Thirsty Thursday: Ranking the Top 10 New Craft Beer Releases from Arizona Breweries This Week

It’s November 19th and we’re still a week away from Thanksgiving and the traditional Black Friday extravaganza of big beer releases. However, this pre-holiday weekend still gives us plenty of new craft beer from some stellar local breweries that we are thankful for. Here’s our Top 10 must–haves this week. 

1. Pistachio Shake Double IPA from Arizona Wilderness (Gilbert and Phoenix) 

This is one of the more popular annual releases from Arizona Wilderness. Brewed with vanilla bean marshmallows and marshmallow fluff with pistachios grown in Arizona, this 8.5% ABV double IPA won’t last long. It’s available on draft and in four-packs. Two other releases this weekend from Wilderness include Imperial Refuge Double IPA and Picture Perfect German Pilsner. 

2. Barrel-Aged Dark Side Til I Die from B.R.I. (Mesa) 

The Beer Research Institute is celebrating its six–year anniversary with this special bottle release. B.R.I. took its regular oatmeal stout and aged it in a single Bourbon barrel to give it hints of chocolate, oak and Bourbon. It’s available Saturday for $10 per bottle. B.R.I. also released Imperial Boom Box, a peach and mango sour this week. 

3. Astro Cookie from Dark Sky Brewing Co. (Flagstaff) 

It’s totally worth the drive up the hill to snag a few cans of this sweet imperial stout. Draft pours and cans are only available at the brewery in Flagstaff. This 8.2% ABV sweet sipper is conditioned on 2,000 crème-filled chocolate cookies (Oreos) for a flavor that makes this Dark Sky’s must–try beer. The brewery also released three others this week: Cultivating Mass, a 9% ABV imperial stout; Westie, a west coast IPA; and Count ‘Em Up, a triple hazy IPA.  

4. Teddy Mercury Hazy IPA from The Shop Beer Co. (Tempe) 

This one wins the prize for what it would look like to put President Teddy Roosevelt’s head on Freddie Mercury’s body. Teddy Mercury is a collaboration with The Theodore in Downtown Phoenix to celebrate the beer bar’s one-year anniversary. It’s available on draft and in cans starting Saturday, November 21. 

5. Show Down in Worm Town from Huss Brewing Company (Tempe and Phoenix) 

Huss got together with Massachusetts’ Wormtown Brewery to take part in their game day series of collaborations across the country. This one is a Robust Porter inspired by the upcoming Cardinals vs. Patriots matchup on Sunday, November 29. It taps today with a limited can release. 

6. Fall Frenzy from Goldwater Brewing Co. (Scottsdale & Mesa) 

Fruited sours are one of the best things Goldwater churns out, so fans of their beer will be lining up to snag this new release. Full of cranberry and orange tartness, Fall Frenzy releases on Friday. 

7. Shift Yeah! From Front Pourch Brewing (Phoenix) 

Front Pourch collaborated with local cold brew company Shift Caffeine to bring you this 6.4% ABV coffee stout with hints of chocolate and vanilla. Would I like one? Shift Yeah, I would! 

8. Mother Road Brewing Company’s 9th Anniversary Special Release (Flagstaff) 

Mother Road wins the prize for cool and fancy beer packaging this week. Its 9th anniversary special is a Belgian style Trippel that comes in a must-have collector item four-pack box.  

9. Four new IPAs from Pueblo Vida Brewing Company (Tucson) 

Celebrating six years in the brewing business, Pueblo Vida has a four-pack (of sorts) ready to kick off a big weekend. The lineup includes 6 Double IPA, Foraged IPA, Stravenue IPA and People Power IPA. All are available in 16-ounce cans.  

10. Angelo’s Ale at Barro’s Pizza  

This is a collaboration with Four Peaks Brewing to celebrate the life of the patriarch of the Barro’s family, Angelo Barro (who passed away from Alzheimer’s disease in 2015). A percentage of sales of the beer supports the Desert Southwest Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Barro’s Pizza first opened in Arizona in 1980 and now has 40 locations across the state. Angelo’s Ale is available at locations that serve beer.