It's a Monday night at Four Peaks Brewing Company in Tempe and three friends — Jason Morey, Ron Harper and Billy Williamson — sit on the illuminated patio exchanging weekend adventures and trying to figure out who was the most obliterated Saturday night.
Harper, 24, lifts up his Kilt Lifter (the brewery's most popular beer and Harper's favorite) and says, "I've sworn off beer so many times, but I keep coming back for more. I spent all day yesterday hung over from Saturday. It was insane. I don't think I'll ever learn my lesson."
Morey and Williamson break out in a fit of laughter as they recall some of Harper's more embarrassing moments from Saturday night. Harper cringes, clearly not amused and looking fearful as to what secrets his drinking buddies may confess.
The better brew
As Oktoberfest kicks off in Tempe this weekend, friends are flocking to local breweries for frothy brews rich with flavor. Even those who run the local pubs say they notice more young people flooding into their establishments, in search of something beyond the Bud Light experience.
"I think it's because we can offer a superior product to the customers, and over the years the customers' taste buds are getting better," says Ron Kloth, owner of the Papago Brewing Company in Scottsdale.
Papago opened more than a year ago when three home brewers united in their mission. "We just got together and decided to open up our own place and the idea was to serve really good beer," Kloth says.
The brewery offers 30 rotating taps, including three original beers, and it also participates in "contract brewing" — its recipes are brewed at other locations, such as Bandersnatch in Tempe or Phoenix's Sonora Brewing Company.
Kloth attributes the success of his company to an increasing demand for a better brew.
"Everyone wants better beer," he says. "It's not like 30 years ago where we only had Coors and Budweiser available. Now there's a wide range of different beers that are of better quality that people like and have more taste."
Bud Trite
Josh Townsley agrees. As manager of Four Peaks, he witnesses scores of thirsty mug-toting beer fans, but he says the people who come into his brewery aren't the average keg-tappers.
"People have a little more sophisticated taste and just don't want Budweiser and Miller and Coors — they all taste the same," he says. "People have preferences for more handcrafted fresh ales and beers, so they're drawn to a local brew pub where they can get quality beer."
Kloth says he believes that breweries such as Papago and Four Peaks offer a superior product compared to the typical bar or dance club.
According to Papago-regular Bryce Fremont, 28, Kloth's mission was accomplished. "They serve great beer (at Papago)," Fremont says. "I can never stick to one beer. I'm always sampling different stuff every time I stop by, and so far, I've liked mostly everything that I've tried."
Both Four Peaks and Papago offer a bit of customer interaction, as well. Four Peaks conducts complimentary brewery tours by appointment, and Papago features a beer education class.
"We normally pick out a certain style of beer and go through that style," Kloth says of the $10-a-month classes. "Then we give them a little bit of the history and drink a number of different varieties of beer of that style and let them see the differences between one pale ale versus another pale ale."
Drink in peace
Four Peaks is one of the East Valley's more popular breweries where students and Tempe residents flock to relax or have a beer before a big night on the town.
Four Peaks has been a brewpub for five years and offers nine to 11 handcrafted ales on tap, along with a full-service kitchen and bar.
Townsley adds that the company, as the state's largest microbrewery, makes roughly 12,000 barrels a year.
The brewery — which offers beers such as the Raj India Pale Ale, Hefeweizen and Oatmeal Stout — has been an ASU staple for the last five years.
With its intimate indoor and outdoor setting, it could even be considered the Tempe version of Cheers. One can almost hear the famous line, "where everybody knows your name," walking through the door.
It's clear that this neighborhood bar, which is located in the middle of campus apartments and houses, attracts regulars.
"I probably come in once or twice a week," says Vanessa Cassidy, 22. "I like to come by for an early dinner and have a beer and let out my stress from work. I think the bartenders pretty much know me by order here. They see me and within a few minutes, someone will be handing me a Fool's Gold Ale."
"I've been coming here for a couple years," says Kristen Bial, a communications major at ASU. "It's a great place to chill when you want to avoid the whole meat market scene and just be in peace with your beer."
'Mild to wild'
Touwnsley adds that it's often this feeling of comfort — not just the taste of the beer — that keeps his customers coming back.
"Breweries offer a little better atmosphere. They're really laid back. Most are independently owned and operated so they don't have that chained-restaurant feel. You can go to a Chili's anywhere in the United States but you can only go to one Four Peaks," he says.
Bandersnatch, a woodsy brewery within walking distance from campus, can attract a somewhat rowdier crowd than Four Peaks and Papago.
Students flood the Irish brewery near campus nightly when they usually watch sports or just get crazy. You almost expect to see people from your classes partaking in a round or two of body shots.
"I think Bandersnatch is so popular because it's a cross between Dos Gringos and McDuffy's," says music major Chris Stein, 21. "You have a nice selection of beer in a relaxed atmosphere, but it's also the type of place where things can go from mild to wild in a matter of seconds. It's not like that over at Four Peaks.
"There's a really good social setting here (at Bandersnatch). It's much more relaxed (at Four Peaks) — a calmer vibe."
Bandersnatch, in its wood-carved decor and neon shamrock beer lights, showcases live Irish folk music. As for the drink of choice, Meghan Powell, 23, recommends the Sweet Stout or the German Rogger Ale. "They go down pretty smoothly," she says. "And women are all about smooth drinks."
Counter-culture
While local breweries offer a comfortable locale for beer connoisseurs, they might have to leave their stools and favorite lagers this weekend.
Tempe's 30th annual "Way Out West" Oktoberfest kicks off tomorrow and lasts through Sunday at Tempe Town Beach Park. Oktoberfest began in Germany in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen.
Now celebrated all over the world, the festival offers a taste of German culture, including punchy polka music, sizzling bratwurst and, of course, a rich brew.
Kloth, who recently returned from Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, says he's gearing up for Arizona's annual celebration.
"We're going to feature a number of Oktoberfest-style beers throughout the month of October," he says. "We'll also do some promotions with the different brands…it will be a good time to party since the weather has cooled off. People just like good beer and good food. It'll be a good party."
"It's a great excuse to drink beer," Townsley adds.
Four Peaks will release an Oktoberfest-style beer, available throughout the month, followed by a Pumpkin Porter to be released just before Halloween.
There are certainly cultural differences between Tempe's version of Oktoberfest and the festival's home of Germany, Kloth says. Germans, he says, emphasize a sense of community for the festival rather than beer.
"It's not so much a beer-drinking festival for the local people," he says. "It's like a big county-fair type of thing. There's all kinds of rides going on. People go there just to eat and drink. When we think of Oktoberfest, we think about people drinking a lot and partying.
"For the local Germans, it's the chance to go out to have a big meal and drink some beer and have a good time with people."
Harper is pretty sure of his plans for Oktoberfest.
"You know, we'll definitely be out there drinking. I'm not sure where yet, but we make a point to drink a bit more than usual when Oktoberfest rolls around," he says.
"Hopefully this time, I won't be the drunkest of my friends."
Reach the reporter at kelly.ann.wilson@asu.edu.
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30th annual "Way Out West Oktoberfest" at Tempe Town Lake. 5 p.m. to midnight, Friday; 10 a.m. to midnight, Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday. |
