My sister and I arrived when this brewery/gastropub opened and within 15 minutes, every seat was filled. On Sunday, PAB features brunch in addition to a few selections from their daily craft food menu. We started by sampling a flight of PAB beers. Our favorite was the Honeysuckle Street Amber Red Ale for its perfect balance of sweet malt and mild hop tartness. We couldn’t decide between brunch and lunch, so we got both and shared. First up were the spent grain hotcakes served with whipped butter, warm bourbon maple syrup and two thick slices of bacon. Next, we ordered their signature PAB burger. Accompanied by crispy fries, the PAB is a juicy Angus beef patty on top of a toasted brioche bun topped with melted Muenster cheese, sweet and savory bacon jam and a touch of aioli. By the end of our meal, there wasn’t a crumb left on either of our plates and we were already making plans to go back. — Lisa Mullavey PEORIA ARTISAN BREWERY AND GASTROPUB Peoria More than a cool place to knock back suds, Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company — Gilbert’s first brewpub — has some bigger goals in mind. Chief among them: highlighting Arizona’s agricultural community. You can’t lose by picking from the bountiful brews they have on tap, but the craft beer flight is an ideal way to try a variety of beers brewed with Arizona-grown and malted Sinagua Malt. The scratch kitchen is also Arizona-proud, cooking up burgers with Arizona Grass Raised Beef and serving them on locally baked Bunz and Breadz buns. Meanwhile, the Wilderness fries come seasoned with rosemary and thyme straight from the restaurant’s beer garden. “Hop” on by this down-to-earth gem — you won’t be disappointed. — Karen Werner ARIZONA WILDERNESS BREWING COMPANY Gilbert I’m a proud graduate of Northern Arizona University — Go Jacks! — and what the university lacks in big-time sports programs, it makes up for with quality restaurants, bars and breweries. I’m told by my people still living in Flagstaff that among these many fine establishments, Historic Brewing Company is currently “winning.” After spending a couple of hours there with friends over Labor Day weekend, I can see why. The beer selection is robust, varied and delicious, able to accommodate just about any palate (especially those misguided souls who drink IPAs, which are terrible). The food is solid as well — my party sampled fried pickle chips, fish and chips, a falafel burger and much more delicious fare. If you’re up north, give Historic a try and see why it’s the cream of the crop in Flagstaff. — Tom Evans HISTORIC BREWING COMPANY Flagstaff KITCHEN DOORS {where we ate this month} Oktoberfest is upon us! Here are a few places to raise a glass — and enjoy a delicious meal. 42 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | OCTOBER 2018

Photo Credit: T. Cooks KITCHEN DOORS CONTINUED Happy Hours are all about being social. So at Southern Rail, they’re actually called “Social Hour.” And with food and drink specials running from 3 to 6 p.m., there’s plenty of time to be happy AND social! The restaurant’s menu is a self- described nostalgic gastronomical journey inspired by the “flavors from the American South,” and they deliver, y’all! Picking favorites is like picking your favorite child (I love both of mine equally), but here goes. The deviled eggs, $1, were creamy delights. The chopped BLT salad, $7, appealed to the need for a little green. And the sampler, $11, delivered “something smoked” — in our case salmon — and little pots of pure heaven. Not to ignore the libations, that which makes happy hour happy, try the Gentleman Johnson for a superior spin on Long Island iced tea and Hush Puppy Hush, with the hot new apéritif, Aperol. We’ll take a ride on this rail any time! — Judy Pearson Phoenix Southern Rail