Archive for the 'Beer' Tag
June 14th, 2009, 7:55 pm by Jess Harter
After years of peddling tote bags and DVDs, Arizona PBS has come up with a new fund-raising idea: Beer.
In conjunction with “Craft Beer: The New Wine,” a two-hour, locally produced show that debuted in March, the station is teaming up with a Delaware microbrewery and Valley beer magazine for a pair of events this week.
On Friday, Arizona PBS and Dogfish Head will co-host an “Ancient Ales” dinner at the Millenium Resort in Scottsdale.
On Saturday, the station and Draft Magazine will present a Craft Beer Festival at Turf Paradise in Phoenix.
The six-course “Ancient Ales” dinner will feature several of the Milton, Del., brewery’s specialty ales reconstructed with the help of ancient artifacts.
For example, the brewery’s Midas Touch ale uses ingredients found in 2,700-year-old drinking vessels discovered in what’s believed to be the tomb of King Midas, discovered in modern-day Turkey in 1969.
Dogfish claims the recipe represents the oldest-known fermented beverage.
Another of the brewery’s ales, Theobroma, is based on a chemical analysis of Honduran pottery fragments that revealed the earliest known chocolate drink.
The Draft Craft Beer Festival will spotlight more than two dozen breweries, each of which will bring multiple beers for sampling.
The breweries include locals like Four Peaks, SanTan and Papago, as well as out-of-staters like Stone, Odell and Full Sail.
The four-hour festival, which will be limited to just 500 people, also will include meats and cheeses courtesy of Whole Foods and raffle items.
Dogfish Head Ancient Ales Dinner
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Millenium Resort, 7401 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
How much: $125 per person; $365 package includes two tickets, overnight lodging and breakfast
Info: azpbs.org/beer
Draft Craft Beer Festival
When: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Turf Paradise, 1501 W. Bell Road, Phoenix
How much: $60 per person
Info: azpbs.org/beer
Posted in: Phoenix • Scottsdale • Beer | Post a Comment »
March 13th, 2009, 4:42 pm by Jess Harter
St. Patrick’s Day isn’t just for the Irish. In fact, the day has been celebrated in United States since … well, since before there even was a United States. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in Boston in 1737.
So in keeping with 272 years of tradition, those of us of Irish descent, and many more who aren’t, will be wearing green, indulging in corned beef and cabbage and drinking green beer Tuesday.
There are far too many celebrations at East Valley bars and restaurants to list them all, but here are some of the most popular:
 Fibber Magees annually hosts one of the East Valley’s biggest parties, fencing their strip-mall parking lot (you have to park across the street) to make room for as many as 3,000 revelers. The pub starts serving Irish breakfast at 8 a.m., with outdoor action beginning at 11. The Keltic Cowboys kick off the music at 2:30 p.m., followed by Capitol Down and The Scones. $10 cover. 1989 W. Elliot Rd., Chandler, (480) 722-9434.
SanTan Brewing Company is closing off the street (Commonwealth) on the north of the downtown Chandler brew pub at 4 p.m. for Irish dancers and games. Music will be provided by The Knockabouts, GTR and The Insomniacs. Featured vendors include Rock Bottom, BJ’s Restaurant, Gordon Biersch, Guinness, Bailey’s and Strong Bow. Cover is $20 in advance and $25 at door. 8 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler, (480) 917-8700.
Murphy’s Law, just down the street from SanTan, is fencing off an area behind the Irish pub to accommodate an additional 300 people. Corned beef and bangers (sausages) will be sold. Drink specials include $3 green beers and $5 Guinness. Four bands begin playing at 3 p.m. Cover is $5 before 3 and $10 after. 58 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler, (480) 812-1588.
R.T. O’Sullivan’s will host parking-lot parties for about 1,500 people at both its Mesa sports bars. Live music starts at noon, with five bands at each location. Drink specials include 20-ounce green beers for $4, $5 domestics and $6 imports. 1010 W. Southern Ave., Mesa, (480) 844-1290; 6646 Superstition Springs Boulevard, Mesa, (480) 396-9933.
