Tap That Az

Owners Bonnie Jackson and Aaron at Irene's Taproom in Phoenix have set up their place to fully experience sound. With a continual list of local Arizona bands as well as bands traveling across the country, they want to make sure their guests get the full audio experience. When Bonnie and Product Manager Paul Rosevear threw out the idea of doing a podcast live in front of their patrons it was a no-brainer for me.  We landed on the polarizing topic of "big beer and independent beer" as a discussion point. No slouches ourselves Bonnie and I would be on this discussion panel but with such a complex topic we knew we needed some big guns to join in on this discussion. Leah Huss of Huss Brewing Company is a badass brewery owner and one of the most experienced beer personalities in Arizona craft beer. She's in! As the former president of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild and a wealth of knowledge when it comes to anything craft beer related Ken Wilson from Lumberyard Brewing Company was our second Sorachi Ace in the h

Dark Sky Brewing  Lunar Legacy Fundraiser  The entire month of December For this month’s #LunarLegacy fundraiser beer, we have “Don’t Forget Your Roots” field beer. A savory treat brewed with three types of root vegetables. 10% of the proceeds from this beer will go to Lowell Observatory for their educational programs! Come drink a pint and support our amazing Dark Sky City!   Borderlands Brewing Company Baskets & Brews Putting League EVERY MONDAY! Until Feb 4, 2019 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm Join us on the patio for a fun game of disc golf putting! This fun and casual game is a flex start, so you can come anytime before 7 pm. Never played? That's ok, learn how to disc golf putt right here at Borderlands! Don't have any discs! No problem, there are spares you can borrow.   Brains and Brews - Science Trivia EVERY MONDAY! Until Feb 25, 2019 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Brains and Brews is a free event where you can learn about cool Science happening in Southern Arizona and test your scientific wit for a chance to win prizes!

When Mother Road Brewing Company opened in November of 2011 I was just a casual participant in quality craft beer. However, that all changed with my first visit to their Mikes Pike brewery in November of 2011. With my very first sip of Lost Highway Double Black IPA, Mother Road helped me see that there is a whole new world of beer beyond Natural Light and Bud Ice. Not only did the beer speak to me but every aspect of this community quickly grew on me.  In mid-2016 I decided to start a podcast focused around the growing craft beer scene here in Arizona. There was no question about who I wanted to get for my first episode. Fast forward almost 2 years later to the day and the podcast has now reached 100 episodes. Once again, a no-brainer for who I wanted for my 100th episode. For this very special episode, I made a trip to their new Butler brewing facility to sit down with owners Michael and Alissa as well as brewer Francis and Jack-of-all-Trades Oliver.  Enjoy the show!

News & Reviews - November 26th, 2018

Through my beer adventures and conversations, I have concluded that Belgium sits directly in the middle of the worlds largest beer vortex. Based on my extensive research, it seems as though no one can visit Belgium and not be infected by what is known as Beericus Obsessivus (not a real word, FYI). THANK GOD! Belgian styles are some of my favorites and Wanderlust Brewing Company in Flagstaff makes some of the best.  In this episode, I sit down with owner Nathan Friedman to talk about how his European adventure created his love for this amazing beer style as well as how recreating what someone loves is not always the best route to converting them to craft beer. Enjoy the show!

12 West Two Year Anniversary At: 12 West Tap Room at Barnone 3000 East Ray Road Barnone, Building 6, Suite 110, Gilbert, Arizona 85296 Friday, November 23rd 11 am - 11 pm It's hard to believe it's been 2 years already! Join us for one amazing anniversary party.  Stay tuned for: -Can Releases -Special Tappings -Live Music -New Merch 12 West Beach Cruiser Raffle! Huge thanks to our friends at Image One Sign Company and SOUL Beach Cruisers for putting this together for us. Raffle tickets are $5. Winner will be announced at the Anniversary. Grand Opening for Transplant City Beer Co. 107 W Honeysuckle St, Litchfield Park, Arizona 85340 Saturday, November 24th 11 am - 10 pm Transplant City Beer Co. is located where the original location of Peoria Artisan Brewery was by the Wig Wam Resort in Litchfield Park. Who’s going to be thirsty on Saturday, November 24th? Join us and help us celebrate what still feels like a crazy dream. Other than the brews, we’ll have sodas and snacks, plus we will always have FREE juice

