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FEBRUARY III 2009
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Issue: # 7
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...there's not a lot going on this week...
Breaker, breaker there readership, you got your ears on? This here's Website Cronkite with your weekly diet of happenings from your favorite place to get some suds and mud, what's your handle? That's right you're hearing correctly, we got a 1970's retro introduction right here, you copy? Bring it back!
Inspired by such groundbreaking cinema such as Convoy, Smokey and the Bandit, and the infamous Breaker!, Breaker! starring Chuck Norris (how can you pass up a truck driving/martial arts film? I believe that entire genre began and ended right there!). That's right, pick up some Colorado Kool Aid from Four Peaks, put the ankle biters to bed, and cue up one of these classics on the one-eyed monster! I can guarantee a drinking game can ensue in less than 10 minutes!
Now that you're undoubtedly wearing your most comfortable bellbottoms, brandishing that lucky astrology mood ring and have slipped some clogs on your feet, let's keep on truckin'! Can you dig? This week we have the 45th Annual Highland Games in Phoenix, how groovy is that? Starting at noon on Saturday and going on through Sunday at Margaret T. Hance Park (located on Central Avenue between McDowell Road and Roosevelt Street) in Central Phoenix and that's no jive! Music, bagpipers, highland dancing  and athletic competitions (to name just a few) are on the agenda, show up early because it's going to be far out!
Like I said, there really isn't too much going on and everyone else seems to be in the same boat as myself. What do I mean? Well, first off the Brewers take some time off from breaking down the beers and reflect on some of the quality literature they've gotten their hands on lately. Our main man Mike in Scottsdale is in a similar funk and offers up a few diversions of his own for anyone venturing to the North Valley. Myself, I take you on a brief walking tour of the Tempe Marketplace, or should I say wobbling tour (how I keep the comedy coming is anybodys guess!). Lastly, I spend my 5 questions with Tim Murphy, brother of the esteemed Patrick Murphy, thus completing my brothers/sisters cycle that I began last week. Now, in the immortal words of several trucker movies and one Randal Schultz...
Catch You On The Flip Flop!
Your Friends at The Four Peaks Brewery and Four Peaks Grill & Tap |
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1340 East 8th Street #104
Tempe, Arizona 85281
480.303.9967
480.303.9964 fax
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15730 North Pima Road
Suite D5-7
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
480.991.1795
480.991.1796 fax
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So you've spent the better part of the last few weeks
sitting around the house watching Bugs Bunny on the Cartoon Network and finding
out how things were made on the Science Channel (okay, maybe just me) and
boredom has finally settled in. You don't
need to jump on the Light Rail to do a little pub crawl; you can just stop off
at the Tempe Marketplace and enjoy quite a wide array of choices! Conveniently located at the nexus of the 101
and 202, the Tempe Marketplace is really more than just a shopping center. Sure, they have Target, JC Penney, and Best Buy, but they also have
several fantastic dining establishments that offer one or more of your favorite
Four Peaks beverages (you didn't think I was
going to whore myself to a shopping center that just had a food court, did
you?).
Let's start simply enough with Dave and Buster's. Whether you are going to or coming back from
a movie, they are a perfect place to meet up with all your friends. Of course they also have good food and tons of games
to keep the kids (or yourself) busy, so why not enjoy a Kiltlifter while the
children wear themselves out?
If you're looking for some south of the border options why
not try Maria, Maria (the collaboration between legendary guitarist Carlos
Santana and Chef Roberto Santibañez) for either traditional or new and innovative
Mexican dishes then wash it down with a Sunbru Kolsch style beer! If that's too fancy, walk on down to San Felipe's
Cantina for a more Rocky Point inspired theme offering the more familiar style tacos,
burritos and enchilada type fare...with a delicious Kiltlifter of course!
And pizza, everyone loves pizza...and few are more innovative
than the folks at the California Pizza Kitchen.
>From traditional Italian Basil and Tomato to more exotic styles like
Mango Tandoori Chicken, they do excellent work.
In addition, they have a wide variety of great appetizers and offer
pastas and sandwiches as well as vegetarian options to placate all variety of
eaters. Stop in and enjoy a Kiltlifter
or a Hefeweizen while you wait because sometimes these pizzas can take a little
while!
Traditional American style cuisine is also available at the
likes of King's Fish House and Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Cue. The former offering shrimp, lobster, sushi
and everything in between while the latter serves up all the ribs, steaks,
chops and chicken you could possibly ask for.
They both serve the Valley famous Kilt Lifter which, coincidentally,
goes well with beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, fish, lobster...
