Which city in Arizona produces the most beer? Hint: It's not Phoenix

Across Arizona, 91 brewing companies are currently churning out lagers, IPAs, stouts and sours.

Each year, brewers tabulate their production data and the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild compiles a report that is submitted to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control.

Since beer production is not correlated to population size, it's not always easy to guess which cities make the most beer.

Over the past five years, the report has identified Arizona's top beer-producing cities, and the findings vary year to year as existing companies enjoy expanding fan bases statewide and nationwide, and newcomers with increasing followings accelerate production, sometimes swaying the data for their entire cities. 

Here's a look at which breweries in cities across Arizona are making the most beer.

Arizona's top beer-producing cities

Chandler

Out of the whole state, the city of Chandler produces the most beer. And it all comes down to one main player. In 2020, SanTan Brewing Co. produced 97.6% of all the beer made in Chandler.

Tempe

Next up is Tempe, and not because of Four Peaks. The data in the report actually excludes Four Peaks Brewing Company, which is owned by international beverage giant Anheuser-Busch InBev. Tempe is No. 2 thanks to Huss Brewing Co., one of Arizona's largest breweries. Huss maintains independent ownership and is distributed only in Arizona. Tempe also gets a little help from The Shop Beer Co., which, in 2020, was the 12th largest brewery by production in the state.

Tucson

Tucson takes the third spot on the list thanks to two of its local breweries. In 2020, Barrio Brewing Co. was the fourth-largest beer producer in the state and Dragoon Brewing Co. took sixth place.

Flagstaff

Flagstaff, the Arizona city perhaps most known for its breweries, comes in at No. 4 on the 2020 list of beer-producing places. This is in large part thanks to Mother Road Brewing Co., the third-most productive brewery in the state in 2020. Flagstaff gets another boost from Lumberyard Brewing Co., which is the second-biggest brewery in Flagstaff and No. 8 on the 2020 list for amount of beer produced statewide. 

Phoenix

Last but not least, Phoenix cracks the top five for amount of beer produced in 2020. The biggest contributors were the Paradise Valley location of O.H.S.O. Brewery, PHX Beer Co. and Wren House Brewing Co.

Nos. 6 through 10

• Cottonwood made the list thanks to Wild Tonic, a company that is classified as a brewery, but produces hard jun kombucha.
• Lake Havasu City earned a spot due to production by College Street Brewhouse and Mudshark Brewing Co.
• Gilbert made the top 10 with Uncle Bear's Brewery and Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.
• Scottsdale barely squeezed onto the list with Fate Brewing Co. and Goldwater Brewing Co.
• Sedona slid in at No. 10 thanks to Oak Creek Brewing Co.

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Reach the reporter at tirion.morris@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter at @tirionmorris, on Facebook at Tirion Rose and on Instagram at tirionrose. 

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