Beer Sampler by JMR_Photography
I love beer. Most people would probably consider me a beer snob in that I can’t stand Coors, Budweiser, or other popular brands. I like craft beer and exploring all the different tastes and styles from IPAs to stouts. Though if you really evaluated me to real “Beer Snob” standards I’m still very much of a newcomer, and I’m happy that way. I just like exploring tasty things, and don’t really care much about IBUs and brewing differences required for different grains.
I’m also a bit of an Arizona nerd, and am of the firm opinion there is far, far more to see, do, and experience in this state than most people realize. Complain to me there there is nothing going in Phoenix (or Arizona) and watch my eyes start to twitch. So when a commentor on a local board said there were “no good Arizona beers”, it hit two of my nerd buttons at once. The person is, quite simply, an idiot.
Great Arizona Beer
Being a Baby Beer Nerd, I did not want to craft a rebuttal on my own. I kicked it up the food-chain and asked the Arizona Craft Beer Lovers group on Facebook for their favorite Arizona beers. I specifically did not ask for “best Arizona beers” as this was not a competition, and beer preferences are very subjective. I just wanted to know what the Serious Beer Nerds in Arizona really like. They delivered!
Thirty-three different craft beers…
across thirteen Arizona breweries…
in nine different cities!
It’s a great list. Some of these I haven’t tried myself, so I got my own homework out of the deal to correct that issue.
Beers listed in Green were the most popular in the group, and everything in Yellow also received multiple votes. I put in each brewery’s home city, but most of these beers are available throughout the state. I also added a link to the brewery’s website so you can get more info.
| Brewery | Beer | City |
| Arizona Wilderness | The Refuge IPA | Queen Creek |
| Four Peaks | 8th Street Ale | Tempe |
| Four Peaks | Raj IPA | Tempe |
| Four Peaks | Sirius Black | Tempe |
| Four Peaks | Belgian Black Ale | Tempe |
| Four Peaks | Pumpkin Porter | Tempe |
| Four Peaks | Kiltlifter | Tempe |
| Four Peaks | Oatmeal Stout | Tempe |
| Four Peaks | Hop Knot | Tempe |
| LumberYard | Big Rapid Red | Flagstaff |
| Mogollon | Mesquite Smoked Porter | Flagstaff |
| Mogollon | Wapiti Amber Ale | Flagstaff |
| Nimbus | Old Monkeyshine | Tucson |
| Oak Creek | Nut Brown Ale | Sedona |
| Old World | Old World Red Ale | Phoenix |
| Old World | Nitro Blonde Ale | Phoenix |
| Papago | Orange Blossom | Scottsdale |
| Papago | Elsie’s Milk Stout | Scottsdale |
| Papago | Belle Epoque | Scottsdale |
| Papago | Oude Zuipers | Scottsdale |
| Prescott Brewing | Achocolypse | Prescott |
| SanTan | Hefeweizen | Chandler |
| SanTan | HopShock I.P.A. | Chandler |
| SanTan | Gordo Stout | Chandler |
| SanTan | Negro Nitron | Chandler |
| Sleepy Dog | Red Rover | Tempe |
| Sonoran | Sonoran 200 | Scottsdale |
| Sonoran | White Chocolate Ale | Scottsdale |
| Sonoran | Inebriator | Scottsdale |
| SunUp | Armadillo Red | Phoenix |
| SunUp | Horizon Hefeweizen | Phoenix |
No Excuses – Drink Arizonan!
If you just weren’t sure where to find great beer made in Arizona, or were intimidated by unfamiliar names and labels, you’re out of reasons to procrastinate. Arizona has tons of great beer and brewries, so get out there and try some.
I know there are many others out there, so if I missed your favorite, tell me about it!
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