As you wind down, don't forget to stop at Bev Mo and
pick up some Kiltlifter or 8th Street Ale in bottles as well as all
your liquor needs (I'm looking at you mini cocktail umbrellas!). If you're in the market for home décor, stop
in to the Cost Plus World Market for that authentic Arabian rug, perhaps a Kalahari
wood vase, and the always needed pouf valance for the living room window, then
on your way out pick up a sixer of Kiltlifter!
If you have a designated driver, send them over to Danny's Family Carousel
to get the damn car washed while you're getting your drink on, because let's face
it, the thing looks hideous. Oh yeah,
remind said designated individual to get another sixer of Kiltlifter on his way
back to pick you up...because the weekend is just beginning!
That's not all, starting next month Kabuki Japanese Restaurant will also be serving your 4PBC favorites. Prepare to come early and stay late! You think I covered enough ground here?
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CASK-CONDITIONED AND SEASONALS
IN SCOTTSDALE AND TEMPE THIS WEEK
Hop Knot I.P.A.: The Four Peaks regulars favorite available in an Imperial Pint (that's 20 oz. kids). This won't last through the weekend so come in early! SEASONAL DU JOUR (Coming this March)
A Belgian-Style Strong Dark Ale: Name to be decided in the coming weeks, we'll keep you posted
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5 Questions With Tim Murphy...Who is Tim Murphy. The answer is as multifaceted as his stage persona Ronnie Arson...let's break it down.  Ronnie was born to rock. His longtime girlfriend Emily believes his
talent could take him all the way - but Ronnie worships at the altar of
Bobby Beers, the incendiary frontman for heavy metal legends Steel Dragon.
By day, Ronnie still lives at home with his parents and spends his days
running food. But at night he fronts
a Steel Dragon tribute band mesmerizing audiences with his
perfect imitation of Beers' vocals. One night his
bandmates boot him out of the group devastating Ronnie - until an
unexpected phone call changes his life forever: He has been tapped to replace Bobby Beers as the lead singer of Steel Dragon. Instantly Ronnie rockets to the dizzying heights of sudden stardom,
rising from devotee to icon, from rock fan to rock god - the wanna-be
who got to be...  Sorry that was the plot to the movie Rockstar starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston! I get their lives confused sometimes. I guess I'll have to ask him 5 questions so I can sort out which is which. Let's go! 1) What is your
favorite Four Peaks
beverage?
That'd be the 8th Street Ale. It just tastes the best to me, it's like a flavor explosion in every sip!
2) What is your
favorite album of all-time? Explain.
That's easy, Appetite For Destruction by Guns n' Roses. Everytime I hear it I slip into my alter ego, Ronnie Arson! Every track is solid and there is no better debut album EVER released that's better! 
3) Which is your
favorite side, fries, side salad or pasta salad? Or would you pay extra for the soup?
Depending on the soup (Chicken Sausage Gumbo, the Chicken Corn Chowder and the 8th Street Chili for starters), I'd always have to go with the beer battered fries!
4) St.
Patrick's Day is coming up, being Irish, what are you doing to prepare for it?
Just by being a Murphy, each and every day is St. Patrick's Day!
5) What is your fondest memory of working for Four
Peaks Brewing Company?
Please give details!
There are so many, most of which would undoubtedly get me in some sort of trouble! I probably would have to say coming back from the Def Leppard show. I kinda remember showing back up at the Peaks with vomit all over me (mine or someone else, I can't be sure because you  can't dust for vomit), and drunk as hell! I also mildly remember being p!$$3d off that no one would talk to me and not really knowing why... great show though, thanks for the tickets (name withheld to protect the innocent)! That helped me sort it all out. I would like to thank Tim for participating and would also like to thank Sujit R. Varma from the website imdb whose synopsis for the movie Rockstar I shamelessly plagiarized!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Sunday, March 1st: Experience Tempe...One Taste at a Time with all proceeds going to Arc of Tempe, details HERE Tuesday, March 3rd: Yours truly will be one of the breweries featured on "Craft Beer: The New Wine" airing at 9 pm on PBS! Saturday, March 7th: First Annual Tempe Barbecue Festival hosted by BBQ Island, beers by Four Peaks! Entry form and info HERE
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The Brewers Blog
We're going to take a little break from the
"What the Hell Am I Tasting" segment this week for two good reasons. One, we've been very busy this week, and two,
we have a bit of a cold. So giving an
accurate description of any beer based on memory alone will not work. So, next week when the sniffer clears we'll
pick up with Hop Knot.
Oddly enough we did have a request for any reading material
on beer and, specifically on beer and wine.
As luck would have it we've just finished two good (and quick) reads on
the combined subject. First is Charles
Bamforth's "Grape vs. Grain".
