Bob Wilson fancied himself a homebrewer but dropped the hobby when he and wife Mary started a family. Years later, his son Wyatt told them he wanted to leave Chico State to study beer-making completely unaware of his father's previous interest and aspirations of opening a brewery.
Wyatt headed to Alberta, Canada, and graduated in 2020 amid the pandemic. As breweries, like the rest of the hospitality industry, scrambled to figure out new protocols and closures, a job in Colorado fell through. So Wyatt made his way to Hawaii to spend some time with his parents.
“We had some time to kill because of COVID, and we started the outline for the business plan,” Bob recalls. He and Mary are both entrepreneurs – in marketing and technology and retail, respectively.
Now, the family has opened Pinnacle Brewing Co. in north Scottsdale. The taproom, located off Hayden Road and 82nd Street, will host a grand opening party on Friday.
“We looked all over the country and decided Scottsdale was the biggest opportunity,” Bob says, noting the relatively few craft beer options in the area.
But before taking the leap, Wyatt worked in the cellar at Monkless Belgian Ales in Bend, Oregon, and brewed at Mash Lab Brewery & Kitchen in Windsor, Colorado.
“I’ve learned a lot along the way. It’s been seven years in the making,” he says of opening Pinnacle. “If I wasn’t doing it for a job, I’d be paying to do it in my kitchen.”
“I consider myself a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to beer,” Wyatt says.
Among the opening lineup are a kolsch, maibock and helles. Wyatt has also brewed a much lesser-known Polish lager – grodziskie, a beer that dates back to the 14th or 15th century that Wyatt says is "very old school. It’s almost extinct."
The beer is made with oak-smoked malt, which imparts an earthy note of char against the crisp, light lager. Although Wyatt says he used less smoked malt than the Polish version, he describes the flavor it adds as akin to hickory or smoked meat. He wanted to craft the beer to “be adventurous” and put out something other brewers aren’t making.
“That’s what I’m trying to do with this place is really excel with as many European styles as I can. That’s where I have a lot of fun as a brewer,” he says.
Also on tap is an English-style extra special bitter. It’s one of the first recipes Wyatt crafted as a pro brewer.
“It’s one of my favorite styles,” he says of the rich caramel-colored beer that opens with malt-forward sweetness and has a lightly bitter, dry finish.
The brewer has tweaked his recipe for Pinnacle’s version, Rupert’s Tower. Premier League fans will notice the name references the crest of Everton Football Club.
Other beers on draft include a Mexican-style lager, a New England hazy IPA and a West Coast IPA brewed with Chinook and Simcoe hops.
“I’m a huge Simcoe head. That’s my favorite hop,” Wyatt says.
In addition to craft drafts, Pinnacle will have cider from Phoenix’s Six Byrd Cider Co., wine and nonalcoholic options available.
The brewery will not serve food but plans to host food trucks. And the taproom has a partnership with Kale Chef Service, the brewery’s next-door neighbor. Pinnacle Brewing patrons can scan a QR code to browse the caterer's options which include sandwiches and snacks, place an order and walk over to pick it up.
A full day of festivities is lined up. The first 200 guests will receive a limited edition Pinnacle Brewing shirt. Craft Wood Fired will be on hand to serve pizzas and snacks. There will be a raffle for tickets to an Arizona Diamondbacks game and musician Todd Owens will perform from 6 to 9 p.m.
Following the brewery’s grand opening, Pinnacle will serve pints seven days a week. The initial hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
“I just hope to bring tasty beers to Scottsdale and hope to provide a good space where people can enjoy beer, enjoy company and have a good time,” Wyatt says.
Wyatt headed to Alberta, Canada, and graduated in 2020 amid the pandemic. As breweries, like the rest of the hospitality industry, scrambled to figure out new protocols and closures, a job in Colorado fell through. So Wyatt made his way to Hawaii to spend some time with his parents.
“We had some time to kill because of COVID, and we started the outline for the business plan,” Bob recalls. He and Mary are both entrepreneurs – in marketing and technology and retail, respectively.
Now, the family has opened Pinnacle Brewing Co. in north Scottsdale. The taproom, located off Hayden Road and 82nd Street, will host a grand opening party on Friday.
Pinnacle Brewing Co.'s 10-barrel brewhouse and taproom is located near the Scottsdale Airport and features an expansive indoor-outdoor space.
