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INSIDE LOOK: PHX Ale Brewery to open gastropub

Posted at 2:32 PM, Apr 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-26 17:32:11-04

A new gastropub is coming to central Phoenix.

Valley restaurateur and former CEO of NYPD Pizza Rich Stark, along with the people behind Phoenix Ale Brewery, have teamed up to open The Phoenix Ale Brewery Central Kitchen.

It will be located at the Crown on Seventh, an adaptive-reuse space that opened last year, near Bethany Home Road and Seventh Street. The pub is not open yet, but is slated to open on Monday, May 9.

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Stark said the pub has been designed to "celebrate craft beer and food" flavor pairings and profiles, while hoping to be that "go-to neighborhood place."

When it comes to craft beer, the industry has been booming and adding new flavors, he feels, but the menus have not adapted as fast. There's too much "bar food" out there, he thinks.

In designing the menu, Stark says they worked with their team to ensure Phoenix Ale's brews were not only paired well with menu offerings, but were used as ingredients in making the dishes.Null

He says one-third of the menu uses beer as an element, including the "King George Amber Ale"* in its pizza dough, the "Biltmore Blonde" in its Blonde & Butter Pickles and "Camelback IPA" in its pickled jalapenos and Fresno peppers.

View some of the menu items in the gallery above.Null

Other dishes include Pretzel Bites, the Ale House Steak Salad, BBQ Bison Burger, Brew Master Black Iron Pizza, Grilled Gulf Prawn Tostada, Cast Iron Macaroni and Cheese, and Ironwood Porter Brownie.

When mapping out the interior, the idea was to create an environment that mimics the brewery--note copper and various woods--while also being inviting enough for anyone to check out, whether it was to have a casual business meeting, a date, or to grab a bite to eat after work, said Stark.

Over the bar, guests will see over 200 re-purposed beer bottles that collectively were designed to outline the Camelback Mountains.

The beer will not be brewed at the restaurant. That will happen at the brewery, which has a taproom, at 3002 E. Washington Street, a few blocks from Phoenix Sky Harbor airport

Once the bar opens and the opening-day kinks are smoothed out and perfected, the goal is to expand into the neighboring communities.

IF YOU GO:
Phoenix Ale Brewery Central Kitchen (Opens May 9)
5813 N. 7th Street, #140, Phoenix, AZ 85014
centralkitchenaz.com