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The Dish with Jess Harter ~ Pursuing food and fun across the East Valley

Archive for the 'Rock Bottom' Tag

5 to try: East Valley brew pubs

November 6th, 2009, 9:42 pm by Jess Harter

A PBS special earlier this year declared craft beer is the new wine. And never before have beer drinkers had so many choices of small-batch ales and lagers produced right here in the Valley at a growing number of brew pubs that also offer full menus of food. Here are five to check out:

SanTan BrewingFour Peaks Brewing Company: The best-known and most-honored Valley microbrewery for the past 13 years makes eight mainstays, led by its popular Kiltlifter Scottish-style ale and British pub-inspired 8th Street Ale. It also has concocted more than two dozen various seasonal ales, such as its current Pumpkin Porter. 1340 E. Eighth St., Tempe, (480) 303-9967.

SanTan Brewing Company: This downtown Chandler brew pub (pictured at right), launched in 2007 by the longtime brewmaster from Four Peaks, showcases an every-day roster of six ales, plus a seasonal selection or two (currently, Strawberry Wit and SanTamber). Look for its most popular seasonal, Winter Warmer, to return later this month. 8 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler, (480) 917-8700.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery: This California-based chain operates 87 locations nationwide, including ones in Chandler and Mesa. The beer list includes seven standards, plus a seasonal selection (currently, Pumpkin Ale) that changes every two months. 3155 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, (480) 917-0631; 6622 E. Superstition Springs Blvd. Mesa, (480) 324-1675.

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery: This Colorado-based chain, which also owns Old Chicago restaurants, has 40 brew pubs, including one in Ahwatukee. The beer list features five standard ales and lagers, plus a monthly seasonal (the next, London Smoked Porter, will be tapped Thursday). 14205 S. 50th St., Phoenix, (480) 598-1300.

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant: The Gordon Biersch Bottling Company actually sold off its restaurant group - which now numbers 46 locations, including Gilbert and Tempe - to Tennessee-based Big River Breweries a decade ago. The beer list offers five standard selections, plus a seaonal (currently, an Oktoberfest). 2218 E. Williams Field Road, Gilbert, (480) 722-0883; 420 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, (480) 736-0033.

Posted in: Ahwatukee • Chandler • Gilbert • Tempe • • • • • | Post a Comment »

Rock Bottom celebrates 10th anniversary

April 2nd, 2009, 11:43 am by Jess Harter

Ahwatukee’s Rock Bottom celebrates its 10th anniversary today and will be selling brats and hot dogs for $1 all day.

Brewmaster Guy Bartmess has made a special anniversary ale, a dry-hopped pale ale called “Catcher in the Rye,” which will be tapped at 6:30 p.m.

The brew pub also is selling signature 10-year anniversary growlers.

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Ahwatukee’s Rock Bottom taps Dominator IPA

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 • • • | Post a Comment »
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