Four Peaks Brewing Co (Tempe, AZ)

10/18/09

Spent a Sunday morning with a bar full of rabid Minnesota Vikings fans, rooting for the last minute Raven field goal to miss and it did. If in Minneapolis--no big deal.  Doing it in Phoenix before flying back to the Twin Cities chill--a unique drinking and eating experience.

Besides being a Vikings bar, Four Peaks beer is quite good. Several of the beers have changed since I was here six years ago, but most match my rates and memory. The standard beers seemed to have improved a bit, according to my notes, and the new beers are good additions. HopKnot, an American IPA, was very tasty, especially you like big American hops and don't mind a bit of grassiness. The seasonal was a Pumpkin Porter, which my wife drank for the rest of the game. Mostly allspice for the pumpkin part, but blended well into the porter for a very pleasant beer.

Food was hot, fast and good. Surprisingly fast since the place was pack with purple clad fanatics that I've never seen anywhere short of the Metrodome.  And, while not as creative of a brewpub as others, the base beers are well brewed. Drinking in the heat (100 degrees in October!), a lighter interpretation of each style can be forgiven--and even encouraged.

Love this bar--maybe it will be my retirement pub.  On my first visit, I bought a bucket hat that I wore when my wife and I rim-to-rim hiked the Grand Canyon.  Old and battered now, I replaced the original with may have been the last one in existence.  At least it was the last one in the bar--they sold me the one in the display case.  Whenever I head into nature, I bring Four Peaks with me.

Sadly, I've only made it to Four Peaks twice, but these visits epitomize the very heart of why I beer hunt.