Spring has sprung here in beautiful Flagstaff, boils and ghouls! Vampire season is over, and it’s officially time to go full werewolf! And we all know what that means� The glorious, dark times spent bar drinking have now given way to sun-kissed nature drinking, and this month, we’re going to spotlight a couple of our favorite, easily accessible outdoors spots to post up with some sweet, sweet suds.
We’re going to start with a classic here� While technically not Flagstaff, the tradition of heading down the hill to Oak Creek is about as truest northern Arizona things you can do. If you’re looking for the super-secluded, super-secret spots, the staff here at Masters of Brewtality will happily watch you die waiting. Not kidding, we party where cults have actually killed people and you, dear reader, will never get the directions because that’s for us and us alone. However, we will happily share two other slightly off-the-beaten-path swim spots where you can pop open a few cold ones without debasing yourself like a common tourist at Slide Rock. Directly south, you’ll find Midgley Bridge and Grasshopper Point, both of which are easily accessible with a backpack of booze. Parking has gotten weird over the last few years, so follow the signs to avoid towing and tickets. But once you make it past that nonsense, you’ll find that party atmosphere you’re looking for. There’s rock slides on par with Slide Rock and the atmosphere is far more laid back. Fair warning, the rocks do indeed get very slick. We’ve seen people slip so epically they’ve wound up vertical at eye level before smashing onto the rocks and getting sucked downstream. Always remember, the desert wants to kill you and adjust your plans accordingly.
The spring season brings diverse weather, so it is ideal to have a wide variety of wines on hand. John Vankat tasted more than 100 wines from various grapes for this column, and narrowed down his favorites across a broad range of prices. Read morePine Wine: Wines for spring
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John Vankat's curated list of fine wines across various price ranges, with detailed descriptions and recommendations for Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. Read morePine Wine: Wines for sharing and celebrating
Summer is the peak time for outdoor grilling, and the wines recommended here are excellent choices for now and into the fall. Read morePine Wine: Wines for Summer
John Vankat highlights a range of exceptional wines for every budget, providing detailed tasting notes and recommendations. Read morePine Wine: Wines for Spring
Romantic wines express captivating aromas and flavors ideal for celebrating love and are exceptionally pleasing throughout the year. Below are my recommendations across a broad range of grapes… Read moreBy the bottle: Wines for the big day and beyond
Happy holidays, boils and ghouls, this month, the festive freaks and gluttonous geeks down here in the Masters of Brewtality crypt are bringing you the definitive guide to drinking up December… Read moreMasters of Brewtality drinks up December
