Huss Brewing Co. will open the all-new Papago Brewing Company taproom at Mesa Riverview, Arix., on Friday, February 3. This new Papago Brewing taproom is a personal passion project for both Leah and Jeff Huss, the husband-and-wife founders of Huss Brewing Co. Besides serving as Huss’ Brewmaster, Jeff Huss is a diehard Chicago Cubs fan, which hosts Spring Training baseball just a mile away from the new taproom at Sloan Park.
“It’s always been my dream to reintroduce the Papago Brewing experience,” Leah Huss says. “Not a rehash or a replica of the old taproom, but a brand-new iteration. I really wanted to envision what Papago Brewing would look like in 2023, so we’ll still have elements of a traditional European-style beer pub and vintage furnishings, yet very fresh and forward-looking.”
Formerly home to The Brass Tap, this standalone 2,100 sq.-ft., 104-seat taproom and restaurant will pour an ever-changing selection of 60 craft draft beers, plus packaged beers to-go. Leah says, they’re excited to build on the solid craft beer foundation built by Brass Tap owners, Jesse and Jason Rowe. “They’ve been great stewards of the Mesa craft beer scene, and we’re excited to introduce Huss and Papago to the neighborhood.”
“We are absolutely thrilled to be the home for the new Papago Brewing Co. taproom, a welcome addition to the center at an incredibly opportune time,” says MaLeea Cole-Briggs, Mesa Riverview Property Manager. “With the Super Bowl being held so close to the center in mid-February and Spring Training for the Chicago Cubs kicking off in late February essentially across the street, the opening of Papago Brewing Co. couldn’t have been better timed. The pub’s wide selection of craft beers and old-world ambiance will provide a comfortable gathering space that we are sure our guests, including the area’s top sports fans and tourists, will heartily embrace.”
Beside featuring freshly-crafted brews spanning the entire Huss Family of Beers, the new Papago taproom will also feature top local beers from Arizona and beyond, plus small batch and experimental beers, and even the return of past favorites such as Elsie’s Milk Stout and Hopago IPA. This will all be paired with a compact menu of premium bar bites including Classic Chips & Dip, Sausage & Pretzel Board, Papago Pies 12” pizzas, Paninis & Sandwiches, Salads, and more.
The opening of Papago Brewing Co. also coincides with Huss’ refresh of the Papago brand. Before partnering with Jeff to open Huss Brewing in 2013, Leah Huss spent 14 years a co-owner at the original Papago Brewing Company in Scottsdale, where she helped pioneer the local craft beer scene, including the creation of Papago’s signature beer, Papago Orange Blossom.
Although the Scottsdale taproom eventually closed, Leah and Jeff Huss made sure Papago’s pioneering spirit lived on, purchasing Papago Brewing Company in 2016 and expanding the product line to include Papago Cherry Blossom and the brand-new Papago Blueberry Wheat beers. And now approaching nearly two decades of existence in the Arizona marketplace, Huss has taken the iconic brand to the next level with newly designed cans.
“This refreshing and iconic brand is almost 18 years old, so we wanted to give it a bright and fresh new feel,” Leah Huss says. “The new cans really showcase the oranges and refreshing nature that has made Papago Orange Blossom one of Arizona’s favorite beers for almost 2 decades!”
Located at 1033 N Dobson Road in Mesa, the Papago Brewing Company taproom is inside the Mesa Riverview, adjacent to the movie theater. Proudly based in South Tempe, Huss Brewing Co. also has taprooms inside the Tempe brewery, plus taprooms in both Uptown Phoenix and Downtown Phoenix.
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