 Dos Gringos, Upper Deck Sports Grill and Acme Bar will team up for the Craftsman Court Block Party in Old Town Scottsdale. Metal Elvis, Zimis and Hairforce will perform. Drink specials include eight green beers for $20. The party, which starts at 11 a.m., is free before 8 p.m. and TBD after. Craftsman Court between Third and Fifth avenues, (480) 423-3800.
McDuffy’s Grille will have $2 green beer, $3 Lucky Leprechauns and $3 Rainbow Rockets starting at 11 a.m. Food will include corned beef and cabbage for $7.95. There also will be green beads and giveaways, as well as a free shuttle. 980 E. Pecos Road, Chandler, (480) 966-8200.
Tilted Kilt opens the doors at its Mesa location at 6 a.m. Irish step dancers and bagpipers will perform at an outside beer garden. Bullox provides live music at 2 p.m., followed by Incognito at 6. Call for cover. 1910 S. Gilbert Road, Mesa, (480) 507-5458.
Casey Moore’s puts on its annual parking-lot party with a limited menu of such dishes as corned beef and shepherd’s pie. No live music or drink specials. The celebrating starts at 10 a.m. Cover is free until dusk; TBD after. 850 S. Ash Ave., Tempe, (480) 968-9935.
D’Arcy McGee’s opens at 6 p.m. for Irish breakfast and a live radio broadcast on KUPD-FM. Live music begins in the Tempe Marketplace parking lot at 1 p.m. with Inis, JG and the Modrockers and the Cell Phone Cowboys. Cover is $10. 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, (480) 557-9087.
Rula Bula will offer a limited menu of its Irish favorites all day, with bands — Pat McCrosan, the Town Lake Highlanders and the Keltic Cowboys — starting on the patio at noon. The Insomniacs plays inside at 9:30. Cover TBD. 401 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, (480) 929-9500.
Four Peaks Brewing Company opens at 7 a.m. for Irish breakfast. Irish food will be available all day, as will $3.50 pints on all its beers. No cover. 1340 E. Eighth St., Tempe, (480) 303-9967.
Posted in: Chandler • Gilbert • Mesa • Scottsdale • Tempe • Bars • Beer • Restaurants • St. Patrick's Day | Post a Comment »
March 13th, 2009, 11:59 am by Jess Harter
I hadn’t been to Ahwatukee’s Rock Bottom in more than a year, so when brewmaster Guy Bartmess invited me to Thursday night’s tapping of his Dominator IPA I decided to reacquaint myself with brew pub’s nice selection of craft beers.
 The tapping was at 6:30 p.m., but when I arrived at 6 the bar area was standing room only. A lot of customers brought their growlers, 64-ounce bottles that Rock Bottom sells (filled) for $13. Refills are $10, and at tappings of new beers (which occur about once a month) refills are just $2.
When the big moment arrived, Bartmess climbed atop a table with a bullhorn (pictured) and announced the new IPA (which stands for India Pale Ale). I found it very hoppy, slightly malty, but without the bitterness that so many IPAs have.
SInce it was dinner time, I paired the Dominator with one of Rock Bottom’s pizzas. Just about any beer goes with pizza, of course, but I think IPAs complement it especially well.
I also sampled the Fire Chief red ale that Bartmess unveiled last month, and I liked it even better than the Dominator. If you want to try it you’d better hurry. I don’t think it’ll last through the month.
Besides the two seasonal or “brewer’s choice” beers, Rock Bottom always has six every-day beers on tap, including Dream Catcher (a American light lager), El Jefe (a German Hefeweizen) and Roadrunner Brown (an English brown ale).
The next tapping will be April 2, when Bartmess introduces a rye pale ale he’s calling Catcher in the Rye. It’ll be an extra-special occasion because the restaurant and brewery will be celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Rock Bottom, 14205 S. 50th St., opens at 11 a.m. daily. Info: (480) 598-1300.
Posted in: Ahwatukee • Beer • Restaurants • Rock Bottom | Post a Comment »
March 11th, 2009, 10:50 am by Jess Harter
In what’s becoming a hot ticket, SanTan Brewing Company held its second monthly tasting event Tuesday night at the downtown Chandler brew pub. About 40 people enjoyed a three-course, small-plates meal with craft beer pairings for just $10. This month’s spotlight was on stouts.
