We’re heading into a couple of well-deserved long holiday weekends with plenty of new craft beer releases coming at us from Arizona breweries. Here are our top 10 new brews to seek out this weekend and some to run out and get next week. As always, drink responsibly and support local!
1. Helluva Brewing Company trio of anniversary beers (Chandler)
Helluva celebrates its two-year anniversary with a big lineup of new beer releases on Thursday. It starts with the return of Thrilla With Vanilla, a 9.2% ABV imperial vanilla stout. Say Merry Christmas early with Mele Kalikimaka, a coconut cinnamon porter. Finish your round with barrel-aged Thrilla With Vanilla, weighing in at 10.8% ABV. Congrats to owners Shawn and Lisa Shepard and head brewer Steve Stone on two years!
2. Double release at Goldwater Brewing Co. (Scottsdale & Mesa)
Goldwater’s iconic Hop Chowda gets a pretty makeover with Pink Guava added to the batch. Another fruity option is Crimson Clouds, the prickly pear double-dry hopped hazy IPA that makes its return. Both beers release on draft and in cans on Friday.
3. Morning Grind from O.H.S.O. Brewery (4 Valley locations)
You’ll know where to find me at about this time next Wednesday, December 23. Thick stout fans will want to head to a nearby O.H.S.O. for the release of Morning Grind, an imperial breakfast stout aged in Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon barrels and brewed with maple syrup and coffee. The 2020 version is a big boy that clocks in at 14.2% ABV. At the Gilbert location only, it gets to share the breakfast table with the versions from 2018 and 2019, making it the first beer in O.H.S.O.’s Ales From The Crypt series to see its third annual release. That’s some O.G. power!
4. Anniversary beers from Tombstone Brewing Company (Phoenix & Tombstone)
Tombstone gets to celebrate its fourth anniversary and we get some fantastic beer releases – win-win! This year’s Grand Cru is a blend of nine different barrel-aged stouts and barleywines. Plus, check out the release of Mexican Vanilla Imperial Stout, which was aged for 18 months in Bourbon barrels. Both are available on Friday.
5. Christmas beers from Huss Brewing (Tempe & Phoenix)
Huss head brewer Matt Johnson is in the holiday spirit this week, cranking out two new small-batch releases. Peppermint Patty Christmas Ale is a black lager with a hint of chocolate. The Gingerbread Man is a Schwarzbier with candied ginger and holiday spices that will make Santa a little jealous you get to drink it with a plate of cookies.
6. Ursa Major from Saddle Mountain Brewing (Goodyear)
Typically, you’d share a 22-ounce bottle of Bourbon barrel-aged Russian imperial stout, but Ursa Major comes in at 9% ABV, so you might want to be selfish and claim that entire bottle for yourself. With notes of coffee, oak and vanilla, your friends won’t blame you (although they’ll want one for themselves). Also, make sure to check out the $12 growler fill specials daily through Christmas Eve as part of Saddle Mountain’s 12 Beers of Christmas special.
7. Who Hit John from Wren House Brewing (Phoenix)
This fan favorite is an imperial porter than comes in a bit under 9% ABV because it’s not aged in barrels. You will, however, get plenty of chocolate notes from it. Claim your four-pack to-go for $20.
8. Old Murk Scotch Ale from Simple Machine Brewing (Phoenix)
Simple Machine plans a three-part release, first on nitro, then on normal tap and finally in cans. The caramelly dark 8.1% ABV Scotch Ale is sure to keep you warm on a cool Arizona night.
9. Infused Legend of Zymur from 8-Bit Aleworks (Avondale)
Using tropical fruit black tea from Ribbons Tea House in Litchfield Park, 8-Bit’s brewers added tropical notes of kiwi, pineapple and passion fruit into their flagship double IPA. Available on draft and in one-liter growler fills. Also, save the date for the Monday release of Mayan Chocolossus on tap and in bottles.
10. Gift pack from Fate Brewing (3 Valley locations)
If you’ve been nice this year, perhaps Santa will leave you this four-pack of 16-ounce tall boys from Fate Brewing gift wrapped under the tree. If not, pick one up at any Fate location for $30, slap a tag on it and pretend it was from the big guy.
What are some of your favorite craft beers from Arizona breweries? Send tips, comments and suggestions to the beer blogger matthew.johnson@citieswestmedia.com
- 8-bit aleworks legend of zymur
- arizona craft beer
- goldwater brewing pink guava hop chowda
- helluva brewing thrilla with vanilla
- huss brewing peppermint patty
- ohso brewery morning grind
- saddle mountain brewing ursa major
- simple machine brewing old murk scotch ale
- tombstone brewing grand cru
- wren house brewing who hit john
