Before the lines formed at Pinetop Brewing Co.’s booth.
Earlier in February, Pinetop Brewing Company competed against 118 other breweries at the Strong Beer Festival, which showcased over 400 local and regional beers from several states including Arizona, Colorado, Montana, California and New Mexico. Pinetop Brewing Co.’s Grand Cru took home two golds for the Best in Show and Best Belgium/Trappist Beer. Grand Cru is a 7.00% ABV reddish brown beer with hints of dried cherry, dry red wine, and caramel-like malt.
This is a huge success for the brewery, owners James and Brigid Maloney, their head brewer John Francisco, and Pinetop-Lakeside in the White Mountains. The goal of Pinetop Brewing Co. has always been to make extremely high-quality beer in a sophisticated pub on White Mountain Blvd. They carry beers that no one else in the White Mountains serves including their exclusively Belgium style beers and other fine, bottled beers. As they say, “Small town, big beer!”
From Pinetop Brewing Company’s Facebook page: Cisco just won Gold in the Belgian category and Best of Show for all categories which comprised 118 entries!
Just like other local businesses, Arizona craft brewers support their community by keeping dollars circulating in the local economy, and this is especially true in rural communities. Local breweries create jobs for people who work in the breweries and for services and products that they source locally, such as graphic designers and accountants. Who knew that rural economic development could taste so good? You can learn more about Arizona breweries and find breweries near you from the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild and the Local First Arizona business directory.
