Given summer’s burning heat, there’s always room for another event based on beer consumption. The latest addition to the brew circuit is the Real, Wild, and Woody Beer Festival. Presented by the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild as a “more intimate” offshoot of the annual Strong Beer Festival, the focus here is solely on Copper State brewers and their specialty brews, including some unique offerings created just for this event. As the names imply, “wild” refers to cutting edge, unexpected brews -- some possibly even utilizing wild or “untamed” yeast -- while “woody” references cask and barrel-aged beers. Housed from several months to years in wine or whiskey barrels, these libations typically take on strangely desired characteristics like sour notes and “brown” qualities.
Chill with some Arizona specialty beers from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 19, at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 West Rio Salado Parkway. Tickets are $50 in advance and $65 the day of event. Visit www.realwildandwoody.com.
Sat., July 19, 2-6 p.m., 2014