PHOENIX, ARIZONA – Craft beer connoisseurs, grab a mug and get ready—Arizona Beer Week returns to the Grand Canyon State Feb. 16 – 23, proving that for at least one week a year, the desert is anything but dry.
Arizona’s burgeoning craft beer industry has exploded in recent years, resulting in a huge outpouring of homegrown brews, new breweries and craft beer fans. The week-long celebration of all things sudsy features festivals, specials, seminars, pairing dinners, pub crawls, tours, tastings and meet-the-brewer nights, and kicks off Feb. 16 with the 13th Annual Strong Beer Festival at Steele Indian School Park. Designed for the true craft beer lover who enjoys a strong beer and discovering new boutique breweries, the Strong Beer Festival has been voted “Best Beer Festival” in Arizona, and has quickly become one of the state’s premiere hospitality and tourism events.
The Strong Beer Festival is just the tip of the beer head, and is followed by a plethora of events and promotions in every corner of the state. Those who like to get in a good breakfast before the big festival can visit several restaurants and bars with pre- Strong Beer breakfast events. A little keg and eggs to start the week. Northern Arizona beer fans can follow the Flagstaff Ale Trail, which maps a route through six local breweries that have just what you need to warm up after a long day on the slopes.
Fans who like their bikes as much as their brews may partake in SanTan Brewery’s Beer Week Brews Cruise Feb. 17, while southern Arizonans can enjoy a Brewer’s Summit Feb. 19 at Thunder Canyon’s new brewpub in Tucson.
Next up, beer meets burlesque Feb. 20 at Tempe’s Yucca Tap room, while guests can enjoy some cold brews courtesy of Ska Brewing while taking in the performance of Breezi and The Deviant Dames. Those seeking a little hair of the dog the next day might venture over to Flanny’s Bar and Grill for the 2nd Annual Colorado Firkin Festival, where thirsty fans can try seven different cast-conditioned beers from the Rocky Mountain state that plays host to the annual Great American Beer Festival.
Friday, Scottsdale’s Papago Brewing Co. will be tapping their Brewer’s Specialty Pilot Series as they host their annual Industry Shuffleboard Championships, and the week finishes strong Saturday with the Bikes, Brews, Bloodys and Brats Festival at Handle Bar and Grill in Tempe.
There are a wide variety of events geared towards women who love craft beer, beer dinners, tastings, festivals etc. Desert Eagle Brewing in Mesa will hold a Brews and Blues Festival on February 22nd from 3-midnight and Four Peaks will celebrate the grand opening of their new brewery with a Blues and BBQ Festival on February 23.
These events are just a small sample of those taking place throughout Arizona Beer Week, and, as any true craft beer fan knows, a sample tends to leave you wanting more. For a complete list of promotions, happy hours and special events on tap for the much-buzzed about celebration, visit Arizona Beer Week.
About the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild
The Arizona Craft Brewers Guild was established in 1998 and represents 26 microbreweries across the state. The guild promotes the craft brewing industry in Arizona by providing educational opportunities to brewers, distributors and consumers. The guild promotes quality craft beers and the responsible consumption of those products.
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