For a lot of adults, going on a tour of a brewery that makes your favorite beer is like Charlie and Grandpa Joe finding a golden ticket to tour Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. There’s something magical and exciting when you see where and how your favorite beer is made.

Four Peaks Brewery is one of the biggest and well-known breweries in the Southwest. Kilt Lifter, by far their most popular and well-known beer, has become as synonymous with Arizona as cacti, golf and sunshine. Since 1994, Four Peaks Brewery has been producing some of the best beer in America. They’re housed in an old brick building that was built to be an ice house in the 1890s – almost 20 years before Arizona became a state. The F.A. Hough’s Ice Factory operated a creamery, processing dairy products here in Tempe. Through the years, the iconic red brick building transitioned into a recording studio for Uranus Recording. Local musical icons The Gin Blossoms recorded there. So did Stevie Nicks.

Today it’s known throughout the city as the home of Four Peaks Brewing. Visitors can schedule tour of the brewery right on the Four Peaks website. It’s a great way to get a behind the scenes look at not only the iconic building but the beer making process. Learn about how they make your favorite beer, what goes into the process, how it’s stored and how they can it. It’s great because everything is functioning and working (unlike a museum) so you can actually watch everything happening right in front of you. No tour would be complete without a parting gift and touring Four Peaks Brewery is happy to oblige. Every tour includes two taster tickets that are good for a 16 oz. beer.

After the tour, you’re sure to have worked up an appetite. Grab a bite to eat at the restaurant and bar, conveniently located at the brewery. Everything on the menu is delicious, and check out our video to see what beer pairs well with some favorite menu items.

Learn more about Four Peaks Brewery by visiting their website.