Arizona Wilderness DTPHX -- Phoenix, AZ

A Friday in late June, 2026... A lot of changes have been taking place for Kenny and Sarah Love in the weeks leading up to this tasting. Kenny and Sarah Love, now officially and formally engaged, decided to take a another big step forward and move-in with one another after being together for five years and four months. As a way to pay homage to these changes, and more, Sarah Love, Kenny, and a group of friends planned to get together to celebrate these new beginnings.

Everyone met early that evening on a hot summer night in the outdoor beer garden  at Arizona Wilderness DTPHX. There was quite a lively crowd signaling the start of the weekend as one could hear chatter, laughter, and the occasional barking dog. Kenny and Sarah Love had utilized a ride-share service and arrived right on time for the occasion. A few individuals from the party came prior and already claimed a table.

Sarah Love and Kenny thoroughly enjoy having guest reviewers during our pretzel tastings. On that note, Sarah Love had taken the time to create a pretzel review outline that covered the categories and criteria we focus on while reviewing these delicious snacks. Everyone who wanted to join in for the experience ordered their own pretzel and we dove right in. Posted below are the findings, thoughts, and opinions of the guest reviewers, as well as, Sarah Love and Kenny.

Arizona Wilderness DTPHX -- Roosevelt Row, Phoenix, AZ

06/26/2026

"The Regen Pretzel"

Menu Description: Regenerative Organic Certified pretzel made with White Sonora Wheat from Oatman Farms; served with Wilderness beer cheese and beer mustard.

$12.00

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

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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

O.H.S.O. Brewery + Distillery -- Arcadia, Phoenix, AZ

O.H.S.O Brewery - Arcadia, Phoenix, AZ

Kenny and Sarah Love had an extraordinary adventure at O.H.S.O. Brewery + Distillery. We got to brew and craft our very own Black IPA! O.H.S.O. Arcadia has intermittent guest brew sessions, allowing a party of up to six people to assist in brewing their very own craft beer. After the brewing process your original masterpiece goes on tap. The event, called "Brew with Us," is reasonably priced around $50 (again, for up to six people)! Upon arrival you also receive a $50 gift card for the brewery, which can be used at a future date of your choosing. "Brew with Us" can be as hands-on as you desire. You can assist with every aspect of the process, or you can simply sit back and watch the brewing magic happen while enjoying some food and drink. Please note that these sessions are held on weekdays during work hours and the event lasts around four hours.

Although the maximum amount of people to attend was six, it was just Kenny, Sarah Love and the brew master. Sarah Love poured in the hops as Kenny stirred the giant vat of going to be delicious beer. As part of the package you're able to name your brew group which ours was named 'The Dead Liver Society'. We also named the delicious concoction 'Outlaw Johnny Black' a shout out to the modern western movie bearing the same title.

O.H.S.O is an acronym that stands for Outrageous Homebrewers Social Outpost. The food, cocktail and craft beer selection was definitely outrageous in it's own way of being so delicious. There are six locations across the valley, making it easy to find a brewery close to you if you're in the Valley of the Sun!

 

Variety of brewing ingredients.

Sarah Love adding the hops.

The birth of our beer!

It is official!

09/07/2023

From out the kitchen came six little nuggets of pretzel. Their color was a dark golden brown and they were covered with ample - but not too much - salt. There was a light crunch as we bit into the pretzel that contained a moist fluffy inside.

The green chili white cheddar cheese sauce had a tiny kick and complemented the pretzel well.

4.25/5.00 Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

Pedal Haus Brewery -- Roosevelt Row - Phoenix, AZ

Pedal Haus Brewery - Phoenix, AZ

February 25th, 2023 was a fantastic tasting for more reasons than one. First, we really enjoyed the food. Second, and more importantly, Kenny's long time friend Dan, was visiting from Kenny's hometown. And that Saturday we invited him to be a part of this pretzel review.

We decided to take Dan to Roosevelt Row; our destination, the Pedal Haus Brewery. Taking a left off of the main street we sauntered down a small alley to the front entrance. The pleasant host sat us at a table with high top stools.

Having viewed the menu beforehand we already had every intention of tasting the pretzel. We sat down, ordered some beverages and put an order in for what turned out to be such a treat.

2/25/2023

It was just a normal pretzel shape, but there was nothing else normal about it. The beautiful, golden brown surface glistened where it was brushed with butter; the

 salt ratio was perfect. A doughy texture proved chewy, but not in a bad way.

Dan actually went as far as to say the pretzel was "perfect in every way".

The word 'exquisite' showed up singularly in the notes so we definitely deemed it in high regard.

As for the dips and spreads there were a fantastic cheese sauce, standard stone ground mustard and delicious maple butter

4.5/5.0

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

The Salted Knot at Phoestivus Festival -- Phoenix, AZ

The Salted Knot Pretzel Booth - Phoestivus Festival - Phoenix, AZ

On a Wednesday night, a little over two years ago today, Kenny and Sarah Love parked in their usual spot on Culver Street by the park. We actually met on our second date at this location to spend time together on Roosevelt Row. But we digress. That evening we were headed to the Phoestivus Festival located on 5th Street between Roosevelt & Fillmore in Downtown Phoenix.

Phoestivus is a jolly and gay time to be had. There are boat loads of vendors selling all sorts of goods and wares.  Think Farmer's Market at Christmas time. Jewelry, soap, wood working, candles, vintage goods, and... pretzels? Why, yes! Kenny and I happened to stumble upon a local pretzel bakery called the Salted Knot. Their home store is located in Mesa, however we were super excited to try out their snack at the festival.

