Arizona's Best Breweries, Wineries & Distilleries: A Complete Craft Beverage Guide
From award-winning craft breweries and world-class wineries in the Verde Valley to mesquite-smoked whiskey distilleries and medieval-themed meaderies, discover 100 of Arizona's best craft beverage destinations.
Arizona's Best Breweries, Wineries & Distilleries: A Complete Craft Beverage Guide
Arizona's craft beverage scene has exploded over the past decade, transforming the Grand Canyon State into one of the most exciting drinking destinations in the American Southwest. From award-winning craft breweries in Phoenix and Tucson to world-class wineries in the Verde Valley and small-batch distilleries scattered across the desert, Arizona offers a remarkably diverse landscape for anyone who appreciates a well-crafted drink. This guide covers every corner of the state's thriving scene — 100 venues across six categories — so you can plan your next tasting adventure with confidence.
Table of Contents
- Craft Breweries
- Arizona Wine Country
- Distilleries
- Cideries
- Meaderies
- Sports Bars
- Quick Reference Guide
Craft Breweries
Arizona's craft beer revolution is in full swing, with breweries earning national recognition for everything from hazy IPAs to Belgian-style farmhouse ales. Whether you're exploring the Valley of the Sun, hiking in Flagstaff, or wandering the streets of historic Bisbee, a world-class taproom is never far away.
Phoenix & The Valley
The Phoenix metro area is the beating heart of Arizona's craft beer scene. Wren House Brewing Company (4.8 stars, 741 reviews) consistently ranks among the state's best, producing exceptional beers in a cozy neighborhood setting that feels more like a friend's backyard than a brewery. Their rotating selection of IPAs and stouts draws devoted fans from across the Valley.
Tombstone Brewing Company (4.6 stars, 282 reviews) has earned a cult following among craft beer enthusiasts nationwide for their hazy IPAs and barrel-aged stouts. Small-batch excellence is the name of the game here, and releases often sell out within hours.
No conversation about Arizona beer is complete without mentioning Four Peaks Brewing Company (4.6 stars, 3,032 reviews) in Tempe — the state's most iconic brewery and home of the legendary Kilt Lifter Scottish Ale. Their historic building, a former creamery, is a must-visit for any beer lover passing through the Valley.
Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. (4.6 stars, 2,754 reviews) in Gilbert takes a uniquely local approach, brewing Arizona-inspired beers with indigenous ingredients. Their innovative sours and IPAs have won national awards, and the full restaurant menu makes it a complete dining destination.
For a fun twist on the taproom experience, 8-Bit Aleworks (4.9 stars, 463 reviews) in Avondale combines retro arcade gaming with creative craft beers — play Pac-Man while sipping a perfectly hopped IPA. Meanwhile, O.H.S.O. Brewery + Distillery (4.6 stars, 1,731 reviews) has become a Valley institution with multiple dog-friendly locations featuring house-made beers, spirits, and a full food menu.
Other excellent Valley breweries worth visiting include Goldwater Brewing Co (4.8 stars) in Old Town Scottsdale, Huss Brewing Company (4.8 stars) in Tempe, Pedal Haus Brewery (4.5 stars) with its German-inspired lagers, SanTan Brewing Company (4.4 stars) in downtown Chandler, and PHX Beer Co (4.4 stars) with multiple Valley locations.
Tucson
Tucson's craft beer scene punches well above its weight. Barrio Brewing Company (4.6 stars, 1,753 reviews) was named 2024 Arizona Brewery of the Year, and their vibrant warehouse setting in the Barrio Viejo neighborhood is the perfect place to sample award-winning beers. 1912 Brewing Company (4.8 stars, 338 reviews), named for Arizona's statehood year, specializes in Belgian-style and farmhouse ales that showcase real brewing artistry. Borderlands Brewing Company (4.5 stars, 583 reviews) crafts beers inspired by the Sonoran Desert, with their Noche Dulce milk stout being a local favorite.
