16 July 11th-July 17th, 2024 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Best in Beer The 10 best breweries in metro Phoenix. BY SARA CROCKER AND TIRION BOAN W hether you crack open a can or saddle up to a bar and order a pint, there’s nothing quite like enjoying a cold beer after a long day. And it’s even better when that beer was made right in your neighborhood. Arizona is home to more than 100 brew- eries across the state, and the number of destinations where local homebrewers- turned-tastemakers are creating top-notch beers continues to grow. Shiny fermenta- tion tanks, bready aromas and seasonal sips abound at craft beer destinations around the Valley. Here are our top 10 picks for the best breweries in metro Phoenix. Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. 201 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix 912 N. Colorado St., Gilbert Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. works to put a little bit of State 48 into every glass, showcasing their love for the outdoors and mission of conversation and sustainability. Throughout the year, drinkers can taste locally grown barley, dates and citrus in their beers. The Dreamsicle Double Milkshake IPA uses hundreds of pounds of oranges from Gilbert’s Agritopia Farm. Pair it with a PB&J Burger and Wilderness’ duck fat fries. The brewers are also crafting unique hybrid beers, infusing ingredients and techniques used for making wine and cider. You’ll find those and more at Wilderness’ two taprooms, with a third in the works on McDowell Road near 14th Street, which is slated to open this year. Catalyst Crafted Ales 1845 E. Broadway Road, #106, Tempe 9241 E. Cadence Pkwy., #105, Mesa Brewer Will Walthereson honed his talents around California and Arizona before opening Catalyst Crafted Ales in Tempe in October 2023. The brewery is a craft nerd’s paradise, serving playful sours, hoppy IPAs and plenty of imperials. But, for less adven- turous drinkers, Walthereson has more traditional styles to choose from, including Vesuvio, an Italian pilsner that drinkers can have poured from Catalyst’s regular taps or via its side pull, a faucet-like tap that creates a European-style pour with a couple extra inches of foam. A pint goes well with an ahi tuna tostada from the in-house eatery S.A.L.T. The brew team is regularly experimenting with its seltzers, too, packing in big flavors in sessionable and higher-ABV options. In addition to the Tempe taproom, Kreg Bahm, who is a co-owner of Catalyst, has recently opened an East Valley outpost in the former location of Cork Crush in Mesa, serving beer from Catalyst with food from S.A.L.T. Front Pourch Brewing 1611 W. Whispering Wind Drive, #7 Walking into Front Pourch Brewing feels something like stepping onto a modern country-western movie set. A large wooden facade rises like a storefront behind the bar. Walls are covered in corru- gated metal. Wooden barrels serve as light shades, patio lights are strung overhead and a white picket fence edges the room. It’s a large warehouse-like space that, since opening in 2019, has been transformed successfully by its owners into a cozy and welcoming spot. Not to mention the beers here are delicious. In the summer, beat the heat with Chime Time, a blonde ale made with cherries and key limes. Come winter, try the S’mores Stout, made with a specialty graham cracker grain and cacao nibs. Food trucks often park outside to complete the experience at this family-run spot. Goldwater Brewing Co. 3608 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 5942 E. Longbow Pkwy., #105, Mesa 9895 S. Priest Drive, #102, Tempe Amid the hustle and bustle of Scottsdale, Goldwater Brewing Co. provides the perfect spot to slow down and sip on an expertly made craft beer. The original location debuted in Old Town in 2015. Then in 2020, the father-and-sons-owned business opened a second taproom in east Mesa, followed by a south Tempe spot in 2023. That’s good news for many metro Phoenix beer drinkers, as the brewery’s hoppy IPAs, award-winning stouts and refreshing lagers will soon be closer to home. For a true taste of Arizona, order the Desert Rose, a Kolsch-style beer brewed with bright pink Arizona prickly pear fruits, which impart a rosy hue on the sweet and satisfying sip. Greenwood Brewing 922 N. Fifth St. Two large dog-friendly patios; a modern, chic taproom; and a location right on trendy Roosevelt Row: What more could you ask for? Great beer? It’s got that too. Megan Greenwood opened her namesake Greenwood Brewing in Phoenix in 2020, and the craft beer destination quickly became celebrated as one of the few women-owned breweries to ever operate in the Valley. Over the past few years, it’s become a staple of the downtown drinking scene, in an area where concepts turn over frequently. Seasonal brews often appear on the menu. In the fall, be sure to try the Harvest Diem Spiced Ale, served with a honey and cinnamon sugar rim. The Rosemary IPA is a year-round offering that brings herbal notes to the table, or stick with the classic brew that helped this spot get off the ground, the Herstory Pale Ale, a crisp and refreshing sip. Huss Brewing Co. Multiple Locations Husband and wife team Jeff and Leah Huss are possibly the most qualified craft beer couple in the Valley. Leah graduated from the Scottsdale Culinary Institute and was a managing partner at Papago Brewing Co. for 14 years. Brewmaster Jeff holds a degree from the Siebel Institute of Technology, recognized as the top brewing school in the world, and previously worked as the head brewer at BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse in Chandler. The duo combined their years of craft beer knowledge to open Huss Brewing Co. in 2013. Now, cans of Huss beer are some of the most recognizable symbols of Arizona brewing. In metro Phoenix, fans can sip on Papago Orange Blossom or Koffee Kolsh from a taproom at its Tempe brewery, at outposts in uptown and downtown Phoenix or in the reimagined Papago taproom in Mesa that serves Huss beers and many others. Kitsune Brewing Co. 3321 E. Bell Road, Suite B-5 Since opening its doors in October 2022, Kitsune Brewing Co. has quickly cemented ▼ Food & Drink
