In this sauna-like heat, a frosty brew can be the perfect way to cool off and wind down.
“A summer beer is anything light-bodied and less filling, which is better this time of year because no one wants to drink something heavy and thick,” said Zach Schroeder, brewmaster and an owner of Sonoran Brewing Co. in Scottsdale.
“A lot of breweries around here make wheat beers that are nice, crisp and refreshing.”
Owner Patrick Fields, of north Phoenix's Old World Brewery, said to look for beers flavored with such fruits as raspberries. The refreshing qualities of these picks are sure to get your mind off the scalding weather and have you daydreaming of cooler destinations.
Here are some of our favorite summer-inspired, locally concocted varieties at indie bars and craft breweries.
Arizona beers of summer
Where to sip on summer-inspired local brews
By Kellie Hwang
MetromixJuly 28, 2009
Four Peaks Brewing Co.
1340 E. Eighth St. - TempeFor local beers, Four Peaks automatically comes to mind. Scottish-style ale Kiltlifter is a favorite, but don't overlook some of the other offerings. Arizona Peach is light and fruity, and Sunbru Kölsch is a malty sweet brew created in a similar fashion similar to the variety in Cologne, Germany. Even in summer, the original Tempe location will have crowds waiting for a table, including the ones outside. Twinkling holiday lights rope around the patio and misters keep patrons coolish as patrons chat over a pitcher or cheer on their favorite baseball team.
Four Peaks Grill & Tap
15730 N. Pima Road, Suite D5-7 - ScottsdaleFour Peaks' Scottsdale site is bi-level, with a garage-doorlike window separating the patio and restaurant that when raised creates one big inviting space. It's not as laid back as the original, but it won't make you sweat as much on a hot day.
Papago Brewing Co.
7107 E. McDowell Road - ScottsdalePapago's most popular beer on tap is Orange Blossom Wheat Beer, a mix of mandarin orange and vanilla reminiscent of a Creamsicle that is sure to bring back childhood memories. At 4.5 percent alcohol, it's on the light side, so it's great for day drinking. Help yourself to the huge selection of bottled brews in the refrigerator wall, and stock up for your next barbeque or pool party. Funky fixtures like happy-monk statues pepper the bar, paying homage to the religious figures who brew the good stuff. Admire the hundreds of different taps that protrude from wooden beams around the bar, and count how many types you have tried.
Pinnacle Peak Patio
10426 E. Jomax Road - ScottsdaleIt doesn't get any more laid-back than at this saloon that has had a “no necktie” policy since it opened in 1957. This means if you come in with one and refuse to take it off, the owner can, and will, cut it right off. So feel obligated to throw on some board shorts and flip-flops before you head over. The Sonoran Brewing Co. creates the beers for this joint, and brewmaster Schroeder suggests the Hefeweizen, which, while served year-round, always seems to do better during summer months. There is seating for more than 2,000 at this restaurant, called the world's largest Western steakhouse. The huge dining areas feature long wooden picnic tables covered in red-and-white checkered tablecloths. At night, feel like a cowboy out on one of three patios. The first is named for the many palo verde trees dotting the perimeter. The second patio features a bandstand and dance floor and the third is separated by a river-rock wall and has a view of a cactus garden.
SanTan Brewing Company
8 S. San Marcos Plaza - ChandlerStrawberries are the fruit of summer, which is why we love San Tan's Strawberry Wit. It's made from traditionally brewed Belgian wheat ale and then spiked with real fruit after fermentation to give it a sweet scent and taste. You'll want to sip on this while noshing on something light, like a salad, as you soak in the punchy and bright paintings of guitars and graffitilike art throughout the bar. Rusty-colored brick walls and exposed ceiling insulation give an unpretentious vibe and neighborhood feel. If you need evidence of this bar's love for summer, all you need to do is check out photos from its first-ever Hawaiian luau in June, complete with roasted pig and aloha shirts.
SunUp Brewing Co.
322 E. Camelback Road - PhoenixThe Sun Up Brewing Co. brews the beers served at the Sonora Brewhouse, but both businesses are in the same building, and both names can be used interchangeably to describe where you're headed for a drink. Since 2001, guests have been lingering over pints in this renovated historical building, lounging at tables overlooking the gleaming barrels encased in glass. Try the Light Rail Cream Ale, a full-flavored and crisp beer named after the system that now gives rides after 2 a.m. on weekends, so you can do some day drinking or make this a stop on a barhopping Saturday night.
Old World Brewery
201 W Lone Cactus Dr - PhoenixThe newest addition to the Valley's collection of craft breweries, Old World opened in January and has seen success despite the economic climate. The spot has a full stage with local and national bands coming through once or twice a week, and a small taproom that seats about 20 people, making the bar very intimate. Owner Patrick Fields said the best choice when coming on a 115-degree day is the Old World Wit, “a light ale that's tart and spicy and brewed with orange peel and coriander.” He also recommends the crisp and dry Nitro Blonde Ale, and said that in August the brewery will serve up a saguaro-fruit summer ale.
The Roosevelt Tavern
816 N. Third St. - PhoenixIf you want to reduce your carbon footprint, hop on your bike and work for your beer as you ride over to this beloved neighborhood hangout. When you get there, you'll feel like you just pulled up to your best friend's house. Weathered bikes are almost always parked out front and a warm glow comes from the windows of the more than 100-year-old house. Feel even more nostalgic with one of the bar's comfort foods, like chewy hand-twisted pretzels or a gooey grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup. Wash it down with one of the more than 45 beer selections, most notably the Roosevelt House Beer, created especially for the tavern by Four Peaks Brewery. The brew has fruity, light flavors and is served ice cold from the bar's glycol cooling system, making it the perfect choice for a hot summer day.
The Lost Leaf
915 N. Fifth St. - PhoenixThis house-turned-tavern embodies downtown's funky, eclectic art vibe with rotating art on the walls and great live music that floats out of the back room. Head up to the small bar and peer into the stocked fridge that offers brews from around the world, including many from Arizona. You will find varieties from Four Peaks, Tucson brewery Nimbus, Sedona's Oak Creek and Prescott Brewing Co. Your best bet for a summer beer is the Nimbus Dirty Guera, a blond ale, or Four Peaks 8th Street Ale, a clean pale. Or just pick from the many blonds and wheat beers in the cooler, and the bartender will pop one open for you and serve it up in an ice-cold glass. Even though it's hot out, you will feel cool and relaxed in this dimly lit bar that seems to bring in a different crowd each night of the week.
What other people are saying...
PHXtim from Metromix Phoenix - July 30, 2009 at 10:52 AM
With brews like Left Coast Hop Juice, California Gold and Torrey Pines IPA, we had to count Oggi's as California beer. But thanks for the tip!
Report This Commentdbrass5164 from arrowhead - July 29, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Where Oggis? Their Paradise Pale Ale or Sunset Amber can't be beat!
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