The 12-Pack of Arizona Beers We Sent to Texas For Losing a Bet

PHOENIX magazine settles a baseball bet gone bad.

Dear Dallas Magazine Editor,

As Yogi Berra once said: “Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours.” I’m not sure how that’s applicable here, but it’s amusing, no? Anyway, here’s your beer – making good on that friendly wager you and I agreed to back in October. Not much of a World Series, as it turns out, from a competitiveness standpoint. I hope these Arizona craft beers challenge your expectations more artfully than our bats challenged the Rangers’ pitching staff.

I’m also providing this Whitman’s Sampler-style tasting guide. Prost! Or, as you might say in Texas: “Prost, y’all.”

Walter Station Raising Arizona Hazy IPA: Is it the best hazy in Arizona? A few might say so. But it’s definitely the most orange-y. And it has the best Arizona-themed can art. 

Simple Machine Exhibit B Honey KÖlsch: Another terrific all-around Phoenix craft brewery, led by the guy who did the state’s first drinkable, volume-produced sour beer. 

Roses by the Stairs Better Together West Coast Pilsner: I confess I’m using you as a guinea pig here. Never tried this particular offering from Roses… but I imagine it’s terrific. 

Tombstone West Coast Style Triple IPA: Here’s your obligatory boomer of a West Coast, from the Southern Arizona brewery that does high-gravity IPAs as well as anyone in the hemisphere. 

Dragoon Brewing Co. Pilsner: Another Tucson-based brewery. This one took Best in Show at the Arizona Craft Beer Awards. Pilsners are trending, you know. 

Fate Dos Gatos Golden Ale: Sorry, had to do it. Here’s your chile beer, sucker. The caveat: This one won bronze at the 2020 Great American Beer Festival, and it’s tasty.

Wren House Brewing Co. Lady Banks Hibiscus Rose Gose: This Top 3 Phoenix micro-brewery does terrific IPAs and such, but I didn’t want to overload you with IPAs, so I’m including this delicious gose. 

Grand Canyon Prickly Pear IPA: The prickly pear is to Arizona as the pumpkin is to the month of November. This is the first beer that successfully mated its rosy, bubble gummy flavor with a beer mash, however.

The Shop Church Music Juicy IPA: Without any hard proof to back it up, I “think” this is the most-poured Arizona hazy in the state. You see it on taps everywhere, and it is damn good.

Barrio Brewing Co. Blonde Ale: Now we’re getting into the award-winning-beer portion of the evening. This blonde from Tucson took gold in the most recent Arizona Craft Beer Awards. 

Lumberyard Brewing Railhead Red Ale: This well-structured (read: artfully bitter) red ale from Flagstaff took home a silver at the 2023 GABF.

PHX Beer Co. PHOENIX magazine First Draft IPA: I’m rounding out your shipment with the magazine’s first-ever collab: A “Southwestern IPA.”

Postscript: Did you know Arizona boasts the country’s top meadery? It’s factually true… if Ratebeer.com rankings constitute “fact.” So, I’m including this Superstition Meadery Electric Sunrise bubbly Sangiovese pyment as a bonus.