Thirsty Thursday Top 10: Ranking the new craft beer releases in Arizona this week

It’s wet hop season for beer lovers, as breweries are starting to unleash their creations using the fresh-off-the-vine hops from the Pacific Northwest. These hops get flown super fresh overnight to breweries in Arizona, where it’s brewed right away. The result is the freshest beer you’ll drink all year! Many of these top our rankings this week of the Top Ten craft beer releases across Arizona.

1. Wendigo from Huss (Tempe & Phoenix)

Using a batch of fresh wet Idaho-7 hops from the world-famous Crosby Farms in Oregon, Huss’ Wendigo Wet Hop IPA tapped this week and is available at both taprooms until the kegs run out.

2. Fresh Hop IPA duo from Pueblo Vida (Tucson)

The Pacific Northwest will get poured from cans into a glass this weekend with the double can release from Pueblo Vida. Mosaic Logistics and Simcoe Logistics are both fresh hop IPAs brewed with wet hops from Yakima Chief Hops in Washington. Lots of berry and earthy flavors coming at you this weekend! Don’t feel like driving to Tucson? Our Best of the Valley winner Ground Control Litchfield is a great spot to find Pueblo Vida products.

3. Wet and Hazy IPA from Four Peaks (Tempe)

Idaho gets in on the fresh hop season, representing the Pacific Northwest in a new can release from Arizona’s largest brewer. Four Peaks used wet Amarillo Hops from Elk Mountain Farms to brew a beer billed as the “moistest ever.” Pick it up in four-packs for $16 or get it on tap.

4. La Coyota DIPA from Desert Monks (Gilbert)

Inspired by a traditional Mexican cookie called a Coyota, this award-winning beer is made with Piloncillo sugar. The result is a 110 IBU banger of a double IPA. Desert Monks has it on tap this weekend and it’s ready in four-pack 16-oz. cans to go.

5. Triple release from Wren House (Phoenix)

• The brewers have been busy! First up, The Imperial from Wren House is for those who love a double IPA or a west coast style beer. This is an imperial IPA with plenty of dankness, notes of fruit, citrus peel and pine and a walloping 8.8% ABV. Available for pickup or delivery for $17 for a four-pack.
• Second, Strawberries & Cream milkshake IPA promises to be hoppy and not too fruity, even with all the strawberry puree they put in it. Get yours for $19 per four-pack.
• Last but not least, Strange Pour double IPA brewed with a delightfully weird mix of apricot and hops. Sounds strange but also sounds awesome! Grab some for $19 a four-pack.

6. Porters and Stouts from Arizona Wilderness (Gilbert & Phoenix)

Most brewers will tell you there’s really no difference between a porter and a stout, even though the names are different. We can agree, however, dark beers are great no matter what you call it. Wilderness has two dark beers coming out this weekend: Peloncillo Porter and Superstition Coffee Stout. Both are on tap right now and release in cans on Friday.

7. Anniversary bottles at Wanderlust (Flagstaff)

Happy 8th anniversary to the folks at Wanderlust. To celebrate this weekend, you’ll need reservations available through their website – and you’ll be rewarded handsomely! Attendees will get an 8th Anniversary Ale: a 10.5% ABV Belgian Quad aged in Wild Turkey Bourbon barrels; and Moxie’s Mistake: a 7.4% ABV sour stout aged in red wine barrels. Those are some crazy combinations!

8. Alltheberries from 8-Bit Aleworks (Avondale)

Flavors of raspberry, blackberry and blueberry will make you pucker up in a good way with this latest Untitled Gose Game release from 8-Bit Aleworks.

9. State 48 Brewery available at Total Wine (Statewide)

This brewery out of Surprise has quickly built up an arsenal of locations across the Valley, and now its distribution is casting an even wider net, as several varieties are in cans and on store shelves. Sound of Freedom Mosaic IPA, Suncast Hazy IPA, German Pilsner, Desert Vibes Mexican Lager and Mango Wheat are all now available at Total Wine locations across Arizona.

10. Fresh Hop IPA from 12 West (Gilbert & Mesa)

The weekly top ten ranking starts with a fresh hop beer and ends with a fresh hop beer. It’s called a bookend, look it up! 12 West released Hot Off The Press late last weekend in $20 four-packs. Citra hops inside this beauty make it a flavor-bomb of lime, grapefruit, orange and mango. If you need more bitterness in your life, try the 10.4% ABV Mijo Triple IPA, also released late last weekend.