Northern Arizona
Up north, the craft beer scene thrives in the mountain air. Mother Road Brewing Company (4.7 stars, 1,073 reviews) in Flagstaff is named after Route 66 and known for their Tower Station IPA and Lost Highway Black IPA. Lumberyard Brewing Company (4.2 stars, 1,971 reviews) operates out of a beautifully restored 1890s building in downtown Flagstaff, while Historic Brewing Company (4.4 stars) makes a great après-ski destination.
In Sedona, Oak Creek Brewery (4.3 stars, 564 reviews) has been serving handcrafted beers with stunning red rock views since the early days of Arizona craft beer. Further south, Old Bisbee Brewing Company (4.7 stars, 442 reviews) brews in a unique underground setting in historic Bisbee, and Grand Canyon Brewing Company (4.0 stars, 1,125 reviews) in Williams is the perfect stop before or after visiting the Grand Canyon.
Out west, Mudshark Brewing Company (4.6 stars, 443 reviews) in Lake Havasu City produces award-winning beers perfect for pairing with desert lake adventures. And don't miss Flagstaff Brewing Company (3.6 stars, 560 reviews), Flagstaff's original brewpub on historic Route 66.
| Brewery | City | Rating | Reviews | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8-Bit Aleworks | Avondale | 4.9 | 463 | Retro arcade gaming + craft beer |
| Wren House Brewing | Phoenix | 4.8 | 741 | Rotating IPAs and stouts |
| 1912 Brewing | Tucson | 4.8 | 338 | Belgian-style farmhouse ales |
| Goldwater Brewing | Scottsdale | 4.8 | 588 | Neighborhood taproom |
| Huss Brewing | Tempe | 4.8 | 237 | Scottsdale Blonde, Koffee Kolsch |
| Mother Road Brewing | Flagstaff | 4.7 | 1,073 | Tower Station IPA |
| Old Bisbee Brewing | Bisbee | 4.7 | 442 | Underground setting |
| Four Peaks Brewing | Tempe | 4.6 | 3,032 | Kilt Lifter Scottish Ale |
| Arizona Wilderness | Gilbert | 4.6 | 2,754 | Arizona-inspired ingredients |
| Barrio Brewing | Tucson | 4.6 | 1,753 | 2024 AZ Brewery of the Year |
Arizona Wine Country
If you think Arizona is all cactus and sand, the state's wine country will change your mind. With over 100 wineries and two recognized American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) — Sonoita/Elgin and the Willcox Bench — Arizona produces world-class wines that have earned international recognition. The Verde Valley Wine Trail alone draws thousands of visitors each year to the charming towns of Cottonwood, Jerome, and Cornville.
The Verde Valley Wine Trail
The Verde Valley is Arizona's Napa — a corridor of tasting rooms, vineyards, and restaurants stretching from Cottonwood to Cornville to Jerome. At the center of it all is one of the most fascinating figures in American wine: Maynard James Keenan, frontman of Tool and Puscifer, who has built a wine empire in this unlikely corner of the desert.
Caduceus Cellars (4.6 stars, 981 reviews) in historic Jerome is Keenan's underground winery, crafting Italian-style wines in a setting as dramatic as his music. Down the hill in Cottonwood, Merkin Vineyards (4.5 stars, 1,446 reviews) offers a more casual tasting experience with great food pairings, while Merkin Vineyards Old Town (4.5 stars) provides the original tasting room experience. The crown jewel is Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria (4.0 stars, 821 reviews), a flagship hilltop venue featuring a full-service restaurant, winery, and gelateria accessible by shuttle. For something more intimate, Four 8 Wineworks (5.0 stars) features Southwestern-style fried chicken paired with Arizona wines from Keenan's personal recipe book. And in Scottsdale, Merkin Vineyards Scottsdale (4.7 stars, 382 reviews) brings the award-winning wines to the Valley.
