Boots-n-Brews: Beer and Culinary Weekend
In the late 1970s, breweries in America started to plummet to an all-time low. As the industry shifted to cater to light-lager lovers, the number of brewing companies dropped to a total of 44 in the country and experts predicted only 5 would last. This was believed true until the roots of homebrewers were planted into American soil. Craft brewing has since then grown tremendously. “As of June 1, 2013, there were 1,500 recorded breweries in development in the US,” according to the Brewer’s Association. “There has never been a better time or place to drink beer than in the U.S. right now.”
To honor this new adventure America has embarked on, we are planning our first annual Boots n’ Brews Weekend at Tanque Verde Ranch for November 4-6, 2016. This event has been designed to bring together some of the freshest local flavors for a weekend of tasting and entertainment. There will be music, food, beer, and demonstrations by the brewery industry leaders and more. View itinerary here.
Tanque Verde’s Executive Chef, Justin Macy, has put together a ‘drool-worthy’ menu of decadent fare for the Friday night beer dinner hosted by Uncle Bear’s Brewery. This Arizona business named their brewery in the honor of their late puppy, Bear. Their concept is to carry on the mission of Bear, to “create a place where he and his friends could ‘come, sit and stay’”. And we are honored that they are bringing this mentality to the Friday night dinner at Boots n’ Brews. Each one of Chef Macy’s plates will be fit to engage with the beer being poured at each serving giving your taste buds something to rave about. After dinner, the Dog House Saloon will have a ‘tap take-over’ to cap the night.
The experts will be taking the limelight Saturday to introduce you to the ways of the world of hops and how your favorite beers are made.
Hear directly from the brewmaster from Uncle Bear’s Brewery talk about Beer 101 before Dragoon takes the microphone. Dragoon originated in the mid-’90s giving it some age compared to many other breweries. The family-owned company started as a small hobby and grew into something much larger. Their simple idea is “sharing a creative endeavor with other people, you can’t help but share a bit of yourself.” Founders Bruce & Eric Greene and Tristan White decided to share their love and artistry of beer that you can experience and learn about at Boots n’ Brews.
After you learn about the evolution and artistry of craft beers from Dragoon, you can hear about the hoppy history of beer sampling with the brewmaster from Sentinel Peak, another early rising company. Founder, Jeremy Hilderbrand was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army when he fell in love with the flavors of German beer. After reaching out for some help from engineer Matt Gordon and finding a third partner in Taylor Carter, the three created an amazing brewery that we all can enjoy today.
All three of these Arizona breweries are bringing their best to the table for Boots and Brews. Each class and demonstration is open for conversation and questions so you can spark your curiosity. But this isn’t the last opportunity to talk to the brewers. The Saturday Culinary and Grand Tasting opens the doors for all guests to sample and mingle with the professionals. There will be live music by Sun City Groove Band, sipping, and maybe even some dancing at the Cottonwoods. This won’t be our traditional Outdoor BBQ at The Ranch. Tons of flavors from our culinary staff plus sample tables from our Arizona craft favorites; Dragoon Brewing Company, Sentinel Peak Brewing Company, Uncle Bear’s Brewery, and Thunder Canyon Brewery. Saturday night following the tasting, the tables turn back to the Dog House Saloon where there will be a Texas Hold-em Tournament with Wyatt Earp, American Old West gambler and deputy sheriff of Tombstone.
Start attending Boots n’ Brews in 2016, year one, and join us as the event grows. You can come to Tanque Verde Ranch on a lodging package, which includes all events, except for an upcharge for Friday’s dinner, at just $249 per person for two nights. Or take a look at our itinerary and buy your tickets based on the events you plan to attend, the option is yours. Hope to you see here for our kick-off celebration.
