Beverages

3 Reasons Why the AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival Is the Best in Arizona

I tolerate the douchery of the Great Arizona Beer Festival. I enjoy the charitable nature of the Beer for Brains Rare Affair. I love the drunken shenanigans and alcohol-heavy drink that flows freely at the Arizona Strong Beer Fest. See also: - 2013 AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival in Scottsdale ... More >>

The Chipotle Patron Margarita: You Get What You Pay For

Did I just spy a cocktail shaker behind the cashier at my local Chipotle? Why, yes, I did. Chipotle has rolled out a new Patron Margarita, a margarita "so good, you'll forget you're drinking from a plastic cup." Their words, not mine. I just had to see that shaker in action and find out more about ... More >>

Summer Mixology Classes with Travis Nass at the Last Drop Bar, Starting May 19

There are a few great mixologists in the Valley, and most cocktail connoisseurs would say Travis Nass is, hands down, one of them. He and his handlebar mustache have been creating quite a name for the Last Drop Bar at Lon's at the Hermosa Inn as a place to get unique drinks. See also: - Tastemake ... More >>

Scotch Chef's Table at Cafe ZuZu in Scottsdale on May 20

A Mr. Ron Burgundy once said, "I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly." And if, like Mr. Burgundy, you're a fan of the stuff, then you might just be thrilled to know that Cafe ZuZu at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale will be having a scotch-filled chef's table ... More >>

Four Peaks SunBru: A Can-tastic Gold Medal Winner

Beer: Sunbru Brewery: Four Peaks Brewing Co. Style: Kolsch ABV: 5.2 percent If you people are any part the beer geeks you claim to be, you'll journey outside your homes on Saturday, May 18, into the increasingly balmy summer air and over to the AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival. You'll get to lis ... More >>

Central Bistro's Andrea Volpi Offers Tips on Cooking with Wine

You've probably seen the meme about wine and cooking: "I tried cooking with wine for the first time last night. After 5 glasses, I forgot why I was in the kitchen." Even if this is you, have no fear. General "cooking with wine" rules including things like "don't use cheap wine," or use a dry whit ... More >>

Fest of the Best

Tea Time

Toddy Takedown: Press Coffee Roasters vs. Cartel Coffee Lab

Toddy-style brewed iced coffee is better than hot drip for a few reasons. First of all, the acidity levels are lower in cold-brewed coffee, making it more drinkable in those indigestion-filled crunch times. It's also higher in caffeine, which means you pretty much only need one cup to keep you going ... More >>

Ten FIDY, Oskar Blues and the Canned Beer Apocalypse

Beer: Ten FIDY Brewery: Oskar Blues Brewery Style: Imperial Stout ABV: 10.5 percent As we inch ever closer to the third annual AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival our discussion of aluminum cylinders continues, and it's only right that at this point we bring up Oskar Blues. See also: - 2013 Ameri ... More >>

How To Make the Best Mint Julep, Ever.

This weekend, brace your livers for impact. Sunday is Cinco de Drinko Mayo. Thankfully, I already have that base covered with how to make an awesome margarita. But first, it's time to get out your ludicrously oversized hats for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. If it's time for the Derby, it's time fo ... More >>

2013 AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival in Scottsdale on May 18

As much as we respect beer in bottles we have to admit there are quite a few benefits that come with sipping your suds out of a can. First of all the can is much more beach and pool friendly not to mention lighter (and therefore easier to transport) and never, ever requires a bottle opener. See al ... More >>

13 Metro Phoenix Restaurants and Bars with Cinco de Mayo Celebrations

Okay, so maybe you don't know exactly why it's a tradition to eat, drink, and party on Cinco de Mayo (FYI, it's to commemorate the 150-year-old Battle of Puebla, a victory of the Mexican militia over the French army). But those pesky details shouldn't stop you from having a truly awesome modern Amer ... More >>

The Secret to the Perfect Margarita (Hint: It Does Not Include Agave Nectar)

