Here in Tucson, we’ve got the Tucson Craft Beer Crawl coming up on Saturday, February 25 (tickets are on sale now), but if you’re looking for a prime pregaming session, here’s a fun event for you.
Photo courtesy of the Arizona Strong Beer Festival
The Arizona Strong Beer Festival is moving to a new location for 2023. The annual event will take place Saturday, Feb. 18 from 11:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, 7555 N. Pima Road in Scottsdale.
“The Strong Beer Festival is about bringing people together to make a cultural statement about craft beer and why we love it,” said Rob Fullmer, Executive Director of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild. “Get your pretzel necklaces ready and join us for a beer-filled afternoon at Salt River Fields.”
Photo courtesy of the Arizona Strong Beer Festival
Nearly 10,000 attendees are expected to enjoy samples from their favorite breweries, taste test new beers, and enjoy a fun day with family and friends. The annual event is for ages 21 and up.
Craft brews from more than 130 different breweries from all over Arizona and across the country will be on tap to sample during the event. Tucson breweries include 1912 Brewing Company, Barrio Brewing Company, Crooked Tooth Brewing Company, Dillinger Brewing Company, FireTruck Brewing Company, and MotoSonora Brewing Company.
A limited number of VIP tickets that provide entry to the event 90 minutes early, at 11:30 a.m., are available for $90. The VIP tickets also provide attendees with extra tasting samples, express entry on Saturday, and access to a VIP area with shade, tables, and VIP-only restrooms.
Photo courtesy of the Arizona Strong Beer Festival
In addition, VIP ticketholders will be able to pick up their wristbands Friday at the Pepsi Party Deck at Salt River Fields and enjoy a $4 can of beer while watching a live MLB4 Collegiate Baseball Tournament game.
The 2022 event will also feature a limited supply of Super VIP tickets, which include everything that comes with the VIP admission plus a special edition swag item and admission to an exclusive Sunday Brewers’ Brunch Reception. Super VIP tickets are $110.
The Arizona Strong Beer Festival is happening at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, 7555 N. Pima Road in Scottsdale. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit strongbeerfest.com.
About the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild
The Arizona Strong Beer Festival is the largest of more than one hundred events planned throughout the state in celebration of the 12th Annual Arizona Beer Week, which runs from Thursday, February 16 – Sunday, February 26.
Photo courtesy of the Arizona Strong Beer Festival
The Arizona Craft Brewers Guild was established in 1998 and represents nearly 100 breweries, breweries in the planning stages, craft beer bars, partners, and distributors across the state of Arizona. The Guild promotes the craft brewing industry in Arizona by providing educational opportunities to brewers, distributors, and consumers and promotes quality craft beers and the responsible consumption of those products.
At a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
