Craft 64 is Opened for Business! (and you really need to visit!)

You may recall, a few weeks back I wrote about my good friend James Swann's new adventure, the soon to be craft beer and wine bar "Craft 64". Well, I was lucky enough to be in the area this afternoon, so Mrs. Czar and myself paid James a visit, to see how things were going. I am so glad we did.

They had a sort of "unannounced" soft opening this past weekend. Despite virtually no press, aside from an announcement on social media, I am told it was pretty successful. Despite not being completely up and running yet (most noticeably, the 30 more taps that still need to be installed by next week (ish). (So, please note, if you do plan on going in the next few days, or week, there is a limited (albeit very good) tap selection as well as beer in cans and bottles.)

Now, before I talk at all about my impressions of Craft 64, I will admit, from the start, I was excited about the concept. A scratch kitchen, with artisanal, wood fired, hand crafted pizza, homemade breads, fine wines and most importantly (at least to me) an "All Arizona", local only tap list. That is why I was so excited when they finally opened their doors, and I got a chance to check it out. Here is what I found out....

James greeted us upon walking in (we were the first one there this day), and excitedly advised me to check the
place out, walk around, take pictures, explore whatever. Craft 64 has a small, cozy front patio, as well as a larger, equally cozy patio in the back. The day we were there, it was a beautiful, 80 something plus degree's out, the kind of weather patio seating was designed for! Despite this, we elected to sit at the bar so we could listen to James proudly boast about their kitchen, their wood burning oven, his partners, their team working for them, and especially their food. The dinning room is good size, and features quite a few tables, a large community table, and bar seating. James made sure to point out there is no high top seating. This is a restaurant, not just a bar, he is proud the food they serve here, and we soon found out why.

James went over the menu with us, consisting of about 7 different pizza's, various boards, bruschetta, and about five or so salads. Despite being a smaller menu, trying to decide what to have was still an issue, since just about everything I saw on the menu looked very appealing.

On James recommendation, we decided on the "Fico" (fig) pizza with prosciutto. This was a pizza made with fresh mozzarella (made in house, every morning by the way), buratta, parmigiano, truffle oil, and fig sauce topped with arugula. I know what you are thinking, fig, on a pizza? HELL YES! This is a very unique, savory pizza that has a sweetness to it that is just to die for.





Chef "Lachos"

While we were enjoying our own pizza, we where also enjoying watching the various items leaving the kitchen bound for the diners that had been slowly making their way in while we chatted at the bar and enjoyed our beers. From the mounds of colorful salads (one made with rainbow Kale) to the impressive, ample sized bruschetta, and out of this world pizzas, everything that left the kitchen was beyond impressive. The man behind the impressive menu at Craft 64, is Chef "Lachos", who has spent the last 17 years perfecting his craft at the famous, and renowned Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix (voted the best pizza in the country a few years back...).

OK, so say you are just out shopping in Scottsdale or something, and just want to swing in for a glass of wine and some dessert? No problem. Craft 64 has a small dessert menu as well, and by small, I mean it only has 2 items currently. However, on of those items prominently featured the words "Nuttella", so I didn't get any further then that (I am told the other item is a classic tiramisu). We got a "Nuttella Sandwich, which is more like a large calzone, stuffed with Nuttella, plantains, butter and topped roasted hazelnuts. Plenty big enough for 2 or 3 people to share (I would say, too large for just one person), this dessert is just a decadent, delicious pile of goodness.

While we were there they only had 6 beers on tap. As I previously stated, they will be installing 30 more next week (ish).
The tap list will include nothing but local craft beers all brewed here in the state of Arizona. When asked if he had any criteria as to what kind of beer he will serve there (batch, brewery size, region, style etc.) James simply stated, "if its brewed in Arizona, and its good, we will serve it". Pretty simple criteria. James told me a few of the kegs he has waiting in the wings, and, while I won't give anything away right now, I will say, its the kind of stuff people have been known to line up and wait for. You can always expect something special on tap here, as well as the local favorite "go to" beers. So there will be something for everyone, of every taste.

