The Tender: Marcus Johnson The Bar: Four Peaks Brewing Company (1340 E. 8th St., 480-303-9967) and Four Peaks Grill & Tap (15730 N. Pima Road, 480-991-1795) The Pedigree: Johnson had several Joe jobs (mostly work for security agencies and retail) before landing a gig at Four Peaks nearly seven years…
Yesterday we met Billy Bessinger, bar manager at RnR in Scottsdale. Today he shares with us the recipe for the Berry Hot Mess, a gin-based cocktail made with blackberries and jalapeno for a sweet, zesty experience. “You can taste the heat, but it’s not a spicy drink,” Bessinger says. “It’s good…
Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne is down to party so long as binge-drinking isn’t involved. Along with 16 more attorney generals from around the country, Mr. Horne made this message clear today in a letter issued by the State of Maryland’s Office of the Attorney General to Pabst Brewing asking…
Billy Bessinger is probably more educated than you. An Arizona State graduate, he has a bachelor’s in real estate as well as an M.B.A. — but after trying his hand at the corporate world, he realized bartending was still the best gig in town — luckily for us. Now a…
A rising tide lifts all boats — at least in the craft beer industry. That refreshing business ethos was the main gist of a lecture given by Mitch Steele, head brewer of Stone Brewing Co., as he spoke Friday to students in Arizona State’s “Cultural and Chemical History of Beer”…
The Spot: Mellow Mushroom, 740 S. Mill Ave., 480-967-6355www.mellowmushroom.com The Hours: Monday-Friday 3-6 p.m. and every day 10 p.m.-close The Details: Foodwise, you’ve got a quirky mix of pizza, calzones and hoagies. There’s also a killer beer menu, with more than 40 brews on draft and an equally buxom bottle…
Pardon us for butchering a Christmas carol in April, but we get as excited as a little kid on Christmas morning at the thought of a good happy hour. And we’ve done our homework to find you the very happiest. Ambience, food, drink and good deals are all important components…
Yesterday we met Christine Wisniewski, bartender and part owner at Mill Avenue’s Caffe Boa. Today she shares with us the recipe for the Love Potion — a name that’s quite literal. “The grapes, the fizziness, the elderflower and the floral notes are all part of the aphrodisiac family,” Wisniewski says…
Get your Maharaja, The Czar, and White Rascal while you can. Colorado-based Avery Brewing Co. announced Thursday it plans to withdraw from eight states and seven other partial-state markets beginning in April…
Food and art are in many ways related. Both require imagination, a deft hand, and a willingness to step outside the norm. Though Christine Wisniewski claims she hasn’t made much use of her degree in painting and drawing — “It was either own a restaurant or be a starving artist,”…
Hey, man. Have you ever looked at your hands? I mean, really looked at them? They’re amazing! They’re so…touchy. Whoa. Anyway, today medicinal marijuana became legal in Arizona. Seriously! We were all like, “Legalize it, man!” and they were all, “Okay!” Anyone with the proper doctor-approved documentation can possess up…
The Spot: Thai Rama, 927 E. University Dr., Tempe, 480-967-6013 www.thai-rama-az.com The Hours: Monday-Friday, 4:30-6:30 p.m. The Details: Thai Rama offers up six Thai appetizers priced under $5 and a variety of Asian beers for $2.75. Their Sake Bomber is priced at $6 and is basically two drinks, a 12…
At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment is the beer argument. In the spirit of all great beer-related discussions, we present…
Yesterday we met Ryan Soranson, bartender at El Chorro Lodge. Today he shares with us the recipe for the El Chorro Sunrise, the lodge’s premier cocktail. Soranson says it’s the most popular drink on the menu, and it’s especially perfect for this time of year: the sweet, subtle caress of…
Ryan Soranson was pouring drinks before he could even legally drink them — Cartwright’s in Cave Creek called him up to the big leagues behind the bar at the tender age of 20. The young ‘un quickly proved that age is just a number, however, moving into a management position…
The Spot: The Compound Grill, 7000 E Mayo Blvd. North Scottsdale, 480-585-5483 www.thecompoundgrill.com The Hours: Monday- Friday 3-6 pm. The Details: The menu is a quirky mix of Southwestern, Asian, and Mediterranean dishes given funky names to riff on the restaurants other function as a music venue. During Happy Hour they…
Here at Chow Bella, we like our beer in cans. Aesthetics aside, cans are the ultimate in beer technology, providing better protection against oxygen and light (mortal enemies of fresh beer) than bottles while being easier to ship and more acceptable at the beach. Plus, they’re better for shotgunning and…
The Spot: Crave Cafe and Lounge, 505 S. Mill Ave, Tempe, 480-784-6700 http://www.cravetempe.com The Hours: Happy Hour prices are available 7 days a week, 4-9 pm. Yes, happy hour lasts 5 hours a day at Crave. The Details: Crave has a lot of items on the menu printed in red. There are…
Yesterday we met Bryan Yngstrom, the man serving drinks at The House at Secret Garden. Today he shares with us the recipe for the Mango Serrano Mojito, which is apparently not-so-secret — though he did have some problems crafting it. “At first we tried muddling the Serrano right along with…
At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment is the beer argument. In the spirit of all great beer-related discussions, we present…
Some people seek out greatness; other find it thrust upon them. Bryan Yngstrom was thrown head first into bartending. While drinking during a vacation in New Orleans, some barkeeps he’d gotten to know decided to go out for a night on the town, leaving the untested Yngstrom in charge of…
The Spot: Arcadia Tavern, 4801 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix, 602-840-3950 http://www.arcadiatavern.com/ The Hours: Monday through Friday, 4-7 pm in the bar and on the patio only. The Details: The Arcadia Tavern is a neighborhood gathering place where people seem to know each other. Think Cheers if Cheers had hi-def…
