Drink Local with Crescent Crown Distributing & Their Local Breweries
In 2010, while other distributors were just starting to get into the craft beer business, Crescent Crown saw that the future of craft beer was in small, local breweries. Having just signed SanTan Brewing out of Chandler, and with a couple of other local breweries already in the portfolio, Crescent Crown set out to build the best possible local beer portfolio. In doing so, they also wanted to create an identity for these breweries. Drink Local was already a popular phrase used with customers, so it was logical that they built a brand around those two words. Each brand in the Drink Local portfolio is an Arizona based, small business owned by people in the communities they operate in. Naturally, this commitment to supporting local businesses makes these breweries great beer partners with locally owned and operated restaurants. In building the top locally owned portfolio of breweries, Crescent Crown made certain to look for breweries that complemented each other and fit in well with the overall commitment to quality that is part of Crescent Crown’s business philosophy. Think Local, Eat Local and Drink Local.
SanTan Brewing
Opened by Anthony Cannecchia in 2007, SanTan has been on a mission to pair great beer with great food. There pub in the heart of Historic Downtown Chandler has accomplished just that. People enjoyed the beer so much that in 2009, they started packaging the beer in cans, making them one of the pioneers of the craft can movement. Cans are the package that provides improved freshness and shelf life, and is easy to recycle. Over the years Santan has won a great deal of awards, including medals at the AmeriCNA Championships, Canfest, US Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup, to name a few. They also now feature an award winning distrillery. Some of the favorite beers from SanTan include Juicy Jack Hazy IPA and MoonJuice Galactic IPA.
Huss Brewing
Founded in Tempe, AZ in 2013 by two people with a lot of
passion for craft beer, Huss Brewing Co. is proud to be one of the state’s
largest independent brewers. They operate both a brewery/taproom in Tempe, and
a standalone Taproom in Uptown Phoenix. Husband-and-wife, Jeff and Leah Huss,
have nearly 30 combined years of experience in the brewing industry. A former
head brewer for BJ’s Brewing in Chandler, Ariz., Jeff attended the Siebel
Institute in Chicago, then the Doemens Academy in Munich, Germany. Leah
co-owned and operated Papago Brewing in Scottsdale, AZ, for 14 years, helping
pioneer the craft beer community and growth in Arizona. Their combined love and
passion for craft beer inspired them to chase their dreams of owning a local,
family-owned and operated brewery with Jeff acting as brewmaster, and Leah
running business and marketing operations.
Top selling beers include Scottsdale Blonde, Low Lo Hazy IPA and the Papago line of beers,
including the incredibly popular Orange Blossom.
College Street Brewhouse and Pub
www.collegestreetbrewhouseandpub.com
Located on the banks of Lake Havasu, College Street has a
focus to create one of a kind handcrafted beers and delicious food made simply.
This comes from a belief in an old world approach to freshness and
sustainability, and because fresh, local food and beer just tastes better. Make sure to try Big Blue Van Blueberry
Vanilla Wheat or V. Beauregarde Blueberry Sour.
Dragoon Brewing Company
Dragoon Brewing Company’s origins go back to the mid-90’s,
when company founder Bruce Greene brewed his first batch of beer in his
kitchen. Right then he decided to start saving to open his own brewery. Within
10 years, his son Eric had been bitten by the brewing bug, become a BJCP
certified beer judge, and wandered off to Vermont to study at the American
Brewer’s Guild. In 2009, the Tucson Homebrew Club brought father & son
together with Tristan White–a like-minded home brewer and craft beer
evangelist who’d been entertaining similar fantasies. After working together on
a few creative brew sessions, the beginnings of a brewery began to percolate.
In 2011, the three founded Dragoon Brewing Company with a
simple idea in mind: that in sharing a creative endeavor with another person,
you can’t help but share a bit of yourself. For Dragoon, that endeavor is beer,
and they are proud of the passion, integrity, and soul that poured into every
pint. In April of 2012, Dragoon opened as a self-distributing draft-only
brewery featuring just 2 beers on tap: Dragoon IPA, and Stronghold Session Ale.
Since those early days, Dragoon has grown from a team of 3
to a family of more than 20 by focusing on quality as a measure of success.
They usually brew about 30 different beers throughout the year, with 11 options
on tap at any time. You can rest assured that the beer doesn’t leave the back
of the house unless it meets strict standards, and that quality control doesn’t
end when the beer leaves their sight. Dragoon wants to produce beer they can be
proud of, and share it with the community.
Dragoon IPA is one of the beers that redefined the craft
beer community as one of the first beers to be sold in 16 ounce cans in
Arizona. Also try their Santa Cruz’r
Golden Ale
State 48 Brewery
Starting as a small batch brewpub in Surprise, State 48
quickly learned that their beer and food was enjoyed beyond their
backyard. Over the next few years, they
have opened up several other brewpubs and restaurants in Glendale, Downtown
Phoenix, Happy Valley, Scottsdale and Gilbert. They have just announced their
next location in Goodyear. Favorite beers
from them are Mango Wheat and Sound of Freedom IPA.
PHX Beer Co.