Beyond the Keenan empire, the Verde Valley is packed with exceptional wineries. Page Springs Cellars (4.2 stars, 686 reviews) is a pioneering Arizona winery producing Rhône-style wines from estate vineyards with a beautiful tasting room overlooking Oak Creek. Oak Creek Vineyards & Winery (4.7 stars, 531 reviews) is a family-owned gem known for award-winning wines and scenic vineyard views. Alcantara Vineyards (4.4 stars, 477 reviews) brings a Tuscan-inspired experience with estate-grown wines and a full-service restaurant. Arizona Stronghold Vineyards (4.7 stars, 267 reviews) features bold Arizona wines in Old Town Cottonwood, and Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery (4.4 stars, 319 reviews) pairs wine tastings with gourmet food in a relaxed Page Springs Road setting.
Don't miss Pillsbury Wine Company (4.6 stars, 130 reviews), Sam Pillsbury's acclaimed winery in Old Town Cottonwood, and the Southwest Wine Center (4.9 stars, 42 reviews) in Clarkdale, an educational winery at Yavapai College where you can learn about Arizona winemaking while sampling student-crafted wines.
Sonoita & Elgin Wine Country
Southern Arizona's high-elevation wine country produces some of the state's most acclaimed bottles. Callaghan Vineyards (4.7 stars, 111 reviews) in Elgin is Arizona wine royalty — a pioneering winery producing world-class wines that were famously featured in the movie Sideways. Dos Cabezas WineWorks (4.8 stars, 208 reviews) in Sonoita crafts acclaimed Spanish and Rhône-style wines from high-elevation vineyards, while Sonoita Vineyards (4.6 stars, 148 reviews) holds the distinction of being Arizona's first commercial winery, established in 1983. Flying Leap Vineyards (4.3 stars, 230 reviews) in Elgin doubles as a winery and distillery with beautiful mountain views.
Scottsdale Tasting Rooms
You don't have to leave the Valley to enjoy Arizona wine. Carlson Creek Vineyard (4.8 stars, 150 reviews) offers tastings and events in a beautiful desert setting, and LDV Winery (4.5 stars, 147 reviews) in Old Town Scottsdale features wines from their Willcox vineyards in an elegant tasting room.
| Winery | City | Rating | Reviews | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four 8 Wineworks | Cottonwood | 5.0 | 10 | MJ Keenan's fried chicken + wine |
| Southwest Wine Center | Clarkdale | 4.9 | 42 | Educational winery at Yavapai College |
| Carlson Creek Vineyard | Scottsdale | 4.8 | 150 | Desert setting tasting room |
| Dos Cabezas WineWorks | Sonoita | 4.8 | 208 | Spanish & Rhône-style wines |
| Callaghan Vineyards | Elgin | 4.7 | 111 | Featured in Sideways |
| Oak Creek Vineyards | Cornville | 4.7 | 531 | Verde Valley Wine Trail |
| Merkin Vineyards Scottsdale | Scottsdale | 4.7 | 382 | Keenan wines in the Valley |
| Caduceus Cellars | Jerome | 4.6 | 981 | Underground Jerome winery |
| Merkin Vineyards | Cottonwood | 4.5 | 1,446 | Casual tasting + food |
Distilleries
Arizona's craft distillery scene is booming, with small-batch producers turning desert ingredients into exceptional spirits. From mesquite-smoked whiskey to agave spirits made from Arizona-grown Blue Weber, the state's distillers are crafting drinks that could only come from the Sonoran Desert.
Whiskey Del Bac (4.9 stars, 147 reviews) in Tucson is the crown jewel of Arizona distilling, producing a truly unique mesquite-smoked single malt whiskey that has earned international acclaim. There is simply nothing else like it in the world — the mesquite smoke imparts a flavor profile that is distinctly Sonoran.
In Scottsdale, three standout distilleries offer very different experiences. Wild Hare Distillery (5.0 stars, 72 reviews) is home to DROVE Spirits, producing award-winning 100% Blue Weber Agave spirits alongside small-batch whiskeys, vodkas, and gin. One Handsome Bastard Distillery (4.9 stars, 140 reviews) is Old Town Scottsdale's first micro-distillery, crafting spirits on-site with a cocktail lounge for sampling. Blue Clover Distillery (4.4 stars, 116 reviews) takes a farm-to-bottle approach with fresh ingredients.