SanTan brewmaster Anthony Canecchia chats with guests as they start with Nimbus Oatmeal Stout from Tucson. The smooth-flavored beer was served with Camembert cheese toasted on the pub’s beer bread with sliced dates and a Gordo Stout hazelnut syrup.
OK, that’s not a glass of stout. But there’s a reason SanTan’s Sunspot Gold is the pub’s bestseller.
During the meal, guests had plenty of time to discuss beer.
SanTan general manager Jeff Duport fills another 40 glasses of stout.
The second course is petit dejeuner mussels.
The mussels are steamed in a broth of garlic and Gordo Stout with chevre cheese and watercress.
Another round of stout is delivered.
The mussels are paired with SanTan’s own Gordo stout, a dry Irish stout with coffee and chocolate flavors.
Guest speaker Guy Bartmess, brewmaster at Rock Bottom in Ahwatukee, explains the evening’s final beer, Rock Bottom’s Coffee Stout.
Rock Bottom’s stout is paired with a roasted pecan and coffee cheesecake.
The beer-and-cheesecake combination is a hit.
The hour-long event gives Canecchia the opportunity to visit with every table.
As Tuesday’s event wraps up, guests begin thinking about next month’s tasting, which will be held April 14. The featured beers will be announced soon.
Posted in: Chandler • Beer • Photos • Restaurants • SanTan Brewing | Post a Comment »
March 8th, 2009, 7:26 pm by Jess Harter
 Some drinks and foods just go together. Milk and cookies. Wine and cheese.
But beer and cheesecake?
Actually, the two complement each other surprisingly well when you’re talking about stout ale and coffee-flavored cheesecake (pictured at left).
It will be one of pairings spotlighted in Tuesday’s monthly tasting event at SanTan Brewing Company in downtown Chandler.
Guy Bartmess, brewmaster at Rock Bottom Brewery in Ahwatukee, will join SanTan owner-brewmaster Anthony Canecchia for an informal discussion of stout ales.
The hour-long presentation, which begins at 6:30 p.m. and costs $10, will include three stouts accompanied by food samples from SanTan chef Brant Gasparek.
For the first course, the Oatmeal Stout from Nimbus Brewing of Tucson will be paired with warmed Camembert cheese layered on a fresh baguette and drizzled with a stout/hazelnut reduction.
Rock Bottom’s Saguaro Stout will accent Petit Dejeuner mussels steamed in a stout garlic broth topped with chevre cheese and watercress for the second course.
For dessert, SanTan’s Gordo Stout, which has coffee and chocolate flavors, will be served with the brew pub’s roasted pecan and coffee cheesecake.
Seating is limited so reservations are recommended. Info: (480) 917-8700.
Posted in: Chandler • Beer • Restaurants | Post a Comment »
March 7th, 2009, 9:19 pm by Jess Harter
The 21st annual Great Arizona Beer Festival draws several thousand beer drinkers to Tempe Beach Park on Saturday. (It continues Sunday.) Approximately 50 brewers offer samples of more than 200 beers.
My first stop of the day is Dogfish Head’s booth, where I run into Louis, the Delaware brewery’s Arizona sales manager. I enjoy a 4-ounce sample of their 90 Minute IPA, which was named one of the country’s best by Esquire magazine.
Next stop: The booth of SanTan Brewing from downtown Chandler. Jeff, Michal, Anthony and Landon are representin’. I follow them to …
… the Odell Brewing booth, where I try the Colorado brewery’s India Pale Ale, perhaps the best IPA I’ve ever tasted. I can see why it won gold medals at the 2007 Great American Beer Festival and the 2008 World Beer Cup.
Next, I head to the Sierra Nevada booth, looking for their new Torpedo Extra IPA. Unfortunately, it’s not one of the beers they brought, so I settle for their seasonal ESB.
