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Goodyear, Arizona is a sprawling & rapidly-growing suburb of Phoenix. It was originally founded by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to grow cotton for tire manufacturing. Those days are long gone, and the farmland is rapidly being replaced by houses. Aviation geeks should drive past the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport, which is used as a boneyard for aircraft. Goodyear is also the Spring Training home of the Cincinnati Reds & Cleveland Guardians. Since Goodyear is a newer suburban area, there’s not yet much going on as far as nightlife, but I spot more and more bars and restaurants each time I visit. Here are my favorite places for craft beer in Goodyear.
Breweries in Goodyear, Arizona
Saddle Mountain Brewing Company
Anyone else who opens a brewery in Goodyear in the future will have Jacob & Laura Hansen to thank.
Not only is Saddle Mountain Brewing Company the first craft brewery in Goodyear, but the owners are also responsible for the city allowing production breweries to open at all, as city ordinances did not allow it prior to their work to open Saddle Mountain in 2014.
The brewery is named after Saddle Mountain, which is just down I-10 near Tonopah. Both of the Hansens grew up near the mountain.
As for the general theme of Saddle Mountain Brewing, that comes from Jacob’s love of airplanes. The brewery bottles its beers as Taildragger Craft Beer, named after the PT-17 Stearman, a famed taildragger aircraft. Between the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport & nearby Luke Air Force Base, this theme also happens to tie in well with the area.
Saddle Mountain’s beers have won numerous awards, with its Clandestine Scottish Ale the standout, earning medals at the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup. I can confirm that Clandestine is an outstanding beer.
The tap selection features 12 rotating taps, with some styles available year-round. Flights are available (of course – how could an airplane-themed brewery not?).
There are also bottles available to go.
The brewpub is a large venue with well-shaded front and side patios, and 80s rock music playing (when there’s not live music).
Saddle Mountain also has a nice food menu. You’ll find usual bar standards like burgers, pizza, sandwiches, appetizers, and fish & chips, but they’re done well.
The bison burger I had was excellent, especially with the crispy onions on top.
Address: 15651 W Roosevelt St, Goodyear, AZ 85338 (map)
Website
Craft Beer Bars & Bottle Shops in Goodyear, Arizona
A couple of bars with strong craft beer selections have opened recently in Goodyear.
Valley Craft
Just across the street from Saddle Mountain Brewing Company is Valley Craft, an excellent bottle shop and beer bar.
The shop has coolers stocked with over 100 beers from more than 30 Arizona breweries. Expect this number to grow as there’s tons more room in the refrigerators! Ian, the friendly owner, helped me out with my selection. Valley Craft also sells wine and mead.
There’s also a full bar at the front, which hosts tastings.
Address: 15671 W Roosevelt St, Suite 102, Goodyear, AZ 85338 (map)
Website
Sip at the Ranch
Although most bars and restaurants in Goodyear are located in the northern part of the city near I-10, the city extends much farther south. The area along Estrella Parkway has tons of new houses, but until now, there haven’t been any real places to spend a nice evening.
Enter Sip At The Ranch. The focus is on wine rather than beer, but it offers about a dozen cans and a few taps.
It reminds me of some of the wine and beer bars in nearby Litchfield Park and Avondale, but a bit more wine-focused. They also offer cocktails, wine flights, sangria, and mead.
I enjoyed the food we had, especially the Adult Grilled Cheese.
There’s a TV for sports, plus some comfortable bar stools, along with a couple of leather sofas and small tables. Sip At The Ranch is a good date spot sorely needed in this area. It’s great to see local places in what is normally chain hell.
Address: 17650 W Elliot Rd Suite A-105, Goodyear, AZ 85338 (map)
Website
Given the city’s rapid population growth, I’m sure there will be more beer bars & breweries in Goodyear in the coming years.
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If you’ve spotted any other great places for beer in Goodyear, let me know in the comments!
Do you love craft beer? Check out more of my recommendations for the best craft beer around the world!
Here are some great Phoenix tours & other things to see & do in Goodyear.
If you’re looking for a place to crash after drinking beer in Goodyear, check out these Goodyear hotels.
Thanks for the comments about the only brewery in my hometown of Goodyear. I like malty beers that aren’t overly hoppy, so Clandestine is a favorite of mine. The food and service at Saddle Mountain are consistently good. Goodyear is expected to grow to something like 140,000 residents within the next decade so hopefully more independent breweries will open up here in the coming years.