Lake Pleasant Brewing Company Review
| Location | 1950 W Rose Garden Ln. #130Phoenix, AZ 85027 |
| Phone Number | (602) 799-4223 |
| Hours | M,W,Th 3 pm – 9 pm, T CLOSED, F-Sat 12 pm – 10 pm, Sun 12 pm – 6 pm |
| Website | https://lakepleasantbrewing.com/ |
Lake Pleasant Brewing Company opened in February 2022. Part of the burgeoning craft beer scene in North Phoenix, this young brewery was voted Best New Brewery by readers of Phoenix Magazine the same year it opened.
When we first heard the name, we thought it might be located near Lake Pleasant but that’s just its namesake. It’s actually a bit south of the lake in the Deer Valley airport area.
We visited this brewery/taproom several times between April and June 2022.
The Place: Lake Pleasant Brewing Company in North Phoenix
Nick Kelley and Dustin Westby are two friends who have been beer brewing hobbyists for years. They took their hobby to the professional level when they opened a public brewery and taproom in a retail/industrial mall on Rose Garden Lane.
The location is easy to find on the north side of West Rose Garden Lane, just west of North 19th Avenue. The taproom faces the street and has prominent signage over the entrance. There is plenty of free parking out front, but unfortunately no outdoor seating.
The space is a bit non-descript on the outside but is fronted by a bank of large windows. Walking inside, you’ll notice the industrial-casual wood and concrete vibe that seems popular amongst tap room decorators.
But the simple decor is OK with us, it’s clean, practical and comfortable. The spotlight is on the beer drinking experience, not distracting design schemes.
18 Taps and Large Public Space
After seating ourselves at the long concrete bar, we counted an 18 tap capacity with 12-15 Lake Pleasant Brewing Company beers available during our visits. They provided a printed menu with descriptions of each selection.
Behind the bar, the brewing facility is brightly lit by skylights. The public area is quite large and holds a long bar, and about 12 tables of various sizes.
There are several big-screen televisions, but it has less of a sports bar feel than some other taprooms we’ve visited. A stack of board games invites patrons to hang out for a while.
They have a recreation area featuring cornhole, video games and shuffleboard tucked away in the behind the bar. But honestly, I’m always so focused on their amazing beer I can’t be torn away from the bar.
The overall vibe is casual and welcoming. You don’t have to be a dude with a beard to fit in here!
Highlight: Very Welcoming Service
The there are two things that stand out in my mind about Lake Pleasant Brewing Co. First, they make some amazingly good beer. But equally important is the feeling of hospitality and enthusiasm we perceived on each of our visits. We felt like this was our neighborhood pub and immediately knew we’d be back.
After roaming the hills of California, Oregon, Washington and Arizona to visit small wineries, we’ve come to appreciate the experience as much as the beverages. Craft beer tasting is a different experience, but it doesn’t have to be limited to tossing back a quick pint.
It’s so much more enjoyable to sample craft beer when your server gives you a little back story. And when they do it with a big smile, it’s even better. The owners of LPBC have elevated the North Phoenix craft beer tasting experience by chatting with their customers and sharing their enthusiasm.
Eric Walters of Tap That AZ Podcast published a great interview with the guys a few months ago. In his video below, Dustin and Nick talk about the path that led them to Lake Pleasant Brewing Company. Enjoy…
The Beer
The founders of LPBC are beer hobbyists turned pro as of February 2022. Nick Kelley and Dustin Westby have developed their beer crafting skills from a deep interest in flavors and how they’re created. They don’t add “flavors” but draw flavors from traditional beer ingredients.
Beer Reviews
LPBC makes many styles of beer and offer a rotating menu. When I say everything we tasted was pretty rockin’, I’m not kidding. There wasn’t a clunker in the bunch.
Can’t wait to go back and try the styles I’m less attracted to normally. I know Nick and Dustin will not disappoint.
| Beer-ABV/IBU | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bavarian Hefeweizen-5.4%/11 | Straw-colored, hazy; lots of fruit and spice (banana, mango, clove, cardamom), light body, refreshing |
| Chocolate Coffee Stout-6.1%/57 | Dark brown, heavier body, espresso and dark chocolate. |
| Double Hazy IPA-8%/30 | Light gold, hazy, hoppy, slight citrus. |
| Munich Dunkel 5%/22 | Dark reddish brown, medium body, slightly hazy, nutty, toasty biscuits, hints of cola. |
| Pleasantly Hazy IPA-6.9%/30 | Flagship Beer-pretty light straw/lemon color, hazy, juicy citrus. You’re going to like it. (Favorite of the day) |
| Port Delays Porter-4.4%/40 | Very dark reddish-brown, roasted, malty, smooth and balanced. |
| West Coast IPA-7.1%/77 | Medium gold, slight haze, hoppy and dry with a hint of orange. |
See our ratings for some of these beers on Untappd.
Overall Impression
Lake Pleasant Brewing Company’s taproom and brewing facility in North Phoenix is a bright, welcoming joint you’ll want to visit frequently. They’re executing beautifully on the wide variety of beer styles they cover and continue to surprise with unexpected offerings like Cucumber Lime Gose Sour Ale.
With 18 taps and multiple serving sizes to choose from, everyone in your party will find something to love. Don’t forget to chat up the servers–you’ll learn a thing or two and make a new friend in the beer business.
This is one of my personal favorite local breweries. Their beer is really well-made and the vibe is super friendly. Highly recommended!
Additional Details
Here are a few more facts about Lake Pleasant Brewing Company to prepare you for your visit:
- CLOSED Tuesdays
- No food prepared there but food trucks visit most evenings-see the schedule on the brewery’s Facebook page.
- Free wi-fi
- Kid-friendly
- Close enough to Simple Machine Brewing and Front Pourch Brewing to make a beer crawl!
- No patio
- They play classic rock on the sound system and plan to host live music
- Selection of cold LPBC beer in cans available to take home
- Beer sampler available
- Multiple serving sizes including 5, 10, 13, 16 and 20 oz. glasses
- They offer a printed menu so you don’t have to squint at a TV screen or your phone