At the Blue Moon booth, beer drinkers are invited to help paint the company’s new billboard, which will go up at 49th Street and Indian School Road in a couple months. I decline their offer, given my lack of artistic skills.
Spotted in the crowd: Dieter, the brewmaster at Gordon Biersch in Tempe. I remind myself that I still need to find a good hat if I’m gonna keep going to these outdoor events.
Sun Up Brewing has its coming-out party at Saturday’s festival. Sun Up is the new name for the former Brewer’s Den, the on-site brewing facility at Sonora Brewhouse in Phoenix, which is entering the distribution business. Look for their Trooper IPA, Horizon Hefeweizen and Armadillo Red Ale at Valley restaurants and pubs soon.
Some festival attendees see my camera and ask me to take their photo. Of course, once people see you taking photographs …
… then other people walking by ask to have their photo taken as well …
… OK, just one more photo, then I need to get back to the beer.
There are plenty of food booths at the festival, but the best has to be the guys from McReynolds Farms in Phoenix. They have a fresh-roasted whole pig. Now that’s good eatin’!
I wash down the pork with a Ponderosa IPA from Prescott Brewing. A sign on their booth lists the many awards they’ve won in their 12 years.
What’s a beer festival without a party band? On this weekend, it’s The Crown Kings.
Wait, I may have found my new hat! At least this guy working at the Alaskan Brewing booth gave me one of the Juneau brewery’s new White Wheat Ales.
Another beer festival staple: The bean bag toss.
Designated drivers get their own special area at this year’s fest, complete with perks …
… plus free soda from Pop the Soda Shop in Scottsdale.
Do I really want to try something called Reaper Ale?
No, this guy doesn’t work for a brewery. He’s just really into beer. Anyone that enthusiastic should get into the festival for free.
Less than halfway through the afternoon and the lines at these two booths, as at most booths, are more than 50 people long. Getting too crowded, so it’s time to head home …
Posted in: Tempe • Beer • Festivals • Great Arizona Beer Festival • Photos | 1 Comment »
March 6th, 2009, 9:53 am by Jess Harter
The East Valley sure seems to love beer festivals.
A week after the Strong Beer Festival in Mesa and a month before the Southwest Festival of Beers in Scottsdale, the 21st annual Great Arizona Beer Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday at Tempe Beach Park.
More than 200 beers will be available from approximately 50 brewers. Admission, $40 in advance and $50 at the gate, includes a souvenir tasting mug and 24 sampling tickets.
All proceeds from the festival go to Sun Sounds of Arizona, a reading service for the blind.
The festival will run 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Last year’s Tempe festival drew 7,500 people; organizers expect up to 10,000 this weekend.
New this year will be a special tent for designated drivers featuring such activities as massages, aromatherapy and cosmetics demonstrations. Designated drivers get into the fest for $20.
Food will be available at an additional cost. Options will range from brats to tamales to deep-fried Twinkies.
Live music will be provided by the Crown Kings and Mystic Blue.
Festival admission is limited to those 21 and over. A photo ID is required.
Tempe Beach Park is located on the northwest corner of Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway. Free shuttles will run to designated parking lots east and west of the park.
Info: (480) 774-8300 or azbeer.com.
Posted in: Tempe • Beer • Festivals | Post a Comment »
March 2nd, 2009, 1:13 pm by Jess Harter
The weather was nearly perfect for the ninth annual Strong Beer Festival, which drew nearly 3,000 people to Mesa Amphitheatre.
After getting sunburned at a Cactus League game Thursday, I needed a good hat like this guy’s.
Prescott Brewing was among 50 or so brewers participating.
Some brewers came from as far away as New York and San Francisco.
This crew apparently didn’t have a kickball game that night.
Anthony Canecchia, brewmaster at SanTan Brewing in Chandler, and Henry Brodersen, one of the producers of “Craft Beer: The New Wine,” which airs Tuesday on Channel 8.
Where there’s beer, you’ll often find cigars.
Scottsdale’s Sonoran Brewing was a big hit with its White Chocolate Ale. The first beer I sampled.
I couldn’t pass up a chance to try the Hopsquatch Barleywine at Four Peaks‘ booth. One keg of the slightly sweet beer is tapped each month at the Tempe brewpub and only lasts a week or so.
