Well Tickle Me Pink & Hand Me a 4-Pack | The Shop Beer Co.

By Keaton Arnlund aka Brewz Traveler

If you’re like me, the thought of going anywhere on Mill Ave in Tempe, AZ is exhausting. Well, I have some good news for you! Just down the road, off the beaten path lies a fascinating beer shop: The Shop Beer Co. started by David Arnce, formerly of Cartel Brewery, felt that it was time to rebrand and rebuild a space built around quality craft beer. Along with head Brewer Jason Calhoon, sales guru Dylan DeMiguel, Mikel Arnce assisting with the creative visuals, and a handful of amazing beer-tenders, The Shop Beer Co. was born. As you approach the front door it feels like you’re walking into a welcoming home with a friendly and creative vibe all around.

Once you grab a brew from one of their awesome beer-tenders, go take a walk through their patio and you will feel like you’re walking into a fun backyard. With community tables, eclectic art murals, and a food truck that will satisfy any foodie out there, it’s inevitable that you walk away with a few new friends. Everything this brewery does revolves around the phenomenal beer they make day in and day out, as well as the community it likes to create. I can say with confidence, there isn’t a beer they make that won’t blow you away. Consistency, quality, and creativity are the driving forces of The Shop Beer Co.

Now, lets dive into this mind blowing collaboration between The Shop Beer Co and Pizza Port Brewing! No, that wasn’t a typo. Pizza Port Brewing made their way to the Valley of the Sun to collaborate with the brew-crew over at The Shop Beer Co. creating the first 16oz can release for the local Tempe brewery, Tickle Fight! Everything about this beer grabs your attention from the name, the can design, and of course the beer itself.

This beer is a crossover between a West Coast IPA and the New England IPA known for its haze. This might seem like a tough hill to climb but luckily the perfect pieces came together with this collaboration. David Arnce, coming from a Food & Science background possesses a valuable insight on the approach of making this beer a crossover of two different IPA styles. Thanks to Pizza Port Brewing, this beer contains hops that have never been used before at The Shop Beer Co. which should add to the already existing excitement for this release. After throwing some ideas back and forth, the two breweries had their final ingredients but would soon encounter a little speed bump.

With both crews now in Tempe preparing to brew their new concoction, they were awaiting a shipment of one of the most important ingredients: yeast! Patiently waiting for the UPS truck to arrive, the guys ended the work day with no yeast. Due to the fires in California, it was out of their control as to when and if the yeast would be delivered. So, with this unexpected dilemma, the group decided to go down the road and grab a pint or two… or three. Fast forward to 3:00 in the morning, Jason receives a text from UPS stating that their yeast would be delivered at 8:00 AM.

Stoked about the delivery, he called up the team and told them the good news and to be at the shop at 8:00 to brew. So what do you do when you’ve been out partying until the early hours of the morning only to be told to get to the brewery bright and early? You get your ass to the brewery and make some delicious beer. Everyone showed up and got cracking, err brewing. And with that, all was right in the beer world once again.

Tickle Fight coming in at 7.1% ABV and 65 IBU is essentially two IPA styles in one perfect pint. Made with Centennial, Apollo, Columbus, Cascade, and Strata hops this beer is pure amazingness. This beer also has a huge dry hop that delivers great juicy flavor, steady bitterness and a slight haze. The Shop Beer Co & Pizza Port Brewing have created a new genre of IPA that know will blow you away. Whether you’re a beer enthusiast or someone who tends to shy away from IPAs, this beer is sure to satisfy any palate out there.

After stopping in and getting a early taste of this brew, I can say without a doubt that this is the best beer put out by The Shop Beer Co, and that’s a big statement to make considering their stellar existing line up. You can taste how this collaboration was extremely cohesive throughout the entire process. Breaking down walls and barriers, these two breweries will be making a historic statement with Tickle Fight. This Friday, January 12th at 3:30 PM at their Special 16oz Can Release event, that statement will be made. Being sold in 4-packs this beer will be flying off the shelf so be sure get there early and snag some Tickle Fight while it lasts. Limit 1 case (24 cans) per person. See you there!

Big thanks to Mikel Anne Photography for additional photos for this article.

Keaton Arnlund

Keaton has had a passion for beer ever since he can remember. From dark stouts to light and crisp lagers, Keaton's palate can appreciate a beer of any style. In early 2017, Brewz Traveler was born and has become his passion project dedicated to helping lift up small independent breweries by showcasing their delectable hoppy concoctions. In late 2018, Keaton and his fiancé will be hitting the open road in a motorhome with their puppy Lily to explore North America, checking out all of the awesome breweries along the way.