Tucson FoodieCelebrating local food, drink, and community.
Tucson breweries are tappin’ in at the 2023 Arizona Strong Beer Festival

Tucson breweries are tappin’ in at the 2023 Arizona Strong Beer Festival

Jan 31, 20235 min read

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.

Participating Arizona Breweries

  • 12 West Brewing
  • 1912 Brewing Company
  • Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company
  • B.R.I.
  • Bad Booch
  • Barrio Brewing Company
  • Below the Rim Meadery
  • Bone Haus Brewing
  • Crooked Tooth Brewing Company
  • Desert Monks Brewing Company
  • Dillinger Brewing Company
  • Fate Brewing Company
  • Fire and Fury Brewing Company
  • FireTruck Brewing Company
  • Flying Basset Brewing
  • Four Peaks Brewing Company
  • Front Pourch Brewing
  • Goldwater Brewing Company
  • Grand Avenue Brewing
  • Greenwood Brewing
  • HELLUVA Brewing Company
  • Historic Brewing Company
  • Hundred Mile Brewing
  • Huss Brewing
  • Kitsune Brewing Company
  • Lake Pleasant Brewing Company
  • LazyG Brewhouse
  • Loco Patron Mexican Brewery
  • LOOK Brewing Company
  • Lumberyard Brewing Company
  • Mother Road Brewing Company
  • MotoSonora Brewing Company
  • O.H.S.O. Brewery + Distillery
  • Old Ellsworth Brewing Company
  • Oro Brewing Company
  • Patent 139 Brewing Company
  • Pedal Haus Brewery
  • Peoria Artisan Brewery
  • PHX Beer Company
  • Pinetop Brewing Company
  • Prison Hill Brewing Company
  • Rickety Cricket Brewing
  • Roses by the Stairs Brewing
  • Saddle Mountain Brewing Company
  • SanTan Brewing + Spirits
  • Simple Machine Brewing
  • Six Byrd Cider
  • Smelter Town Brewery
  • State 48 Brewery
  • Steel Cactus Brewing
  • Superstition Meadery
  • TCBC Beer (Transplant City Beer Company)
  • THAT Brewery
  • The Brewery at Tirrito Farm
  • The Grand Canyon Brewing + Distillery Company
  • The Perch
  • The Shop Beer Company
  • Throne Brewing
  • Tombstone Brewing Company
  • Uncle Bear’s Brewery
  • Walter Station Brewery
  • Wanderlust Brewing Company
  • WCKD Brewery
  • Wren House Brewing

Participating Out-of-State Breweries

  • 4Noses Brewing Company
  • Odd13 Brewing Company
  • Alaskan Brewing Company
  • Alesmith Brewing
  • Almanac Beer Company
  • Athletic Brewing Company
  • Avery Brewing
  • Baja Brewing Company
  • Beachwood Brewing & Blendery
  • BeatBox Beverages
  • Belching Beaver
  • Big Sky Brewing
  • Brewdog
  • Brooklyn Brewery
  • Chapman Crafted Beer
  • Claremont Craft Ales
  • Clubtails, BuzzTea
  • Connecticut Valley Brewing Company
  • Copa Di Vino
  • Coronado Brewing Company
  • Crescent Crown Distributing
  • D&V International
  • Deschutes Brewery and Boneyard Brewery
  • DESTIHL Brewery
  • Drake’s brewing
  • Duvel USA
  • Ecliptic Brewing
  • Founders Brewing Company
  • Great Divide Brewing Company
  • Hofbrau Munchen
  • Holidaily Brewing Company
  • Hop Valley Brewing
  • Hoplark
  • J Wakefield Brewing
  • Jiant
  • JuneShine
  • Karl Strauss Brewing Company
  • La Cumbre Brewing Company
  • Lagunitas Brewing Company
  • Lexington Brewing & Distilling Company
  • Mark Anthony Brands
  • Mason Ale Works/Castellum Ciders
  • Mother Earth Brew Company
  • New Belgium Brewing Company
  • New Motion Beverages and Embolden Beer Company
  • North Coast Brewing Company
  • Oskar Blues Brewery
  • Paperback Brewing Company
  • Pariah Brewing Company
  • Patco Brands
  • Pipeworks Brewing Company
  • Plant Botanical
  • Prairie Artisan Ales
  • Redstone Meadery
  • Revision Brewing
  • Schilling Cider
  • Second Chance Beer Company
  • Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
  • Ska Brewing Company
  • Sleepy Dog Brewing
  • Spoetzl Brewery—Shiner Beers
  • SweetWater Brewing Company
  • Telluride Brewing Company
  • The Beast Unleashed
  • The Bruery
  • Thorn Brewing Company
  • Two Brothers Brewing Company
  • Two Pitchers Brewing Company
  • Waterbird Spirits
  • Wild Tonic
  • Wings & Arrow

Arizona Strong Beer Festival Tickets

General Admission tickets start at $70 and allow entry into the festival at 1 p.m.