Sara Crocker
‘Scottsdale was the biggest opportunity’
As Wyatt and Bob discussed a potential brewery, they homed in on the Valley. Bob and Mary got to know the area over the years visiting friends who live in Gilbert.“We looked all over the country and decided Scottsdale was the biggest opportunity,” Bob says, noting the relatively few craft beer options in the area.
But before taking the leap, Wyatt worked in the cellar at Monkless Belgian Ales in Bend, Oregon, and brewed at Mash Lab Brewery & Kitchen in Windsor, Colorado.
“I’ve learned a lot along the way. It’s been seven years in the making,” he says of opening Pinnacle. “If I wasn’t doing it for a job, I’d be paying to do it in my kitchen.”
The Wilsons built the 10-barrel brewery in a former gas station. The 4,300-square-foot craft beer destination features an expansive indoor-outdoor space with black, wood and copper accents. An image of Pinnacle Peak covers the windowed wall on the east side of the building. Roll-up garage doors give way to the covered patio, which is equipped with misters and a sun shade.
Taproom manager Christiane Arguello says to expect games on their TVs, rotating live musicians and happy hour. She adds that she’ll look to guests for other activity suggestions and requests.
Taproom manager Christiane Arguello says to expect games on their TVs, rotating live musicians and happy hour. She adds that she’ll look to guests for other activity suggestions and requests.
Among the opening lineup at Pinnacle Brewing Co. are Illumination, a Munich-style Helles, and Coast Game, a West Coast IPA brewed with Chinook and Simcoe hops.
Pinnacle Brewing Co.
What’s on tap?
Pinnacle Brewing will open with nine beers on tap. There will be an emphasis on European styles, and particularly lagers.“I consider myself a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to beer,” Wyatt says.
Among the opening lineup are a kolsch, maibock and helles. Wyatt has also brewed a much lesser-known Polish lager – grodziskie, a beer that dates back to the 14th or 15th century that Wyatt says is "very old school. It’s almost extinct."
The beer is made with oak-smoked malt, which imparts an earthy note of char against the crisp, light lager. Although Wyatt says he used less smoked malt than the Polish version, he describes the flavor it adds as akin to hickory or smoked meat. He wanted to craft the beer to “be adventurous” and put out something other brewers aren’t making.
“That’s what I’m trying to do with this place is really excel with as many European styles as I can. That’s where I have a lot of fun as a brewer,” he says.
Also on tap is an English-style extra special bitter. It’s one of the first recipes Wyatt crafted as a pro brewer.
“It’s one of my favorite styles,” he says of the rich caramel-colored beer that opens with malt-forward sweetness and has a lightly bitter, dry finish.
The brewer has tweaked his recipe for Pinnacle’s version, Rupert’s Tower. Premier League fans will notice the name references the crest of Everton Football Club.
Other beers on draft include a Mexican-style lager, a New England hazy IPA and a West Coast IPA brewed with Chinook and Simcoe hops.
“I’m a huge Simcoe head. That’s my favorite hop,” Wyatt says.
In addition to craft drafts, Pinnacle will have cider from Phoenix’s Six Byrd Cider Co., wine and nonalcoholic options available.
The brewery will not serve food but plans to host food trucks. And the taproom has a partnership with Kale Chef Service, the brewery’s next-door neighbor. Pinnacle Brewing patrons can scan a QR code to browse the caterer's options which include sandwiches and snacks, place an order and walk over to pick it up.
The taproom at Pinnacle Brewing Co. features its namesake, Pinnacle Peak. The space also nods to its Arizona home with copper accents.
Sara Crocker
How to visit
Pinnacle Brewing will host a grand opening party from noon to 10 p.m. on Friday.A full day of festivities is lined up. The first 200 guests will receive a limited edition Pinnacle Brewing shirt. Craft Wood Fired will be on hand to serve pizzas and snacks. There will be a raffle for tickets to an Arizona Diamondbacks game and musician Todd Owens will perform from 6 to 9 p.m.
Following the brewery’s grand opening, Pinnacle will serve pints seven days a week. The initial hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
“I just hope to bring tasty beers to Scottsdale and hope to provide a good space where people can enjoy beer, enjoy company and have a good time,” Wyatt says.
For Bob, his long-held dreams of opening a brewery are finally coming to life. Although now, he’s put the beer-making in the hands of his son.
“As you can imagine," he says, "I’m a very proud father."
“As you can imagine," he says, "I’m a very proud father."
