Dark Sky Brewing

An inventive Flagstaff brewery serving creative small-batch beers, wood-fired pizzas, and elevated pub grub across two adjacent downtown spaces.

Dark Sky Brewing Company began on a downtown Flagstaff corner in 2014 with an unassuming plan: founders Larami and Ryan Sandlin, both Northern Arizona University alumni, envisioned a cozy, coffee-shop-style microbrewery serving just six pints of craft beer an hour. Instead, local thirst for their experimental brews was so intense that the taproom sold out of its entire inventory within the first two weeks, forcing a temporary closure just to brew more. Today, the original family-friendly taproom occupies a building on Beaver Street that once housed an office supplies store. To honor this history, the brewery occasionally releases their Office Supplies Double Hazy IPA, a fan favorite that supports school supply drives for Arizona students. Within this barrel-clad space, visitors can pair rotating, small-batch draft selections with wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas from Pizzicletta, a beloved local partner run by Caleb Schiff.

Just steps away on Birch Avenue, the brewery expanded its footprint by transforming a 1963 City Hall Texaco station into a vibrant, 21-and-over beer garden. Marked by bright teal umbrellas, twinkling string lights, and a restored 1959 box truck named Dottie, this outdoor patio welcomes dogs and offers a lively, open-air setting. Here, the taproom doors lead to Atmosphere Kitchen, a culinary venture created in partnership with chef Joe Rodger. The kitchen serves elevated pub fare inspired by Basque-style pintxos and shareable plates, including hand-cut fries with house-made green chile ketchup, salt and vinegar cheese curds, and fresh oysters sourced from Chula Seafood. A dedicated gluten-free fryer ensures safe options for celiac diners, making the garden a highly accommodating spot to spend an afternoon or evening.

True to its name, which pays homage to Flagstaff's status as the world's first International Dark Sky Place, the brewery crafts a constantly rotating celestial lineup of beers. Across both adjacent locations, forty draft taps pour everything from traditional lagers to wildly experimental sours and barrel-aged stouts. Mainstay beers like the Vortices Hazy Double IPA, Pit Stop Lager, and Best Friend Munich Helles showcase their range, while limited-run releases often incorporate unexpected ingredients like Oreo cookies or seasonal fruits. Through their nonprofit arm, the Dark Sky Community, the Sandlins also use their platform to support local causes, hosting charity events and donating proceeds from specialty brews like the Yarnell 19 West Coast IPA. Guests sitting inside the original taproom or under the stars in the beer garden will find an experience grounded in a deep commitment to craft, community, and the dark mountain skies above.

Coffee & Craft — Roadside fuel stops curated by Basecamp West. The best coffee shops, craft breweries, diners, and eateries worth the detour on your next Western road trip.