Third Valley location (fourth in AZ) now pouring at the PV Mall redevelopment complex.
by Matthew Johnson | Photography by Matthew Johnson
It’s a bit of a homecoming for Wren House Brewing co-founder Drew Pool.
“I personally grew up in the area, spent many hours at PV mall and went to Sunrise Middle School, so I know the demographic really well,” Pool tells PHOENIX. “We generally look for underserved areas that would benefit from a new taproom. PV has a huge community and very few breweries/taprooms.”
Pool and his team (along with a packed house of enthusiastic day drinkers) were on hand Thursday afternoon for the grand opening of Wren House Paradise Valley (@caskgram on Instagram), a cozy taproom located on the street level of a new mixed-use development on the land where PV Mall once stood at the corner of Tatum Blvd. and Cactus Road.
The crowd on this first day of business is ordering drafts from one of 16 normal tap handles or four cask engines which serve as a true attraction here.
“Cask beer, also known as real ale, relies on live yeast for its unique characteristics, particularly its natural carbonation and flavor development,” Pool says. “The process creates a unique flavor and luscious body/mouthfeel which enhances the drinking experience. It often gets a bad rap in the U.S. for being warm and flat, which it isn’t. We serve our cask at cellar temp and there is natural carbonation from the yeast fermentation.”
Wren House has been brewing cask style beers since it opened and won a medal at the Great American Beer Fest in 2023 for Hooks and Dun, an English Special Bitter.
Its current tap list shows Big Spill Pils pilsner, Spellbinder hazy IPA, Pubber dark mild, and Prairie Ghost altbier all available on cask.
A Special Spot on the Calendar
The grand opening of the PV taproom on June 19 comes exactly ten years to the day after the opening of the original Wren House Brewing location on 24th Street in Phoenix. 10-year anniversary releases such as Birthday Boy Wally and Phoenix Lights are available at the new location.
Inspired Interiors
Thanks to the expert hand of hospitality interior design firm House of Form, the interiors at the new PV locale are custom and intentional.
“The idea was British pub meets Arizona southwest,” Pool says. “The booths take inspiration from Irish snugs and the color palette brings in the Sonoran desert.”
Pool tells us most of the design budget was sunk into a significant amount of custom woodwork to give the space an old world feel.
“Books and artwork from our in-house designer Lauren tie it all together,” he adds.
If You Go
Wren House Paradise Valley is open from noon to 10 p.m. Monday – Thursday, 11 am to 12am on Friday and Saturday, and 11am to 9pm on Sunday.
There is no kitchen but you’re allowed to bring food inside. Grab some eats from Federal Pizza, Flower Child or Whole Foods – all within a keg toss of Wren House.
It’s also not pet-friendly, so leave the dogs at home.
Pro-tip: don’t bother trying to park directly in front of the taproom since there’s maybe four usable spots. Use the multi-level garage and give your car some much needed shade this summer.
12650 N. Tatum Blvd. Suite 106, Phoenix
602-244-9184
wrenhousebrewing.com/paradise-valley
