Downtown Chandler to host bourbon, beer, BBQ fest
Two of Downtown Chandler’s biggest breweries are joining forces once again for a two-day Beer, Bourbon and Barbeque festival on March 3 from 4 to 11 p.m. and March 4 from noon to 11. It will be the first year both companies will headline the event, featuring brews, top-tier barbeque and family fun.
The idea arose during Oktoberfest when the two owners first met in collaboration. San Tan Brewery’s Jamie Hoffman and Pedal Haus’ Chris Purcell, along with The Perch, were originally brought together by the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership in October 2022. Eventually, through discussions, Hoffman and Purcell found two was the ideal number. We thought, ‘Let’s give it a try,’” Purcell said about Oktoberfest. The positive experience led to the two coming together once again. “We were like, ‘this is great, let’s do this again,’” Purcell said with a laugh. “This was fun, this footprint really worked,” added Hoffman. Hoffman also noted that San Tan helped get a previous beer and barbeque festival, which is now run by 102.5 KNIX, off the ground years ago. But he is looking to bring the festival back to Downtown on a smaller scale.
With the experience from Oktoberfest, the two say they are excited to produce an even better event. “The feedback we got from other businesses was, they were packed,” Hoffman said. “Any time we can bring in–especially non-Chandler residents –to downtown to see what we have to offer is good. “I mean, yes, of course we want to make money in the event, but I don’t think that’s the driving force for doing these things. It’s really about that exposure for not just us, but for Downtown Chandler.”
The complementary styles of each brewery’s beer lineup and menus are just another reason why the two work so well together, San Tan produces hoppy IPAs while Pedal Haus specializes in crisp lagers. Both teams work well together and both have common goals and values, Purcell said, which makes the end product great for the community. “This has the potential to be the point of difference to the bigger one (102.5 KNIX),” Hoffman said. “We can make it about really good craft beer and craft cocktails and really good craft food. “And I think that fits Downtown Chandler.”
