Rebecca Safford remembers when her taste in beer started going sour.
It was several years ago, prior to her opening Tap & Bottle with her husband, Scott.
Safford was perusing the aisles of Plaza Liquors, her go-to shop for new and interesting things to drink, when a staff member threw out a suggestion.
“She said ‘You should really try the Duchesse or Petrus,’ these old sours from Belgium,” Safford said. “They were eye-opening for me.”
Her love for this specialty beer style, which can be made several ways, but often ends with a taste that is sour or funky (in a good way), has stuck with her.
In fact, sours have become a rather popular item at Tap & Bottle.
Safford says her crew is constantly asked which sours they have available – enough interest to make sure they have at least a couple on tap at all times.
Their bottle shop in the back has a section dedicated to the stuff.
This weekend, the Saffords will throw their third annual Sour Fest at T&B, lovingly dubbed “Where the Wild Things Pour.”
“You go on a wild trip when you are drinking sours,” Safford said. “You get the tartness, different fruit flavors. I really like the complexity and the breadth of how many different styles fall into the category.”
The two-day event, on Saturday, May 21, and Sunday, May 22, will feature sours from breweries across the United States and beyond, including a healthy selection of Arizona-made options.
Among the home-state offerings are a Hawaiian Gose from Tucson’s own 1912 Brewing Company, an Old Vat Flanders Brown Sour from Iron John’s Brewing, also in-town, and the Prickly Puss from Historic Brewing in Flagstaff.
Safford said the first two Sour Fests were incredibly popular, easily some the biggest weekends for the business, which has led to an increase in interest from breweries wanting to participate.
“In our first year, we were begging for kegs,” Safford said. “This year, we had too many. We are already at capacity. We had to turn some breweries away.”
The event is mostly free to attend. Beers can be ordered in flights or by the glass like on any other day.
The only ticketed portion is on Saturday, from 11 a.m.-noon, when Phil Emerson, lead brewer at Almanac Brewing Company in San Francisco, leads a sipping session of Almanac’s best sours.
Safford said previous Sour Fests have hosted a mix of beer enthusiasts familiar with sours and people who have never tried them before, but are curious.
“Hopefully, we’ll get some fans and convert some others,” she said.
More beer activities
Beast Brewing Company, 1326 W. Highway 92, in Bisbee will hold its second annual luau on Saturday, May 21, with Hawaiian cuisine, tropical-themed games and of course, beer. The event, the perfect destination for a road trip, runs from noon to 9 p.m. Admission is free. 1-520-284-5251.
Tucson Hop Shop, 3230 N. Dodge Blvd., will play host to an evening featuring pairings of cheeses from Blu and ciders from the Finnriver Cidery in Chimacum, Washington. The event starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 25. Tickets are $30. Info: tucsonhopshop.com