I just took a look at the calendar, and realized that Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner. Never mind that it's barely a blip on the radar in Mexico; around here, it's become Cinco de Drinko, where it's socially acceptable to get wasted on crummy margaritas and horrible Mexican beer. If you're ... More >>

Sam Pillsbury Spills on the Reason He Landed in Arizona, and Launches a Wine Column for Chow Bella

This week we introduce a new, occasional wine column by one of the best-known Arizona winemakers, Sam Pillsbury. Welcome to Spillsbury. When managing editor Amy Silverman asked me to write for Chow Bella and New Times, I had to stop and think how that was going to work. I think that will evolve. I ... More >>

The Coffee Chop Kicks Off Coffee Class Series at Crepe Bar in Tempe

Phoenix coffee connoisseur Perry Czopp knows a hell of a lot about coffee. He's made a commitment to helping others learn about the art of all things java through his business, The Coffee Chop. The Chop offers coffee tours and tastings, and he hosts regular competitions that pit local baristas again ... More >>

11 Great Wine Bars in Metro Phoenix

In a time that doesn't seem too long ago, Americans approached wine with a sense of dread. Stumbling over French names, listening to the intimidating patter of the sommelier (who had what looked like an ashtray hanging from his neck), smelling the cork, sipping and giving a nod of approval -- the wh ... More >>

A Basketful of Wine Recommendations for Easter

Easter means brunch and wine. Left: Luciano Frascarelli Jermann of Taggia and a Pinot Grigio recommended by Sarah Falconer, wine sommelier of Del Frisco's Grille/td> We love drinking wine at Easter time. And we're not talking about communion wine. Easter is a holiday known for its amazingly diverse ... More >>

Rancho Pinot and Maya's Farm Team Up for Lunar Lamb Fest on March 26

Anyone's who's lived here for more than two seconds knows that this is the best time to be in the Valley, and that has little to do with the weather. (Okay, maybe it has a lot to do with the weather.) But what we look forward to are the season-long celebrations -- from endless festivals to art sho ... More >>

Arizona WIne at Devoured 2013

Pavle Milic knows his way around a bottle of Arizona wine, so when he graciously offered to give us the rundown on the local wine showcased last weekend at Devoured, we jumped at the chance. Full disclosure: As co-owner of FnB in Scottsdale, Milic serves AZ wine and he's in the process of making his ... More >>

Aviation Cocktail: Your Taste Buds Are Cleared for Takeoff

Ring the bell, it's time for Last Call, in which JK Grence, bartender at Shady's, serves up booze advice and recipes. Got a burning question for your bartender? Leave it in the comments and it might be answered in a future column. Every now and again, a movie comes along where the supporting actors ... More >>

10 Best Margaritas in Metro Phoenix

Summer is coming. Time to switch our drinking regimen from stouts, red wines, and whiskey to more refreshing beverages. The first thing that always comes to mind when the temps top 80 degrees is a margarita, and, boy, do we know quite a few places around town that serve up unique and delicious takes ... More >>

Old World Brewery: The Old World Must've Been Messed Up

A word often flung around the beer-rating websites on which I sometimes dwell is homerism. The term has a broad definition, but most basically it means support for a local brewery that goes beyond what said brewery deserves. It's most often used by people from states outside a certain brewery's dist ... More >>

Blood and Sand Cocktail Is a Perfect Intro to Scotch

This week for Last Call, I'm venturing into sacred ground. To be specific, I'm sharing my favorite cocktail that involves scotch. I know, I just sent a bunch of scotch purists running for the smelling salts. For those folks, the only adornment that scotch ever needs is a couple of ice cubes. For eve ... More >>

Quick PHX 2013 Party: Dwayne Allen

You "Must" Try These Beer/Wine Hybrids

To look at it from afar, it would seem that the rivalry between beer drinkers and wine drinkers is as heated as the stink between, say, the Hatfields and the McCoys, or Duke and UNC. Oenophiles turn up their noses at the uncultured rubes chugging what they see as swill; beer-lovers snicker at the ou ... More >>