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.

For more information, visit chooseazbrews.com.

Article written by:

Matt Sterner

Matt Sterner

More about Matt

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.

Get our free Tucson Foodie weekly newsletter

New openings, events, dish recommendations, and guides — every Wednesday. No spam.

Take us with you.

Discover the best local spots, browse the dish database, build and share your to-visit lists, support local, and join the Foodie Club when you're ready.

Advertisement

Follow @TucsonFoodie135.8K followers
Phoenix bakery @Proofbread is popping up in Tucson! 

Starting Friday, Oct. 9, the Phoenix-based sourdough bakery and stone flour mill will take over the two former @Cafefrancaisaz locations for a Tucson pop-up.

Expect naturally leavened country loaves, chocolate croissants with 81 layers of laminated dough, morning buns, ciabatta and more. 🥐🍞

📍 7831 E. Wrightstown Rd. 
📍 3855 E. Broadway Blvd. 

Both locations will be open 7 am-2 pm throughout October. If the pop-up is a success, Proof Bread says it could become a permanent Tucson operation. 

Read the article on Tucsonfoodie.comPhoenix bakery @Proofbread is popping up in Tucson! Starting Friday, Oct. 9, the Phoenix-based sourdough bakery and stone flour mill will take over the two former @Cafefrancaisaz locations for a Tucson pop-up. Expect naturally leavened country loaves, chocolate croissants with 81 layers of laminated dough, morning buns, ciabatta and more. 🥐🍞 📍 7831 E. Wrightstown Rd. 📍 3855 E. Broadway Blvd. Both locations will be open 7 am-2 pm throughout October. If the pop-up is a success, Proof Bread says it could become a permanent Tucson operation. Read the article on Tucsonfoodie.com
Have you tried any of them?

@Crossroadskitchen 
Daily buffet 8am - 2pm
2602 S 4th Ave 

@Casamolinadelnorte 
Sunday buffet 10am - 3pm 
3001 N Campbell Ave

@Delcielotamal 
Vegan buffet 9am - 11:30am 
Thursdays and Saturdays 
Traditional buffet Sundays
3073 N Campbell Ave 

@Losme.zquites 
Sat-Sun 7am - 2pm 
2341-2399 W Drexel Rd 

@Cafesantarosa520 
Sunday buffet 8am - 1pm 
2615 S 6th AveHave you tried any of them? @Crossroadskitchen Daily buffet 8am - 2pm 2602 S 4th Ave @Casamolinadelnorte Sunday buffet 10am - 3pm 3001 N Campbell Ave @Delcielotamal Vegan buffet 9am - 11:30am Thursdays and Saturdays Traditional buffet Sundays 3073 N Campbell Ave @Losme.zquites Sat-Sun 7am - 2pm 2341-2399 W Drexel Rd @Cafesantarosa520 Sunday buffet 8am - 1pm 2615 S 6th Ave
@Vegantucsonnightmarket returns December 5, from 6-9pm at Rillito Park❤️🐄

VENDOR APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN

App link in bio@Vegantucsonnightmarket returns December 5, from 6-9pm at Rillito Park❤️🐄 VENDOR APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN App link in bio
The original @Mariscos_el_bochas truck is back! Celebrate National Taco Day with them!🦐

Chef and owner Raúl Leyva, known as “El Bochas,” recently reopened the seafood truck where it all started eight years ago. El Bochas also has a restaurant on Valencia (@Elbochasrestaurant) serving seafood, steak, and more. 

The seafood is fresh, never frozen, with shipments arriving from San Carlos three times a week.🌊

Vegans and vegetarians can ask for the fried avocado tacos!

📍 El Bochas Truck: 4775 W Ajo Hwy
📍 El Bochas Restaurant: 1645 W Valencia RdThe original @Mariscos_el_bochas truck is back! Celebrate National Taco Day with them!🦐 Chef and owner Raúl Leyva, known as “El Bochas,” recently reopened the seafood truck where it all started eight years ago. El Bochas also has a restaurant on Valencia (@Elbochasrestaurant) serving seafood, steak, and more. The seafood is fresh, never frozen, with shipments arriving from San Carlos three times a week.🌊 Vegans and vegetarians can ask for the fried avocado tacos! 📍 El Bochas Truck: 4775 W Ajo Hwy 📍 El Bochas Restaurant: 1645 W Valencia Rd