Breweries host The Beer, Bourbon, Barbeque and Bands Festival

Local breweries SanTan Brewing and Pedal Haus are teaming up to host a new festival on Friday and Saturday, March 3rd and 4th. The Beer, Bourbon, Barbeque and Bands Festival takes place in downtown Chandler at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park.

Expect world class barbeque from Honey Bear’s, Joe’s Real BBQ, Pork on a Fork and West Alley BBQ along with others. Taste beer and food from both breweries along with bourbon and and enjoy uninterrupted live performance from seven bands over both days. Bands performing are Kevin Lloyd of Banana Gun, Hit Rewind, Georgia Chrome, Mr. Skynyrd, The Foo, The Zeppelin IV and Justin Hinson.

“This is an incredible lineup of bands, impressive chefs, award-winning beers and bourbon – what else could you want?” said Julian Wright, founder and CEO of Pedal Haus Brewery. “Along with our friends at SanTan, we know how to throw a good party so grab your friends because this is going to be a fun time.”

Friday the festival goes from 4 – 11p.m. and Saturday from noon -11 p.m. Early bird tickets are on sale for Friday are $15 and $18 for Saturday. Two day tickets are $30 and day of tickets are $20 and $25. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the non-profit Downtown Chandler Community Partnership.

“We’re excited to launch this festival with Pedal Haus and bring a new opportunity to our friends in the community,” said Jamie Hoffman, Managing Partner with SanTan Brewing Company. “We aim to exceed our guests’ expectations and we think this event will do just that.”

Check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

Sips & Bites: News you can use from the Phoenix restaurant community

Quick sips & bites of news about what’s going on around the Phoenix restaurant community, breweries and wineries.

3rd Tuesday wine dinner at Romeo’s Euro Cafe

Every 3rd Tuesday the downtown Gilbert restaurant hosts its monthly wine pairing dinner and March’s dinner is Tuesday the 16th pairing wines from Washington and California with owner Romeo Taus’s specially created 3-course pairing menu. Dinner is $39 per person and starts at 6:30 if you’re dining in, if taking out pick-up is between 6 -7. Call 480-962-4224 to reserve your seat or place your order.

Irish Soda Bread from Mediterra Bakehouse now available

From Saturday March 13th – 20th the local bakehouse has its famous bread available. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day the bread is made with whole wheat flour, buttermilk, sea salt, golden raisins & caraway seeds. The loaf sells for $5.99 and can be found at all AJ’s Fine Foods locations, Whole Foods, Uptown Farmer’s Market, Old Town Scottsdale Farmer’s Market and other retailers.

It’s National Pi Day at Fired Pie

On Sunday 3.14 all 20 locations will be selling any 1 topping pizza for $3.14 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m with the purchase of a beverage. The deal is available in store or if ordering online use promo code PIDAY. 1 per person and no 3rd party deliveries available.

New seasonal menu at Z’ Tejas launches Monday

There’s more than a change in the weather in the near future as restaurants change menus to use seasonal ingredients. The Southwestern cuisine restaurant’s locations in Chandler and Phoenix introduce theirs on Monday March 15th. Diablo Eggs, Stuffed Artichoke Chicken, Goat Cheese Fritters and Lemon Bar Cheesecake are just a few of the highlights that can be had until May 24th.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day around Phoenix

If you’re feeling a little bit Irish next Wednesday the 17th, you’re not alone. Celebrate with Irish beer, corned beef & cabbage or a dram of whiskey and more at SanTan Brewing Co., Match Market & Bar, Phoenix City Grille, Chompie’s, Pedal House Brewery, Thirsty Lion Gastropub, Trapp Haus BBQ STK Steakhouse, and Kona Grill. Slainte!!

SanTanitizer now being made at SanTan Brewing Co.

Restaurants haven’t been the only businesses to change the way they operate business in the world of coronavirus. Breweries and distilleries are doing their part trying to keep the at home public refreshed with cold beer and cocktails. Many are trying to keep us healthy and safe by using their breweries and distilleries to make hand sanitizer. SanTan Brewing Co. has decided to not sell 16,000 gallons of beer and turn it to SanTanitizer.

