I can pour what the guys who handle marketing for Guinness call the “perfect pint.” I can take a cool, clean, dry, Guinness-branded glass and hold it under the tap at a 45-degree angle. I can pull the handle forward until it’s horizontal and fill the glass all the way…
Like many restaurant teams in town, the guys at The Clever Koi may not have slept much recently, with a weekend of Devoured under their belts and media types knocking on their doors to ask about Spring menus. All the same, Joshua James, co-owner and Beverage Director, was dressed for…
The Spot: Ten Handcrafted American Fare & Spirits 2501 East Camelback Road, #40 602-374-2611 www.tenfareandspirits.com Perfect for: A cheap, quick bite and drink before a movie at the nearby luxury (read: overpriced) movie theater. Interior: While sitting inside Ten, we couldn’t help but think about the small, private parties we…
Beer: Achocolypse Brewery: Prescott Brewing Co. Style: Porter ABV: 5.6 percent Hello, chocolate! White and milk chocolate do a sweet dance in the nose before subtler notes of weak coffee and some sour grain become apparent. There’s not a ton of depth to the aroma, but it’s very sweet and…
I’ll have to begin by saying that I was completely oblivious to orange wine — yes, I’ll explain myself here in a moment — until nearly a season ago while surfing Instagram, a wonderful place where I learn new things from my favorite tastemakers (I like the personal and off-the-cuff…
The Spot: Barrio Urbano 5632 North Seventh Street 602-287-9000 www.barriourbanophx.com The Hours: Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 2 to 6 p.m. Perfect for: Sipping on a top-notch margarita while watching cornhole bags fly through the air next door. Interior: We thought that Lola Coffee at the Yard, which…
Beer: Sriracha Hot Stout Beer Brewery: Rogue Ales & Spirits Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer ABV: 5.7 percent The red chiles grown at Underwood Ranches in Camarillo, California are very important vegetables. Every day, 30 semi trucks packed with peppers journey east to the L.A. suburb of Rosemead and deposit their payloads…
The Spot: Goodwood Tavern 7330 East Stetson Drive 480-990-2388 www.goodwoodscottsdale.com The Hours: Happy Hour is daily 3 to 7 p.m. Perfect for: Satisfying that bar food craving while indulging in some Old Town people watching. Interior: Without a doubt, Aaron May has turned the old Shotgun Betty’s into the coziest,…
A first look at the beers, burgers and beakers at Mesa brewery Beer Research Institute.
Since the weather is idyllic around here, let’s ditch the winter drinks and pull out something bright and summery…
Last Week, Colorado’s New Belgium Brewing Co. held what it dubbed the “Sour Symposium. Hosted at The Yard in Tempe, the $50 session included presentations from Eric Salazar, New Belgium’s cellar master, and Lauren Salazar, the brewery’s sensory specialist and beer-blender; a sampling of fancy meats and cheeses; and a…
The Spot: The Upton 7216 East Shoeman Lane, Scottsdale 480-991-6887 www.theuptonaz.com The Hours: Happy Hour is Tuesday through Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. Perfect for: Happy Hour for one — you know, if people actually did that. Interior: Sitting on The Upton’s beautifully renovated, shady patio feels nothing like…
Here’s the good news: At this year’s Arizona Strong Beer Festival, a record number of breweries (140-plus) will be pouring more than 400 different beers, the widest variety that’s ever been available at the 15-year-old beer fest. The bad news: a general admission ticket only gets you 40 two-ounce tastings,…
For some reason, people keep coming to me for advice in romantic matters at least tangentially related to booze. Since I’m behind the stick, I am apparently a relationship expert by default. Never mind that I’ve been single for years. I’m thankful that most people have figured out I’m not…
The Spot: Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour 1 West Jefferson 602-340-1924 www.bitterandtwsitedaz.com The Hours: Happy Hour Tuesday through Saturday 4 to 7 p.m. Perfect for: Showing both locals and out-of-towners that downtown Phoenix is worth a look. Interior:From the lofted ceilings, stained concrete floor, exposed brick walls, dark wood finishes,…
If you missed it last week, we created a new month: Febrewery. Don’t let the delightful syntax fool you — Febrewery is a serious time, made for sincere and open-hearted visitation of the Valley’s newest purveyors of beer. For week two, we’re taking a quick drive up to the Northeast…
The Spot: The Beverly 7018 East Main Street, Scottsdale 480-889-5580 www.thebeverly.us The Hours: Happy Hour Monday through Friday 4 to 7 p.m. Perfect for: A quiet happy hour with someone who’s really hungry but doesn’t have much knowledge of craft cocktails Interior: If you’re familiar with the space that used…
Beer: Orange Bomb Brewery: Blasted Barley Beer Co. Style: Dry Stout ABV: 6.45 percent At least a half-dozen new breweries have opened up in the Valley in the past six months, and it’s time to catch up. This month is no longer February; henceforward, it shall be known as Febrewery:…
Since I write about cocktails, I see all manner of ludicrous pitches for new things in cocktails. Usually they’re some silly novelty product, e.g. the eye-catching but vile tasting Viniq liqueur. It gets a quick once-over, sometimes a little snicker at the ridiculousness, and then promptly forgotten. Then, deep in…
We have entered the age of beer acquisitions — craft breweries are now buying other craft breweries. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as businesses purchasing or joining forces with competitors is actually a sign of a healthy marketplace. The problem is in perception: When a craft brewery like Portland’s…
A rather old-timey flavor that I’ve seen pop up here and there lately is Rock & Rye. I’ve occasionally seen bottles of it collecting dust on a liquor rack bottom shelf. If you’re from Detroit, or a Juggalo (you know who you are), then your more common association is with…
One of the little luxuries of living in the Phoenix area is that come winter, we get to brag about the mild climate to our friends who are snowed in somewhere back east. One of my favorite ways to do this is by mentioning that while they’re stuck salting roads,…
