Graveyard Post II -- Somewhere between Philly and Phoenix

07/28/2024 - 08/18/2024

As you may recall, Sarah Love's phone was lost and along with it all of the pretzel tasting data spanning roughly seven months. The following is a recollection of the noble, and maybe not so noble, pretzel information lost.

Disclaimer: everything in this Graveyard Post is solely based off pictures and memories.

07/28/2024

Walter Station Brewery -- Phoenix, AZ

"Pretzel Bites"

Menu Description: with "Winston's British Bitter" beer cheese

$8.00

These small pretzel nuggets resembled pastries. They were adorned with an adequate amount of salt over their perfect light amber brown color.

08/04/2024 The Attic Ale House -- Arcadia, Phoenix, AZ A dear friend of Kenny's joined us on this pretzel tasting adventure. Unfortunately, her comments were lost along with the rest of the critique.
"Jumbo Baked Salted Pretzel"
Menu Description: dijon mustard, beer cheese
$8.50

The typically shaped pretzel had three twists in the center and was colored deep, mahogany. Two accoutrements (presumably, mustard and beer cheese) accompanied the lightly salted snack. The pretzel was a decent sized appetizer for three.

08/11/2024 Throne Brewing -- Glendale, AZ "Jumbo Soft Pretzel" Menu Description: hand-twisted, salted, soft pretzel; served with your choice of beer cheese and/or mustard $9.00 Kenny and Sarah Love elected to purchase both accoutrements. The medium brown pretzel came out glistening without a lot of salt. The treat was of regular shape and had three twists in the middle.

08/16/2024 Four Peaks Brewing Company Airport -- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

"Brickhouse Pretzel" Menu Description: Salted Noble Pretzel; side - spicy mustard; side - green chile cheese sauce $11.50 This snack was definitely fried as it was soaked in fryer oil, made visible by the oily bubbles coating the pretzel. It was typical in shape and light beige in color, almost like it was undercooked. We think there was a light amount of salt, though it is hard to determine with the amount of grease covering the pretzel. Though we do not have the exact rating, Kenny and Sarah Love both recollected it was assigned a terrible one. Definitely not worth the price and we do NOT recommend.

08/18/2024 Snitz Creek Brewery -- Annville, PA We attended one of Sarah Love's good friend's wedding and we decided to do a tasting afterward. The wedding was in the middle of nowhere in Pennsylvania but we managed to find a place that served a pretzel. "Philly Pretzel" Menu Description: Explorer Ale cheese sauce The pretzel was long, braided and skinny; accompanied by cheese sauce which was dripped on the pretzel making it look very unbecoming if you get our drift. Not only did the mild to deep brown snack that was seemingly salt-less look comically awful, it's taste was not too flattering either. Again, Kenny and Sarah Love highly discourage ordering a pretzel at Snitz Creek Brewery.

Thank you for your support and comradery in the pretzel tasting experience and reviews. We appreciate you and your time! We have updated a few things on the blog for easier viewing and reading, thank you for your kind feedback. Keep it coming! Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

Graveyard Post I -- Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

05/12/2024 - 12/02/2024
A terrible misfortune occurred Monday, December 2nd, 2024. Sarah Love's cell phone was tragically lost. Unfortunately, this is where Kenny and Sarah Love stored all their notes on the pretzel reviews. All pretzel posts following the date of May 11th, 2024 were lost in the ether. Some of the locations we can revisit, while sadly other data, like the international posts from Canada, are gone forever. However, Kenny is the keeper of the snapshots, both of the pretzels and adventures; the saving grace is we still have some memories of these lost posts. Below are the stories of the not-so-forgotten Canadian pretzels found in the photos Kenny and Sarah Love had available. 07/07/2024 Phillips Brewing and Malting Co. -- Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

The first pretzel reviewed was at Phillips Brewing and Malting Co., tucked away in a quaint suburb of the city. Kenny and Sarah Love walked to the spot, enjoying the cool weather. It was humorous though, the Canadians kept complaining about the heat wave. Since Kenny and Sarah Love live in Phoenix they can attest the Canadian summer weather was not hot by comparison. Phillips is well known in the area and crafts delicious brews. It is a medium sized venue, long and skinny with a bar to the right as you walk in and tables to the left. The brewery was cozy and had a warm, welcoming vibe. "Pretzel" Menu Description: Fresh baked daily at Yonni's Doughnuts one block up the road on Discovery St. Served with a side of mustard. The pretzel came out with a light-medium brown color and looked very plump. The salt was plentiful and evenly distributed. Grain mustard was the accoutrement that accompanied it. Beer Cheese Dip was sold separately and Kenny and Sarah Love opted to add this menu option after the pretzel arrived. 07/08/2024 The Local -- Victoria, British Colombia, Canada "Beer Cheese Pretzel" Menu Description: jalapeno beer cheese, mustard.

