Thirsty Thursday: Ranking the Top 10 Craft Beer Releases in Arizona This Week

When drinking an IPA, freshness matters as much as any of the ingredients. It’s the same with blogging about IPAs and other craft beer varieties – I need to keep this fresh. So, instead of the usually listing of new craft beer releases around Arizona each week, I’ll start ranking them based on my own expertise, knowledge of the product and/or the brewery, and availability or distribution.

Here’s this week’s top 10 craft beer must-tries.

• #1 Dank Fruit Double IPA & two others from Tombstone (Tombstone, AZ)

Tombstone Brewing’s triple can release lineup this week features crowd pleasers Strata Double IPA, Dank Fruit Double IPA and Mosaic Single Hop IPA. Tombstone specializes in unfiltered, hazy and hoppy beers that never disappoint. Dank Fruit ranks among my favorite beers in Arizona. These went out to craft beer stores around the Valley earlier this week, so snag some while you still can.

• #2 Reflections of Society in Literature from The Shop Beer Co. (Tempe)

The Shop Beer Co.’s Reflections of Society in Literature is an epic name from a brewery that always puts out an epic beer. This double dry-hopped double hazy IPA is brewed with Mosaic, Cryo and Cashmere hops and comes in at 8% ABV. Order ahead or walk-up and snag a four-pack this weekend.

• #3 Mountains of Mosaic & Fresh Hop IPA from Dark Sky (Flagstaff)

Dark Sky Brewing unleashed two new IPAs this weekend. Mountains of Mosaic is a 6% ABV west coast IPA dry-hopped with Mosaic hops. Amarillo Fresh Hop IPA is brewed with Amarillo hops that come from the well-known Crosby Hops farm in Oregon and clocks in at 7.1% ABV. Both are gluten reduced and available on draft in the taproom and in 16-oz. cans. Look for them at a craft beer bar such as The Sleepy Whale.

• #4 Mexican Candy Gose from 1912 Brewing (Tucson)

1912 Brewing’s Rambuesa Loca Mexican Candy Gose is the latest can release from Tucson’s sour superpower. A blend of raspberry, chamoy, tamarindo and chili peppers will taste like the glorious insides of a candy-filled piñata.

• #5 Tranquility from Pueblo Vida (Tucson)

Pueblo Vida Brewing’s Tranquility Double IPA comes in at a funky 8% ABV and is brewed with 100% Nelson hops to give it a note of strawberry, kiwi and white wine.

• #6 Super Beaker & Figure It Oat from 12 West (Gilbert & Mesa)

12 West Brewing’s unfiltered Super Beaker Tropical IPA uses a combination of Cyro Citra and Motueka hops from New Zealand that will have you yearning for the island life. Meanwhile, your cold weather Canadian senses will kick in sipping on the pure maple syrup notes inside the new Figure It Oat Double IPA, an 8% ABV collaboration with Grand Canyon Brewery. Super Beaker & Figure It Oat both release on Friday, September 18.

• #7 Howling Oats from PHX Beer Co. (Phoenix & Scottsdale)

PHX Beer Co.’s Howling Oats Hazy IPA promises to hit you with a tasty mix of mango and papaya on the tongue – and peach on the nose. A limited release available in the taproom and Scottsdale location, Howling Oats is also ready to go in cans.

• #8 Pumpkin Butt from Flying Basset (Gilbert)

Flying Basset Brewing’s Pumpkin Butt is a 5.8% ABV aromatic fall beer with Kosher pumpkin pie spices. Good luck trying not to giggle when ordering this one! It’s only available on draft at Flying Basset in Gilbert on Saturday.

• #9 Fest Coast from Goldwater (Scottsdale & Mesa)

Goldwater Brewing’s fest-style lager bier mellows at 4% ABV, so its perfectly crushable in a 24-oz. stein. Also available in four-packs and single cans.

• #10 Kolsch from Wren House (Phoenix)

Wren House Brewing’s Kolsch may be a basic name but this true-to-style German classic will have you daydreaming of Oktoberfest in a Bavarian biergarten. Remember the taproom is still closed and Wren House has curbside pickup.