Special thanks to Mike (aka, “Black Beard”) for opening the brewery and letting me take a look around.įor the moment, Peoria Artisan Brewery is the northwestern-most brewery in the valley.
#PEORIA ARTISAN BREWERY WINDOWS#
Peoria’s brewing operation takes place on site and can be seen from the main dining room, through enormous windows running the length of the room. The main room is comprised of perhaps a dozen standard four-seater tables (which can be combined into larger/community seating), a few high-top tables near the entryway, a few tables with bench seating (where I was) and a small bar with seven-to-eight seats. Peoria Artisan Brewery has two dining areas-the main room and a patio area. Based on the empty plates people were leaving behind, everyone agrees. The burgers, the salads, even the fries looked heavenly. While I only had these two dishes on this visit, I was sitting right next to the kitchen and could spy all the food as it made its way to diners. I tend to like my mashed potatoes a little chunky, but the resultant creaminess made me forget that. The potatoes were whipped smooth which gave the short rib and gravy creamy overtones. The meat base was a short rib stew that had seemingly been marinating for multiple days. I ordered it intending to ask for more gravy eventually. The Shepard’s Pie was among the best I’ve had in the valley, and I’ve eaten a LOT of Shepard’s Pie. Peoria’s Buffalo evidently leans very hot as these were quite spicy. Peoria only offers ‘Buffalo,’ ‘Dry Rub’, or ‘Hot’ flavors. Kind of reminded me of wings you used to get at Native New Yorker years ago, before they cut their name to just “Native.” The cooking technique also seemed to render the fat away as these were the leanest wings I had had for a very long time. The wings were double fried, giving them a nice crisp exterior. I ordered a half dozen wings and the Shepard’s Pie. Yum.Īs noted above, the food was exceptional. Dark for a Scotch Ale but packed every bit of sweet malty goodness into each sip. The Home Run – “Angus Boy” Scotch Ale.Reminded me of a Saint Archer Citra 7 IPA. Maybe it helped that I was eating spicy chicken wings at the time, but this IPA was silky smooth and flavorful. A bit thin on the mouthfeel, but good roasty notes on the finish. The Double – “Freight Train” English Stout.
I can handle bitter beer when it is supposed to be bitter, but in this case, it didn’t accentuate the flavor. Decent color and aroma, but turned bitter on the finish. For my sampling flight, I ordered a Blonde, an IPA, a Scotch Ale, and an English Stout. On my visit, there were 10 brews on tap with a Porter and a Holiday beer on deck in the fermentor. Peoria regularly features 10-12 house brews along with a few guest taps. I’m talking enjoyment factor, not beer style as in “dubbel” or “tripel.” I sampled four beers and to borrow a baseball reference, Peoria ‘hit for the cycle.’ There was a single, a double, a triple, and a home run. I had the chance to visit on a non-descript Thursday evening recently and experienced some of the best pub food I’ve had in a long time. I’m sure Dairy Queen next door feels fortunate too because they have 500 parking spaces all to themselves.īut while distance may seem prohibitive, Peoria Artisan’s beer and food make them a destination worth seeking out. Thankfully, Peoria Artisan’s building is complete. My guess is that the builder went belly up mid-project. There are perhaps 500+ parking spaces adjacent to…nothing. Giant undeveloped lots fill the southern section of the property. It’s sandwiched between the Loop 101 and the 303, which is to say it’s pretty far from most everywhere.Įqually suspect-the shopping center they call home-Camino a’ Lago-is somewhat unfinished. Peoria Artisan Brewery is found in a small corner of a sizable strip mall/shopping center at the intersection of Lake Pleasant Parkway and Lake Pleasant Road in the far northwest valley. For this latest burst of energy, I must thank Peoria Artisan Brewery. Then, along comes a moment that energizes you once again, shows you something exciting, and makes me rush to the laptop. Longer is the list of breweries that I haven’t visited yet and want to. I have a long list of breweries I have visited that I want to write reviews/profiles about but am so worn out from thinking of new ways to describe beer, I can’t forge the words. Fatigue manifests itself on this blog by slow publishing times and long waits between new material. My wife will often look at me quizzically when I order iced tea at dinner instead of a beer. I distinctly recall being completely tired of beer on day 2 of the Flagstaff Ale Trail. One of the “occupational hazards” of maintaining this blog is ‘beer fatigue.’ I know, I know.
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