Phinding Beer in Phoenix

We did it. The kids (and the parents) survived the cross-country plane ride and made it to Phoenix. After several wrong turns trying to find our hotel after midnight (and feeling like 2AM EST time), we got some sleep and went to explore a bit of Phoenix before heading up to Sedona to meet the in-laws.

We started off at the Phoenix Zoo in Papago Park. It was just the right size for stretching our legs and enjoying the change in weather. We saw flamingos, otters, lions, and spider monkeys, and then headed off for lunch. Unfortunately, Papago Brewing didn’t open until 2PM, so Jenn suggested we go to the family favorite, the Old Spaghetti Factory (I had taken her there when we were in HI). As usual, we had a great meal, and with the mountain of carbs in my body Jenn offered to go back to Papago (have I told you lately that I love her). So while Jenn and the kids took a nap in the car (don’t worry, I made sure that the windows were cracked), I went to try out Beer Advocate’s #8 place to have a beer in the country.

Papago brewing (http://www.papagobrewing.com/) brewed their own beers and had a good assortment available, but I think what sets them apart was that they offered another 20 different high quality taps that mixed hard to find microbrews with rare imports. They didn’t do samplers, but were very willing to give a 3oz sample of any draft (similar to what I found at Henry’s Tavern in Portland, OR last year). I started off with a Big Sky Slow Elk on cask, a very drinkable sweet stout from Montana. The best Papago brewing beers that I tried were the Orange Blossom (an orange wheat beer) and Elsie’s Irish Coffee Stout, a coffee stout that had a hint of Bailey’s in the mix. For my draft samples, there was a Stone Cali Belgique, a Belgian Ale that was made with wild yeast, and a Sierra Nevada Imperial Smoked Porter that had a great smoked flavor but lacked the alcohol content that I’d usually expect from an Imperial.

Papago also had a great bottle selection, and although I was tempted to buy some of the 22oz bombers that were available, I decided to stay with the mixed 6 pack for $8.50 that they offered. I concentrated on local microbrews from area, most notably Phoenix’s Four Peaks and Colorado’s Odell’s, New Belgium and Breckinridge.

Between the pints, the samples, and the bottles to go, I got to try 18 different beers that weren’t available on the East Coast. The bottles were key so that I had a good sample to have for dessert in the desert up at the timeshare. And probably more importantly, Jenn got a much needed nap so that we could drive up to Sedona safely. It was a beautiful start to a great vacation. - 5013

"It was as natural as eating and, to me, as necessary. I would not have thought of eating a meal without drinking a beer." - Ernest Hemingway