A beer for the road

Plenty of microbreweries operate on or near Route 66 to help travelers quench their thirst after a day of motoring on America’s most famous highway.

But in Flagstaff, Ariz., a new microbrewery actually takes its inspiration from Route 66 itself.

The Mother Road Brewing Co. offers at least three beers that take their inspiration from Route 66 landmarks or the road itself.

Best of all, the brewery is situated at 7 S. Mikes Pike (map here), an older alignment of Route 66 in Flagstaff.

Here are three brews currently offered by Mother Road Brewing Co. The first is Roadside American Ale. The label features an image of the “Here It Is!” billboard at Jackrabbit Trading Post in Joseph City, Ariz.

The second is Twin Arrows Brown Ale, inspired by the giant twin arrows at the now-defunct Twin Arrows Trading Post in Twin Arrows, Ariz.

The third is Gold Road Kolsch-Style Ale, which takes its name from the Gold Road near the mines of Oatman, Ariz.

Mother Road Brewing also will offer seasonal beers.

According to the company’s website:

Mother Road Brewing Company’s name was chosen with our service philosophy in mind. The Mother Road was John Steinbeck’s name for U.S. Highway 66 (Route 66) when it carried many migrant workers away from the Oklahoma Dustbowl in the 1930s.  The compassion and service demonstrated by the roadside businesses and government camps to the migrants is one we strive to mirror in our Tap Room, at events, and with our distributors.  Our goal is to provide excellent beer and outstanding service to each of our guests whether they are regulars or visiting once.

The brewery is focused on production and distribution.  Our beers are available in 12 ounce bottles and in sixth barrel (torpedos) and half barrel kegs.  We are distributed in Arizona by the Fred Nackard Wholesale Beverage Company.  We will expand into the Phoenix and Tucson markets and surrounding states as production increases in 2013.

We are located in the Milum Building on Mikes Pike, an original portion of U.S. Highway 66 until it was realigned to travel under the railroad line one block west.  The Milum Building was built by the Milum family in the 1920s and housed a commercial laundry, which they operated, up until the late 1990s.

According to the company’s blog, the Tap Room at the brewery opened only about two weeks ago. In fact, Mother Road Brewing Co. is scheduled to have a Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting tomorrow.

The Tap Room is open from 3 to 7 p.m. daily. Tours are available by request or appointment by calling 928-774-9139.

Satchmo’s BBQ and Pizzacletta in Flagstaff also serve the beer on tap.

Mother Road Brewing Co. can also be followed on Facebook and Twitter.

UPDATE 12/11/2011: The Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff posted a story about the brewery.

(Images courtesy of Mother Road Brewing Co.; hat tips to Mike Ward and Roger Naylor)