Cafe de Olla: Unplugged Coffee, Mexican Style

With the current overabundance of boutique coffee shops in the Valley serving small batch single source coffee, each high-end bag listing the name of the farmer, roaster, packager, graphic designer, delivery driver, etc., poured steaming hot or cold in a variety of creative and highly decorated coff ... More >>

Tony Abou-Ganim & Adam Seger: On Vodka, Vermouth, and Cocktail Culture in Russia

Chef Salad takes a detour this week, interviewing three more of the country's leading beverage industry experts, all of whom are participants in the second annual AZ Cocktail Week, which started this past weekend and runs through February 22. Seminars are held in the Sands Room at the Hotel Valley H ... More >>

5 Things You Need to Know About Craft Beer in Arizona

Happy Arizona Beer Week, drinkers! Have you mapped out your schedule yet? There's a lot to see, do and imbibe in the next few days -- it's a busy, beautiful time to be a beer lover. It's also impossible to focus on just one beer during a time like this, so for Arizona Beer Week, we're giving you a ... More >>

Five Things to Eat and Drink this Weekend in Metro Phoenix

Looking for something to put in your mouth this weekend? We've got you covered. Check out what's on our plate. See Also: 17 Don't-Miss Events During Arizona Beer Week, Feb. 16-23 6 Don't-Miss Events During AZ Cocktail Week: Feb 16-22 13th Annual Arizona Strong Beer Festival Hold on to your beer ... More >>

Dates of Arizona Beer Week and Arizona Cocktail Week Overlap Again -- And Neither Group Is Budging

Fans of adult beverages and the events in which they're celebrated are going to have a tricky time filling out their calendars from Saturday, February 16, through Saturday, February 23, this year. That's when Arizona Beer Week and Arizona Cocktail Week, two of the Valley's major events hailing craft ... More >>

17 Don't-Miss Events During Arizona Beer Week, Feb. 16-23

With more than 100 tastings, tappings and opportunities to tipple taking place throughout Arizona Beer Week, one must schedule his time wisely for maximum drinking. These are the events you'll find us at -- and the beers we'll be drinking there. See also: - Chow Bella Rides with Mother Road Brew ... More >>

Suds (Mostly) Trump the Grub at Brat Haus

Coffee Academy in Tempe Offers Courses for the Aspiring Barista

Coffee nerds, listen up. Did you know there's a coffee academy with ties to the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe operating in Valley? Well there is, in Tempe to be exact. And the International Barista Coffee Academy is the only certified coffee school for SCAE in the Americas. If you're won ... More >>

Rocket Burger & Subs Offers Soda Heaven

The Guilty Pleasure: The Wall of Soda Where to Get It: Rocket Burger & Subs, 35th Ave and Cactus Price: $1.99 (or $9.95 for a six-pack) 
What It Really Costs: Go ahead and schedule that dentist visit now. Everyone has their preferred bad-for-you vice. Some people can't live without a pack of smok ... More >>

Tempe's Cartel Coffee Lab to Release First Craft Beer & Open Microbrewery -- Plus, "Crazy Hour"

After waiting nearly a year for its federal microbrewery license, Cartel Coffee Lab in Tempe can now brew suds right along with its top-notch coffee. See also: Tempe's Sleepy Dog Saloon and Brewery Opening Gilbert Spinoff (With Eats) in February Appropriately enough, Cartel's new craft beer select ... More >>

Bear Republic Racer 5, In Beer And Whiskey Form

Beer: Racer 5 Brewery: Bear Republic Brewing Co. Style: American IPA ABV: 7 percent Brewing beer and distilling whiskey are closely related enterprises. To make beer, all you need to do is add yeast to a boiled blend of malted barley and hops called wort. To make whiskey, you take hops out the equ ... More >>