Its not just for beer folks either. A large portion of their menu was dedicated to wines. While it may not be the largest selection of wines you'll find (its by no means small, don't get me wrong), the ones they serve are carefully selected. If you can't decide what wine to have with your food, they even have a sommelier in house to help you out!

Fresh made bread, made in-house,
every morning.

So, come for the beer and wine, stay for the food. Like I mentioned before, its a scratch kitchen, there isn't even a freezer in the whole place (aside from the ice machine). As much of their ingredients they use are sourced locally and organic (whenever possible). Everything from honey, to sausage, to flour, all made here in Arizona. The bread and pizza crust, all made fresh daily, in house, as is, like I mentioned before, the mozzarella cheese, which, I will say, is just wonderful.

So, if you find yourself in Old Town Scottsdale, craving a beer, or wine, or some incredible pizza, check out Craft 64 (right next to the Old Tortilla Factory Restaurant on Main St.). It is, already a great place to do just that.

To view the entire photo album from my visit there, click here.....

Craft 64 is located on

6922 E Main St,
Scottsdale, AZ
480-297-6572

Craft 64's Website
Craft 64's Facebook Page

Arizona Beer Week! Strong Beer Festival, beer and brewers list.

Arizona Beer Week 2014 is fast approaching. One of the signature events of AZBW, is The Strong Beer Festival. Probably Arizona's most anticipated, best beer festival, the event has brewers from all over not just the state, but nation. Bringing with them rare gems rarely seen outside their brewery's own walls. This year, the 14th Annual Strong Beer Festival kicks off AZ Beer Week on Feb. 15th at Steele Indian School Park, at 300 E Indian School Dr, Phoenix AZ. For more info on the event, and where to get tickets, click this link here.....

Here is a list of breweries that will attending and some of the beer they will be pouring (as of this

time...I will update this list as need...)

Abbey Brewing Company

·         Monk’s Ale (Belgian Abbey Single) – ABV 5.2%

·         Monk’s Double (Belgian Abbey Dubbel) – ABV 7.4%

·         Monk’s Tripel (Belgian Abbey Tripel Reserve) – ABV 9.2%

 

Abita Brewing Co.

·         Abita SOS (Weizen Pilsner) – ABV 7%

·         Abita Andygator – ABV 8%

Bad Water Brewing

·         Bad Water Saison (Belgian farmhouse ale) – ABV 6%

·         Bad Water Western Lager (if available)

Avery Brewing Company

·         The Maharaja (Imperial IPA) – ABV 10.2%

·         White Rascal (Belgian WIT) – ABV 5.6%

 

 

Beaver St. Brewing Company

·         Belgian Trippel – ABV 10.5%

·        Bristlecone Brown (American Brown) – ABV 6.3%

·         Rio de Saison (Saison) – ABV 5.3%

Bell’s Brewery

·         Black Note (BBA Stout) – ABV 11.5%

·         Hopslam (DIPA) – ABV 10%

·         Oberon (American Wheat) – ABV 5.8%

 

Big Dog’s Brewing

·         Hounds of Winter (IPA) – ABV 7.5%

·         War Dog (Imperial IPA) – ABV 9%

·         El Perro Diablo (Belgian-style Strong Golden Ale) – ABV 9%

·         Leglifter Light (Light Ale) – ABV 4%

 

Big Sky Brewing Company

·         Ivan (Imperial Stout) ABV 12%

·         Big Sky IPA – ABV 6.2%

·         Bobo’s (Robust Porter) – ABV 6.2%

 

Borderlands Brewing Company

·         TBD

 

Breckenridge Brewer

·         471 IPA (Double IPA) – ABV 9.2%

·         Barleywine – ABV 10%

 

Cartel Brewing Company

·         F.Y.I.T.M (Imperial IPA) – ABV 9%

·         Desert Pale Ale (American Pale Ale) – ABV 5.6%

·         Christmas Ale (Porter) – ABV 6.7%

·         Coffee Brown (Nut Brown) – ABV 6%

 

