Brat Haus -- Old Town Scottsdale, AZ

Mid-July 2022, we visited the Saguaro Hotel, which has been semi-recently renamed 'The Monarch'. In 2022, when we paid a visit to this treasure, there was a unique retro color scheme with curiosity shop furniture which was aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The furniture vibed quite well with the color scheme. That afternoon we spent some time taking photos around the hotel grounds.

This first photo pictured was taken outside the lobby of the hotel on the front patio. Standing over Sarah Love is the skeleton of a saguaro cactus which is highlighted with a vibrant monochromatic green silhouette.

The lobby felt much like a scene from a Wes Anderson film in which you would expect nothing less than to be greeted by an overly enthusiastic lobby boy. If you are not familiar, Kenny definitely recommends checking out The Grand Budapest Hotel.

After our photo adventure, we meandered out to the pool area. Unfortunately, we had to cut the refreshing plunge short; fortunately, we saw a spectacular lightening display that illuminated the night sky. The following morning we walked to JOJO Coffeehouse Breakfast & Brunch and then we went for an amateur photoshoot with what Sarah Love referred to as "the Wall". The image faces the east so, I suppose "the Wall" would depict the Sonoran sun setting in the west behind several saguaro cacti.

July 13, 2022

Brat Haus -- Scottsdale, AZ

When we got to the Brat Haus we ordered a pretzel right away. The color was extremely dark, similar to molasses. It almost appeared to have been made of pumpernickel. The morsel had a traditional shape, but it was also a little elongated. There was an overabundance of salt on the coffee brown crust according to Sarah Love, but per Kenny it was moderate.

Soon the tasting began. Sarah Love stated it was the "hardest soft pretzel I've ever tasted (excluding Philly pretzels)". Although it was hard to chew, the baked appetizer was surprisingly buttery and had a unique flavor and texture that made it pop. A delectable beer cheese accompanied the tough treat.

3.0/5.0

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

Saddle Mountain Brewing Company -- Goodyear, AZ

We started off our Saturday in the west side of the valley exploring one of our favorite antique malls, the Brass Armadillo. The mall sells an eclectic variety of old timey items and is a pure joy to visit and explore. We have found wares ranging from wall art, to toys and collectables, to jewelry, movies, books, clothing, and particularly hats, which are Sarah's favorites! There is something for everyone at this establishment.

The Brass Armadillo is great for spending an afternoon in a cooler, indoor environment. Especially in mid-May Arizona, when it is warming up prior to the extreme summer heat. After working up a bit of an appetite, we decided to pay a visit to a local brewery and had the experience of a lifetime.

We landed at Saddle Mountain Brewing Company, around dinner time and were seated outside near a wall covered in ivy. The ambience was pretty chill, and our server was extremely personable. He answered questions about the beer menu for us and even made a few drink recommendations to quench our thirst. Of course, we immediately scouted out the menu for a pretzel and were delighted to see there was one! It was here we had the privilege of tasting our highest rated pretzel to date!

So without further ado, let us dive into the review.

May 14, 2022

Saddle Mountain Brewing Company -- Goodyear, AZ

Never have we ever tasted anything like this since starting our pretzel tasting reviews. The delectable appetizer was caramel brown in color and seasoned with a plentiful amount of salt. It had the exact shape of a heart with two twists joining in the center. (Sarah Love related to the heart shape in her own sort of way.)

As we tasted the braided, twisted treat, we noted that the exterior had a nice crunch which was complemented by a light and fluffy interior. The pretzel was warm and savory which went well with the side of creamy beer cheese, and as far as we could tell, sweet horseradish ground mustard.

Although we are passionate about all our pretzels this particular pretzel was hands-down, one-hundred percent stellar!

5.0/5.0

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love