Get Ready for Mardi Gras with the Perfect Sazerac

Ring the bell, it's time for Last Call, where JK Grence, bartender at Shady's, serves up booze advice and recipes. Got a burning question for your bartender? Leave it in the comments and it might be answered in a future column. Mardi Gras is coming up quick. The fuel of Fat Tuesday's debauchery is, ... More >>

Budweiser Black Crown: The Poor, Desperate Man's Yuengling

Beer: Budweiser Black Crown Brewery: Anheuser-Busch, Inc. Style: Amber lager ABV: 6 percent At the bar where I work, the most-requested beer we don't stock isn't Russian River Pliny the Elder. It's also not Three Floyds Dark Lord, or Westvleteren 12, or New Glarus Spotted Cow, or anything from Ciga ... More >>

How to Make the Best Singapore Sling, Ever.

Ring the bell, it's time for Last Call, where JK Grence, bartender at Shady's, serves up booze advice and recipes. Got a burning question for your bartender? Leave it in the comments and it might be answered in a future column. Just as I was enjoying the sunny 80-degree days this week, the weather h ... More >>

Matthew Weston of the Royal Palms in Phoenix Talks Dessert Wines

If the thought of dessert wine brings up memories of pre-legal hangovers or cooking sherry, it's time to give dessert wines another chance. Dessert wines can be a sophisticated addition to any menu. We interviewed Matthew Weston, sommelier and beverage manager for the Royal Palms resort for some in ... More >>

24 Food and Drink Festivals in Metro Phoenix

Festival season's about to hit full tilt. Are you ready? Now you are. Here are some of our favorite local food & beverage events happening from now until the end of April: FEBRUARY 2/1 - Haute Chocolate Market & Festival Where: Heard Museum Price: $30 in advance, $35 day of the event and $45 for V ... More >>

Carefree Station, North, and Other Phoenix Area Restaurants Update Wine Lists for the New Year

It's always time for wine, but a new year means it's time for something new. Restaurants around the Valley often update their wine lists to reflect menu changes, a new culinary influence or simply a change to what is available seasonally. Changes might go unnoticed, so we wanted to suggest that you ... More >>

The Herb Box and Gertrude's at DBG Beta Test WineQuest Mobile, a New iPhone App For Selecting Wine

Unless you're a wine wonk like Mark Tarbell, Peter Kasperski, Amy Binkley or Dave Johnson, you probably find reading a multi-page wine list and making a smart selection intimidating. Too many wines to choose from and way too much terminology and lore to master. So you take a shot in the dark, shell ... More >>

Coffee Chop Helps You Become a Coffee Know-It-All

Ever feel like your coffeehouse cool is blown once you get up to the register and see an option other than drip? Still think espresso has an 'X' somewhere in it? Well, you're in luck, java novices -- a local coffee connoisseur has started a noble mission to teach everyone all they need to know about ... More >>

The 5 Best Shots for Your New Year's Eve Party

Ring the bell, it's time for Last Call, where JK Grence, bartender at Shady's, serves up booze advice and recipes. Got a burning question for your bartender? Leave it in the comments and it might be answered in a future column. When we Chow Bella folks were discussing our New Year's Eve plans, I wa ... More >>

Citizen Public House in Scottsdale Plans to Unveil Carbonated, Bottled Cocktail on New Year's Eve

Fizzy cocktails are nothing new. The Tom Collins, gin and tonic, French 75, Champagne cocktail and good old rum and Coke have been tickling noses for decades, if not centuries. But these days, bartenders in New York and San Francisco are making house-carbonated cocktails, and to hear them tell it, ... More >>

Carol of the Bars

Oh, My, Bertie's of Arcadia Is Retro-Riffic!

When a new spot opens in town, we can't wait to check it out -- and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that have just opened, sampling a few item ... More >>

Four Wines Under $6

Feeling thrifty? Good, because this week we explore wines under $6-$7. You know, the ones no one really boasts about buying....but admit it, you do. These bottles cost less than an entire glass of wine a nice wine bar, so you pick one up at the grocer's in hopes you'll be pleasantly surprised. Whet ... More >>