Looking back on the year in Arizona craft beer, we can safely say most were hits and very few were misses (nobody is perfect, and we have no intention of shaming those brews that missed the mark.) Instead, let’s reward the locally produced beers that brought us cheer in the past year. Here are our made-up awards for our favorite suds of 2021.
Best Spinoffs
- Peanut Butter Bananarchy from O.H.S.O. Brewery
- Peanut Butter Teddy from Goldwater Brewing
- Papago Cherry Blossom from Huss Brewing
It may be bad if we’re discussing coronavirus, but the words ‘new variants’ are one of our favorite things when it comes to craft beer. Peanut butter and cherry were added to the recipes of these local legends. We enjoyed each of these so much we decided a three-way split of the award was necessary.
Closest Thing to Pliny The Elder
Tombstone Brewing Co.’s West Coast Triple IPA
Admittedly, we’ve never been fortunate enough to snag a Pliny the Younger triple IPA from California’s Russian River Brewing Company, but we have had plenty of the regular double IPA classic Pliny the Elder during our drinking days. Tombstone’s West Coast TIPA was inspired by the Younger but we swear it’s a dead ringer for the Elder. We loved it either way.
Best Idea to Stomp Out Dry January
Huss Brewing’s Low Lo Hazy IPA
For those who wanted to cut back but not go cold turkey, 2021 got off to a promising start thanks to Huss’ Low Lo, a low-calorie hazy IPA released in January. Huss also launched a contest to win free beer for the whole year – something that would be a welcome sight in 2022.
That’s a Good Boy Award
Wally series from Wren House Brewing
Nobody does a triple hazy IPA better than the folks at Wren House. Nobody. If you’re too shy about the thought of downing a 10% ABV TIPA, forget everything you ever knew when it comes to trying a Wally. Named in honor of one of the founder’s dogs, this series is the smoothest, easiest drinking, most flavorful and dank yet crushable strong beer you’ll encounter. 2021 brought us Wally Wall in January, Springtime Wally in April, Wally Oop in August and FrankenWally in October, just to name a few. Holly Jolly Wally is the most recent release at the end of December. We thoroughly enjoyed these and have our tails wagging for more in 2022.
Best Strong Beer
Moulin Bruges Belgian Quad from O.H.S.O.
Coming in at 17.4% ABV, Moulin Bruges was one of the strongest beers to ever hit the Valley craft beer scene – and it lived up to the hype. After spending the first 26 months of its life aging in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels, this Belgian Quad did not last long in our fridge once we tried it.
Favorite Beer Names of 2021
- I’m Just Beer So I Won’t Get Fined from 12 West Brewing
- Birds Aren’t Real from Dillinger Brewing
- Your Mom from The Shop Beer Co.
We’ll freely admit that sometimes a clever name gets us to buy a beer. That’s why we decided to create this category on our year-end list. After all, what’s better than telling the bartender something about “your mom”?! Hilarity ensues every time.
Best New Style of Craft Beer
PebbleHead Stoney Hazy IPA from SanTan Brewing
We were introduced to this new stone fruit beer during Arizona Beer Week in February during our series of Instagram Live conversations with brewers all over the Valley. Stone fruits include peaches, nectarines, cherries, plums, mangoes and apricots. Adding it to beer results in a sweet and savory combination that is really enjoyable around the pool in the summertime here in the desert.
Best Post Golf Round Beers
The lighter stuff at Goldwater Brewing
Whether you’re playing in the dead heat of summer or the crispy cold of winter here in the Valley, nothing hits better than a cold crispy pour after slapping a golf ball around for four to six hours. RoadJogger Hoppy Lager, Bogey Juice sour session IPA and Comet Cruiser hoppy lager all hit the spot after rounds of golf in 2021. Full disclosure: Goldwater wins this in a runaway because it’s my local watering hole and adjacent to all the courses I like to play. Come up with your own awards if you don’t like it.
Best Collab of 2021
Sleepy Wren double IPA
Downtown Chandler tap room The Sleepy Whale (Best of the Valley winner) celebrated its two–year anniversary in May with a number of collaborations. None were better than the smooth and flavorful Sleepy Wren DIPA collab it did with Wren House Brewing. We’re looking forward to seeing what year number three has in store for this hot spot in the East Valley.
Favorite New Guy on the Scene
Kitsune Brewing’s Forager IPA
This hopped–up juicy IPA not only tickled the senses – it punched your nose and taste buds with a big danky flavor. This was one of our favorite new beers to try in 2021 and we’re looking forward to more hop-heavy Kitsune beers in the new year.
Best Can Art
Idaho Smash Pale Ale from Simple Machine Brewing Company
Perhaps the greatest thing since a Liger, Napoleon Dynamite went from a 2004 cult classic movie character to a sweet beer can design in 2021. Although it did nothing to improve our nunchucks ability or tetherball skills, we do still get a laugh every time we look at this artwork.
Best Time to Capture the Valley’s Attention
Suns-themed beers from PHX Beer Co., Goldwater and Wren House
If last summer told us anything about Phoenix, it’s that we are a basketball town and we are a Suns town. Remember when #ChuggingWithTheFellas was trending every other night? The Valley truly rallied around the Phoenix Suns’ run to the NBA Finals and several local breweries were there to join in on the fun and add some hops to our hoops–watching. Rally Beer from Wren House, Shazaaam! from PHX Beer Co. and Suds in Four from Goldwater were among the biggest slam dunks.
We Wish This Was Around More Often
Pistachio Shake from Arizona Wilderness Brewing
Do breweries make New Year’s resolutions? If so, please make it a goal to bring back this fan favorite more often. This creamy and sweet tasting milkshake double IPA from Arizona Wilderness uses vanilla bean marshmallow fluff from Toasted Mallow in Gilbert and is a must try for any local craft beer snob. The last time we saw it was in August. That’s why we’re wishing this comes around more often in 2022.
Do you have a craft beer comment, suggestion, tip or general question? Please reach out to our beer blogger via email at matthew.johnson@citieswestmedia.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
