USA, AZ: Borderlands Brewing Company poised to open new brewing facility in North Phoenix

One of the fastest growing breweries in North America, Borderlands Brewing Company, is poised to open a new brewing facility and public house in North Phoenix that will open sometime this summer near the Deer Valley Airport, the Foothills Focus reported on June 5.

Borderlands Brewing and Public House will be located near 7th Avenue and Deer Valley Road across from the airport in the old Anthem Automotive garage. The 7,000-square-foot location was secured in January and will be a taproom only, meaning it won’t have a kitchen so customers will have the option of bringing in their food or getting it delivered.

According to the American Brewers Association, Borderlands was the ninth-fastest growing brewery in the United States in 2018.

Business partners Marshall Norris and Matt Wright decided they wanted some skin in the game, working out a licensing agreement with Borderlands to own and operate the Phoenix location separately from the Tucson-based brewery.

“North Phoenix came up as the third largest area where our products are already being sold, besides downtown Gilbert and downtown Chandler which is where everyone is going to,” Norris said. “We have the heat map of where our [Borderlands] beer is being sold and its right in this area.”

Both men have worked in the Arizona brewing industry over the years in many different capacities, including with Borderlands. Knowing that Phoenix was one of the largest markets in the state made it an easy decision for all parties involved.

“We’re fans not only of their beers, but of the art and culture created by Borderlands,” Wright said in a Kickstarter video. “So we’re bringing the total package to Phoenix.”

Then Norris continues explaining that they chose to bring Borderlands’ brand to Phoenix “rather than creating a new beer brand in the Arizona market.”

The new location is funded mostly by Norris and Wright, but they also raised $30,000 through a Kickstarter campaign to help with expenses.

Norris will be the head brewer of the three-barrel system in North Phoenix, making specialty and seasonal brews that vary from the more well-known and distributed Borderlands flagship beers.

The pair says residents can expect to see the typical lineup of beers found at the Tucson brewery and in its distribution portfolio such as, the Noche Dolche, Toole Avenue IPA and the Prickly Pear Wheat. As well as collaboration brews with other local businesses, breweries and charities. Plus, a lot of community involvement.

“North Phoenix is lacking what we want to bring,” Norris says about how important it is to bring culture and community to their location. “Not only craft beer, but our goal is to be associated with local educational foundations around here, environmental groups, we even started the hashtag #wedomorethanbrew.”

Along with the serving draft beer and packaged beer, Borderlands Public House also intends to serve wines, meads and ciders on draft. And customers will have a convenient option for food because Habaneros Mexican food restaurant is located next door to the brewery.

06 June, 2019