Where to Drink
Cider Corps
Yes, we're blurring the definition of beer, but Cider Corps has a compelling backstory to earn its way into the crawl. Co-owner Jason Duren suffered two traumatic brain injuries when deployed with the U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, and his brother Josh suggested cider-making as part of the recovery process.
Through trial and error, that hobby turned into a business that opened on Veteran's Day in 2017, with a mission to serve military veterans and support brain injury research. The taproom serves up a creative spin on a fermenting technique that dates to the Romans, showcasing up to 15 rotating cider styles on tap and exclusive taproom-only flavors. Military-inspired names include Sailor Cherry, Mango Foxtrot and Ira Haze, an imperial sour cider produced in partnership with veteran-owned 1912 Brewing in Tucson.
IF YOU GO
31 S. Robson #103 | 480-993-3164 | CiderCorpsAZ.com
Chupacabra Taproom
The vibe at Chupacabra is far friendlier and more laid back than its namesake, a mythical fanged monster that does horrifying things to goats and cattle. Housed in a brick building built in 1949, this newer arrival on the Mesa scene has quickly become one of the favorites.
On a beers-to-space ratio, this taproom punches well above its weight, with nearly 30 taps pouring for a 900-square-foot area and a sidewalk patio. The payoff for beer crawlers is a convenient tour of the best craft beers from throughout Arizona, the U.S. and the world—and ditto for wine drinkers.
IF YOU GO
14 N. Robson | 480-751-5566 | ChupacabraTaproom.com
Oro Brewing
When it launched in 2016 in an adobe building from the early 1900s, Oro Brewing was just the second brewery downtown and one of only three in all of Mesa. Since those pioneering days, Oro has racked up the laurels in state, national and international competitions, including PHOENIX magazine's/Arizona Craft Brewer's Guild 2022 Brewery of the Year.
If you want to drink like a winner, a good place to start is with their core beers: Trigo Suave, a tangerine wheat that won silver in the 2022 World Beer Cup and gold in the 2022 Arizona Craft Beer Awards; Cafe Oro, a coffee blonde ale that earned gold at the 2022 Great American Beer Festival; and Inside the Park, a blonde ale that grabbed top category honors at the 2022 Arizona Craft Beer Awards.
IF YOU GO
210 W. Main St. | 480-398-8247 | OroBrewing.com
Where to Eat
Myke's Pizza
Since you're already stopping at Cider Corps, Myke's — located inside the cidery — is a no-brainer. Their wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas earned them honors in the Phoenix New Times 2023 Top 100 Restaurants in Phoenix.
Jake Poinier
Jake Poinier is a veteran freelance writer, editor, and author whose work has appeared in USAToday, Blue Water Sailing, and Golf Illustrated, among numerous other publications. When he's not at his desk writing for corporate clients and editing books, he can probably be found hiking or fishing along the Mogollon Rim, skiing in the White Mountains, or sailing just about anywhere.
