May was a monster month for brewery openings in Arizona, with a whopping five new spots opening their doors for craft beer fans. Congrats to Pinnacle Brewing in Scottsdale, Brick Box Brewery in Tucson, Buffalo Nickel Brewery in Show Low, Vulture Peak Brewing in Wickenburg and Ballpark Brewing in Bisbee for living the dream. That’s a lot of new beers to drink, but in the meantime, here’s a look back at our favorites from the month of May.
FAVORITE
Nellsonnn!!!
Front Pourch Brewing
I can’t get over my recent obsession with this beer and I’m kicking myself for not buying more. The single-hop IPA offers big aromas of tangerine and has a luscious, creamy pineapple taste that reminds me of the tropics. If Front Pourch was a deserted island, we’d gladly sign up to be stranded there.
RUNNER-UP
Chupacabra
Phantom Fox Beer Co.
Admittedly, I haven’t been a big fan of the beers from this new downtown Mesa brewery (although the Goat & Ram Pizza inside of it makes the visit worth it), so color me surprised that I loved this Mexican lager so much. Crushable and clean, this paired perfectly with a spicy homemade dish I had for dinner that night. This is a must-order the next time I’m in the brewery.
EXCITED FOR IN JUNE
Wren House Brewing is scheduled to celebrate it’s ninth anniversary with a teased lineup of beer releases the week of June 18, including the return of its flagship triple IPA: Birthday Boy Wally.
