This post is part of a series on my favorite spots in Phoenix. To read the other posts, follow these links: Swansong (Best places in Arizona), UnderTow, Barber Parlor, Changing Hands / First Draft Book Bar, Bonus Round, Renaissance Hotel, Camelback and Central.
One thing I do enjoy is exploring local breweries to see what kinds of beers in the community. Arizona, as a whole, has a great craft beer scene. Phoenix has a small sampling of breweries available for you to partake in. I found that three had me constantly coming back: Mother Bunch, Sun Up, and OHSO.
Mother Bunch
One of the later finds, mainly because they didn’t start tapping their own beers until a few years ago, Mother Bunch was a brewery set up by a badass couple seeking to make their mark on 7th street near downtown. Their staple beers are all very good and dependable drinks: The 3 on 7, Cherry Poppin Porter, Mounds Porter, Oatmeal Stout, and the Roosevelt Red are all great to drink. I remember our first time here: We just stopped in one hot afternoon and ate some olives and drank a beer purely on a whim, guided by Google Maps’ locations near here feature. It was such a nice environment, located in a historic brick grocery store, with art on the walls and a large, inviting seating space. Larger tables are actually pews that sit at long tables, seating about 4-5 people on either end. A great spot with huge burgers and delightful bacon popcorn, you can’t go wrong with a stop at Mother Bunch!
Sun Up
This was one of our first stops around the neighborhood when my wife and I first arrived in Phoenix. Just up the street near Camelback and 7th street, Sun Up was just close enough to stop in for a quick pint or to relax on a Sunday evening. We even got to watch the Super Bowl there one night, enjoying smaller crowds and a relaxed atmosphere. While the brewery has changed a lot since we first visited, rebranding and expanding to distribution, it still holds a fond space in my memories of Phoenix. Their White Russian Imperial Stout is one of their best beers, as is the Vanilla Porter. They have a good selection of seasonals and cask brews for your consideration as well. The food has improved greatly since we first arrived, I’m happy to report! The green chile mac and cheese and parmesan fries are great snacks and sides to partake in!
OHSO
OHSO (Outrageous Homebrewer’s Social Outpost) has many outposts across the valley, but the one I tended to visit was the Arcadia location. My first visit was late at night towards the end of Season 5 of Game of Thrones. OHSO had a ton of GOT-themed beers ready for the tasting, as well as their regular brews. When they put outrageous in their name, I wasn’t sure what to make of it, until I saw a Captain Crunch infused porter on the menu. It seems that every few weeks a new batch of something experimental and crazy comes out of their taps for the general public to consume. Sometimes they’re great, sometimes they’re not. Either way, it’s definitely worth a drop-in to see what’s on tap. While I never ate there, their food smelled and looked amazing!
Two Second Street 