Arizona Distilling Company (4.7 stars, 231 reviews) in Tempe has won multiple awards for their Desert Durum Wheat Whiskey, Copper City Bourbon, and Humphrey's Vodka. In Phoenix, Adventurous Stills (4.9 stars, 161 reviews) and Outlaw Distillery (4.9 stars, 161 reviews) both offer tours and cocktail lounges.
For a road trip-worthy experience, Desert Diamond Distillery (4.9 stars, 177 reviews) on Route 66 in Kingman crafts rum, vodka, and whiskey with tours and tastings. In Carefree, Carefree Spirits Distillery (5.0 stars, 63 reviews) produces family-made premium spirits including Chakra Vodkas and Carefree Bourbon. Up in Prescott, Granite Mountain Distillery (4.7 stars) brings local character to craft whiskey, and in Sedona, Redwall Craft Distillery (4.5 stars, 82 reviews) produces ultra-premium bourbon, vodka, and gin. SanTan Spirits (4.4 stars) in Chandler reimagines craft spirits with 21st century flavors.
| Distillery | City | Rating | Reviews | Signature Spirit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Hare Distillery | Scottsdale | 5.0 | 72 | Blue Weber Agave spirits |
| Carefree Spirits | Carefree | 5.0 | 63 | Chakra Vodkas, Carefree Bourbon |
| One Handsome Bastard | Scottsdale | 4.9 | 140 | On-site micro-distillery |
| Whiskey Del Bac | Tucson | 4.9 | 147 | Mesquite-smoked single malt |
| Desert Diamond | Kingman | 4.9 | 177 | Route 66 rum & whiskey |
| Adventurous Stills | Phoenix | 4.9 | 161 | Gin, vodka, rum, whiskey |
| Arizona Distilling Co. | Tempe | 4.7 | 231 | Desert Durum Wheat Whiskey |
Cideries
Arizona's craft cider scene is small but mighty, with four cideries producing exceptional hard ciders that rival anything you'll find in the Pacific Northwest.
Cider Corps (4.8 stars, 886 reviews) in downtown Mesa is Arizona's first and largest craft cidery. Veteran-owned and family-operated, they produce a wide variety of smooth, balanced ciders that have put Arizona on the national cider map. In Phoenix, Six Byrd Cider Co (4.9 stars, 164 reviews) operates a fantastic tasting room in the Arcadia neighborhood with TVs and board games — perfect for a relaxed afternoon of cider sampling.
Down in Tucson, Bawker Bawker Cider House (4.6 stars, 202 reviews) is the city's first and only cidery, located on Historic 4th Avenue with 32 taps of locally crafted cider plus fresh hot donuts — yes, cider and donuts. Up in Payson, Witch Creek Tasting House (5.0 stars, 64 reviews) features local craft hard cider made on site along with great food and smoothies.
Meaderies
Arizona has quietly become one of the best states in the country for mead — honey wine — with six meaderies producing everything from traditional dry meads to creative fruit-infused varieties.
Superstition Meadery (4.8 stars, 740 reviews) in Prescott is the undisputed king of Arizona mead, producing award-winning meads and hard ciders that have earned national recognition. Their releases are highly sought after by mead enthusiasts across the country.
Drinking Horn Meadery (4.9 stars, 429 reviews) on historic Route 66 in Flagstaff embodies the "live simply, drink simply" philosophy with quality Arizona mead in a welcoming atmosphere. In Cave Creek, The Meading Room (4.9 stars, 197 reviews) operates as a little farm in a little town with a lot of good drinks.
The Valley offers two more excellent options: Scale & Feather Meadery (5.0 stars, 204 reviews) in Avondale features a medieval tavern theme that makes every visit an experience, while Arizona Mead Company (4.9 stars, 98 reviews) in Chandler offers unique Arizona honey wines with a tasting room open on weekends. In Carefree, Celestial Artisan Meadery (5.0 stars) is the Valley's newest destination for artisan honey wine.