Kenny and Sarah Love were surprised to see an alien staring back at them when the plate arrived from the kitchen. The dark crust was covered in an ample amount of salt. The baked treat came with three sauces. The third sauce pictured is a mystery since there are only two accoutrements listed on the menu. Kenny believes it is an additional helping of the jalapeno beer cheese. Although it is disappointing not to be able to share the final rating of either of these pretzels, Kenny and Sarah Love can attest the experience was exciting just because it was out of the country. It was a lovely vacation and finding two pretzels to try was both challenging and rewarding. Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love
Disclaimer: everything in this Graveyard Post is solely based off pictures and memories.

Tombstone Brewing Company -- Arcadia, Phoenix, AZ

 05/11/2024 Sarah Love and Kenny still had some time to kill prior to the opening of the PHX Vintage Market at the Brewery which had unexpectedly been pushed back from the 12 o'clock hour to 4:00 PM. As they sat at the bar in the PHX Beer Co. the idea had been hatched to find another nearby brewery and experience a second pretzel tasting. Kenny and Sarah Love set off exploring for an additional venue. A location nearby in Phoenix was the obvious choice since they were already in the vicinity. After a brief search they had decided upon the Tombstone Brewing Company in Arcadia. From the PHX Beer Co., Sarah Love and Kenny hopped in a Lyft and headed to the brewing company for their additional tasty treat. This location was tucked away near a shopping center off 40th and Thomas. While the brewery is in an area of Phoenix known as Arcadia, their first establishment originated in the famous, or infamous, Tombstone, Arizona. You may recognize the name Tombstone as being associated with the stereotypical "wild west" motif. Located in southeastern Arizona, and what was once home to US Marshall Wyatt Earp, there are a plethora of unique stories about this quaint town and his time served there. The area also hosted the well known gunfight at the O.K. Corral between noble lawmen of the southwest consisting of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, the brothers Virgil & Morgan Earp and a band of outlaw cowboys. In a nutshell, ironically the gunfight was a brief 30-second shootout over enforcing gun laws leaving three of the lawmen wounded and three cowboys dead. Now, the gunfight is an everlasting symbol of the lawlessness of the old west and a strong juxtaposition between order and chaos.

Meanwhile back in Arcadia, Kenny and Sarah Love sat down in the relaxed open spaced brewery to enjoy their second pretzel tasting of the day. The server was very positive and highly attentive which is always welcomed during any dining experience.
Tombstone Brewing Company -- Arcadia, Phoenix, AZ “Jumbo Bavarian Pretzel” Menu Description: House made beer cheese.

Upon reception of their salted, twisted treat, Sarah Love and Kenny noted the gargantuan pretzel was light brown in color and had a visual appeal that was reminiscent of Snyder's of Hanover's Braided Twists. The buttery snack glistened under the bar lights with a seemingly perfect salt ratio. The tasting went well. The pretzel had a doughy texture that paired well with the house made beer cheese, resembling a light queso with a slight hint of spice. In addition, the simplicity of the yellow mustard provided an excellent complement. 3.0/5.0 Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

PHX Beer Co. -- Phoenix, AZ

05/11/2024 Kenny and Sarah Love ventured into Phoenix on a fine, mid-morning Saturday. There were two reasons this outing occurred. Initially, we set off to visit the PHX Vintage Market at the Brewery. The event was advertised to open at noon. When we arrived a few vendors had gotten there and were setting up. We soon learned, however, it had been rescheduled to open at 4:00 PM that particular day. The second reason, of course, was to enjoy a pretzel tasting and a beer: a Sonoran White Chocolate Ale for Kenny and an IPA for Sarah Love. A cool vibe and chill atmosphere awaited us in the PHX Beer Co. The brewery was unique; it was literally an open warehouse. A couple of yard games were out for patrons. It was pretty empty since the bar just opened. The kitchen was not even in operation yet. As Kenny and Sarah Love waited patiently, a burly gentleman came in and asked the barkeep for a 'penny beer'. Highly intrigued, we learned about PubPass - a scavenger hunt of breweries sprinkled throughout AZ but mostly located in Phoenix and surrounding areas. The 2024 annual pass was $25 and guaranteed you a penny beer at 25 participating locations. There are sometimes limitations on the beer choice, depending on the brewery, but the deal is unbeatable! Kenny and Sarah Love immediately purchased these passports to begin their beer tasting mission. Not to upstage their pretzel tasting experience and efforts, though! On a side note, the Phoenix brewery location has unfortunately closed prior to this pretzel blog post. Fortunately, however, the brewery has moved spots and is now located in Tempe.
PHX Beer Co. -- Phoenix, AZ
“Pretzel Bites” Menu Description: Caraway, Arizona Gold Cheese Fondue, Iron Horse Porter Mustard.
When the kitchen did open, Kenny and Sarah Love jumped at the opportunity and embarked on the beginning of their pretzel tasting adventure. The order came out relatively quickly since we were practically the only ones in the brewery.

