Willcox Wine Festival coming for 2 days in May

As festival season continues its march towards the quiet time of an Arizona summer one of the last festivals is on the calendar in May. The Willcox Wine Festival is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, May 17th & 18th with the bi-annual event hosting a Winemakers Dinner, Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Willcox Community Center with the festival at 130 N. Railroad Ave.

The popular growing region of southeastern Arizona with its arid and Mediterranean like terroir and weather is known for growing Rhone varietals including Syrah, Grenache & Mourvedre and other varietals such as Malbec and Tempranillo. The region is home to many wineries and vineyards with 17 of them pouring their wines at the festival. Wineries scheduled to be pouring wine include Pillsbury Wine Co. Copper Horse Vineyard, Golden Rule Vineyards and others. A beer garden and food trucks will be on hand along with local artists, craft vendors and live music.

Tickets for the Willcox Wine Festival and Winemakers Dinner are on sale online for $35 on Saturday, $30 on Sunday, $15 for beer tasting and $75 for the Winemaker Dinner. Tickets will be available at the door for an additional $5-$10. All tickets for the festival include 10 tastings and a commemorative glass.

Arizona wines featured at Camp Verde Pecan & Wine Festival

For two days in March Arizona wines and pecans will be showcased at the 24th Annual Camp Verde Pecan & Wine Festival. Downtown Camp Verde will host the festival on Saturday and Sunday, March 15th and 16th from 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. and  11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The festival is again hosted by the Town of Camp Verde and the Verde Valley Wine Consortium.

Arizona wines from wineries across the state will pour their newest releases for purchase by the glass, bottle and case. In addition, there will be a very competitive Pecan pie eating contest, wine & pecan pairings, food trucks, a beer garden, live music and dozens of local artists. A few of the wineries in attendance include High Lonesome Vineyards, Bodega Pierce, Oak Creek Winery and Page Spring Cellars.

The all-ages festival is free to attend and wine tasting tickets can be purchased in advance for $20 or $25 the day of. A commemorative glass and 6 wine tasting tickets are included in the price and additional tickets can be purchased.

For more information and to buy tickets visit their website.

Tap into Mesa brings blues, brews & food festival to downtown Mesa

Downtown Mesa is home to more breweries than any other downtown neighborhood in the valley and those beers will be poured at the new Tap into Mesa festival. Admission is free on Saturday March 12th from 2-6:30 p.m. for local beers, food trucks, live music for all ages.

“We really want to show people just how many walkable breweries we have in this one square mile,” said Nancy Hormann, President of the Downtown Mesa Association. “All of the breweries you will visit at this event call Downtown Mesa their home.”

The Main Stage Beer Garden is where you’ll find beers from Oro Brewing, Desert Eagle, Cider Corps and other downtown breweries while listening to the blues from “The Sugar Thieves”. Following them on the stage will be the “Bob Corritore Chicago Style Blues Band”.

Tap into Mesa tickets are on sale for “full” pour beers for $5 each and an optional special beer tasting tour for $25 with 10 tastes when you buy online and $30 day of the festival. Add a $5 VIP Fast Pass which avoids lines and has reserved seats in the four beer tasting garden. The VIP Fast Pass is only available in advance online. The festival will be at Main & Macdonald with tickets online available until 6:00 p.m. and all tickets need to be redeemed by 6:30.

Downtown Camp Verde is the place to be for pecans & wine in March

Tickets are on sale for the return of the 21st Annual Camp Verde Pecan & Wine Festival in downtown Camp Verde the weekend of March 19-20th. The Verde Valley Wine Consortium and the Town of Camp Verde co-host the two day festival that will also include a beer garden, local artists and a pecan pie eating contest.

“We have learned a lot as event organizers as the pandemic has continued to take its toll and many of the COVID related changes have turned out to be more popular than ever,” said Michael Marshall, Camp Verde Parks and Recreation Manager. “We have a new style of vendor booth arrangements that is working great and the open-air wine canopy was a big hit with both vendors and attendees last spring.”

Two new experiences have been added to the festival this year including a children’s activity area and live music. Glorybound Publishing is sponsoring a Puppet Theatre & Children’s Art Exhibit and the Northern Arizona Blues Alliance (NAZBA) brings the “Northern Arizona Blues & Roots Review” to the main stage. 8 bands will entertain festival goers during the two days.