Drinkwear Clothing sells shirts and hats - all of which have a bottle opener attached.
Festival organizer Jerry Gantt is executive director of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild.
Ska music from the 2 Tone Lizard KIngs kept the crowd on its feet.
Does anything go better with beer than meat on a grill?
The motto of the day.
Michal from SanTan was handing out the last precious samples of the Chandler brewpub’s seasonal Winter Warmer, which won’t be back until November.
Beer-related signage.
The official festival T-shirt. Surprisingly, just $10.
Posted in: Mesa • Beer • Festivals • Strong Beer Festival | 1 Comment »
February 28th, 2009, 11:42 pm by Jess Harter
“A change is brewing in America …”
So begins “Craft Beer: The New Wine,” a one-hour special about the growing popularity of small breweries that create new and unique beers. Produced by Tempe-based PBS station KAET-TV (Channel 8), the show airs at 9 p.m. Tuesday.
“We wanted to do something that would show what was happening here in Arizona and also what was happening with craft beers,” says show co-producer Scott Wallin. “This is one of few growing industries in our economy.”
The show’s opening segment examines craft beers in the Valley, including interviews with Anthony Canecchia (pictured below), owner and brewmaster of SanTan Brewing Company in Chandler, and Ron Kloth, president of Papago Brewing Company in Scottsdale, among others.
Andy Ingram (pictured above), brewmaster at Four Peaks Brewing Company in Tempe, walks viewers through the extensive beer-brewing and packaging process in the second 20-minute segment.
 The final segment spotlights the making of Palo Santo Marron, a specialty beer made in Paraguayan wood casks by Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales in Milton, Del.
During the show, Dogfish Head’s Western sales representative, Louis Dolgoff, aptly summarizes the appeal of craft beers in the current economy:
“Unlike wine, where the best wines in the world can cost $50, $200, $300, you can go to a fine liquor store and get some of the best beers in the world for $4, $5, $6.”
“Craft Beer: The New Wine,” conceived in December and shot over an eight-day period in early February, is intended to spark interest in two upcoming KAET fundraisers.
On June 19, KAET will host an Ancient Ales dinner at the Millennium Resort in Scottsdale. Archaeological discoveries have allowed brewers to re-create ancient beers from Turkey, Mexico and China, which will be paired with a five-course meal for $125.
On June 20, KAET and Valley-based Draft magazine will present a four-hour craft-beer-tasting festival at Turf Paradise in Phoenix. Tickets are $60.
 Filming the television show and setting up the two events has been an eye-opening process for Henry Brodersen, the show’s other producer.
“I think the biggest thing I’ve taken from it is just how much these brewers at these micro-pubs and breweries love their art and their craft,” he says. “They put so much time and energy into creating these wonderful beers.”
Wallin agrees: “I’ve always drank the same old ‘big brewers’ beer, but you start tasting these things and the differences are unbelievable. I mean, some of these are virtually wines.”
On TV
“Craft Beer: The New Wine” airs 9 p.m. Tuesday on Channel 8. It will re-air at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
Posted in: Chandler • Scottsdale • Tempe • Beer • TV | Post a Comment »
February 28th, 2009, 8:06 am by Jess Harter
The Strong Beer Festival is showing no signs of being tapped out. The annual East Valley event will boast a record number of participants Saturday at Mesa Amphitheatre.
“We have over 40 breweries this year,” says Jerry Gantt, executive director of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild. “Last year we only had 27 and thought that was great.”
The festival started in 2001 as a way for the guild to promote Arizona’s craft brewing industry. About 150 people showed up for the inaugural event at Mill Avenue Beer Company in downtown Tempe.
After a couple years at Scottsdale Stadium, the festival has spent the past four years at the Mesa Amphitheatre, where Saturday’s crowd — which will be capped at 3,000 to prevent overcrowding — will enjoy nearly 150 craft beers, food and live music.
Besides notable Valley breweries like Four Peaks in Tempe, SanTan in Chandler and Sonoran in Scottsdale, many out-of-state breweries will featured.
