Beer Festivities
Flagstaff is a small mountain town with lots of tasty brews. Because of this, it is fitting that these fine establishments appear at many local events. You can join Flag’s local brewers along with many of their Arizona friends at the fairgrounds for the Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival (June 2011) or the new Hullabaloo (June 2011) sponsored by the Flagstaff Bike Organization (FBO). The Hullabaloo is a primary fundraiser for FBO, replacing the previous annual Tour de Fat Festival stop for New Belgium Brewing Company. Although Flagstaff was the biggest celebration on the tour, this small town couldn’t handle the crowds it drew from all over the Southwest.
Most recently, the first annual events known as the Big Red Pour (August) and the Brewhaha (February) were held in Flag. As home to the Arizona Cardinals, the players know what their fans crave most during a game: good craft beer! The Arizona Cardinals Red & White Scrimmage signature event was sponsored by Draft Magazine, and it included Flag’s local breweries, additional Southwest breweries, Grammy award-winning musicians, and local fare. It was put on downtown in Wheeler Park, home to many of Flag’s local festivities.
Flagstaff’s first annual Brewhaha, a Semi-Formal Tasting Event, created a bright spot in the mountain’s blustery winter cold, providing an additional treat to our commuting skiers. Entertainment and food was included with each admission and the event was held at the newly constructed High Country Conference Center on Northern Arizona University’s north campus. As mentioned previously, Lumberyard took home the honor as Best of the Fest, but believe me, competition was fierce!
So whether you are passing through on your way to the Grand Canyon, the Snowbowl, Sedona, or just driving past us on I-40, Flagstaff is a great place to stop for a good beer. Be sure to stop in at McGaugh’s Smoke & Bottle on your way out of town, where you can stock up on some of these local favorite craft brews.
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