EP 176: The Future of Arizona Beer: Guild Director Andrew on Wins, Challenges & What’s Next

Step into Episode 176 of On the Delo as Delo sits down with Andrew, Executive Director of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, to unpack what’s really happening across Arizona beer—on the brewhouse floor, at the Capitol, and out in the community. From a 20-year restaurant career to head brewer roles at The Perch and Uncle Bear’s, and ultimately joining the Guild in February 2022, Andrew lays out a no-spin view of the landscape and where the wins are coming from.

If you care about healthy breweries, smarter laws, and stronger taprooms, this one delivers: the event engine that funds promotion, the practical policy changes (including a hard reduction in minimum production requirements), the real challenges operators face (tourism and top-line), and why non-alcoholic offerings matter for safety and inclusion—all capped with what to expect at Arizona Beer Week and the Guild’s GABF presence.

Chapter Guide (Timestamps):

(0:18 - 3:31) Episode Intro & Origin Story — Restaurants → The Perch → Uncle Bear’s → joining the Guild (Feb 2022)

(3:31 - 4:41) From Brewhouse to Business — Event season (Arizona Strong Beer Fest, Beer Week, Baja) and the “promote & protect” mission

(4:41 - 5:13) Naming Matters — Reframing “Arizona Strong Beer” to clarify the festival’s scope

(5:13 - 7:10) Guild Snapshot — Founded in 1998, ~100 breweries statewide; 67 current members and rolling sign-ups

(7:10 - 10:46) Policy Wins — Minimum production cut from 5,000 → 1,000 gallons; relief for small/innovation sites (e.g., PV pilot, Bisbee example)

(10:46 - 12:48) Modernizing Service — Growler rule updates and Arizona’s pro–small business footing

(13:51 - 16:48) Operator Reality — Hiring stabilizes, tourism dips; focus on top-line + cross-guild collaboration and “brewery-in-planning” value

(23:30 - 27:12) Inclusive Options — Non-alcoholic beer is hard and capital-intensive; hop waters and elevated N/A choices (Hoplark shout-out)

(27:22 - 30:45) Arizona Beer Week — Why it runs 10 days; Pink Boots arm-wrestling, Cicerone education, and festival audience trends

(33:58 - 35:37) GABF Playbook — Arizona’s booth with a tourism film—showcasing the state while championing AZ beer

👉 If this episode gave you a clearer view of Arizona’s beer scene, hit Subscribe, share your biggest takeaway in the comments, and pass it along to a brewery owner, operator, or beer lover who deserves the real story—not the spin.

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