Tap Takeover on Thursday, July 19. Here are the beers that will be available on tap at the south Tempe craft beer bar: Kiltlifter 8th

The Valley craft beer community is banding together to help one of its own Wednesday, July 11. SanTan Brewing cellarman James Schmitt was a bystander who was shot in the back while walking his girlfriend to her car in a

The pairings are out for the next Beer & Donuts on Saturday, July 28, at Il Vinaio in downtown Mesa. The featured craft beers and their accompanying housemade gourmet doughnuts: SanTan Mr. Pineapple hefe and Lemon Poppyseed Donut Goose Island Matilda strong

Firestone Walker rep Jeff Prior will be at Whole Foods Chandler at 7 tonight with Parabola and a few other of the Paso Robles, Calif., brewery’s ales for tasting. He also will be handing out some swag. Cost is $5.

Staffers past and present will be on hand for recently remodeled Iguana Mack’s “Back to the Future” party 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday. Live music starts at noon and continues until 9 at the Chandler roadhouse. A patio BBQ begins

The Hungry Monk will offer a one-night-only Left Coast beer menu at the Chandler restaurant Thursday. From 5-9 p.m., the Monk will be selling three food dishes made with beer: Poutine ($6): Crispy fries topped with a mushroom-beer gravy and

A few seats remain for the first-ever beer dinner at Lucky Break, the Tempe sports bar and billiards hall that opened in December. The three-course dinner, which starts at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, is $30 per person. See menu.

A Beer for Brains fundraiser featuring Belgian beers, scheduled for Friday at Sun Devil Liquors, has been cancelled, according to the Mesa liquor store. No reason was given.

A pair of Utah breweries – Wasatch and Squatters – will be the subject of the Friday Beer Class at Whole Foods Chander. Among the beers featured will be Wasatch’s Jalapeno Cream Ale (pictured). The weekly tasting, which starts at

Thursday at Flanny’s, the Tempe craft beer bar turns over its handles to Colorado’s Odell Brewing at 6:30 p.m. The monthly promotion will feature what’s billed as the largest selection of Odell beers ever in the Valley, including several special releases

Not many people are aware that 20 or so downtown Mesa businesses offer food and drink deals to those attending shows at the Mesa Arts Center. Just show your ticket/stub or printed online ticket, either before or after a MAC event,

This appears to be a good week to visit the Thirsty Lion. The recently opened pub and grill at Tempe Maretplace just launched a special: 50% off margaritas and mojitos ordered when the temperature is over 110 degrees. Based on

Il Vinaio has announced the date of its seventh Beer & Donuts pairing. The semi-annual promotion – which pairs four housemade gourmet donuts with four craft beers – will take place Saturday, July 28, at the downtown Mesa restaurant. No

California craft brewery Tap It, which is just getting into the Arizona market, is the subject of this week’s Friday Beer Class at Whole Foods Chandler. The class starts at 7 p.m. and is open to anyone 21 or over.

If you’re a fan of Bell’s Brewery, you’ll want to be at Whole Foods Chandler on Thursday night. The acclaimed Kalamazoo, Mich., brewery is doing a tap takeover and will have seven of its beers on draft: Oarsman Ale, Kalamazoo Stout,

Figures. A day after I post an update on the opening of World of Beer, I get an email: “Uh, you know that July 2 opening date we told you…?” Turns out construction is taking longer than expected. The opening is

Just three weeks until World of Beer opens on Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe. The sign has finally gone up on the former Tempe National Bank building on the northwest corner of Mill and Sixth Street. • First look: World

There was a big turnout for Whole Foods’ weekly beer “class” Friday night with special guest Borderlands Brewing. The Tucson brewery only has been open six months and already has four nice beers. Brewmaster Blake Collins tells me he’s working

Lucky Break is the latest East Valley establishment to jump on the beer-flight bandwagon. Get three 7-ounce pours of any of the 21 craft beers at the Tempe sports bar and billiard hall for just $5.

Borderlands Brewing Company will be the subject of this week’s Friday Beer Class at Whole Foods Chandler. The boys from Tucson will be bringing four of their beers: Ol’ Loco citrus IPA, Noche Dulce vanilla porter, Prickly Pear wheat, and