Wednesday 24th of August 2016 08:55:42 PM

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Arizona Wilderness Brewing is Gilbert's first brewery.

Founded by a pair of backpacking beer lovers, they're located on the main drag through town, Arizona Avenue just a few blocks before the 101 Loop. You can't miss it.

On a hot August Arizona afternoon, after almost 3 hours in the "saddle" we stopped for a small bite and a tasting.

The pub itself sits at the end of their water-spritzed patio, it's good-sized with big screen TV's, darkened shades and a half dozen brews on tap.

It was Taco Tuesday; 1 taco for $3.00. To me, that's a little spendy.

The customer service from everyone was top notch. We were greeted with smiles, often asked "how you folks doin'?" and generally attended to with just the right amount of thoughtfulness.

Couldn't have asked for better.

The same could not be said for their beer.

We had a taster of 5 that included a 2 Pale Ales, 2 Saisons, and an IPA. Now I recognize the need to have summer, "light" beers and the insistent need to satisfy all you hop-heads out there but c'mon? Really? Not one dark beer?

One of the waitresses said she was a stout & porter gal and had wondered the same thing. Then told us that they just had an Russian Imperial Stout on tap that "flew" by in a week. That's right. The keg kicked in 7 days.

So if it was that popular, why isn't on year-round?

Long story short; loved the attitude, not so the selection which seems to be the modus operandi of so many breweries.

I was raised with the idea that customer is always right. I have been told more than once that that is not true.

If so, I must choose to spend my dollar (which provides less now than then) very carefully....and if I clamor for a beer, if I wish to sample something darker than a red ale, if spend a moment asking "why" -- If I do all this and am not satisfied then I must choose to go somewhere else.

These days a brewpub, as an investment, is what can only be considered a sure thing. When one opens, it is almost a certainty to be a success...even if the beer is nasty. (Yes, I've been to a few of those and my only explanation is that it is closer to a neighborhood than another 3 miles down the street).

So it's not too much to ask that brewers listen to what their customers ask for and not fall back on the idea of "Well, I brew what I want."

Grand. Do that...in your garage...but don't make your customers "pay."