Photography by Brian Goddard, Abraham Karam, Richard Maack, David Moore, Lillian Reid, Tracy Rasinski and David Zickl

Authors: Anjali Abraham, Keridwen Cornelius, Niki D’Andrea, Jess Harter, Wynter Holden, Geri Koeppel, Craig Outhier, Celeste Sepessy

The Valley’s craft beer scene is exploding... and when the smoke clears, you’ll need a place to drink. Check out our guide to local beers, breweries, bars, drinking events, brewmeisters, and more!


RESTAURANTS & BARS WITH GREAT BEER LISTS

Angels Trumpet Ale House
Judging by the crowds of hot hop heads that braved the shadeless back patio during Angels Trumpet’s debut week in August, Downtowners are thirsty for craft beer. And owners Mat and Sharry Englehorn (translation: angel trumpet) deliver with 31 rotating beers on draft, including several Arizona brews. The place pulses with ’80s rock and a cacophany of conversations that pinball around the pea-green-and-brick space. Boutique bar food like flatbread with sausage, caramelized onions and roasted tomatoes rounds out the hip experience. 810 N Second St., Phoenix, 602-252-2630, angelstrumpetalehouse.com

# of beers on tap: 31
# of beers in bottles: 50+
Events: Happy hour and events not finalized as of press time.

Boulders on Broadway

Boulders on Broadway
This one-time Old Chicago restaurant, bought by a former employee who also happens to be a rock climbing enthusiast (hence the name), looks to rekindle the fun times of the owner’s bygone ASU days. The eatery hasn’t changed much in appearance in two-plus decades, save the beefed-up beer list, which sticks to U.S. brewers and a few Europeans, plus some hard-to-find Arizona brews. Pizzas remain popular, but there are also burgers, sandwiches, tacos and pasta dishes. 530 W. Broadway Rd., Tempe, 480-921-9431, bouldersonbroadway.com

# of beers on tap: 30
# of beers in bottles: 100+
Events: $1 off draft beers during happy hour (3-7 p.m. M-F, 10 p.m.-close M-Th and all day Sa); tall beers for pint price W; half-off select bottles Th; trivia Tu, Sa and Su.


Copper Blues
A second-story open-air bar in CityScape overlooking Downtown Phoenix sets the stage for a happening happy hour and lively nightlife, but don’t miss the slick main room with copper pipes running brews from the barrel room to the taps. The menu is a mélange of cut-above bar food, featuring items like fig and goat cheese pizza, filet bites with horseradish sauce and some of the city’s beeriest mac ‘n’ cheese. 50 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, 480-719-5005, copperblueslive.com

# of beers on tap: 64
# of beers in bottles: 40
Events: Happy hour 4-7 p.m. M-F, with $3-$4 pints, $5 beer cocktails and $1 beer shots; live music Tu, F-Sa; free comedy show Tu; free swing dance lessons W.

Delux

Delux
This contemporary restaurant is for people who like a bit of polish with their burgers and beer. The menu caters to the honorably indecisive (enjoy combos of French and sweet potato fries, for example) and patrons who value sustainability. The comprehensive beer list has something for every hop head, from light American wheats to malty British Isles stouts. The Papago Orange Blossom is a worthy sample, with a mildly fruity taste and smooth, buttery finish. 3146 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, 602-522-2288, deluxburger.com

# of beers on tap: 39
# of beers in bottles: 7, plus one non-alcoholic option
Events: Happy hours (daily from 4-6 p.m.; reverse happy hour 10 p.m.-2 a.m.) feature the house brew for $3, plus a smattering of beers, premium well cocktails and all wines by the glass for $4.