The bites were little nugget shapes and resembled mini-potatoes. They were light weight and colored with an amber hue. The toppings were alright. Another pinch of salt would have helped the ratio; the caraway provided an interesting flavor twist. As for the texture, the crispy outside crust surrounded the doughy inside and the juxtaposition between the two was great.

Along with the pretzel bites came two side accoutrements. First, was the thin fondue. What a delicious cheese taste it had! Kenny gave a thumb of approval for the mustard, vouching for how flavorful it was. Sarah Love claimed the mustard had a bite up front that subsided pretty quickly. The excursion that day was far from finished, but this pretzel tasting was definitely successful. 3.5/5.0 Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

The Perch Brewery -- Chandler, AZ

The Perch Brewery -- Chandler, AZ

Sarah Love and Kenny took a casual Sunday drive into downtown Chandler. It was a little bit of a hike from their standard stomping grounds; they usually frequent places around Phoenix. Chandler is home to a variety of dining establishments, including a few breweries. One brewery in particular had piqued our interest as it houses a gigantic enclosure holding a small variety of exotic rescue birds. Kenny parked in the parking lot caddy-corner for easy access to the destination. Then we set off.

Kenny and Sarah Love arrived at peak lunch time hours on a Sunday and had to wait for a little while. There were naughty children outside waiting for their own family's table which was quite vexing. When it was our turn to be seated we found ourselves in an open air dining area. The beautiful and spacious outdoor patio was perfectly suited for the April weather.

The bird sanctuary next to us was large and displayed many different, unique birds. Each bird is a rescued pet; they had been unwanted, neglected, abused and abandoned and the Perch decided to make it their mission to give them a good home. To ensure their safety, the birds are not sold, bought or bred.*

There was a chill vibe to the restaurant. The venue contains an outside, inside, and upstairs portion but Kenny and Sarah Love decided they weren't necessarily in an exploring mood. Instead they sat and enjoyed the beautiful weather outside. In the bathrooms, there were colorful flyers advertising fun events. It would be a great place to visit during the week, both for some entertainment and to hang out with the birds. Unfortunately, it is too far for Kenny and Sarah Love to make the trek during the week.

On an ironic note, The Perch Brewery does serve buffalo wings just in case you were morbidly curious.

04/14/2024

The birds were quite loud as we sat waiting for our food. Soon the waitress, who was very pleasant, brought out our pretzel. The snack was toasted brown and smelled of butter. There were odd visual textures. The lightly coated salt was interestingly enough flaky. There were bubbles baked into the pretzel's crust which are supposedly called microblisters - sounds appetizing, doesn't it? The shape was normal and the size was enough for two as an appetizer. As we bit into the treat there was a light and airy feel. The taste was decent. Accompanying the pretzel was a thin beer cheese with a tiny kick of spice. Not too impressed, but not disappointed, Kenny and Sarah Love enjoyed the treat and were excited to have another pretzel tasting under their belt.

3.25/5.00

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

*The Perch Brewery - Meet the Birds!

Urge Taphouse Kitchen -- Scottsdale, AZ

Urge Taphouse Kitchen -- Scottsdale, AZ The Scottsdale Civic Center is located in the southern part of the city and backs up to an area known as Old Town Scottsdale. The grounds house lovely gardens where Kenny and Sarah Love enjoy spending time together. The Civic Center provides a whole cultural experience with eateries, a hotel, an outdoor theater, a museum, a performance hall, and a few small shops. On this particular day as we went to visit, we were greeted by the alluring aroma of the gorgeous flowers and the warmth of the mid-April sunshine. You will find beautifully manicured lawns and vegetation at the park in spring. Kenny removed his shoes and socks finding the soft, green grass to be his favorite, and took a moment to 'ground' himself.

