Well, it’s Been Ten Years and a Vat of Beers…

Four Peaks Celebrates 10 years!!

July 1st, 1998. Where were you? I can tell you I was still in my twenties and working for America West Vacations. That is, until I began a new endeavor helping out an old college chum, Randy, open up a brand new kitchen at the brewery he was a partner in.

The place was called Four Peaks Brewing Company, perhaps you’ve heard of it. The location was a converted creamery from the end of the 19th Century in north Tempe, on 8th Street to be exact, ring a bell? I thought it was an okay move, they were only going to be open for dinner (4 o’clock to prep, 5 o’clock to serve), it was down on University three miles from my day job, and they promised me free beer! Who could’ve said no? Well, that was impetus enough for me to say, “You know what, sounds cool, I’ll hang around until you’re situated and then get outta your hair.”

Fast forward 10 years to July 1st 2008… I don’t think they necessarily need my help anymore, but I am definitely still in their collective hair (or lack thereof… insert rim shot! I’m kidding, please don’t fire me!). I remember people’s first days and other memorable events, that’s for sure! Steve Lynch the line cook fresh from Balboa Cafe, Pat Murphy from The Vine as a server, Matt McCormack the door guy, Sarah Kelly known only as Melissa’s sister, and when Johnny Vegas had long hair to name a few. I remember when there were no expediters aside from Friday and Saturday nights, $6 growler Sundays, clam and garlic pizza, and gas being 99 cents a gallon. I remember our first X-mas party in the back bar area of the Brewery, Greg Snodgrass as our first GM, Steve Lewis coming in with his “Bubbles of Joy” truck to roll pizza dough for the evening, take-out from Bojo’s during the week, and when we had bubble hockey.

Do you remember Valerie Hudson, Heather Crowley, Lindsey Larkin, “little” Joe, Sean Nicholson, Aimee Koon, Jonathan “G” Lane and the other fifteen Jennifer’s we had working here? Back in 1998, there was a first year baseball team we called the Diamondbacks, Cluck-U was on the corner of Rural and 8th, Jake “The Snake” Plummer had just graduated from ASU, and the Vikings just drafted this Randy Moss fellow.

Come to think of it, I have witnessed quite a bit from my vantage point at Four Peaks in the last ten years. For that alone I would like to thank you. This milestone in human history could not have been accomplished without your continued patronage, support and desire to not conform to the level of mediocrity available before. You are the reason I am still here, and you will continue to be the reason people like Arthur, Jim, Andy and Randy want to put out a product that all of Arizona can be proud of. Kudos to all of you!