Flanny’s Bar & Grill
Several restaurants and bars failed in this strip-mall space before John Flanagan and his son, John Jr., opened their beer-focused venture in 2010. The draft beer arsenal has steadily grown to 22 taps, and the Flanagans plan to add another 10 soon. The bar hosts popular “tap takeovers” on the third Thursday of every month, when a single brewer brings in as many as two dozen different beers. The food menu focuses on basic appetizers, burgers and sandwiches. 1805 E. Elliot Rd., Tempe, 480-659-0870, flannys.com

# of beers on tap: 22
# of beers in bottles: 50 in 12-ounce bottles; 20 others in larger bottles (to-go only)
Events: $1 off pints or craft bottles/cans during happy hour (2-6 p.m. M-F and 10 p.m.-close M-Th); team trivia W; live music Th-Sa.


The Handlebar Pub & Grill
Prepare to be surprised by this rustic, pint-sized pub, one of the oldest restored structures in Apache Junction. Not only do owners Jeff and Alec Golzio serve a number of hard-to-find craft beers, including one of the Valley’s best selections of Belgian beers, but the wood-fired grill and oven on the side patio produce a gourmet-quality menu featuring grass-fed beef, free-range chicken and organic produce. 650 W. Apache Trail, Apache Junction, 480-982-2091

# of beers on tap: 27
# of beers in bottles: 100+
Events: $4 pints during happy hour (noon-5 p.m. Tu-Sa); $3 pints all day Tu; live music W-Sa.


Haus Murphy’s
Bavarian beer garden polka music sounds best in a beer garden, coupled with the consumption of strong-beer-filled steins. This traditional German restaurant hits all the bases with a spacious shaded patio and a selection of Deutsch brews, many of which sound like something you could drive or shoot things with, like Spaten Optimator and Warsteiner Dunkel (a malty, molasses-slapped double bock, and a balanced brown ale, respectively). Dirndl-clad servers also deliver well-portioned plates of bratwurst and schnitzel. 5739 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale, 623-939-2480, hausmurphys.com

# of beers on tap: 10 (nine plus one rotating seasonal)
# of beers in bottles: 0
Events: Live tuba and accordion music from Haus Band, 6:30-8:30 p.m. F-Sa.

The Hungry Monk

The Hungry Monk
Welcome to “Neighborhood Bar 2.0.” The Hungry Monk has all the accoutrements of a standard swill inn: large, flat-screen TVs; a misted, pet-friendly smoking patio; classic rock on the speakers; and shanty-style corrugated metal siding around the booths. But the beer menu elevates it beyond average bar status: more than two dozen craft drafts, including Arizona brews from Sleepy Dog, Four Peaks, Lumberyard, and SanTan, bolstered by a “sampler tray” special of any four beers (five ounces each) for $6. The food menu’s standard pub grub, excepting a selection of über-gooey, meat-and-veggie-packed quesadillas. 1760 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, 480-963-8000, hungrymonkaz.com

# of beers on tap: 28
# of beers in bottles: 14
Events: $3 domestic pints on Sa-Su; team trivia 8 p.m. Sa.


The Lost Leaf
A cross-breed of Cheers and quirky neighborhood coffeehouse, Lost Leaf is a hip, bohemian bungalow with local art gracing exposed brick walls and exclusively Arizona brews on tap. An extensive bottled and canned selection runs the gamut from craft ales to specialty organic brews and a handful of gluten-free options. The artist-owned bar strictly offers beer and wine – there’s not even a bowl of peanuts in sight – but their benevolent bartenders are happy to point out nearby, locally owned dining options. 914 N. Fifth St., Phoenix, 602-258-0014, thelostleaf.org

# of beers on tap: 4
# of beers in bottles: 157
Events: Happy hour (5-7 p.m. daily) offers $1 off beers that cost $4 or more. Live music ranging from rock to Latin nightly, jazz every M.


