About this tour
When Charlie from our team ran this Phoenix brewery tour, we got a proper sense of why the desert's craft beer scene has blown up. Over 3.5 hours, the crew ferries you between established spots and newer outfits across Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe in an air-conditioned van—crucial in Arizona heat. You'll taste up to a dozen beers, peek behind the scenes at each stop, and work through some snacks to keep your head on straight. It's relaxed and social, the kind of tour where you're not rushing between points or pretending to know your IPAs from your sours before you actually do.
Highlights
- Behind-the-scenes access at each brewery without the stuffy vibe
- Up to twelve tastings across different styles and breweries
- Air-conditioned transport between stops—genuinely necessary in Phoenix
- Snacks included to balance out the beer intake
- Mix of longtime local favourites and newer experimental breweries
- Small groups keep things chatty and unpretentious
- Expert guide who actually knows the Arizona brewing story
What to expect
The tour rolls out mid-morning or early afternoon depending on the session. You'll be picked up and driven to your first stop—usually a well-established brewery with some heritage. The guide walks you through what the brewers are doing, you taste a couple of pours, and then it's back in the van to the next spot. The rhythm is steady: taste, chat, move, repeat. By the second or third brewery, you're relaxed and the group's usually swapping stories. The snacks arrive somewhere in the middle, which genuinely helps. Phoenix in summer means the van's doing heavy lifting—the air-con is your mate.
What worked for us was the variety. You're not hitting three identical IPA joints; each stop has a different angle on what they're brewing. The guides know the back-stories—which breweries started in garages, who's experimenting with wild yeast, that sort of thing. By the end, you've got a real read on the scene rather than just a buzz.
Good to know
If you like beer and want to explore Phoenix's actual brewing culture without driving yourself, this lands it. Works for novices and enthusiasts alike. The tour moves at a social pace—no pretension, no fake sommelier energy. Groups are kept small, so you're not herding thirty people through a tap room.
It's tastings only—there's no full meal, just snacks, so eat a proper lunch beforehand or you'll feel it. Not for pregnant travellers. Summer heat is intense, but you're in a van most of the time. Walking between parked van and brewery entrances is minimal and flat—fine for most fitness levels. Gratuities aren't included, so budget for tips. Tips aren't mandatory but guides appreciate them. Peak times hit weekends and school holidays; book ahead. Public transport is nearby but the van's more convenient. You'll need to arrange your own pick-up from your accommodation—they don't do custom collections.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.