In this episode, I sit down with Alex Phillips from Grand Canyon Brewing and Nathan Reese from Trout Unlimited. Along with the Arizona Wildlife Foundation and the Arizona Society of Homebrewers contest winner Jeff Skaggs they created a beer called Conservation Kolsch. The goal of this brew is to bring attention to the damage that uranium mining is causing to the Grand Canyon and the surrounding national forest. This is why I love Arizona beer: seeing the bigger picture about what is going on with the environment of this great state and doing all that it can to be part of the solution. Enjoy the show! Protect Your Canyon Website Trout Unlimited Website Grand Canyon Brewing Website Arizona Wildlife Federation Website Extra special thanks to Chris Dodson for his awesome production/editing work to help put the audio side of the episodes together Intro/Outro music is "La Negra Tomasa" by the awesome local Arizona band Fayuca Want to show your support and help this show grow? Simply click here, give the show a rati

Beer Research Institute 4th Anniversary Beer Pairing Dinner  Thursday 11/15, 7-9  We've specially prepared 4 courses to pair perfectly with our 4-year anniversary beers! If you want to try all 4 Anniversary beers before they go on sale on the 17th, you don't want to miss this. Reception Beer- 480G IPA 1st Course (Appetizer)- Crispy Pork Belly. Chili Garlic Almonds. Sweet and Sour Glaze. Vinegar Slaw. Paired with- Samurai IPA 2nd Course (Salad)- Romaine. Pickled Red Onion. Grilled Peaches. Hopped Pine Nuts. Pineapple Cider Vinaigrette. Paired with Freestyle Haiku  3rd Course (Entree)- Red Wine Braised Short Ribs. Garlic Herb Fingerling Potatoes. Caramelized Onions. Au Jus. Paired with Northern Cali Flannel IPA 4th Course (Dessert)- Dark Chocolate Mousse. Honey Graham Cracker Strudel. Macerated Berries. Whipped Cream. Paired with Pastry Pays The Bills Stout Tickets are on sale at www.bri.beer and at the Brewery. $45 per person plus 18% gratuity. There is a limited amount of tickets and our beer dinners sell out

In this episode, I made my way over to Litchfield Park to hang out with Ian and Tara from Ground Control, an Arizona craft food and drink bar. This place has it all: great food, artisan coffee, an amazing craft beer selection both on the retail side and on tap as well as wine, cocktails and Arizona Meade. Can you really beat a place that has amazing craft beer on tap AND makes their own gelato? Yeah, I don’t think so. Stay tuned after the show to see how you can win a $25 gift card for Ground Control. Don't forget about their Red, White, and Brew Festival coming up November 17th. Find tickets here. You'll hear more about that in the episode. Enjoy! Ground Control Website Ground Control Instagram Ground Control Facebook Shout out to the show sponsor, Goodfellas Merch out of Glendale Intro/Outro music is "La Negra Tomasa" by the awesome local Arizona band Fayuca Want to show your support and help this show grow? Simply click here, give the show a rating and share some feedback!

11/9 Esprit De Core Cider Dinner 11/10 Inaugural Tap & Bottle Invitational Beer Festival Tickets Here Mesquite River Brewing Co 2nd Anniversary Party Inaugural Southwest Cider Fest 11/9-11/12 Pueblo Vida 4th Anniversary Weekend Joel Flowers from AZ Beer Me reviews the Black Caddis an American Style Porter from Wren House Brewing

In this episode, I sit down with Bonnie Jackson, co-owner of Irene's Tap Room on 12th Street and Northern in Phoenix along with one of her top team members Paul Rosevear. Opening a new business is never easy and Bonnie and her partner Aaron Taylor were no exception to this. One thing after another fell onto the path of opening this place but they never gave up and 2 months ago Irene's Tap Room opened its door. And what an awesome place this is. With their strongly held belief in supporting independent, their tap room only carries independent craft beer and wine with a strong focus on Arizona craft. And what an awesome selection it is, both on tap and on the retail side of things. Stay tuned after the interview to see how you can win 5 drink tokens for Irene's Tap Room. Enjoy the show! Irene's Tap Room Website Irene's Tap Room Instagram Irene's Tap Room Facebook All photos for this episode were taken by Mixed Mercury Media Extra special thanks to Chris Dodson for his awesome production/editing work to help put