Sun Devil Liquors
Breeze past the rows of spirits in this downtown Mesa liquor store and take the staircase down to the Sun Devil Cellar & Pub, a converted storeroom appointed with a six-seat bar, a dozen high-top tables and several comfortable sofas. Owned by the same couple that runs Tops Liquors in Tempe, Sun Devil will chill and serve any bottle or can of beer it carries. A food menu offers selections from nearby restaurants like Il Vinaio and Blue Adobe Grille. 235 N. Country Club Drive, Mesa, 480-834-5050, topsliquors.com

# of beers on tap: 8
# of beers in bottles: 1,000+
Events: $1 off draft beers and glasses of wine and 50 cents off bottled beers during happy hour (5-7 p.m. M-Sa); $2 off beer and wine flights 3-7 p.m. F.

Taste of Tops

Taste of Tops
Located just west of ASU, Taste of Tops is the “local” for jocks celebrating shutout games, hipsters in Buddy Holly glasses discussing indie flicks and laid-back professors sipping vino. Don’t let the college-centric location fool you, though. Owner and certified cicerone (beer expert) Greg Eccles programs plenty of upscale craft brews and unusual offerings, like Mean Time Coffee Porter and Speakeasy’s Godfather Barleywine. 403 W. University Drive, Tempe, 480-967-5643, topsliquors.com

# of beers on tap: 24
# of beers in bottles: 1,000+
Events: Monthly beer tastings; $1 off drafts and $2 off American bomber bottles in the cooler during happy hour (3-7 p.m. M-Sa, all day Su).


World of Beer
One will find power in numbers at this Western outpost of the Florida-flagship chain. More than 500 beers are poured between the taps and the coolers, and there’s way more beer than seating; on weekends, it’s sometimes standing-room-only, as the industrial-chic tap room – brick-walled bar backdrop and exposed piping – gets packed with people chatting over the sounds of ’90s alternative rock. The bottled beer menu reads like a cicerone manual, with copious pages devoted to breaking down what distinguishes different styles of beer, and detailed descriptions of each brew. 526 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, 480-638-2337, wobusa.com/tempe

# of beers on tap: 50
# of beers in bottles: 500+
Events: Live music 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Sa.


The Yard House
This national chain of mall-embedded restaurants – purchased in July by Darden, corporate master of Olive Garden and Red Lobster, among other brands – boasts Arizona’s largest selection of draft beers, with 130 taps. Acclaimed California brewery Firestone Walker makes the five house beers, and the rest of the list leans heavily on other American microbreweries. There are also limited-edition picks – five draft, five bottles – that change monthly. A five-page menu covers all the bases. 7014 E. Camelback Rd., Scottsdale, 480-675-9273; 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, 480-563-9273; 9401 W. Westgate Blvd., Glendale, 623-872-3900; yardhouse.com

# of beers on tap: 114
# of beers in bottles: 8
Events: During happy hour (3-6 p.m. M-F, 10 p.m.-close Su-Th), the bar offers $2.25-$4.50 shortys, $3.50 domestic pints, $4.25-$5 craft and import pints, $4.75-$5.50 goblets, and $7-$10 half-yards (afternoon happy hour only).


Yucca Tap Room
When regulars say this popular Tempe dive bar has a split personality, they’re not just referring to the eclectic nighttime entertainment. The weathered jukebox, checkered floor and oak booths are stuck in a perpetual time warp. The beer selection, on the other hand, is strictly 21st century. Yucca goes through 100 cases of hipster fallback PBR each week, but it’s the well-stocked cooler with craft brews from the likes of Deschutes and Utah’s Epic Brewing that attracts true beer aficionados. 29 W. Southern Ave., Tempe, 480-967-4777, yuccatap.com   

# of beers on tap: 28
# of beers in bottles: 200+ (including cans)
Events: Score $2-$3 PBR and $2.25 well drinks and domestics from 4-6 p.m. M-F. Open mic M, hip-hop Th, country music Su.


For more of PHOENIX magazine’s 'Beer', check back soon, find us at newsstands Valleywide or call 480-664-3960.  Subscribe today so you don’t miss another issue!