Unfortunately, we didn't think to take a picture of the morsel but who could blame us as we feasted on the deliciousness of the doughy goodness the Salted Knot had to offer? (In all reality, we were probably eating standing up and it just did not occur to us.) Sorry, there is no snapshot for this one, here's a stand-in potato.

12/14/22

A buttery smell wafted at us as the pretzel were delivered through the window. The baked treat's color was that of a light golden brown. It was topped with a moderate to heavy amount of salt; surprisingly, it was not too salty as it was sea salt.

There was a little crunch to the outside that gave way to a delicious fluffy inside. The dough had a slightly sweet taste making for a very well balanced pretzel.

An absence of accoutrements accompanied this one.

4.0/5.0

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

O.H.S.O Brewery & Distillery -- Phoenix, AZ

O.H.S.O Brewery & Distillery is a special place for us. Long before this pretzel review, on December 12th, 2020 by a twist of fate, Kenny and Sarah met here. It was our first date, a double date to be more specific; Kenny was nervous and refused to talk to Sarah for the longest time. Sarah thought it was adorable. Our mutual friend who hooked us up was very happy with the initial meeting. Obviously, Sarah must have been too since Kenny and her are still together for the last 3.5 years!

Sarah ordered her classic, Chicken & Waffles, while Kenny enjoyed the Mac Del Mar, a seafood and mac & cheese extravaganza. The idea of pretzel tasting reviews was not even a half baked idea at that point in time. That would come sooner rather than later though. 

May 7th 2022

O.H.S.O Brewery & Distillery -- Arcadia, Phoenix, AZ

After analyzing the picture we laughed as we saw a mouth smiling back at us. The pretzel itself was a little above average. The dark brown treat was shaped like a normal pretzel would be. The texture was doughy and the outside was mildly salted. 

The complementing cheese sauce was "yummy."

3.25/5.0

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

Carly's Bistro -- Phoenix, AZ

First Friday on Roosevelt Row, Downtown Phoenix Arts District

A tidbit of information for those of you who are not local Phoenicians…

First Friday is a monthly Art Walk that occurs every, well... every first Friday of the month. It is a free, all ages event. Vendors, local artists, and food trucks line the road and side streets selling their wares. Open shops, niche restaurants and breweries, are aplenty. There are interesting performances and many prime opportunities to people watch. We actually encountered Flat Earthers there.

"I'd hold a discussion with them if they approach me." ~Kenny Muzzey

Needless to say, Sarah was extremely grateful when they did not approach Kenny, as she had no idea how that would end.

First Friday is definitely an excellent way to spend a Friday evening in the desert (especially during Spring and Fall).

P.S. Our favorite place to visit on Roosevelt Row is The Theodore (Beer + Wine Bar and Bottle Shop) for their amazing beer and mead selection. Unfortunately, they do not sell food (so there is no pretzel) but we really enjoy the vibe. However, food trucks will visit every Thursday for Trivia Night and more often than not on Fridays and Saturdays. If you wish to follow the food truck schedule check out their Facebook or Instagram.

On to our review...

March 4th, 2022

Carly's Bistro -- Phoenix, AZ

This full-sized pretzel glistened with a buttery glaze and was deep, rich, and dark brown in color. The amount of salt was light; it had a doughy texture that was just right. Honestly, as for the photo, we’re not exactly sure what Kenny was doing here. The images we had to choose from were few and far between and seemingly lacked foresight and proper presentation. This delectable treat was not done any justice by way of Kenny’s standard of photography.  (This photo critique came straight from Kenny, by the way.)


The pretzel was served with basic yellow mustard and creamy beer cheese that had a slight bite.

3.0/5.0

Sincerely,
Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

Angel's Trumpet Ale House – Phoenix, AZ

Happy belated National Pretzel Day! On April 26th, this past Friday afternoon, a spirited conversation occurred when Kenny discovered the pretzel has an official appreciation day. Everything was discussed, from the best type of pretzel, to the tastiest brands, everyone’s favorite fixings, and much more.

This is our first official pretzel review; therefore, please consider this posting our rough draft. We recognize the learning curve from this first post to where we are today and appreciate your patience with us.

There is a method to our madness...

January 30th, 2022

Angel's Trumpet Ale House – Phoenix, AZ

Unfortunately, it escaped our foresight to capture a snapshot of the baked treats… So, full disclosure, we’re going in blind. We have now realized how integral snapshots are to the rating process.  

Due to lack of photographic evidence this post may seem a little dry...  similar to the texture inside of the Angel's Trumpet Ale House’s pretzels. However, the dryness of the pretzels complemented the flaky, golden brown, croissant-like crust. The pretzel salt ratio was well balanced. These baked pretzels were shaped as medium logs about biscuit size.

"Similar to a tiny loaf of bread." ~ Kenny Muzzey

On to the accoutrements... the smooth and creamy cheese sauce had a tiny amount of spice without the heat which was served alongside the horseradish mustard.

4.0/5.0

* Let it be known we are planning on going back to this location to perform an updated review and compare and contrast the data with this post's information. As well as include visuals for point of reference.

The method to our madness? *Behind the scenes* Note taking, and recently learned, food photography. 

"Of sorts… I always tell people I am not a food photographer." ~Kenny Muzzey

Angel's Trumpet Ale House is definitely worth visiting. We do recommend it! Plus, the beer menu is wonderful!

Feel free to leave any comments, recommendations, or your own pretzel reviews below.

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love