Tag: local brewery

Catalyst Crafted Ales names restaurant CEO as Dir. of Operations

Tempe based brewery, Catalyst Crafted Ales has named a new Front of the House Director of Operations and he’s a familiar face to the local restaurant scene. Matt Keeler (pictured in black t-shirt and shorts), CEO and Co-Owner of Keeler Hospitality Group (KHG) operators of Scottsdale’s Liberty Station American Tavern & Smokehouse (DC Ranch and Terravita), Poppy’s Office (Terravita) and Carefree’s Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse, accepted the position to help grow the brand and to jump start a lifelong dream of owning a brewery with his family.

“It is our mission at KHG to exceed our guests’ expectations in an ever-changing and evolving environment,” said Keeler. “With that in mind, we are thrilled to introduce our guests to Catalyst Crafted Ales and more importantly to help instill the brewer’s passion behind the beer to all of our bartenders and sales team to create more exposure for the brand.”

Who’s else is new at Catalyst Crafted Ales

The brewery founded in 2023 needed someone with experience of opening, operating and establishing restaurants and Keeler was the right fit. As Front of the House Director of Operations, Keeler quickly went to work hiring Will Walthereson as head brewer; Alex Baldwin, assistant brewer; Eric Flottmann, vice president of operations; Grant Williamson, director of marketing; and Nick Sofranac, director of sales. He also brought in former KHG employee John Weber as general manager. Keeler knew Weber professionally and knew he was the perfect fit for the position. All were hired based on their experience and their similar vision for the Catalyst Crafted Ales brand.
In less than a CCA has already made a name for itself in Arizona with their locally made beers. Phoenix Magazine’s recent Reder’s Choice Awards named the brewer’s Exchange Variation as the “Best West Coast IPA,” its Good Company as the “Best Hazy Pale Ale” and its Envy as the “Best Wood Barrel-Aged Brew.”
Their Mobility Scooter American Barleywine received a Gold in the Specialty category and its Envy Imperial Milk Stout received a Bronze in the Oak Aged category from the Arizona Craft Beer Awards.
“The beer is phenomenal and the space and facility are top-notch. Most of all, the passion behind everything they do at Catalyst is what really attracted me to this opportunity,” he adds. “The beers are some of the best I have had in a very long time, plus the impressive number of brews they have developed in just the past six months and the accolades they have already received made the decision very easy for us.”
The beers are available at all KHG’s Arizona restaurants as distribution around Arizona continues. The brewery is at 1845 E. Broadway in Tempe and other taprooms are in the works. For more information visit their website.

Growly Delivers is today’s milkman for local beer brewers

If you were born after the 1980s chances are you’ve never seen a milkman deliver quarts of milk to your door. Dropping off fresh milk in glass bottles and picking up empty bottles for re-use was affordable and convenient for previous generations. Growly Delivers is the milkman of the 21st century delivering growlers of beer instead of milk.

The local delivery service started with PHX Beer Co. to get fresh beer to customers through their weekly subscription service. Plans are to add other local breweries in the future as demand grows. Deliveries are made every Thursday and those wanting to take delivery can subscribe at their website and choose what beer you’d like to be delivered. It couldn’t be any easier than that for beer drinkers. The eco-friendly Growly Delivers takes the empty growlers back to the brewery to be cleaned, sanitized and re-filled.

Beer drinkers that don’t drink as quickly as others can have a specially made high tech growler filled with beer. A compressor with a C02 cartridge allows for the beer to stay fresh for up to 2 weeks. The local startup has successfully sign up almost 50 subscriptions in the Phoenix area in its first two weeks.

Pedal Haus Brewery to start tapping beers in downtown Chandler

Tempe’s award-winning Pedal Haus Brewery is getting ready to tap the first beer at its new location in downtown Chandler later this month. It’s the 2nd location of the brewery that started making craft beer on Mill Ave. in downtown Tempe in 2015. Beers will be brewed in Tempe and will be delivered daily to the Chandler location. Pedal Haus Brewery

“We love the community in downtown Chandler and felt this was a great fit,” said Wright. “Chandler has been very welcoming, and we are excited for our first expansion beyond our Tempe location.” says owner Julian Wright.

Once opened guests can expect signature dishes such as smoked wings and smoked salmon found at the Tempe location. A limited released Salted Nut Brown Ale will be tapped at opening with all proceeds donated to the Chandler Compadres. The Chandler based charity donates time, money & resources to Chandler and east valley families and children in need.

Brewmaster Derek Osborne will oversee both locations line-ups of rotating beers that has won over 32 awards and medals.