Desert Eagle Brewing Company

·         Imperial Adler (Imperial Oatmeal) – ABV 12.6%

·         Route 66 (IPA) – ABV 7.5%

·         Black Sugar (Rum and Oak-aged Imperial Stout) – ABV 9%

 

Dragoon Brewing Company

·         Dragoon IPA (American IPA) – ABV 7.3%

·         Biere del Bac (Belgian Quad) – ABV 10.6%

 

Epic Brewing

·         Brainless IPA (Belgian-style IPA) – ABV 6.4%

·         Brainless Raspberries (Belgian-style with fruit) – ABV 10%

 

Four Peaks Brewing Company

• BARREL AGED OFFERINGS
• Sirius Black - 9%

• 2010 Bourbon Barrel Aged Hopsquatch - 11.5% Bourbon Barrel Aged Kilt Lifter - 6% Bourbon Barrel Aged Bonehead Red - 8% Bourbon Barrel Aged Ryewine - 11% Tequila Barrel Aged Raj IPA - 7% Wine Barrel Aged Cherry Baltic Porter - 7.7%

SPECIALTY/RARE BEERS

• Double Knot - 9%
• 2012 Hopsquatch - 11.5%
• Diablo Rojo - 9.2%
• Weizenbock Collaboration - 7.5%
• 2011 Winter Wobbler (Ryewine) - 9.2%
• 2012 Winter Wobbler (Black IPA) - 7%
• Odelay - 8.1%

CORE BEERS

• Kilt Lifter - 6%
• Sunbru - 5.1%
• Hop Knot - 6.7%
• Raj IPA - 6.9%
• 8th Street Pale Ale - 4.7%

Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

·         Two strong ales (names TBD)

 

 

 

Gordon Biersch

·         Winterbock – ABV 8%

·         Blonde Bock (golden lager) – ABV 7.2%

·         Hefeweizen -  ABV 5.2%

·         Marzen (Oktoberfest-style auburn lager) – ABV 5.7%

 

Grand Canyon Brewing Company

·         TBD

 

Great Divide Brewing Company

·         Espresso Oak-Aged Yeti (Imperial Stout) – ABV 9.5%

·         Orabelle (Belgian-style Tripel) – ABV 8.3%

·         Hercules Double IPA – ABV 10%

·         Peach Grand Cru (Grand Cru) – ABV 12.2%

 

Huss Brewing Company

·         Snowbird Imperial Oatmeal Stout Destihl Collaboration Beer

·         That’ll Do IPA – ABV 7%

·         Rice Pudding Porter – ABV 5%

 

Lagunitas Brewing Company

·         Hairy Eyeball (Dangerous) – ABV 9.4%

Lost Coast Brewing Company

·         Winterbraun (Imperial Brown) – ABV 8%

·         Double Trouble (Double IPA) – ABV 8.4%

Lumberyard Brewing Co.

·         Highwater (Imperial IPA) – ABV 9.5%

·         Big Rapid Red (Imperial Red) – ABV 9.3%

·         Knotty Pine Pale Ale (American Pale Ale) – ABV 5.4%

Marble Brewery

·         Double White  - ABV 7%

·         Imperial Red – ABV 9%

·         Double IPA – ABV 8%

·         Imperial Stout – ABV 11%

 

Mother Road Brewing Company

·         Alternator – ABV 6.5%

·         2^nd Anniversary – ABV 8.4%

·         Lost Highway - ABV 8%

·         Gold Road – ABV 4.3%

 

North American Breweries

·         Magic Hat (Pale Ale) – ABV 5.1%

·         Magic Hat Dream Machine (Lager) – ABV 5.7%

 

 

Oak Creek Brewing Company

·         Cherry Chocolate Porter (Porter) – ABV 6.5%

·         Olde Knicker Kicker (Scotch Ale) – ABV 11%

OHSO Nano Brewery

·         Barley Wine

·         Imperial IPA

·         Strong Belgian Park

·         Stout

Old World Brewery

·         Dark Knight Porter (Robust Porter) – ABV 6.8%

·         Four Leaf Irish Red – ABV 5.5%

·         Arizona Honey Wheat (American Wheat) – ABV 5.2%

·         Highlander Scotch Ale – ABV 8%

Oskar Blues Brewery

·         Dale’s Pale Ale – ABV 6.5%

·         Mama’s Little Pils (Pilsner) – ABV 5.3%

·         Old Chub Scotch Ale – ABV 8%

·         G’Knight Imperial Red IPA – ABV 8.7%

 

Papago Brewing Co.