The medical grade hand SanTanitizer will make 400 gallons to be donated to HonorHealth and the City of Chandler. The public can purchase bottles for home use when they order takeout from SanTan’s brewpubs. Last week the brewery had their distributor return mostly IPA for making the SanTanitizer that for retail and restaurants.

“SanTan beers are best served fresh, we insist on serving each beer within 90 days of brewing. So, this idea struck me as a great way to repurpose and give back to our Arizona community. We want to do our part to help flatten the curve, save lives and get Arizona back to work,” said Anthony Canecchia, founder + brewmaster, SanTan Brewing Company.

Making the SanTanitizer

The distilling and kegging process happens this week and expects the SanTanitizer to have a pleasant tropical aroma.

“With local bars and restaurants closed to dine in business, we have an abundance of keg beer that is going past the “best before” date. Under normal circumstances at Crescent Crown we would simply destroy the out of date beer. However, once Anthony from SanTan found out about this process he asked us to send his beer back to him so that he could distill it and turn it into medical grade hand sanitizer,” Said Joe Cotroneo, EVP General Manager, Crescent Crown Distributing.

Visit http://www.santanbrewing.com/ and social media to see when the SanTanitizer is available for purchase.

SanTan Brewing Co. to open new brewing facility in Chandler

UPDATE: The facility is not new but the tours are.

Arizona’s largest independent brewer and distillery will be opening its new brewing facility in early October. Once the 35,000 square foot the SanTan Brewing Co. production facility is open they will offer behind the scenes tours and exclusive tastings to the public.

Beer and spirits enthusiasts will learn about the history and future of the brewery, visit the craft beer & spirits lab, hear about the similarities to brewing beer and distilling spirits. And of course sample new and small batch beers and spirits. After the tour guests will be able to purchase packaged goods of their favorite beers and spirits to take home.

“We’re excited to open our doors and share what we have built here at the production facility. Our goal with these tours is to educate the public about the craft of creating artisan beer and spirits including what it takes to produce consistent, high quality and honest products,” said Anthony Canecchia, Founder + Brewmaster, SanTan Brewing Company.

The brewery is taking reservations for tours which will be three times a day on Saturdays and Sundays. Tours will be $15 per person with part of the proceeds going to the Chandler Compadres. The local non-profit raises money for east valley families in need.

The new brewing facility is at 495 E. Warner Rd. Chandler 85225.

 

8th annual AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival celebrates canned beer revolution

As craft beer brewers continue the canning of their beers to protect from sunlight and the convenience where glass bottles shouldn’t go (by the pool, at the lake), the canned beer revolution rolls on with the 8th Annual AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival on Saturday April 28th.

The 4 hour event heads back to Margret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix and will showcase over 250 canned beers from over 100 local and national breweries from over 40 states. This years festival will include a new Arizona Trail Zone featuring brewers that don’t normally can their beer but have specially for the festival.

Photos courtesy of Jen Pruett at HDE Agency

Craft beer and more

In order to pace yourself from drinking all the beer to early fun distractions are planned including a beer science garden, beer Olympic games and live music from Radio FX, The Hourglass Cats and Matrix.

Food will be available for purchase from Honey Bear’s BBQ, El Jefe Tacos and more. Here is a short list of brewers expected to pour beer.

21st Amendment Brewery                                                                                  Abita Brewing                                                                                                         Golden Road Brewing                                                                                        Hangar 2                                                                                                                          Hard Frescos Brewing Co                                                                                                 Griffin Claw Brewing Company                                                                                    Mudshark Brewing Co.                                                                                                       Sun Up Brewing Company                                                                                               Phoenix Ale Brewery                                                                                                           Sleepy Dog Brewing Company

Tickets and details

Tickets can be purchased on-line for $35 or day of for $45. Designated Drivers tickets are $20 on-line and day of. Admission gets you 20 beer sample and a souvenir can cup.

A potion of the proceeds go to the Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA). http://www.phoenixcommunityalliance.com/

The 21 + event starts at 3 p.m.  at Margret T. Hance Park 67 W. Culver St. Phoenix 85003.