Best Breweries in Glendale AZ: A Local Craft Beer Guide

Glendale has developed a quietly impressive craft brewery scene over the past decade, and it is almost entirely under the radar of the broader Phoenix beer conversation that tends to center on Scottsdale, Tempe, and downtown Phoenix. That is both a shame and an opportunity: the taprooms out here are less crowded, the owners are behind their own bars, and the beer is genuinely good. This is a working guide to every notable brewery and craft beer destination in Glendale, with enough detail to help you plan a proper crawl.

Saddle Mountain Brewing Company

Saddle Mountain Brewing at 13065 W McDowell Rd is one of the anchor taprooms in western Glendale, and it has the production volume and range to match. The brewery takes its name from the Saddle Mountain Wilderness northeast of Buckeye, and the taproom design leans into that identity with a high-desert aesthetic. The beer program runs a full rotating tap list built around West Coast IPAs, hazy IPAs, stouts, and a rotating sour or fruit ale that reflects what the brewers are most interested in at the moment. The patio is one of the better outdoor drinking spots on the west side. Phone: (623) 249-5520. Website: saddlemountainbrewing.com.

Simple Machine Brewing Company

Simple Machine Brewing is the creative end of the Glendale brewery scene. The name reflects a design-forward identity — the taproom at 7232 N 43rd Ave is spare and intentional, and the beer program follows the same logic: tightly edited, technically precise, built around brewing science rather than trends. The lager program is worth particular attention in a Valley scene dominated by IPAs. Simple Machine does cold-fermented lagers — pilsners, Munich helles, kellerbiers — that hold up against the best versions being made in the state. Phone: (623) 469-9199.

Grand Avenue Brewing Co.

Grand Avenue Brewing occupies a converted commercial space on the historic Grand Avenue corridor and carries the DIY energy of that neighborhood into its taproom. The brewery is smaller than Saddle Mountain and Simple Machine but consistently turns out interesting one-offs alongside a reliable core lineup. The canned releases travel well and show up at bottle shops across the metro. Phone: (602) 666-1617. Website: grandavebrew.com.

Front Pourch Brewing

Front Pourch Brewing leans into the neighborhood-taproom model: a community-oriented space where regulars know each other and the brewers are usually visible behind the bar or on the floor. The beer program is approachable — the entry points are easy-drinking cream ales, wheat beers, and session IPAs — but the seasonal and specialty taps show range. It is the kind of place where the experience of being there is as important as what is in the glass. Website: frontpourchbrewing.com.

Homeland Brew Co.

Homeland Brew Co. is one of the newer entrants in the Glendale brewery scene, and its West Valley focus — the name, the branding, the community programming — has built a loyal following quickly. The taproom runs a core lineup plus rotating seasonals, and the food partnership options (food trucks and pop-ups) make it a destination for an afternoon rather than just a quick pint. Website: homelandbrewco.com.

Greenwood Brewing

Greenwood Brewing is a smaller production operation with a taproom that punches above its size in terms of beer quality and range. The IPAs and pale ales are the consistent strengths, and the barrel program — which rotates seasonally — is worth tracking for special-release notifications. Website: greenwoodbrews.com.

Lake Pleasant Brewing Company

Lake Pleasant Brewing references its namesake reservoir to the northwest of the city, and the taproom carries a casual outdoor-recreation aesthetic that works well with the beer program: crushable lagers, wheat beers, and session ales designed for post-hike consumption rather than contemplative tasting. The proximity to the 303 and Lake Pleasant Road makes it a logical stopping point on a day that starts at the lake. Phone: (602) 799-4223. Website: lakepleasantbrewing.com.

Cactus Taproom Craft Beer & Wine Bar

Cactus Taproom is not a production brewery but earns its place on this list as the best multi-tap craft beer bar in the immediate Glendale area. The bottle shop component — which stocks local Arizona releases alongside regional and national craft beers — makes it a destination for beer hunters who want access to the broader craft scene beyond just what the Glendale breweries are producing in-house. Phone: (623) 440-9316. Website: cactustaproom.com.

Turquoise Wine Bar

Turquoise Wine Bar is not a brewery but fits naturally into a West Valley craft-beverage evening — it carries a curated wine selection alongside rotating craft beers on tap, and the atmosphere is markedly different from the production-taproom model: quieter, slower, better for a two-person evening than a group crawl. Phone: (623) 248-0399. Website: turquoisewinebar.com.

How to plan a Glendale brewery crawl

The Glendale breweries are spread across the city rather than clustered, so a crawl requires a car or a designated driver plan. The most logical routing hits Simple Machine and Grand Avenue on the east side (both within a few miles of each other near the 101 and 43rd Ave corridors), then moves west toward Saddle Mountain and Homeland. Front Pourch and Greenwood fill in the middle of the city.

Uber and Lyft both operate throughout Glendale, and the distances between taprooms are short enough that the rides are inexpensive. A four-stop crawl is a reasonable afternoon if you arrive at the first taproom by 2 or 3 p.m.

Best breweries in Glendale FAQ

What is the best brewery in Glendale AZ?

Saddle Mountain Brewing and Simple Machine Brewing are the two most consistently excellent operations in terms of beer quality. Saddle Mountain wins on atmosphere and range; Simple Machine wins on technical precision, especially the lager program.

Are there breweries near Westgate in Glendale?

The Westgate area itself does not have a dedicated production brewery, but Yard House at Westgate carries a very large draft list. The nearest true production breweries are Saddle Mountain Brewing (about 10 minutes west) and Simple Machine Brewing (about 15 minutes east).

Are Glendale breweries dog-friendly?

Most Glendale taprooms with patio space allow leashed dogs outside. Policies vary — call ahead or check the brewery's website before bringing a dog.

What time do Glendale breweries open?

Most taprooms open between 11 a.m. and noon on weekends and 3 to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Hours shift seasonally and around major events, so check the brewery's website or social media for current schedules.

Is there a craft beer scene near Camelback Ranch spring training?

Yes. Saddle Mountain Brewing and Lake Pleasant Brewing are both within 20 minutes of Camelback Ranch. The post-game brewery stop is a natural extension of a Cactus League day in Glendale.

For more on what to do and drink in Glendale, see the Glendale city guide, the Westgate guide, and the Camelback Ranch spring training guide.