13 wineries with new Verde Valley AVA designation will be pouring their newest releases including Arizona Stronghold Vineyards, Salt Mine Wine, Cove Mesa Vineyard and the Southwest Wine Center.

Entry to the festival is free and those 21 and over can purchase wine tasting tickets for $20 in advance or at the door for $25. Six wine tasting tickets and a commemorative glass are included and additional tickets can be purchased. The festival will be in downtown Camp Verde at 75 E. Holloman St. 86332 and starts at 11 a.m. both days. Safety precautions will be in place with sanitizing stations and vendors will be socially distanced. For more information visit their website.

Dave Andrea opens 2nd Brat Haus in Uptown Phoenix

It took Brat Haus owner Dave Andrea a while to find the right location for the second location of his popular beer garden. The location came to be at 16th St. and Bethany Home Rd. in Uptown Phoenix and is now open. A slight departure from its popular Scottsdale restaurant as the Phoenix location will be “adult casual” with counter service.

“This second location is a chance for us to fully realize the original idea I had for Brat Haus, which was more geared toward the quick service model,” said Brat Haus owner, Dave Andrea. “The main goal, like what we’ve done in Scottsdale, is to foster a community of people from the neighborhood who are looking for a casual spot to enjoy specialty beers, delicious food and a fun atmosphere.”

The Phoenix restaurant will offer 100 seats, 52 inside and 48 outside on the dog friendly patio. The European styled menu offers imported beers and specialties including brats, pretzels, burgers and house made dips. Happy hour will be offered with $2 off glasses of wine and draft beers and the restaurants signature Giant Bavaria Pretzel for $10. Take out is also available.

“Uptown Phoenix is an eclectic neighborhood with an incredible mix of businesses and people,” said Andrea. “It’s growing rapidly and we’re excited to be a part of that. The timing is perfect for us to introduce our concept to the community.”

Brat Haus is open daily from 11 a.m. -10 p.m. and is at 6025 N. 16th St. Phoenix 85016 and 3622 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale 85251.

Lots of playing at The Park Bar in downtown Phoenix

As downtown Phoenix quickly transforms from live, work &  play  neighborhood to more of a live, work, play ,eat & drink destination,  many business’s see the opportunity. The Park Street Food Bar & Beer Garden on S. 2nd St. which opened as an indoor beer garden and has become a community gathering place.

To bring the diverse community of office workers, residents, artists and others even closer The Park is playing host to daily(Happy Hour), weekly and monthly events in September & October.

Happy Hour Specials Daily

Happy Hour is at every Monday-Friday  from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. ! Enjoy $2 off beer, wine and cocktails. Daily specials run all day:                                                                                                                                               Monday: $5 off a $20 Beer Bard                                                                          Tuesday: $6 Deep Eddy Mules                                                                    Wednesday: $5 Wine Glasses                                                                         Thursday: $5 Jameson and Fireball                                                                            Friday: $5 Coors Light and Miller Lite

Tuesday Movie Night

The Park proudly presents a free movie night every Tuesday starting Sep. 19 at 7:00 p.m.! A variety of feature films will be shown on the 17-foot screen, and free popcorn will be available. 2-for-1 entrees are available with a reservation. Text “MOVIES” to 48421 to RSVP.

Sep 19 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off                                                                              Sep 26 Office Space                                                                                                            Oct 3 Dirty Dancing                                                                                                       Oct 10 Jerry McGuire

The Park

National Taco Day

The Park Bar is celebrating National Taco Day on Wednesday, October 4 with $1 beef street tacos all day long!

Dueling Piano Night Oct. 14

There is no cover on Saturday, the 14th and 2-for-1 entrees will be available. To RSVP, text “PIANO” to 48421. The dueling starts at 7p.m.

Phoenix Suns Opening Party

The Phoenix Suns opening party is coming to The Park Bar on Wednesday, October 18 & Friday, October 20. Coors Light specials and giveaways will be available, including 28 tap self-serve indoor craft beer garden, Coors girls, Ping-Pong and shuffleboard arcades and a 17-foot LED screen.

