Events: Arizona - Phoenix - Scottsdale

The 19th annual Arizona Strong Beer Festival will take place on February 9 this year at Steele Indian School Park, serving as the major kick-off celebration to the 10-day stretch of hundreds of craft beer events that make up Arizona Beer Week. In addition to offering more than 500 incredible craft brews to festivalgoers, the Arizona Strong Beer Festival will also offer live music, delicious restaurant and food truck offerings, and of course, everyone’s favorite Strong Man Games.

A massive selection of craft beers offered at the Arizona Strong Beer Festival means that there’s something for everyone’s palate and preference. Standout selections abound in the stout category, like THAT Brewery’s Goat Milk Caramel Stout, Kohi Imperial Coffee Stout from Helio Basin and the Chocolate Chipotle Oatmeal Stout from Loco Patron Mexican Brewery. Hoppy selections such as the Hazy Angel IPA from Lumberyard Brewing Company in Flagstaff or Two Sons Citra DIPA from Tucson’s Ten 55 Brewery and Sausage House are sure to please hop heads, and major cross-state collaborations are set to be the highlight at this year's fest. Tempe’s Huss Brewing will be collaborating with Durango’s Ska Brewing and Denver’s Great Divide, while Tempe’s Shop Beer Co. will bring collaborations with San Diego’s Burgeon Beer Company and Lafayette’s Odd 13.

This year, festival-goers will have the chance to research each beer appearing at the festival to map out their tasting plan of attack through the “Untappd” app. Enthusiasts just need to download the app from any Smart Phone device and can even add their own ratings and feedback while exploring samples of beer throughout the day.

And because food and beer just naturally go together, food from Bang Bang Dumplings, Doughbros, Drivewood Grill, Farmboy Foods, Funky Foods Concessions, Sally’s BBQ and Tom’s BBQ will be serving up tasty eats that wash down well with frosty suds.

VIP tickets to the Arizona Strong Beer Festival are sold out, however, Super VIP is available in limited quantities, along with general admission. Tickets to the Arizona Strong Beer Festival can be purchased by visiting www.strongbeerfest.com.

In addition to the Strong Beer Festival, Arizona Beer Week will play host to dozens of smaller events at local breweries and taprooms throughout the course of the 10-day affair. In addition, beginning this month, 12 Fry’s Food Store Wine Bar locations across the Valley will host tastings and offer rare pours from Arizona breweries participating in the Arizona Strong Beer Festival. For a complete lineup of Arizona Beer Week events, visit www.arizonabeerweek.com.