A grand opening is scheduled for March 7th with half of food and beverage sales between 2-6 p.m. going to the Compadres. Customers will be given a raffle ticket for every $10 spent dining in for a Pedal Haus bike on Sunday.

Pedal Haus Brewery is at 95 W. Boston St. Chandler

Huss Brewing Co. celebrates 5 Years of Chasing Dreams

One of Arizona’s favorite craft beer brewers, Huss Brewing Co. celebrates its 5th anniversary with a festival. The “5 Years of Chasing Dreams” festival will be Saturday October 27th at Singh Meadows in Tempe. The brewery was started by Leah and Jeff Huss.

“When we started five years ago, Jeff would brew the beer, filter the beer, deliver the beer and sell the beer out of the back of our very beat up F-150 pickup truck.” says Leah Huss. Huss Brewing now have a Tempe and Phoenix Taproom and legions of fans(myself included) can find the beers throughout Arizona on tap in restaurants and in cans in retailers.

The fun starts at 4 p.m. and will include live music from Huss’s Uptown Taproom GM Mike Chapman and Nashville based Los Colognes will headline. Award-winning Huss’s Family of Beers and seasonal & small batch beers will be poured and gourmet food served from local chefs.

The family friendly event will offer a kid friendly roast your own S’mores kit.

Tickets for the 5 Years of Chasing Dreams festival are $10 with food and beer purchased separately. Kids under 15 are free and tickets can be purchased here.

Singh Meadows is at 1490 E. Weber Dr. Tempe 85281.

 

Country music station KNIX honored with new Huss Brewing Co. cans

Country music and beer go together like baseball, peanuts & Cracker Jack’s.  and with that in mind owners Jeff & Leah Huss of Huss Brewing Co. are honoring Phoenix’s legendary country music radio station KNIX on its 50th anniversary.

To commemorate the milestone Huss will be putting their Scottsdale Blonde Ale in a special edition KNIX cans. The cans will make their debut at a Can Release Party at the Huss Brewing Co.’s Pop-Up Taproom in Desoto Central Market on Fri. March 30th from 4 p.m. – 7p.m.

The Scottsdale Blonde was chosen after KNIX listeners voted it over the Papago Orange Blossom at several voting events.

“KNIX is more than just a radio station – it’s a fixture in the Phoenix community that continues to impact the lives of residents through music and charitable giving,” said Steve Geofferies, EVP of Programming for iHeartMedia, parent company of KNIX. “Nothing goes better together than country music and beer! There’s no better way to celebrate 50 years in Phoenix, than with Arizona’s hometown brewery, Huss Brewing Co.”

The cans are in stores until the Fall at stores that sell Huss Brewing beers.

“As a local company, we are committed to supporting Arizona’s legacy companies – those that help shape our unique culture and become part of our identity,” said Huss Brewing Co. co-founder Leah Huss. “Celebrating our own 5th anniversary along with 50 years of KNIX is a huge accomplishment and we’re excited to play a part in commemorating this great milestone.”

Local restaurants entice Cactus League fans with food and drink specials

The games have begun for the month-long Cactus League season and Phoenix area restaurants are tempting baseball fans and locals to stop in with food and drink specials. Here are a few local restaurants to cheer your favorite team at before or after the game.

Cactuss League
Photo courtesy of Kassidy McDonald

Cactus League food specials

Fired Pie’s locations in the Phoenix area are offering game day ticket holders 10% off when they dine in after the game. To find a location near you check their website.

Thai Chili 2 Go is giving away a free dumpling appetizer at all 5 valley locations with purchase and a game day ticket stub. To find a location and hours check here.

Photo courtesy of Cider Corps

Mesa’s Cider Corps is extending their hours thru March 31st and offering a $1 off all pints when you bring in a same day ticket stub from Mesa’s Hohokam Stadium and Sloane Park. Hours are 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Mon. – Sat. with food trucks on site Fri. & Sat. http://cidercorpsaz.com/

One of Tempe’s newest restaurants Quartiere welcomes baseball fans to come check out their community driven Italian restaurant.  Until April 1st fans can bring any 2018 Spring Training ticket stub for 1/2 off an appetizer or entrée when you purchase an entrée. Pizzas, pastas, salads and more are available at Quartiere

McFate Brewing is bringing fans attending games at Scottsdale Stadium a pop-up beer garden beyond the center field fence at The Clayton House. On game day the beer garden opens 90 minutes before game time with live music, food and of course beer.  No ticket necessary.  The Clayton House is at 3719 N. 75th St. Scottsdale.