Not long after Kenny's meditative experience, he and Sarah Love found a unique culinary shopping experience in which to engage. They meandered toward Old Town and ended up at The Spice & Tea Exchange of Scottsdale. The shop displayed a quaint hub of teas, herbs, and spices. There were countless tea leaf bins, all smelling quite different. There were spice racks that filled entire walls. And the herbs almost stretched from floor to ceiling. As they explored the merchandise, Sarah Love found one blend of spices named "Crazy Chicken Seasoning." It smelled so highly appealing, we had to buy it. Not only did they have spices and teas but there were other novelties, too. The roasted garlic linguine, an herb infused pasta, caught our eye and that went home with us as well. Although, it did not live up to expectations. The last thing we found ourselves gravitating towards was a Rosemary Basil Sea Salt. We have yet to try it, but the plan is to give it a whirl on a fresh caprese salad. The Spice & Tea Exchange of Scottsdale is a fun place to visit if you cook, enjoy new tastes, and have an extra dollar to spend. It definitely fits the bill as a specialty shop in Old Town Scottsdale.

04/13/2024

After a few hours of strolling we found a place to wet our whistle and satiate our growing appetites. The Urge Taphouse Kitchen was a few miles away and perfect for this sunny afternoon. Sarah Love and Kenny sat at their high top table deep in conversation, quite thoroughly enjoying one another's company. Out from the kitchen came the server, hastily approaching, yet politely setting the salty, twisted treat on our table. The pretzel was a light golden brown and the butter that coated the dough sizzled before the snack cooled. Decently sized, the regular braided pretzel shape was large enough for two. As we were getting ready to take a taste, we noticed a liberal amount of salt. In the first bites, we experienced a soft, doughy, and pillowy texture which was quite delicious. The taste itself was extremely reminiscent of what one would expect of a standard hard pretzel actually. Along with our delectable baked good was an accompaniment of beer cheese that was plenty thick and creamy and only added to the taste profile. This particular pretzel was extremely tasty and it is a shame that the Urge Taphouse Kitchen has closed its doors since. 4.2/5.0 Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

Miner's Saloon -- Golden, CO

Miners Saloon - Golden, CO

Our first day in Colorado we experienced a quiet, beautiful snow day. For breakfast Kenny, Pokey and Sarah Love decided to brave the cold on our way to the coffee joint, Devil's Cup (which has since closed). It was only down the road a few blocks but the snow was messy. The contrast between the chilly March weather outside and the warmth of the coffee shop made the place all the more welcoming. Breakfast was served, a tasty parfait for Kenny while Sarah Love enjoyed a delicious breakfast sandwich.

Once we were finished eating we trekked back through the snowy streets bound for home. The rest of the day we played games as we waited for Pokey's husband to finish his work day and join us. By that point, everyone was hungry.

Thankfully, the evening before we had stopped at the grocery store prior to the snow starting and picked up some snacks. One of our favorite dishes to delight our hosts with whenever we visit is a fresh Caprese salad. We also bought some limes to squeeze and cucumbers to muddle for a perfectly refreshing concoction which we enjoyed thoroughly.

The next day Sarah Love and Kenny ventured into the heart of Denver to visit the Denver Botanic Gardens. The grounds were blanketed with a soft, beautiful snow; the air temperature was quite chilly. Kenny took amazing photographs (as usual) that captured the essence of the botanic garden to its fullest extent.

It was unique seeing the gardens covered in snow. The beauty was not wasted on us despite the lack of fauna and foliage available to see. Due to the weather, the place seemed vacant which was especially pleasant.

In accordance with our past adventures, we knew we needed to experience another pretzel tasting. The four of us drove to Golden, Colorado to meet up with a mutual friend at the Miner's Saloon. Kenny and Sarah Love were delighted to find a pretzel on the menu.

Given it was Saint Patrick's Day, the bar truly embraced the holiday spirit. Not only did they serve the traditional green beer, the room was dominated by the green lighting that definitely did not contribute to a realistic snapshot of the pretzel. The ambience was also permeated with a very chill vibe. It literally felt like an old timey mining saloon. If you are ever in Golden, Colorado we definitely suggest you visit this establishment.

03/17/2024

Under the "First Picks" section of the menu we spotted the Jalapeño Pretzel which was served with Dijon mustard and a cheese sauce. We were immediately intrigued. We had to try it! As the treat arrived at the table we noted its deep brown color and that it was a regular shaped pretzel. Also, it had a decent amount of salt, although it was unevenly distributed. Upon biting into the baked good there was a nice crunchy crust which yielded to a soft inner dough that provided great juxtaposition. Sarah Love noted the jalapeño heat was real while Kenny seemed unscathed. The Dijon mustard went well with the bready snack and the cheese sauce was nothing shy of phenomenal! Please note, Kenny wants you to know the condiments served with the pretzel were not indeed green even though it was Saint Patty's Day and it looks like it in the picture. 3.75/5.0

Sincerely,

Kenny Muzzey & Sarah Love

Greetings from Golden, Colorado!