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

Hundred Mile Brewing Company -- Tempe, AZ

Hundred Mile Brewing Company - Tempe, AZ The pretzel’s history is obscure but we did our research and have compiled some of the information we have found for you. The German word ‘Brezel’ translates to pretzel, our delicious subject in question. The treat is originally thought to come from Germany, though there is an argument that pretzels first started elsewhere. Like many things of old, the pretzel has been tied to religious roots. Church monks may have first started baking these treats in Italy in the early 7th century. The pretzels could have been used as a reward for astute students who learned their prayers. They were also a perfect alternative meal during Lent. And the most interesting link to a religious idea is that the three holes in the pretzel symbolize the Holy Trinity. Regardless of where the pretzel first was born, the Germans were the ones responsible for bringing it to America. Around 1710, German immigrants brought the pretzels to Pennsylvania at the delight of the colonists. Lititz, Pennsylvania was where the first commercial pretzel bakery was founded in the 1860s. 80% of pretzels produced in the United States still come from PA today! Pretzels are so well loved the Pennsylvania governor instituted a National Pretzel Day every April 26th, as of 2003. The last pretzel tidbit we’d like to share is that Sarah Love adores the Switzerland custom of ‘tying the knot’ using a pretzel during wedding ceremonies (similar to that of a wishbone) to seal the bond of matrimony. Wouldn’t a pretzel tasting be fun at a wedding, too!?!
09/17/2023 Hundred Mile Brewing Company.

As Sarah Love and Kenny sat at the bar, we were excited to taste the pretzel we ordered. It came out glistening like it was dipped in butter. Which in fact it must have been since our taste buds registered it as too buttery. The three long skinny sticks were perfectly brown and had just enough salt to taste. Biting into the snack we were pleasantly surprised to find a moist texture that didn't disappoint. The accoutrements, beer cheese and whole grain mustard, were a nice addition. The most notable part was the side of sliced pickles - Kenny's favorite! 3.0/5.0 Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love