John Holl recently headed to Phoenix to check in on the beer scene. It was the 20th anniversary of the Arizona Strong Beer Festival and the 10th anniversary of Arizona Beer Week. The beer scene has really grown in the last several years but seems to be largely self contained with most brewers staying within the borders. Of course there are a few exceptions to that, including the now Anheuser-Busch InBev owned Four Peaks Brewing Co. 

 

For the beer lovers, the beer traders, and those who like to stay on top of the buzz, perhaps there is no better known brewery in the state than Arizona Wilderness. 

 

It started off small when it was founded in 2013 but soon found its business plan and popularity supercharged when it won big in the annual Rate Beer awards. From there, its popularity and foot print grew. 

 

Holl sat down with Chase Saraiva, the head brewer, who joined the brewery a few years ago after deciding against a career in dentistry. He started off in Pittsburgh, came to the southwest and landed a job with San Tan, another local brewery, and then joined up with Arizona Wilderness. 

 

Right now the brewery has its original brewpub, an offsite barrel and foudre facility called the woodnote cellar, and a downtown Phoenix taproom. The brewery celebrates all things wild and nature focused and many of the beers reflect that but there’s also a great deal of clean beer in house. That’s something Saraiva is passionate about. 

 

But Holl started out by talking about those early days, the increased notoriety and the pressure that comes with customer expectations, and the way that he and the team manage it all. 

Enjoy the conversation. 

 

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