Background
Historic gunfights and horse-drawn carriage rides, whats not to love. The Wild West is alive and well in Tombstone, Arizona, an hour southeast of Tucson. The tourist destination’s newest attraction, Tombstone Brewing Company opened in October 2016. They began creating some excellent IPAs, sour ales and barrel-aged stouts that would make the Earps proud. The breweries location at 107 E. Toughnut St. previously served as Tombstone’s city hall and Helldorado Brewing Co.
Tombstone Brewing Company founder and co-owner Matt Brown owned a law firm in Tempe, but followed his wife to Tombstone, where she had family job opportunities. She’s also is a fifth-generation Cochise county resident and her great-great grandfather was a judge in Tombstone. With 14 years of homebrewing experience under Brown’s belt, he followed his heart and opened the brewery with the help of brewmaster Weedy Weidenthal. Weidenthal, brewed for four years at Blue Pants Brewery in Madison, Alabama, where he won some of the first awards for an Alabama brewery. Though just 27 years old, Weidenthal is well-trained, having attended the Siebel Institute’s World Brewing Academy during his time at Blue Pants.
Experience
We had heard for months the excellent IPA’s coming out of Tombstone Brewing. Finally the opportunity came to visit Tombstone and jumped at the chance. We stayed at a bed and breakfast a block away from the Brewery. Walking up to the brewery reminds you of a western saloon complete with rails to tie your horse off. Inside there is an L shaped bar and several tables right off the brewing equipment. There is also a nice patio to drink and enjoy the surrounding desert. We were lucky to spot a group of local deer coming around the brewery to enjoy the spent grain put out for them. In Phoenix, we had enjoyed cans of Another Exercise in Mediocrity, an 8.1% ABV double IPA. Hazy, juicy and delicious. At the brewery we enjoyed NEIPA, a New Enland IPA, hazy with a tropical hop flavor, a nice dark roasted Oak-Fermented Imperial Stout, and we applaude their two sours, Fruit Salad and Dry Hopped Sour.
The wooden sidewalked town is fun to walk around and explore. There are other bars, restaurants and museums to check out. We encourage a visit to the old west in a town too tough to die. We will be forced to visit more often due to Tombstone’s ever evolving unique brews.
There are a couple hotels in tow. When visiting Tombstone check out Old Bisbee Brewing Company.
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