This weeks events: 10/28 - Day of the Dogs at the Gilbert OHSO 11/2 - Grand opening of Uncle Bear's Brewery, Taproom and Yard in Phoenix on Ray Road 11/3 - AZ Barrels, Bottles & Brews at Salt River Fields 11/3 - Scottsdale Beer Company & The oDDity Wine CollectiVe Dinner 11/3 & 11/4 - Crooked Tooth 2 Year Anniversary Celebration This weeks beer review is from Marcus Pina. He reviews Bloody Basin Brute IPA from Arizona Wilderness Brewing.  

Uwe Boer from Sunup Brewing Company has been making beer for a long time. And good beer at that. In fact he’s responsible for the highest rated Russian Imperial Stout in Arizona. Uwe has been a staple in the Arizona craft beer scene longer than some legal beer drinks have been alive! He’s a great guy with a great story to tell. Enjoy the show!

In this episode I sit down with Greg and Kyle from 24 Hour Hops in Maricopa. If you are like me I love this time of the year. Beautiful weather here in Arizona, events galore and of course, fresh wet hopped beer. But these guys are trying to change this wet hop thing from a one time per year thing to a year round thing. There is one thing hops really love and we have plenty of that here in Arizona: sunshine. I’ve had both beers made with these hops and let me tell you, I was impressed. The brewers who made them were impressed as well. Enjoy the show!

Caskwerks Distillery products have been on Arizona craft spirits shelves and winning awards for the past few years but things were taken to another level this year when they opened up their Tempe tasting room. Fantastic craft cocktails made within just a dozen feet from where their handcrafted spirits are made highlight the experience. Add on an exception food program created by Craig from Fire & Foraged and you have a recipes for success. In this episode I hang out with owners John and Chris to discuss what sets these guys apart and how they fit into the growing Arizona craft beverage scene. Get to their place ASAP to see what all the hype is about. In the meantime enjoy the show! Caskwerks Website Caskwerks Instagram Caskwerks Facebook HUGE SHOUTOUT to my sponsor Goodfellas Merch. Tell them I sent you and get free screens on your first design with them through the end of November Goodfellas Merch Website Extra special thanks to Chris Dodson for his awesome production/editing work to help put the audio s

In this episode I hang out with owner Jon Lane to talk about the story behind this Arizona favorite brewery, distillery, neighborhood hangout, restaurant, the list goes on. Jon is a super cool charismatic guy who is passionate about all that he does. Enjoy the show!

To the guys at Oro Brewing Company being part of up-and-coming downtown Mesa is a big deal. Coming up on their two-year anniversary they are already a huge part of the revitalization of this historical area. And with beers like the Saison d’ Oro and the Elevate Nepal Coffee Blonde it makes sense. Fantastic beers paired with great local partnerships creates a recipe for success for this young brewery. In this episode I sit down with owners Chuck and Dave as well as Jesse the head brewer to talk about how quality and community are key components to their brand. Enjoy the show!

I’m kind of sorry if you get sick of me talking about Sentinel Peak Brewing Company. I say “kind of” because you REALLY need to know about this place and go there. Today. Drop all your responsibilities and go. Take all the PTO you have and just go. They have great beer. And a smoker. And a great patio. And the best blue cheese on Earth. And an amazing team. I could go on and on. But you don’t want that. Just listen to this interview with Jermey, one of the owners, and you’ll be hooked too. Enjoy the show!

In this episode I sit down with Kali and Mac from Sedona Beer Company to talk about the awesomeness of having 2 patios with a view as well as Macs approach to making unique beers. Enjoy the show!  

In this episode I sit down with owner Lisa and GM Kurt from Village Coffee Roastery in Scottsdale. In my option VCR is the most underrated Arizona coffee roastery. Passion and science back me up on this one. I really love these guys and the craft coffee they're making. Enjoy the show!