15 New Craft Beers for the First Weekend in June

Hot enough for ya? Ha ha ha! Who hasn’t missed that guy at the office the past year or so? It’s the first weekend in June, so the heat outside is definitely starting to melt things. The good news is that craft beer around the Valley is always refreshingly cold. Here are 15 new local craft brews releasing this week from a local brewery near you. Cheers and enjoy responsibly. 

AAWLager from Walter Station Brewery (Phoenix) 

Puppies up for adoption at a brewery on a Saturday? Best weekend plan ever. Clear my calendar, please. Walter Station’s new lager celebrates Arizona Animal Welfare League’s 50th anniversary and the can design features photos of animals saved by the no-kill shelter over the years. I’m already getting teary-eyed writing this, so here’s a famous and wise quote that will push it into full-on bawling: “Pets aren’t our whole lives, but they make our lives whole.” Get over to Walter Station this Saturday, June 5 from noon to 4 p.m. to celebrate AAWL. Puppy adoptions on-site and six-packs of the new lager will be available. 

Double release from Goldwater Brewing (Scottsdale and Mesa) 

For my money, nothing beats the summer heat better than a hoppy lager, and I’d argue Goldwater makes the best hoppy lagers out there. It’s also perhaps the best style of beer Goldwater makes (and they do everything well). Comet Cruiser hoppy lager makes its return on Friday, June 4 along with Cherry Limeade Sour. Both will be on draft and in four-pack cans to-go. 

Three new releases from Tombstone Brewing (Phoenix and Tombstone) 

Need a 12-pack for the weekend? While Tombstone’s packages only come in four-packs, if you get all three of these new offerings – do the math and that’s 12. Decisions are easy when it comes to awesome beer and Tombstone delivers with Idaho 7 Single Hop Pale Ale, Strata Single Hop IPA and More Hops. Look for all three on tap at either brewery location or in four-pack cans at finer beer stores around the Valley. 

Two new Pilot Series beers at SanTan Brewing (Chandler) 

Let’s start with Four Schwartzmen, a dark lager aged for 18 months inside Sacred Stave Whiskey barrels with a bit of Sex Panther chocolate porter added to the mix. It sounds like a complex puzzle of big flavors (including whiskey) and only checks in at 5.6% ABV. 

Next up, Psychoptic Imperial IPA is one for the bitterheads out there. 95 IBUs and 8.6% ABV tell me this is bursting with the piney hops that will satisfy an earthy, granola-loving beer snob like myself. 

You Are Not Alone Session IPA from O.H.S.O. Brewery (Four Valley Locations) 

A beer with a purpose. You Are Not Alone shines the light on mental illness and attempts to show those that suffer from it that they indeed aren’t alone. Proceeds from sales go to the National Alliance on Mental Health. Available in cans right now. 

Arizona Pride IPA from Arizona Wilderness Brewing (Gilbert and Phoenix) 

Arizona Wilderness celebrates Pride Month with this hazy IPA release available starting Thursday, June 3. This juicy 6% ABV brew features notes of tropical fruit and coconut, with part of the proceeds of sales going to One N Ten Phoenix, a support group for LGBTQ+ communities in Arizona. 

Cash Rules Hazy IPA from Throne Brewing (Glendale and Peoria) 

Straight cashmere, homey! That’s probably what former NFL legend Randy Moss would have to say about Cash Rules, a New England style IPA loaded with Cashmere, Citra and Sabro hops. Hinting at notes of coconut and tropical fruit, this one clocks in at 5.8% ABV and is available at both of the Northwest Valley Throne locations. 

Ethereal Hazy Pale Ale at 12 West Brewing (Gilbert and Mesa) 

They’re Ethereal and they’re spectacular. Shout out to the Seinfeld fans who get that reference. Anyway, 12 West’s Ethereal Citra-hopped hazy pale ale is back in four-packs for $15.  

M-Shake IPA from Mudshark Brewing (Havasu City) 

It’s been a while since we last saw something new from Mudshark, which is readily available around Arizona wherever you like to buy craft beer. This new strawberry vanilla milkshake IPA is available at Craft 64 in Chandler and Tap That Downtown in Phoenix this Thursday night. 

NEW BEERS OUT OF TOWN 

• Visit Dark Sky Brewing in Flagstaff for the re-release of After Thoughts, its flagship American Pale Ale, back on draft in the taproom. The beer menu is loaded with hazy IPAs for those looking to escape to the high country. 
• Check out Pueblo Vida Brewing in Tucson for two new IPAs: Sonic and Fire. No one brews a softer mouthfeel IPA better than Pueblo Vida and the brewery recently re-opened for in-person pours Thursday through Sunday. Pints and four-packs are ready for the weekend.