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5 Places You Need to Be During Arizona Beer Week

The most glorious week of the year is fast approaching the Valley of the Sun! Arizona Beer Week comes in at the #1 week of the year, taking the crown from Birthday Week. Don’t worry, it’s an official thing, I checked. Taking place February 8th through the 18th, the Arizona craft brew crews will be celebrating Arizona Beer Week in a tremendous way, pulling no punches as they bring their very best hoppy concoctions to the table.

So when your honey asks you where you’ll be going for date night, gaze longingly into their eyes and say, “all the breweries, baby.” With that being said, I’m going to give you the top five places you need to be during ABW in chronological order. Did I mention that during this week of hoppy hoopla your New Year Resolutions aren’t a thing, like they just don’t exist.

#1 – Donut Daze Series Release – OHSO Brewing (All locations)

ohso brewery

Source: OHSO Instagram

On February 8th, day one of Arizona Beer Week, be sure to make an appearance at OHSO Brewing. With three, soon to be four locations throughout the valley for you to choose from, you will have no excuse to not stop by and try their new Donut Series Beers. OHSO is going above and beyond when it comes to these tasty brews, and actually made 13 total donut inspired beers exclusively for ABW.

This is something that only takes place in near perfect dreams, until now. Once you realize this isn’t an episode of “The Simpsons,” you will clear your calendar and get to the nearest OHSO Brewery as if your life depended on it. Here are the 13 beer & donut pairings that OHSO is bringing to the table:

1: Plain Dunker – Coffee & Cake Blonde 

2: Maple Bar- Maple Lost Viking

3: Apple Fritter- Apple Fritter Brown

4: Toasted Coconut – Toasted Coconut Lost Viking 

5: Lemon Filled- Lemon Meringue Filled Brite or Hefe

6: Boston Creme- Creme Brûlée Blonde

7: Homer Simpson- Strawberry Pink Sprinkles 

8: Chocolate Peanut – Barrel aged Peanut Butter Stout

9: Cinnamon Roll – French Toast Brown

10: Chocolate Glazed – The Elvis-Banana, peanut butter and bacon Hefe (modeled after Elvis’ favorite sandwich

11: Glazed Old School – Barrel-Aged Barley Wine

12: Peanut – Peanut Brittle Blonde 

13: Raspberry Filled – Rasp Brite

#2 – Strong Beer Festival

arizona strong beer festival

Source: Visit Phoenix

My second must-attend event takes us to the beautiful Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, February 10th. Strong Beer Festival would typically be the grand finale in this article but since I’m writing this in chronological order, you’re getting it early. Being one of the biggest and the best beer festivals in Arizona, you will be blown away the second you enter the gates.

Over 150 breweries will be spread out over several park acres patiently awaiting your thirsty arrival. Don’t enter this festival with a planned route because you will get lost in the beautiful madness of craft beer and love every second of it. You will see every style you can imagine and some brews that are beyond your imagination. Be sure to download Untappd so you can tap your beers and access the tap list for the festival. One last little secret, Text “strongbeer” to 55678 to be texted for a Rare Beer being poured at Strong Beer Festival.

#3 – Valley Fever Tap Takeover at Huss Brewing

huss brewing arizona

Source: Huss Brewing Facebook

As you roll out of bed on February 11th, most likely hungover from Strong Beer Festival, make your way over to Huss Brewing’s Tap Takeover to get “the hair of the dog,” aka your hangover cure. It’s almost as if they had it planned that way and I love it! You will have a very stellar lineup to choose from while at their Uptown Taproom on Camelback Road.

Aside from the always invigorating line up that Huss Brewing has, you will be getting a taste of the following: State 48, Helio Basin, Scottsdale Beer Company, Wren House, McFate, Beer Research Institute, Helton, Pedal Haus, SanTan, 12 West, Goldwater, and Saddle Mountain Brewing. I can’t imagine a better place to be on this beautiful Sunday than Huss Brewing.

#4 – Valentines Day Dinner at North Mountain Brewing

North Mountain Brewing arizona

Source: Beer Porn Instagram

Ah yes, February 14th, the day of love is coming in hot and you may be thinking to yourself: how do I get to a beer event while tending to my beloved? I’d say a Valentines Dinner at North Mountain will do the trick, my friend! For just $55, you and your boo will receive one appetizer, two entrees, and one dessert, including a beer or wine of your choice. I’d say this ABW event is a no-brainer. Look like a hero while enjoying some breathtaking brews, what more could one ask for!

#5 – Helio Basin and Fayuca Mini Beer/Music Festival

Source: Fayucabeer Instagram

What better way to end the week of festivities than at Helio Basin who will be having an outdoor beer and music festival on Saturday, February 17th. Helio Basin has teamed up with the local band Fayuca to bring you a day of live local music with 14 artists on two stages. Did I mention that they will be releasing a new, limited edition canned beer with Fayuca?! On top of that they’ll have two guest breweries in the outdoor beer garden, Helton and Huss Brewing.

This will be a kid friendly event so bring the whole family and enjoy some of Arizona’s finest beer and music. Special food will be prepared by the one and only Chef Tammy, that alone should have you sold on this event. She’s a magician in the kitchen. For only $10/person, it’d be absurd to miss this epic event.

Keaton Arnlund on EmailKeaton Arnlund on FacebookKeaton Arnlund on Twitter
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.



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