      ·         Breckenridge Collaboration – Mango Chile IPA

·         Orange Blossom Mandarin Orange Vanilla Wheat Beer

·         Lil Joe Coconut Coffee Stout

 

Phoenix Ale Brewery

·         Keeper (Biere de Garde) – ABV 6.3%

·         Camelback IPA – ABV 6.1%

·         Watermelon Ale (Flavored Wheat) – ABV 4.8%

·         Ironwood Porter (Imperial Porter)

 

Prescott Brewing Company

·         Raven Maniac Stout (Imperial Stout) – ABV 9.5%

·         Ponderosa IPA (American IPA) – ABV 7%

·         Liquid Amber (Amber) – ABV 5%

·         Achocolypse (Chocolate-Vanilla Porter) – ABV 6%

Redstone Meadery

·         Nectar of the Hops – ABV 8%

·         Black Raspberry – ABV 8%

 

SanTan Brewing Company

·         TBD

 

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

      ·         2014 Bigfoot (Barleywine) – ABV 9.6%

·         Narwhal (Imperial Stout) – ABV 10.2%

·         Tuthless Rye (IPA) – ABV 6.6%

Sun Up Brewing Co.

·         White Russian Imperial Coffee Stout – ABV 9.2%

·         Sun Up Barleywine – ABV 9.5%

·         Sun Up Double Bock – ABV 7.5%

THAT Brewery

·         Imperial Doppelsticke (Alt Bier) - ABV 10%

·         Road Rash IPA (American IPA) – ABV 7%

·         Chai Stout (Dry Stout) – ABV 5.2%

·         Arizona Trail Ale (English Pale) – ABV 6%

 

The Bruery

·         Sour in the Rye (American Style Sour) – ABV 7.6%

·         Humulus Lager (India Pale Lager) – ABV 7.2%

·         Bois (Old Ale aged in Bourbon barrel) – ABV 15%

·         Melange #3 (Strong Ale aged in Bourbon barrel) – ABV 16.8%

The Great Beer Company, Inc.

·         Hollywood Blonde Kolsch style – ABV 5.3%

 

Thunder Canyon Brewing Company

·         Old Shaftburry IPA (English IPA) – ABV 5.5%

·         Double Diablo (American Strong Ale) – ABV 7.1%

·         Black Cloud IPA (American Black Ale) – ABV 7.8%

·         Orange U Glad (Orange Wheat) – ABV 4.2%

Uncle Bear’s Brewhouse Grill

·         Holiday Hound – ABV 8.3%

·         Oak-aged Holiday Hound – ABV 8.3%

·         Stout – ABV 6.5%

·         Double IPA – ABV 8.3%

Upslope Brewing Company

·         Pale Ale – ABV 5.8%

·         Foreign Style Stout – ABV 6.9%

·         IPA – ABV 10%

Wanderlust Brewing Company

·         928 Local (Belgian-style Farmhouse) – ABV 8%

·         Shakedown Baltic Porter (Whiskey barrel-aged Baltic Porter) – ABV 10%

 

 

       There have been a few changes to this list since I uploaded it. I will work on adding the new edition, and letting you all in.

 

 

      Ok, so, as you can see, there will be just a ton of breweries, pouring a ton of amazing beers, so even the most finicky of beer snobs should be able to find a few beers that even they will enjoy. For the rest of us normal, fun folks, there will be enough there to keep us going for days, sadly, this is only one day......so, look at the list, and map your strategy, that is a lot of beer to try!!

 

 

 

I hope to see you there everyone!!!

 

Until next time

Bottoms up my friends

 

The Beer Czar