sour – Craft Beer Explorer

At the time of it’s Grand Opening in early September 2013, Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Gilbert, AZ was the city’s first microbrewery. I have followed these guys on Facebook from the time they were home brewing in their garages, through the early stages of planning their dream business, until now. I do not personally know them but judging by their Facebook posts and videos that they recorded during the building process of their brewery, they seem like really down to earth, hardworking guys who have a deep passion for craft beer. It is clear that they are highly inspired by the great, ever changing landscapes of Arizona, hence their name, Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company.

My wife and I arrived on a late Saturday morning, shortly after opening hours. We were immediately greeted by a cheerful and heavily bearded bartender and a chipper waitress. The environment was a welcoming semi-rustic, outdoorsy theme and I immediately felt at home. The waitress came over and began describing the beers to us. The final beer on the menu was the Bear Wallow Berliner Weisse. I hadn’t ever had a Berliner Weisse, which she described as being a sour beer. It intrigued me, so I ordered a full pint and I’m sure glad I did.

Upon receiving this ale, I was enamored with its bright yellow color, which seemed to glow in the naturally lit dining area. I held it up to my nose and began to waft and let the aroma infiltrate my senses. It had great citrus and wheat aroma, similar to that of a Hefeweizen, this is a wheat ale after all, however it was much more bold and that excited me.

I took a generous sip and held it in my mouth for what seemed like a blissful eternity. I experienced a rush of flavors. The sourness was at the forefront, yet not overpowering. It was pleasant, not a sickly puckering sourness. I tasted lemon and some grapefruit notes with great citrus acidity. It was complex and vibrant as I agitated the sip in my mouth, chewing and releasing a myriad of amazing flavors. It had a tart finish and I couldn’t have been happier with my choice. This ale has a very low alcohol content, clocking in at 3.2%, only proving that a beer doesn’t have to be an imperial booze bomb to be complex and delicious.

I also had a small sampler of their other beers on tap after the Bear Wallow Berliner Weisse, and they all were simply fantastic. I especially liked their Big Rye Guy Rye IPA. It was big and bold but easily drinkable with the right amount of rye spiciness. Other beers they offered were a Witbier, West Coast Style IPA, a great Pale Ale, and an Amber ale which was hoppier than most beers of its’ style.

Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. also has a somewhat small food menu, but the food choices are unique and they give you plenty of extra options to make each dish distinct. They do suggest food and beer pairings, but I didn’t pay much attention to them as I was still reeling from the excellence of the Bear Wallow Ale. My wife and I both agreed that the food was delicious. I am excited to revisit Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. to try each and every one of their beers.

Cheers and a big thank you to everyone at Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company for the hospitality, great food and amazing beers. See you soon!

Check Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. out on Facebook and give them a “LIKE” @ http://www.facebook.com/azwbc