Fresh off a gold medal-winning performance at the Arizona Craft Beer Awards and opening its second location, the team at Phantom Fox Beer Co. is riding high right now and set to join the lineup at the 2026 Arizona Craft Beer Fest in Downtown Mesa on October 31. We caught up with the entire team for a Q&A on everything from construction beers to pizza partnerships and a coffee-coconut combo that resulted in top honors.
Congrats on the grand opening on Mill Ave. What’s been the response from the folks in Tempe?
The response has been incredible. Mill Avenue has such a unique energy, and we’re excited to be part of it. We’ve had a great mix of longtime Phantom Fox supporters making the trip from Mesa, ASU students, people discovering us for the first time and plenty of families from the surrounding community.
We wanted to create a space with personality, an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome, and great beer to bring people together. Partnering with Goat & Ram has been another great addition.
We’re still getting settled, but the early response has us excited about what’s ahead.
— Eric Cady, Co-founder
We know John dug up concrete and we saw posts of the owners doing construction during the build-out in Tempe. How much would you say the Phantom Fox team did during the project and how would you rate everyone’s handyman skills?
Let’s just say we all have a newfound appreciation for people who do construction for a living.
This project was very hands-on for our team. There weren’t many people who caught a glimpse of the construction and escaped without getting their hands dirty. Owners Trent, Dan, Eric and wives were there day and night putting the place together.
That’s something I think says a lot about Phantom Fox. We’re a small, hardworking team, and when something needs to get done, everyone pitches in.
As for everyone’s handyman skills? I’d give us a B plus for Beers drank after a long day and a solid A+ for figuring things out along the way. Most importantly, we couldn’t have done it without the help from all of our friends.
— John Acosta, Director of Operations
Congrats on the gold medal for stout/porter! Tell us about Dangerous Night and how it came to be the gold standard in the category.
Dangerous Night is a great example of what our brewing team is capable of. Winning gold in the stout/porter category is an incredible recognition, especially considering the level of talent in Arizona’s craft beer community.
We’re incredibly proud of this beer and elated to have taken home gold. Two of the most common adjuncts used in porters are coffee and coconut, but we’d never really seen anyone combine the two. We thought those flavors would complement each other really well, so we decided to give it a shot.
It’s always rewarding when an idea comes together the way you envisioned, and having that recognized with a gold medal makes it even more special.
— Valerie Adee, Head Brewer
What is the beer or brewing philosophy at Phantom Fox and how has it developed over time?
Cleanliness is the foundation of our brewing philosophy. Keeping our equipment clean and being meticulous with our processes ensures that every beer we produce tastes as good as it possibly can.
Recipe development and building flavor come from years of experience, experimentation, and constant refinement. We’re always tweaking recipes, learning from previous batches, and challenging ourselves to make something even better than the last time.
It’s a combination of consistency, attention to detail, and never being completely satisfied with where we’re at. There’s always room to improve.
— Colt Cook, Phantom Fox Brewing Team
Halloween is going to be a big night at Phantom Fox. What do you have in store and what are some other events coming up at your locations?
Halloween is going to be a big one for us, especially at our original Mesa location.
We’re hosting the official after-party for the Arizona Craft Beer Fest on Saturday, October 31, starting at 4:30 p.m. We’re just a block away from the festival, so we’re keeping the party going with live music featuring Case Shannon and headliners Miles Above, plus a costume contest.
We’ll be awarding a $100 Phantom Fox gift card for Best Dressed and a $200 gift card for Best Group Costume. Costumes are definitely encouraged.
We’ve also transformed our Mesa location into a dark, vintage, spooky-inspired Halloween experience. It’s a completely different atmosphere, and we’re excited for people to see it. Shout out to Mel at All the Things Home.
Beyond Halloween, we’re focused on building a strong calendar of events across Phantom Fox Mesa, our new Tempe location, and Chupacabra Taproom. Expect more live music, collaborations, community events, and plenty of reasons to stop in for a beer.
Upcoming Events:
- October 16–17: Mesa Music Festival
- October 23: Meet Me on Mill
- October 31: Arizona Craft Beer Fest Official After-Party at Phantom Fox Mesa
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October 31: EDM Halloween on Mill
- November 6–7: Phantom Fox Mesa’s 3-Year Anniversary
— Trent Smith, Co-founder
You’ve opened your second location with Goat & Ram as your food partner. Why is it important for the two to be joined in beer & pizza matrimony?
I think the biggest thing people should know is that Phantom Fox and Goat & Ram are more than just another brewery and pizza spot.
We live and breathe what we do. We love seeing our guests smile and genuinely enjoy the experience we’ve created. We strive for quality and consistency in everything we put out, whether that’s a pint of beer, a slice of pizza, or the atmosphere people walk into.
It’s cliché to say, “When you love what you do, you never work a day in your life,” but there’s a lot of truth to it. We love what we do, and I think that passion shows in what we’re building together.
— Kalia Grover, Sous Chef, Goat & Ram
