NEW TIMES 2022 BOWL GUIDE SPECIAL RETAIL SECTION Dec 22nD–Dec 28th, 2022 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times 40 BEER BOWL These are the 10 best breweries in metro Phoenix. BY TIRION MORRIS 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 while you watch college football. And it’s even better when that beer was made right in the neighborhood. Arizona is home to around 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. Front Pourch Brewing 1611 West Whispering Wind Drive, #7 623-277-0526 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 corrugated metal. Wooden barrels serve as light shades, patio lights are strung overhead, and a white picket fence edges the room. It’s a large warehouselike 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 expe- rience at this family-run spot. Goldwater Brewing Co. 3608 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480-350-7305 5942 East Longbow Parkway, #105, Mesa 480-590-3215 Amid the hustle and bustle of Old Town 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, and now, it has a South Tempe spot in the works. That’s good news for many metro Phoenix beer drinkers, as the brewery’s hoppy IPAs, rich 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. Grand Avenue Brewing Co. 1205 West Pierce Street 602-666-1617 Smoked baked potatoes may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about craft beer. But at Grand Avenue Brewing Co., the owners know they’ve got something special on the menu. Now pair the dish with great beer, the eclectic vibe of Grand Avenue, and a 1940s-era warehouse, and you’ve got something truly unique. Try the Happy Jack Cream Ale for a smooth, creamy brew, or taste one of Grand Avenue’s unique barrel-aged brews, strong ales, or barley wines. Funky art adorns the walls, live bands often fill the space with music, and there are plenty of board games to keep everyone happy at this welcoming and chill spot. Greenwood Brewing 922 North Fifth Street 602-875-8577 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 B O W L G U I D E >> p 43
