Tombstone Brewing Company -- Arcadia, Phoenix, AZ

 05/11/2024 Sarah Love and Kenny still had some time to kill prior to the opening of the PHX Vintage Market at the Brewery which had unexpectedly been pushed back from the 12 o'clock hour to 4:00 PM. As they sat at the bar in the PHX Beer Co. the idea had been hatched to find another nearby brewery and experience a second pretzel tasting. Kenny and Sarah Love set off exploring for an additional venue. A location nearby in Phoenix was the obvious choice since they were already in the vicinity. After a brief search they had decided upon the Tombstone Brewing Company in Arcadia. From the PHX Beer Co., Sarah Love and Kenny hopped in a Lyft and headed to the brewing company for their additional tasty treat. This location was tucked away near a shopping center off 40th and Thomas. While the brewery is in an area of Phoenix known as Arcadia, their first establishment originated in the famous, or infamous, Tombstone, Arizona. You may recognize the name Tombstone as being associated with the stereotypical "wild west" motif. Located in southeastern Arizona, and what was once home to US Marshall Wyatt Earp, there are a plethora of unique stories about this quaint town and his time served there. The area also hosted the well known gunfight at the O.K. Corral between noble lawmen of the southwest consisting of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, the brothers Virgil & Morgan Earp and a band of outlaw cowboys. In a nutshell, ironically the gunfight was a brief 30-second shootout over enforcing gun laws leaving three of the lawmen wounded and three cowboys dead. Now, the gunfight is an everlasting symbol of the lawlessness of the old west and a strong juxtaposition between order and chaos.

Meanwhile back in Arcadia, Kenny and Sarah Love sat down in the relaxed open spaced brewery to enjoy their second pretzel tasting of the day. The server was very positive and highly attentive which is always welcomed during any dining experience.
Tombstone Brewing Company -- Arcadia, Phoenix, AZ “Jumbo Bavarian Pretzel” Menu Description: House made beer cheese.

Upon reception of their salted, twisted treat, Sarah Love and Kenny noted the gargantuan pretzel was light brown in color and had a visual appeal that was reminiscent of Snyder's of Hanover's Braided Twists. The buttery snack glistened under the bar lights with a seemingly perfect salt ratio. The tasting went well. The pretzel had a doughy texture that paired well with the house made beer cheese, resembling a light queso with a slight hint of spice. In addition, the simplicity of the yellow mustard provided an excellent complement. 3.0/5.0 Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

PHX Beer Co. -- Phoenix, AZ

05/11/2024 Kenny and Sarah Love ventured into Phoenix on a fine, mid-morning Saturday. There were two reasons this outing occurred. Initially, we set off to visit the PHX Vintage Market at the Brewery. The event was advertised to open at noon. When we arrived a few vendors had gotten there and were setting up. We soon learned, however, it had been rescheduled to open at 4:00 PM that particular day. The second reason, of course, was to enjoy a pretzel tasting and a beer: a Sonoran White Chocolate Ale for Kenny and an IPA for Sarah Love. A cool vibe and chill atmosphere awaited us in the PHX Beer Co. The brewery was unique; it was literally an open warehouse. A couple of yard games were out for patrons. It was pretty empty since the bar just opened. The kitchen was not even in operation yet. As Kenny and Sarah Love waited patiently, a burly gentleman came in and asked the barkeep for a 'penny beer'. Highly intrigued, we learned about PubPass - a scavenger hunt of breweries sprinkled throughout AZ but mostly located in Phoenix and surrounding areas. The 2024 annual pass was $25 and guaranteed you a penny beer at 25 participating locations. There are sometimes limitations on the beer choice, depending on the brewery, but the deal is unbeatable! Kenny and Sarah Love immediately purchased these passports to begin their beer tasting mission. Not to upstage their pretzel tasting experience and efforts, though! On a side note, the Phoenix brewery location has unfortunately closed prior to this pretzel blog post. Fortunately, however, the brewery has moved spots and is now located in Tempe.
PHX Beer Co. -- Phoenix, AZ
“Pretzel Bites” Menu Description: Caraway, Arizona Gold Cheese Fondue, Iron Horse Porter Mustard.
When the kitchen did open, Kenny and Sarah Love jumped at the opportunity and embarked on the beginning of their pretzel tasting adventure. The order came out relatively quickly since we were practically the only ones in the brewery.

The bites were little nugget shapes and resembled mini-potatoes. They were light weight and colored with an amber hue. The toppings were alright. Another pinch of salt would have helped the ratio; the caraway provided an interesting flavor twist. As for the texture, the crispy outside crust surrounded the doughy inside and the juxtaposition between the two was great.

Along with the pretzel bites came two side accoutrements. First, was the thin fondue. What a delicious cheese taste it had! Kenny gave a thumb of approval for the mustard, vouching for how flavorful it was. Sarah Love claimed the mustard had a bite up front that subsided pretty quickly. The excursion that day was far from finished, but this pretzel tasting was definitely successful. 3.5/5.0 Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love