Best place to grab a post-hike craft beer

[JoelHazelton]

Inspired by the mexican food/pizza posts, I'm wondering about good places around AZ to grab a beer after a hike or backpack trip. The smaller/more obscure towns would be especially appreciated, because I'm used to only coming across only the cheap domestics at those places.
Some places I've stopped at post-hike:

Prescott- Prescott Brewery. The Petrified Porter is good, but their seasonal "Achocolypse" (which is Petrified Porter brewed with milk chocolate) is absolutely amazing.
Flagstaff- Lumberyard Brewery. Imperial Red was awesome.
Sedona- Oak Creek Brewery. Boo. Not a single redeeming quality here. Chicken quesadilla was mediocre, beer was watery.
Tucson- Nimbus Brewey- Though I love Old Monkeyshine from a bottle,it was twice as good on tap.

In Tempe we'll frequent Boulders on Broadway and Four Peaks after gym climbing. Actually, we're spoiled here in Tempe. Example: I live next to the most ghetto looking corner store ever, but upon walking in you'd think you're in a Total Wine.

Yardhouse would be a good place to hit on the way in town from the west. I suppose Rock Bottom from the northwest, though I wasn't impressed with any of their beers.

Any ideas? I'm particularly curious about the Payson area.

[chumley]

This new saison will only be on tap for a short while, but you can order it by its unofficial name: The Alston.

[JasonCleghorn]

Make sure you all post the CAG shots...

[Alston_Neal]

WtHeck! Bwahahahahaa Holy snickers that's funny.

[te_wa]

FATE brewing II - coming soon, south scottsdale rd.

[big_load]

@te-wa I guess a drink there is inevitable.

[RowdyandMe]

@Jason Cleghorn
What a cag shot?

[hikeaz]

Maybe we could get Naylor to add another "B" to the second printing?

[big_load]

That looks like a crucial read.

[te_wa]

a few days late, but westward brewing had changed the name before they even opened.. now they are open, as the "Wren House". fyi.

[hikeaz]

FATE brewing II - coming soon, south scottsdale rd.

Fate Brewing South, the much-anticipated sibling of popular Fate Brewing, will open its doors Sunday, Aug. 23, in Scottsdale.
The sprawling new location is at the south end of the Papago Plaza on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and McDowell, about six miles from the pint-sized original.
At 11,000 square feet (not counting the 2,500 square-foot patio), the newcomer will dwarf the original (just 2,250 square feet). It sits on, get this, 2.6 acres! Although there’s a east entrance facing busy Scottsdale Road, the north entrance is expected to be the most used.
The new brewhouse has a 15-barrel system, compared to a seven-barrel at the original, with two 30-barrel fermenters and two 15-barrel fermenters. Not yet installed is the ceiling-mounted draft tower with 18 double-sided taps, a total of 36 handles.
The indoor dining/drinking area will seat 260 people, with another 209 on the front patio. While the original Fate only has a pizza oven, Fate South has a huge kitchen with fryers, grills, and flat-tops. So in addition to seven pizzas, the new menu will offer four smash-style burgers, six sandwiches, four salads, and some other pub-friendly noshes.

[hikeaz]

Helton Brewing Company (under construction)
On a stretch of Indian School Road near 22nd Street, there’s exciting construction happening inside a beige garage, formerly home to an ATV and jetski rental company. It doesn’t look like much from the road, but a 10,000 square foot brewpub with outdoor patio is underway from owner Brian Helton. Helton is an 18-year veteran of the beer industry, racking up a couple GABF medals for his brews with Rock Bottom and later consulting for other brewing companies.
He’s ready to strike out on his own this year with plans to brew four flagships including a Scottish ale, an IPA, a mik stout and a pilsner. Helton hopes to be open by fall 2015.

[RowdyandMe]

@hikeaz ok, how about the beers?

[hikeaz]

@hikeaz ok, how about the beers?

Fate

[te_wa]

i have known steve mcfate for a few years, one can see his brewing is his biggest passion. yes, those beers on the FS list are cute and all, but you gotta get his seasonals and his specialties like Snickers Bar Stout and habenero/coffee IPA. this bigger brewing space and all those barrel aged brews are going to break my savings!

four flagships including a Scottish ale, an IPA, a mik stout and a pilsner.

hmm.. that lineup sounds awefully familiar...

[chumley]

A year or so ago you could walk into Arizona Wilderness and possibly find only 4 beers on tap. And they might all be a similar style. They simply couldn't keep up with demand. Since then they've expanded...

The other day I stopped in to the joy of 16 (SIXTEEN!!) beers on tap. No outside guest beers. All AZW craft brewed options across a wide range of varieties.

I expect to see something like this at the new Fate.

*And not one is a scottish ale
;)

[te_wa]

im forgetting poor Tookson. Iron John's and Pueblo Vida breweries. both worth a stop.

[hikeaz]

im forgetting poor Tookson. Iron John's and Pueblo Vida breweries. both worth a stop.

Mikey! B.R.I. has your namesake beer on tap now... it's a Red Double IPA

[te_wa]

fire squirrel...
see my avatar.. lol

[hikeaz]

fire squirrel...
see my avatar.. lol

Yes - that's what I was getting at....

[te_wa]

so Matt and Greg are good folks. i go there often enough, it's the closest brewpub to me. the peach lolli is fantastic! and the street cred.. 4gettaboutit.