Outta The Park Comedy Night, Oct. 21

Saturday, October 21 is Outta the Park Comedy Night with Anwar Newton! The event is presented by NAG Comedy and The Park Bar, hosted by Nick Giasullo and features Mike Enders. 2-for-1 entrees are available with RSVP. Text “COMEDY” to 49421 to fill out the RSVP form.  Starts at 8:00 p.m.

Parktoberfest, Oct. 27 

Leinenkugels presents Parktoberfest on Friday, October 27 at 6:00 p.m. with a celebration of beer, food and music. The event will feature traditional beer and food samples, bar games and giveaways, live bands and DJs, the Leinenkugels ladies and a $200 stein hoisting contest.

Park Street Food Bar & Beer Garden is at 3 S 2nd St #114 Phoenix, AZ 85004 Phone: (602) 362-5627

The 7th annual AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival moves to a bigger location

With 6 successful years under its belt HDE Agency and SanTan Brewing Company realized that their AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival was ready for expansion to the bigger and centrally located Margaret T. Hance Park in central Phoenix. Saturday May 13th is when over 100 local and national craft beer brewers will be pouring over 250 beers to beer enthusiasts from across the Phoenix area.

All photos courtesy of Landon Evans & Jen Pruett

The 6 hour event (12pm -6pm) will not only include canned beer tastings but live music, beer seminars, food, a beer science garden, beer Olympics and a rare beer garden. Included in 250 plus beers being poured will be beers previously not available in Arizona.

A week prior to the festival more than 40 certified beer judges will gather to taste and cast their vote for their favorite beers in 9 categories including IPA, American Pale Ale, English Pale Ale, Wheat Beers, Stouts and Porters, Ambers and Browns, Golds, Blondes, Pilsners and Light Lagers, Fruit, and Specialty Beer. Winners of gold, silver and bronze will be announced during a live streaming event on May 6th at  http://www.cannedcraftbeerfest.com/

This is a 21 and over festival and tickets can be purchased in advance for $35 General Admission(1pm entry, 4oz tasting can & 20 beer samples), $45 day of and VIP tickets(12 noon entry, 4 oz. tasting can, 20 beer samples, access to VIP beer garden, private restrooms and a meet and greet with brewers) are only available on-line while supplies last for $100 at the link above. Designated driver tickets are $20 online & day of with entry at 12 noon and include soft drinks, no beer.

Part of the proceeds AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival will be contributed the Arizona Society of Homebrewers (ASH) which works to promote and preserve the tradition of homebrewing through education, information and dedicated practices. For more information or to become a member go to http://www.azhomebrewers.org/

Margaret T.  Hance Park is at 67 W. Culver St. Phoenix 85003.

 

 

 

Hotel Valley Ho launches “Rooftop Beer Garden” series

One of the benefits of living in the Phoenix area are the great sunsets and scenic views that surround us, throw in cold beer at the end of the day and you’ve got it made. With the that in mind, Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale will be kicking off their “Rooftop Beer Garden” series on Thursday Nov. 17th on their 8th floor Sky Line rooftop.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Valley Ho
Photo courtesy of Hotel Valley Ho

tailgate Party

Each rooftop event will have a theme and the first event will be a Tailgate Party with Phoenix’s SunUp Brewing Company. Watch the game between the New Orleans Saints & Carolina Panthers while enjoying tailgate cuisine from the hotels signature restaurant Zuzu that will prepare Lobster Corndogs, Bratwurst, Skewered Bacon Wrapped Top Sirloin and more at 3 tasting stations. SunUp Brewing will be pouring their Horizon Hefeweizen, Vanilla Porter and Trooper IPA with the brew master attending to speak about the beers. Pull up a chair at one of the communal tables and eat at your own pace while you watch the game. During commercials and halftime a DJ will be entertaining the crowd.

Reservations and more

The tailgate kicks off at 5:30 pm and costs $59 plus tax & gratuity and includes food & SunUp beers. A full bar will be available separately. Reservations and payment are required in advance and can be made by calling 480-421-7997 Hotel Valley Ho is at 6850 E. Main St., Scottsdale 85251 http://www.hotelvalleyho.com