It's beer week in Arizona!
Thursday marks the official start to Arizona Beer Week, which is in its sixth year, and technically lasts for 10 days.
It was started by the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild in 2011 to celebrate and support Arizona's craft beer breweries and culminates with a large festival that brings breweries and beer lovers together.
The Strong Beer Festival will take place Saturday, Feb. 13 at Steel Indian School Park near Indian School Road and Central Avenue. VIPs get in at 11 a.m. while everyone else can get in at 1 p.m.
VIP tickets are sold out and general admission tickets are $45, according to the event website.
While the focus this year is on educating people on making their own brews at home, we're really interested in the food. And, of course, which beer goes with what.
Breweries across the state are pairing beers with everything--chocolate, doughnuts, Girl Scout cookies, coffee, cupcakes, chimis, burgers, and cheese.
At the festival, over 400 specialty brews will be on tap. You can't forget about the snacks: Waffle-fried chicken on-a-stick, Kobe beef hot dogs and mac n' cheese bourbon beef bowl.
There's over 150 events happening all week long from Tucson to Phoenix to Flagstaff. We've picked out some of the most interesting and tasty food-related pairings, but there's far too many to list.
Check the website to see what events are closest to you, happening at your favorite local brewery, or plan a day trip and try a new brewery.
Authentic Beer Gelato
Feb. 11, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Any Valley Gordon Biersch Brewery (Tempe, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Glendale) or The Gelato Spot in Old
Town Scottsdale
Gordon Biersch and The Gelato Spot have partnered up to make two beer-infused treat. Stop by any
location to try the Hefeweizen Sorbet or the Creamy Coffee Stout.
Beer and Cheese Pairing
Feb. 11, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
The Beer Research Institute, 1641 S. Stapley Dr., Mesa
Cost: $20 per person. Limited to 30 people.
Enjoy five different beers (8 oz) individually paired with a craft cheese. Tickets went on sale in January
and is limited to 30 people. Tickets are $20 each. Call ahead to make sure there is still room.
Four Peaks Girl Scout Cookie Beer Pairing
Feb. 13, 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Four Peaks Tasting Room, 2401 S. Wilson Street, Tempe
Cost: $15
It’s another how-awesome-could-this-be pairing. Girl Scout Cookies and beer. Four Peaks Brewery is
pairing their brews with some of our favorite Girl Scout cookies. Double Pumpkin and Samoas, anyone? You even get to take home a souvenir glass.
Chimi Week at SanTan Brewing Company
Feb. 15 – 20
SanTan Brewing Company, 8 South Marcos Place, Chandler
Cost: Chimi dishes are $12.25.
SanTan is celebrating Chimi Week during Arizona Beer Week. Options include the Gordo Stout Barbocoa
Chimi and the Mr. Pineapple Carnitas Chimi. Of course, they’ve paired each chimi with a beer recommendation.
Beer and Cupcake pairing
Feb. 16, 4 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Sun Up Brewing Co, 322 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix
Sun Up has partnered with Urban Cookie Bakeshop to pair four beers and four cupcakes. They’ll keep as
many as they can until they sell out—they expect to sell out.
Beer and Whiskey pairing
Feb. 16, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Lumberyard Brewing Company, 5 S. San Francisco Street
Cost: $20 (event sells out, check with brewery first)
Beer and whiskey. It sounds like a hangover waiting to happen, but its flavors that Lumberyard says can be combined and shared. Tickets went on sale in Jan. and the event is expected to sell out.
Coffee-infused IPAs
Feb. 16, 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Pueblo Vida Brewing Company, 115 E. Broadway Blvd, Tucson
This Tucson brewery has infused four of their signature beers with four different coffees. Enjoy the
Northwest IPA with Exo Coffee, Ella + Galaxy IPA with Yellow Brick Coffee, Encore IPA with Presta Coffee,
and Amarillo IPA.
Bells beer flight and cheese
Feb. 17, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Ground Control, 4860 N. Litchfield Road, #103, Litchfield Park
Cost: $20 for flight and cheese
Enjoy a Michigan brewery’s beer in Arizona. Pair it with some delicious cheeses.
Bistro Burgers & Brews
Feb. All Week
Prescott Brewing Company, 130 W. Gurley Street, Prescott
Cost: $15
Enjoy a gourmet burger each day of Arizona Beer Week, and enjoy a pint from Prescott Brewing
Company.
Beer and Doughnuts Pairing
Feb. 20, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
8-Bit Aleworks, 1050 Fairway Dr. Building F, Suite 101, Avondale, 85323
Cost: $6.50 – 8 p.m. (Beer + Fractured Prune doughnut)
Doughnuts and beer for breakfast? It could be a great way to start off a Sunday, as long as you do not get behind the wheel after of course. 8-Bit Aleworks has paired select beers with Fractured Prune Doughnuts. They’re also infusing a 5-gallon batch with doughnuts—literally stuffing doughnuts into the keg. Last year’s event reportedly was standing room only.
