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

The Nook at Lama Dog -- Santa Barbara, CA

We decided it was time for a get away and took a trip out of town to Santa Barbara, CA. No one can resist a relaxing escape at some point in this topsy-turvy world. I'm sure you all have felt that way before.

As we drove up the California State Route 1, aka Highway 1, the scenic views took our breath away. We cracked the window for a while to savor the sweet, salty ocean air. It was brisk and refreshing to the senses. 

When we arrived at our hotel, we were delighted to find a large sized room where we had the pleasure of unwinding during our four day stay. There was even a mini-fridge to keep our beverages and snacks chilled!

We walked down the main strip people watching again, and found ourselves at Stearns Wharf; a lengthy pier extending out into the harbor. The chilly breeze buffeted the visitors crowding the wharf. We enjoyed our time there but we were excited to explore the local pretzel scene so we set off in search of a brewery.

Our first stop was the Lama Dog Tap Room + Bottle Shop. Upon entry we sat at the high counter top bar with high top chairs on either side. The food venue, The Nook, was off to the corner and was its own business. While Kenny went to purchase our first vacation pretzel, Sarah took time to study the physical paper map of Santa Barbara. Kenny quietly laughed at her in a loving way when he got back. He got a kick out of the fact "she was studying the map as Lewis and Clark did while exploring the Louisiana Purchase."
- Kenny Muzzey

March 17th, 2022

The Nook at the Lama Dog -- Santa Barbara, CA

The pretzel was hefty in size with a light amount of salt sprinkled across the top. The mahogany colored baked dough was unfortunately a huge disappointment. The texture was very, very dry making the pretzel extremely hard to eat and especially enjoy.

The accoutrements included ground stone mustard and queso-like beer cheese.

Final Rating: 1.75/5.00

This review is the lowest ranked post we hopefully ever write which means our pretzel tasting experience in Santa Barbara could only get better.

Sincerely,
Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love