Floridian in Flagstaff – Arizona Travels Part 1
Recently, Florida Beer News was invited to visit the city of Flagstaff, Arizona to learn more about the city’s vibrant beer scene and everything there is to do in Northern Arizona. Our editor, Mark, had been through Arizona previously, stopping through Flagstaff while following historic Route 66 through the Grand Canyon State. A stopover was certainly not enough time to see and do everything in the city that was named Arizona’s Craft Beer City.
Flying into Arizona – Flagstaff Airport
Landing in Flagstaff as a Floridian, my first thought was that this was the desert – how cold could the winter be? (Learn from me. That was a naïve thought – when I got off the plane, it was about 15 degrees F outside.) I learned the answer to that question firsthand, as the airport does not have any boarding gates, only stairs. After traipsing into the terminal wearing shorts and a shirt, I had warm thoughts of strong beers to ward off the cold. I met my bags at the single baggage claim and was off to explore.
Flagstaff’s airport was a great flight on a small plane. From Tampa, the flight was a transfer at Dallas-Fort Worth and a single leg that kept me from transferring in Phoenix on the way out. The airport is cozy, friendly, and welcoming just a short drive from the city.
Starting off in Flagstaff
The best place in Flagstaff to start seeking anything from history to beer and beyond is the Visitor’s Center. The old train station hosts the Flagstaff Visitors Center and has a plethora of curated information about what to do in the City of Seven Wonders.
The city itself is set directly on Historic Route 66 with portions of the highway moving through the town and the road’s influence ever-present in murals, cars, and signs. The road and its influence are ever-present around Flagstaff like the regal and inspiring mountains in the distance.
Flagstaff is regarded as “Arizona’s Leading Craft Beer City,” and is home to eight craft breweries, each with their own flair and niche within the greater beer scene.
Mother Road Brewing Company: Mother Road Brewing Company is where modern and experimental brewing meets the sleek aesthetic of the golden age of Route 66. Mother Road, named for John Steinbeck’s description of Route 66, pays tribute to its namesake road with its culture and appearance, but the beer is very much anchored in the modern spirit of brewing and experimenting. Beer like Tower Station IPA, Limited Visibility Hazy IPA, Sunday Drive American Lager, illustrate the look, feel, and taste of Mother Road Brewing.
(BeerWise Tip: Each year, Mother Road Brewing collaborates with the Lowell Observatory staff on an exclusive beer for the I Heart Pluto Festival, a local festival celebrating the dwarf planet’s discovery by the Flagstaff observatory. The 2023 beer is Still Air, a passionfruit wheat beer.)
Lumberyard Brewing Company: With the restaurant attached to a production brewery, this warm and inviting historic space captures the imagination and welcomes it in for a few beers. When the City of Flagstaff called for proposals about what to do with their historic but aging lumberyard, the Hanseth Family of Beaver Street Brewery proposed turning the space into a production brewery. The city accepted and the Hanseths got to work. Now the space is home to cans and drafts of Railhead Red Ale and Flagstaff IPA. The reinvigorated historic lumberyard can continue thanks to the dedication of the Hanseth Family.
(BeerWise Tip: There’s a reason why Railhead Red is Lumberyard’s most popular beer, try one with a hearty burger or on its own.)
Beaver Street Brewery: Flagstaff’s first brewpub, this space opened in 1994 and has been serving pints of Conductor IPA and Railhead Red Ale. Beaver Street is also owned by the Hanseth Family and they pour their own beer in addition to some Lumberyard Brewing beers. The inside space accented by glass walls into the brewery and wood-fired pizza oven, while the outside space is colorfully decorated with a mural of beer.
(BeerWise Tip: Beaver Street Brewery crosses over some of their beer and Lumberyard’s beers. If you missed the chance to grab Lumberyard beer or a mixed pack, this is your second chance!)
Flagstaff Brewing Company: One of Flagstaff’s first breweries, Flagstaff Brewing Company is situated off of one of the main thoroughfares in downtown Flagstaff. The brewpub provides a casual and friendly atmosphere, a hearty brewpub menu, and an opportunity to enjoy a pint of beer or (across their patio) a cup of coffee from Flagstaff Coffee Company.
(BeerWise Tip: Flagstaff Brewing Company was the first brewery to open its doors in Flagstaff and many other local brewers say they would not have made it without the help of the FlagBrew team.)
Keep an eye out for the next phase of the Floridian in Flagstaff series of articles – including information about a one-of-a-kind nighttime opportunity in this northern Arizona city.