Regular readers of the Brewers Blog know our affinity for Dr. Bamforth
and in this book he breaks down the similarities and differences between the
two noblest of drinks. It really is very
good in terms of technology, health benefits and general perceptions of beer
and wine.
Second, is Sam Calagione and Marnie Old's philosophical
gun-fight, "He Said Beer, She Said Wine".
It's a great insight into how entrenched beer geeks can differ with
aloof cork-dorks on both drinks' versatility when it comes to food. We'll also be trying our hand at the fight
tonight (Wednesday) when we help promote the book for Changing Hands.
As long as we're on books we wanted to share something that
we're very excited about. One of our
favorite authors, Tom Robbins (Even Cowgirls Get the Blues and the
classic Jitterbug Perfume) has written a new book called "B is for
Beer," and, Robbins, ever the non-conformist, has decided to make it a
children's book. Not a typo, a
children's book. Here's an introduction
to the project when it was called Gracie Goes to Schooner School from
Robbins himself and the first chapter (link). So far so good. April
21, 2009, can't wait.
(ed. note: The Tom Robbins masterpiece "Skinny Legs And All" is one not to be missed either and edges out "Jitterbug Perfume" as my favorite)
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The Grill & Tap Dispatch
with Mike Kruchko
It may just be me, but I have the
feeling that I'm kind of stuck between "things" right now. The whole All-Star hype made its way into and
out of the Valley awfully fast and Spring Training is still a few weeks from
getting rolling. So what if you're not
available for say the upcoming Highland Games, or you don't feel like driving
all the way to the North Country for some
skiing at Snowbowl, what kind of plans can you make?
Well, most
of us up here in North Scottsdale have noticed
the huge white tents located just north of the Grill & tap off the 101 (and
if you haven't noticed them, you shouldn't be allowed to drive....I mean, they're
huge!). Some people thought that those
tents were something for the FBR Open, but they are in fact the temporary home
for Cavalia. From
Normand Latourelle, creator of the world renowned Cirque du Soleil,
Cavalia is being referred to as a multimedia extravaganza infusing
unprecedented magic and emotion. This
may sound a little "different" to you, but when you stop and think that the
only two places in the world to see this show right now is either Montreal, Canada
or here in North Scottsdale it makes you think
that in a town where originality is hard to come by, maybe this is something to
shake things up. Now here's the disclaimer...your
boy hasn't seen it yet, so I'm not here to give rave reviews. I'm just here to throw you a bone or two on
your nightly plans. Tickets range from
$35 to $185, depending on age, seat location and night of the week you go (cavalia.net). Make sure to swing into the Grill & Tap
afterwards and let us know how it was.
Since
Valentine's Day has also passed us by (and I want to take a second and thank
all of you that spent the night with Four
Peaks. It was a great success and the food, not to
mention the beer, was amazing!), maybe you want to plan a "Dinner and Show"
night for you and your loved one. Well,
I can help you out with that as well. After getting your tickets for Cavalia you
can head just a bit north to Cave Creek and check out Blowfish
Teppan and Sushi (AZBlowfish.com).
If you're up for some Sushi or Teppanyaki, why not go somewhere you can
enjoy some Kilt Lifter on draft and the folks at Blowfish offer both.
Ok,
before I start sounding all soft I've got to wrap it up this week. I'm actually getting into watching the Suns
game; who knew how much a coaching change could help! (Sorry...I get distracted easily.) I'll see you guys next week with the Grill
& Tap's St. Patrick's Day details (cause it's never too early to start
planning on some 7am drinking) as well as one of my favorite past times
around....Spring Training time!
You can contact us in
Scottsdale at 480-991-1795 or at Scottsdale@fourpeaks.com
Lastly, here is the cartoon submitted last week that did not come through on some editions. Hopefully this will remedy the malady and assist in making last weeks installment more understandable.
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A Few Parting Words...
Make sure you check us out on KAET Channel 8 (channels may vary depending on cable or satellite providers) on March 3rd at 9 pm for the locally produced " Craft Beer : The New Wine." We are one of the local breweries filmed and interviewed for this program. I will have more on this next week as more details develop... we can't wait. Also, we have a new line of hats... tatter hats if you will, available at both locations. That's right, jumping in on the new fashion sweeping the nation involving "distressed looking" clothing, this chapeau has the well worn look that's all the rage with both the young hipsters and railroad lurking hobos from around the U.S.! The complimentary bottle openers on the brim just screams that you are resourceful... and dangerous!!!! It can be yours for one easy installment of $15 (tax not included, gratuity optional), buy yours today! Cheers!
"I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer."
-Homer Simpson
The Hot New Look That's Taking America By Storm! Get Yours Today!
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