Mogollon Brewing Company - Our Story
Mogollon Brewing Company opened its micro-brewery and pub in 1997, in a remodeled 103-year-old building in downtown historic Flagstaff, AZ, under the wing of Dana Kanzler, Mogollon's master brewer. The Company was named after the Mogollon Rim in Arizona, in honor of Dana's grandfather who was one of the early settlers along the Rim.
Mogollon beer quickly gained a large following as great handcrafted brews, and the pub became the place to enjoy a few pints and relax in a welcome atmosphere. By 2001, Mogollon brews became the number one selling bottled micro-brew in Arizona.
During this time micro-distilling was growing throughout the country and the Company became interested in producing its own quality and unique small batch, handcrafted spirits. In 2005, the Company purchased a still from Germany. At the time there had been no legal distilleries in Arizona, and while the Company could make spirits for sampling, it couldn't sell those spirits to the public. It took till 2007 to get the laws changed and Arizona High Spirits Distillery became the first legal distillery in Arizona history.
The first spirit product from the still was the popular Prickly Pear Cactus Vodka, followed by a smooth American Vodka. Other products also followed such as, Prickly Pear Liqueur, Pieces of Eight Spiced Rum, Desert Dry Gin, and a unique Chili Vodka infused with a Serrano chili.
The pub continued to become an ever popular entertainment venue featuring varied local and nationally recognized music of all genres. The popularity of the pub and the increasing time and efforts needed to operate as both a pub and nightclub, combined with operating the brewery and the distillery operations, all in a limited building space, finally reached a peak. Wanting to refocus back on just brewing and distilling, the pub/nightclub was sold in late 2008, and the brewery and still were moved to a building in east Flagstaff to concentrate on beer and spirits production and distribution.
In 2008, Mogollon began canning beer, the Wapiti Amber Ale. We plan to begin canning our other beers, as well as bottling 22 oz. bombers of limited special production brews.
As of 2011, because of current laws and licensing, the new brewery/distillery location doesn't have a tasting room as yet, though we are working on getting those laws changed.
Today, Mogollon Brewing Company and Arizona High Spirits Distillery are dedicated to the art of creating great tasting beer and spirits
Our brewing and distilling choice in quality ingredients, and using only mountain pure water, serve as a window into the company's passion, dedication and appreciation for quality and truly enjoyable products. And just like when the company was founded, we also strive to create unique tastes and flavors that make it impossible not to sit back and relax with friends while enjoying a great brew or spirit.
Looking to the future, we will continue to pay attention to detail and be ever passionate about brew and spirits, providing products we can be proud of and more importantly, that you will enjoy!
Mogollon Brewing Company opened its micro-brewery and pub in 1997, in a remodeled 103-year-old building in downtown historic Flagstaff, AZ, under the wing of Dana Kanzler, Mogollon's master brewer. The Company was named after the Mogollon Rim in Arizona, in honor of Dana's grandfather who was one of the early settlers along the Rim.
Mogollon beer quickly gained a large following as great handcrafted brews, and the pub became the place to enjoy a few pints and relax in a welcome atmosphere. By 2001, Mogollon brews became the number one selling bottled micro-brew in Arizona.
During this time micro-distilling was growing throughout the country and the Company became interested in producing its own quality and unique small batch, handcrafted spirits. In 2005, the Company purchased a still from Germany. At the time there had been no legal distilleries in Arizona, and while the Company could make spirits for sampling, it couldn't sell those spirits to the public. It took till 2007 to get the laws changed and Arizona High Spirits Distillery became the first legal distillery in Arizona history.
The first spirit product from the still was the popular Prickly Pear Cactus Vodka, followed by a smooth American Vodka. Other products also followed such as, Prickly Pear Liqueur, Pieces of Eight Spiced Rum, Desert Dry Gin, and a unique Chili Vodka infused with a Serrano chili.
The pub continued to become an ever popular entertainment venue featuring varied local and nationally recognized music of all genres. The popularity of the pub and the increasing time and efforts needed to operate as both a pub and nightclub, combined with operating the brewery and the distillery operations, all in a limited building space, finally reached a peak. Wanting to refocus back on just brewing and distilling, the pub/nightclub was sold in late 2008, and the brewery and still were moved to a building in east Flagstaff to concentrate on beer and spirits production and distribution.
In 2008, Mogollon began canning beer, the Wapiti Amber Ale. We plan to begin canning our other beers, as well as bottling 22 oz. bombers of limited special production brews.
As of 2011, because of current laws and licensing, the new brewery/distillery location doesn't have a tasting room as yet, though we are working on getting those laws changed.
Today, Mogollon Brewing Company and Arizona High Spirits Distillery are dedicated to the art of creating great tasting beer and spirits
Our brewing and distilling choice in quality ingredients, and using only mountain pure water, serve as a window into the company's passion, dedication and appreciation for quality and truly enjoyable products. And just like when the company was founded, we also strive to create unique tastes and flavors that make it impossible not to sit back and relax with friends while enjoying a great brew or spirit.
Looking to the future, we will continue to pay attention to detail and be ever passionate about brew and spirits, providing products we can be proud of and more importantly, that you will enjoy!