Sports Bars
Every great craft beverage scene needs great places to watch the game, and Arizona delivers with sports bars that go far beyond wings and flat screens. Whether you're cheering for the Suns, Cardinals, Coyotes, or Diamondbacks, these spots combine great drinks with an electric game-day atmosphere.
Top-Rated Sports Bars
Tom's Watch Bar (4.7 stars, 709 reviews) in downtown Phoenix is the ultimate sports viewing destination with giant screens and 360-degree viewing. Rula Bula Irish Pub (4.6 stars, 2,053 reviews) in downtown Tempe brings authentic Irish pub charm with great beers and screens for soccer and beyond.
In Scottsdale, K O'Donnell's Sports Bar & Grill (4.5 stars, 1,975 reviews) is the premier destination with 50+ TVs and upscale pub food, while Coach House (4.5 stars, 1,089 reviews) has been serving the community since 1959. Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers (4.3 stars, 3,490 reviews) has become an Arizona institution with multiple locations featuring 40+ beers on tap and gourmet burgers.
Game Day Destinations
For Cardinals and Coyotes fans, Yard House - Westgate (4.5 stars, 6,499 reviews) at the Westgate Entertainment District features 100+ beers on tap and is the perfect pre/post-game spot. McFadden's Restaurant & Saloon - Westgate (3.7 stars, 1,557 reviews) is right next door for an Irish-American game day experience.
For Sun Devils fans, Vine Tavern & Eatery (4.2 stars, 1,030 reviews) on Mill Avenue and Gentle Ben's Brewing Company (4.3 stars, 1,370 reviews) near U of A are college sports institutions. Basketball fans should make a pilgrimage to Majerle's Sports Grill (4.2 stars, 1,578 reviews), owned by former Phoenix Suns legend Dan Majerle himself.
The Zipps Sports Grill chain (4.1 stars) has 20+ locations across the Valley, making it Arizona's most accessible sports bar with famous wings and wall-to-wall TVs at every location.
Quick Reference Guide {#quick-reference}
| Category | Count | Top Rated | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Craft Breweries | 22 | 8-Bit Aleworks (4.9) | Innovative Arizona-inspired beers |
| Wineries | 20 | Four 8 Wineworks (5.0) | Verde Valley Wine Trail tastings |
| Distilleries | 12 | Wild Hare Distillery (5.0) | Unique desert-inspired spirits |
| Cideries | 4 | Witch Creek Tasting House (5.0) | Refreshing craft hard ciders |
| Meaderies | 6 | Scale & Feather (5.0) | Honey wine in themed settings |
| Sports Bars | 36 | Tom's Watch Bar (4.7) | Game day atmosphere + craft beer |
Planning Your Arizona Craft Beverage Trip
Verde Valley Wine Trail Weekend: Start in Cottonwood with Merkin Vineyards and Arizona Stronghold, drive up to Jerome for Caduceus Cellars, then wind through Cornville hitting Page Springs Cellars, Oak Creek Vineyards, and Javelina Leap. Two days, a dozen tasting rooms, zero regrets.
Phoenix Brewery Crawl: Hit Wren House, Tombstone Brewing, and O.H.S.O. in one afternoon. Add Four Peaks in Tempe for the classic finish.
Tucson Spirits Trail: Start with Whiskey Del Bac's mesquite-smoked whiskey, walk to Barrio Brewing for award-winning beers, then end at Bawker Bawker for cider and donuts.
Flagstaff Route 66 Run: Mother Road Brewing, Lumberyard Brewing, Drinking Horn Meadery, and Historic Brewing — all within walking distance on a single afternoon.
Explore all 100 breweries, wineries, distilleries, cideries, meaderies, and sports bars in our Breweries & Spirits directory. Looking for great food to pair with your drinks? Check out our guide to Arizona's Best Restaurants or discover Hidden Gem restaurants near your favorite tasting rooms.
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Explore Arizona drinks: Browse Craft Breweries, Wineries, Distilleries, Meaderies, and Cideries on SeekZona.