It’s not just a name. The folks at PHX Beer Co are serious about their love of Phoenix, and of good beer. Let them tell you in their own words, “This town runs in our blood and in our brews. Our brewers use fresh ingredients to bring the city to you, whether you’re touring our downtown Phoenix brewery, visiting our taproom, grabbing a scratch bite from our restaurants, or shopping the aisles of your local grocery. PHX Beer Co. was created by a team of local entrepreneurs and industry veterans to ignite the craft beer scene. We are taking our past and crafting it into the future of Phoenix beer. Whether you’re a traveler or a local, you will find a home at PHX Beer Co.”
Grand Canyon Brewing Company
Grand Canyon started out in Williams in a small building just behind Cruisers Route 66 Café in 2007. 10 years later they moved into their current home just a half mile down the street in the old Winchester Steakhouse. The Williams production facility also includes a restaurant, and they also have a brewpub in Flagstaff. Grand Canyon partnered with the Arizona Coyotes to make Kachina Throwback Ale, a clean, refreshing, light American Wheat Ale. They have also recently released Hop Canyon IPA, a modern West Coast style IPA which bursts with a strong fruit forward hop presence.
Historic Brewing Company
www.historicbrewingcompany.com
Bringing quality craft beer to the community in a bold and
intentional way has always been at the root of what they do at Historic Brewing
Company. Beginning in 2013 in Flagstaff, AZ with a strong purpose and drive to
bring an unparalleled experience to the market, despite limited knowledge of
the beer industry. Although there were setbacks and challenges, a relentless
spirit has pushed them forward and
helped them blossom into what you see today.
Through the years they have expanded production and
distribution capabilities, elevating the tap room and establishing a Barrel +
Bottle House concept in both Flagstaff and Williams. Throughout these spaces,
you will experience mainstay brews such as the beloved Piehole Porter, seasonal
favorites like Undercover Cucumber and unique limited-release brews that have a
fan base of their own.
Make sure to try the Piehole Porter, a cherry and vanilla
flavored beer; as well as Salt River Salt and Lime Lager.
Wild Tonic Kombucha
The Wild Tonic story begins with an artist and her passion
for innovation and creativity. Painter Holly Lyman worked with beeswax, an
ancient medium known as encaustic, for many years until she discovered the art
of fermentation. One day, her love of painting with beeswax transformed into
working with honey, another labor of love created by the bees. As with many
creative endeavors that sometimes spill into other forms of expression, Holly
unexpectedly found herself fascinated with a rare ferment known as Jun. She
brewed with this living culture day after day until several years and brew
experiments later, Wild Tonic Jun Kombucha was born!
Today, the vision of creativity and innovation continues to influence the choices they make as a company by bringing together a like-minded group of individuals that embrace change and growth and have a desire to make the world a better place. The Wild Tonic team is not only dedicated to creating and sharing this innovative ferment with the world, but also to being proactive in the community and to bring awareness to bee conservation! There is a common thread of health, joy and vitality that unites their people and their mission.
With both non-alcoholic and hard versions of their Kombucha,
Wild Tonic has all of the based covered. Try Raspberry Goji Rose or Blackberry
Basil with or without the alcohol for a real taste of Jun Kombucha.
THAT Brewery
Steve and Tamara Morken owned and operated Rimside Grill
& Cabins in Pine, Arizona from June 2004 to June 2012 when they converted
the location to THAT Brewery & Pub.
The amount of experience from day to day operations of
creating recipes, inventory control, accounting, marketing, employee
management, bar tending, dishwashing, waiting tables, consulting, cooking, home
brewing, training with a master brewer and brewing THAT beer, developing the
distribution network associated with that process has provided the couple
valuable insight into the craft beer industry.
They quickly outgrew the Pine location and opened a
production facility with a tasting room in Cottonwood, while continuing to
operate the Pine brewpub. Favorite beers
from THAT include Strawberry Blonde and Arizona Trail Ale. A portion of the
proceeds from the latter are donated to support the Arizona Trail which runs
through the backyard of the Pine brewpub.
Borderlands Brewing Company
The mission of Borderlands is to provide quality craft beer
while being a thought leader in the Southern Arizona brewing community. By
valuing the community and promoting the progress of community partners and
sustainability, they strive to create an inclusive space and atmosphere for
customers and employees. They pursue this mission by implementing sustainable
practices, including local ingredients as much as possible, and promoting
empowerment through education. Toole
Avenue Hazy IPA is one of Arizona’s favorite Hazy IPAs, while their Noche Dulce
Vanilla Porter has many fans throughout the state.
Firetruck Brewing Company
Firetruck Brewing Company was started by three firefighters
in their garage in 2012. Jeremy, prior to being a firefighter and now a fire
chief, was a linguist in the military. He fell in love with German beer. Years
later Jeremy started brewing beer in that same Munich Style. Taylor, a
paramedic firefighter, and Matt, an engineer firefighter, who worked with
Jeremy all teamed up and started building the first brewery. In January of 2014
their first restaurant Brewery opened in Tucson. Today Firetruck brewing
company has three restaurants and a production brewery Downtown with a fourth
restaurant on the way
Firetruck Brewing Company’s
goal is to bring you world class award winning beer. Today their beers
can be found at grocery/liquor stores across the state. And of course, you
can’t miss the iconic fire axe tap handles at your local bars and restaurants.