“We pretty much limit it to craft and specialty beers,” Gantt says. “We try not to limit it to just beers produced here in Arizona, but also those craft beers available here.”
For example, Valley wholesale giant Hensley & Co. distributes such craft beers as Widmer Brothers from Oregon and Kona from Hawaii.
As for what defines a strong beer, Gantt admits, “That’s a question up for debate among brewers.”
For him, it’s any beer more than 7.5 percent alcohol by volume. Using that standard, “about half the beers at the festival will be strong beers,” he says.
Festival tickets are $40, which entitles attendees, who must be 21 or older, to 16 sampling tickets. Samples are four ounces.
Admission for designated drivers is $10, and they receive free bottled water. Some breweries, Gantt says, are providing root beer for designated drivers. Taxi service also will be available.
Gantt, an Arizona native whose 18-year career as brewer included stints at Bandersnatch in Tempe, Copper Canyon in Chandler and Leinenkugel’s in Phoenix, says craft beers are enjoying a resurgence.
“They’ve been growing for four or five years after being flat for four or five years,” he says, crediting it, at least in part, to the country’s aging Baby Boomers.
“I’m older,” he says. “Here I am at a point in my life when I decided it was more enjoyable to drink the good stuff — drink less of it and enjoy it — than to pound down beers.”
Strong Beer Festival
When: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday (VIP admission begins at 1 p.m.)
Where: Mesa Amphitheatre, 263 N. Center St.
How much: $40, which includes 16 sampling tickets. Designated drivers get in for $10. Admission will be capped at 3,000 to prevent overcrowding.
Info: azbrewguild.com
Posted in: Mesa • Beer • Festivals • Strong Beer Festival | Post a Comment »
February 18th, 2009, 11:31 pm by Jess Harter
 The bad news: The last pint of SanTan Brewing Company’s wonderful Winter Warmer is likely gone by the time you read this.
The good news: The downtown Chandler brew pub has unveiled its new seasonal beer — WallyToffee — and it’s another winner.
Similar to an English brown ale, WallyToffee (pictured) is a dark amber ale with hints of toasted nuts and caramel. The sweet malt character makes it remarkably smooth with no bitterness.
Owner and brewmaster Anthony Canecchia was aiming for somewhere between 5 percent and 5.5 percent alcohol, “but it ended up being about 6 percent,” he says.
Canecchia says WallyToffee, which sells for $4.75 per pint, will be available for about a month, depending on how quickly SanTan customers consume the 30-keg batch.
Winter Warmer, a holidays-themed dark ale made with ginger and honey, will return in November, he says.
In addition to a seasonal beer, SanTan offers five signature “everyday” beers: Sunspot Gold, Big Red, HopShock IPA, HefeWeizen and Gordo Stout.
The brew pub’s lunch and dinner menu features a variety of salads, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas and entrees.
Posted in: Chandler • Beer • Restaurants • SanTan Brewing Co. | 1 Comment »
February 9th, 2009, 3:27 pm by Jess Harter
 I’m usually not a big fan of dark beers, but I absolutely love the seasonal Winter Warmer ale currently available at SanTan Brewing Co. The downtown Chandler brew pub originally offered it for the holidays, and it was so popular that owner and brewmaster Anthony Canecchia made a second batch.
The ale is made with honey and ginger, giving it a slighty sweet, slighty spicy taste. Because it’s nearly 10 percent alcohol, Winter Warmer comes in 10-ounce servings in a brandy sifter. As an added treat, you even get a couple homemade cookies baked by one of SanTan’s servers.
Winter Warmer will be one of the featured beers at this week’s Tuesday Night Tasting, which are held at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at SanTan and also feature other local brewers. Gordon Biersch brew master Dieter Foerstner will join Canecchia to talk about seasonal beers, including the former’s Winter Boch.
San Tan chef Brant Grasparek will prepare seasoned pear and lamb kebobs for attendees to sample. The cost of the one-hour tasting is $10 per person, which includes the two beers and the kebobs. Info: (480) 917-8700.
Posted in: Chandler • Beer • Restaurants | Post a Comment »
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