Thirsty Thursday: Ranking the Top 10 New Craft Beer Releases from Arizona Breweries for Dec. 10

It’s such a festive time of year and actually feels like winter because of the early Thursday morning storm that rolled through the Valley. If the rain and chills have you in a mood, check out these new craft beer releases from some of our favorite Arizona breweries and cozy up with one by the fireplace. Here’s our top 10 we think you should try.

1. Kill the Keg Stouts from Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company (Gilbert)

• Arizona Wilderness dominates this week and easily earns the top spot in the ranking. This East Valley favorite has a fun, friendly competition brewing between team members and they need you to help decide the winner. Challenge accepted! Choose from three different pastry stouts: one brewed to taste like a gingerbread cookie, a second with cherries and almonds, and a third inspired to taste like s’mores. Customers will order and whichever keg kicks first is the winner. The competition is at the Gilbert location only.
• Wilderness fans can also snag fresh four-packs of Wandering in the Wilderness DIPA, Superstition Breakfast Stout and DC Mountain DIPA to bring home.
• Plus, two more beers are on tap this week: barrel-aged Grand Falls Belgian Brown and Bright Angel Spiced Ale. It’s good to have options!

2. Holly Haze from Fate Brewing Company (Scottsdale)

• A holiday inspired double IPA that’s packed with so many hops you’ll think you’re drinking the Christmas tree! Get the piney goodness in four-packs for $18 only at the South Scottsdale location.
• Fate also released an imperial milk porter called Cuppa Joe, brewed with fresh roasted coffee from locally owned Press Coffee.

3. Barrel-Aged Stout from Walter Station Brewery (Phoenix)

Yule tide meets a tidal wave of flavor! Using locally grown pecans from Green Valley Pecan Company, this holiday stout was aged in Rye Whisky barrels used to age maple syrup. It was then blended with two other Walter Station stouts to smooth out the flavor and aroma.

4. Dirty Chai Stout from Wren House Brewing Company (Phoenix)

• The folks at Wren House love it when you talk dirty to them – Dirty Chai coconut coffee imperial stout that is. This brand new 10.5% ABV stout is ready to take home in a 16-ounce can for $8.
• Other releases include AZ Tangie, a juicy tangerine pale ale tapped earlier in the week and available in crowler fills.
• Plus, get your hands on Wren’s award-winning Spellbinder. It won the gold medal in the hazy IPA category at the Great American Beer Festival for a reason: it’s amazing! A fresh batch is available in four-packs to-go.

5. Space Flowers from The Shop Beer Co. (Tempe)

The Shop Beer Co. took its India Pale Lager Space Yacht and infused it with jasmine flowers to create this fresh new release. It’s available on draft or in crowler fills to go.

6. Direwolf from Grand Canyon Brewing + Distilling (Williams & Flagstaff)

This limited release sour does not happen very often, but there are bottles available at both northern Arizona locations this week.

7. New holiday beers tapped at O.H.S.O. (4 Valley locations)

Get into the Christmas spirit with 12 new holiday ales and winter warmers tapped on Thursday at the various O.H.S.O. locations.

8. PO Gose from Peoria Artisan Brewing (Peoria)

This is a fruited sour brewed with guava, passion fruit, blood orange, salt and coriander. Pairs well with the Hawaiian pork belly sliders on the menu. Stay longer and order the new Victory Victoria, a Belgian-style IPA that’s an ode to the brewery owner’s daughter.

9. War Paint from The Beer Research Institute (Mesa)

Depending on who you ask, War Paint is either a hoppy amber or a west coast-style red IPA.  B.R.I. is also hosting a toy drive on Saturday, so stop by with a new unwrapped toy on your way to a tasty beverage.

10. Three New Beers from 12 West Brewing (Gilbert & Mesa)

• The Palatero Series has been a staple in the 12 West lineup over the years. The newest edition is a Chocolate and Vanilla hazy golden ale available on draft and in four-packs on Friday, December 11.
• The brewery is also giving popular breakfast cereal Cap’n Crunch a run for its money with the release of Lieutenant Chomp: a hazy corn-oat IPA brewed with four different styles of hops and lactose. Chomp releases Friday on draft and in four-packs.
• Last but not least is a new double IPA called Newish Kidz On The Block, a collaboration with Chupacabra Taproom in Mesa. Sounds like the right stuff, for the weekend – cheers!