When my job told me they were sending me to Phoenix for a conference, I was excited. I love the west coast, deserts, and exploring new cities. This obviously includes visiting breweries. Here’s where I ended up going last week:

Wren House Brewing The first brewery on my list. I discovered Wren House after seeing their Spellbound cans all over Instagram at some point. I loved those cans and knew I wanted to check out this microbrewery that has a decently wide reach. From outside the building they looked closed, but the inside was lively on a Saturday afternoon. My dad and I sat at a communal table while I had a flight and he tried one of their beers. I enjoyed the IPAs a lot and my dad, who isn’t a big beer drinker, loved their lighter beer Las Frescas which was reminiscent of a piña colada. Overall a chill place I definitely wouldn’t mind living near.

Mother Bunch Brewing Another brewery I knew I had to visit based on their fanbase. A large space with a ton of beers on tap. I got myself a flight along with a full glass of their Pink Boots Sparkly Pony. I had seen videos on social media of glitter beer and I was so happy to finally find a place serving one! It was their last keg of the glitter beer too so I was feeling extra lucky. It was hard to see the sparkles in person, but with a phone camera flash you could see the beer sparkle. To say I was in love is an understatement. The other beers I tried were also great and they had a full food menu with choices that were tempting to try.

8-Bit Aleworks It was a bit of a trek to get here from where I was staying and the brewery is in a semi-secluded area, but I was happy to have visited. A really vibrant, fun place with free (!!!) video games and board games. The bartender was super friendly and recommended I try the flagship flight to get a taste for their beers. With a solid beer menu and a welcoming atmosphere, I wish I could’ve brought my gamer boyfriend!

Pedal Haus Brewery I can’t remember how I discovered this brewery (probably through Instagram), but I marked it as one of the “must see” breweries on my list. Not going to lie, I was a bit disappointed. The beers I tried plus my dinner were both mediocre and the bartender service wasn’t the best either. Right next to ASU, it’s definitely got a college feel to it. I could see how they could be a great place to visit if you were with a larger group as they have a huge outdoor/beer garden area and games.

The Shop Beer Co. When you’re under 15 minutes away from a new brewery that’s been rated one of the best in the country, you go. And I am so glad I did. The atmosphere was chill and the bartenders were nice. The beers? Unique and enjoyable. This brewery definitely likes to experiment and they do a good job too. I liked all the beers in my flight and then I tried the Randall which they change up every Wednesday. The Randall is typically an out-there beer and when I visited, it was a hazy kölsch infused with apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, and apple pie pieces topped with ice cream. It was weird and I’m not sure it tasted “just like apple pie” as the bartender said, but it grew on me towards the end of my glass. I was told a few weeks back they had a pizza beer topped with a breadstick. That is something I would’ve been happy to try! I would love to frequent The Shop Beer Co. if I lived closer and I made sure to pick up a few cans to bring home.

Four Peaks Brewery In my Lyft to the airport to go home, my driver told me I should’ve checked out Four Peaks and I was a bit sad I didn’t have the time. Fortunately, my terminal had a Four Peaks Brewery. They didn’t have a flight option so I sat at the bar and tried several pints of their beers while I waited to board my flight. I liked the beers I tried and I could tell why they’re one of the more popular craft beers sold around Phoenix. The beers also helped me sleep during my red eye back to New York 😉

My list of breweries to visit while in Phoenix was of course longer, but I’m satisfied with the places I did try. Phoenix is beautiful and while I wouldn’t have picked it as my first choice, I was happy to have had the opportunity to visit and would visit again. Have you been before? I’d love to hear what breweries you’ve been to!