Throne Brewing Company Review

Throne Brewing Company (https://www.thronebrewing.com/)

Background

I am planning on writing a review of Throne Brewing Company in Glendale, AZ. I have been to Throne Brewing Company at least half a dozen times, so it's probably time to write a review about it here on my blog. Over the past couple of weeks, I have visited Throne Brewing Company after going hiking at Thunderbird Conservation Park. During my most recent visit to Throne Brewing Company, it occurred to me that I really should write a blog post about it. Moreover, it also occurred to me that I should write blog posts about other places that I have been to, such as the Cactus Taproom in Peoria, AZ and Lake Pleasant Brewing Company in Phoenix, AZ. Plus, writing about these places will give me some motivation to visit other places that I have been meaning to go to, such as Kitsune Brewing Company in Phoenix. In fact, that is what I will do. I also have some photos that I took while visiting Throne Brewing Company. I will post those.

Stay tuned. More to follow.

Introduction

Entrance to Throne Brewing Company

Back on one Saturday in November or December 2023, I had just spent the afternoon hiking in the Deem Hills Recreation Area in northern Phoenix. Once I returned to my car in the eastern parking lot, I opened my phone and started to look for places to go for dinner on Google Maps. Every place that seemed interesting, such as Lake Pleasant Brewing Company, appeared to be far away from where I was. On my way to the Deem Hills Recreation Area, I drove by a sizable strip mall on Happy Valley Road, but there wasn't anything that interested me. I then searched Google Maps for any restaurants closer to Sun City, AZ. Then, for whatever reason, Throne Brewing Company came up in my search results. I had never heard of Throne Brewing. Intrigued, I decided to pay them a visit. I set Throne Brewing Company as my destination in Google Maps and then set off for Glendale, AZ.

Location

Map of Throne Brewing Company

Throne Brewing Company is located at 17035 North 67th Ave in Glendale, AZ at the northeast corner of 67th Ave and Bell Rd. Throne Brewing Company is located in the corner suite of a rather non-descript, L-shaped strip mall that contains shops like Hungry Howie's Pizza, Sunburst Nails and Spa, Gentiva Personal Care, Cornerstone Flooring Brokers, Pure Bliss Water and Ice, and Pool Parts Plus. I haven't ordered any pizza from Hungry Howie's Pizza, so I can't tell you if they are any good or not. They seem to have some good reviews on Google Maps, however. Perhaps one day, I will order a pizza from Hungry Howie's instead of local pizza chain Barro's. We'll see. As for the rest of the strip mall, it's all rather anonymous, bland, and uninteresting. Directly across the street from Throne Brewing Company are BevMo and Home Depot. Whenever I have gone to Throne Brewing Company, the strip mall parking lot has been quite empty, so that is a plus. In the unlikely the event that there isn't any parking, additional parking spots are available behind Throne Brewing Company and Hungry Howie's Pizza. 

Throne Brewing Company has two additional locations. According to their website, Throne Brewing has a location at 9299 W Olive Ave Ste 513 in Peoria, AZ. The location is located in an industrial business park southwest of the intersection of W. Olive Ave and Highway 101. However, a search of the area on Google Maps does not return any search results. I remember seeing an entry for this location on Google Maps. According to the photos I saw on Google Maps, this location contained several brewing tanks and a simple tap room. My conclusion is that this location has been closed.

Throne Brewing Company's third location was at 1326 N Central Ave in Phoenix, AZ. According to a conversation I recently had with someone knowledgeable about craft brewing in Maricopa County, this Throne Brewing Company location was quite similar to the Throne Brewing Company location in Glendale, AZ. That is, the location was a restaurant with some brewing going on. The location was an interesting one as it was located near the intersection of Central Ave and E. McDowell Rd, not too far away from the Phoenix Art Museum and the Heard Museum. I remember driving by this location on Central Ave on my way to or from downtown Phoenix. According to my source, Throne Brewing Company recently closed this location. Indeed, a search for 1326 N Central Ave on Google Maps did not return any search results.  

The Atmosphere

The interior design of Throne Brewing Company follows a simple and functional layout. After walking through the front doors to Throne Brewing Company, you enter a large, single dining room that continues to the far back wall. On your left-hand side are a series of classic pinball games. Beyond the pinball games is a refrigeration room used to store recently brewed kegs of beer. On your right-hand side is the brewing area, containing several brewing tanks and various apparatuses and tools required for brewing beer. After passing through all of the tables and chairs in the main dining area, you get to the bar in the back of the room. The bar has a typical U-shape with beer taps located on an island in the center. To me, the bar does seem to be a little on the small side. Going from memory, I would say that there is seating for about 15 people (give or take) at the bar. There are three flat screen TVs along the far wall. Compared to other restaurants that I have been to in the Phoenix area, the flat screen TVs are small. However, if watching that important American football game on large flat screen TVs is important to you as you drink beer, then you might want to go elsewhere. Near the bar is a small refrigerator containing canned Throne Brewing beer that you can buy and take home. Just beyond that is the merchandise area where you can buy all kinds of T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baseball caps featuring the Throne Brewing logo. The last time I was there, I should have bought the commemorative T-shirt printed for Throne Brewing Company's 5th anniversary. It looked pretty cool. Plus, from what I can tell, Throne Brewing Company could use some advertising in the Glendale-Peoria-Phoenix area. 

      

 

Sitting at the bar.

View of the dining room looking towards the front door.

View of the dining room looking towards the bar.

Classic pinball games at Throne Brewing Company.

Brewing the next batch of beer. 

Close up of beer kegs in cool storage.

Throne Brewing T-shirts.

Throne Brewing baseball caps waiting to be unpacked.

The Beer

According to their website, Throne Brewing Company was created in March 2018 when owner Carlos Toma purchased Dubina Brewing in Glendale, AZ. After owning and running a craft beer shop in downtown Phoenix for several years, Carlos Toma decided to make the transition to brewing his own craft beer. Thus, Dubina Brewing became Throne Brewing Company. The website makes no mention of Throne Brewing Company winning any notable craft beer awards.  For some craft breweries, winning craft beer awards is a big deal. It's about earning the respect of your craft brewing peers. However, that's not really necessary. While awards are great, to me, all that matters is the quality of the beer. 

Here are the beers brewed by Throne Brewing Company that they have on tap as of December 26, 2024. 

• Bell Road West Coast IPA Beer Style: IPA-American, 6.7 ABV, 67 IBU, Warrior, Citra, Simcoe, Cascade, and Amarillo Hops
• German Hefeweizen Beer Style: Wheat Beer - Hefeweizen, 5% ABV, 14 IBU
• Raspberry Wheat Beer Style: Wheat Beer - American Pale Wheat, 5.4% ABV, 21 IBU
• Blueberry Pomegranate Beer Style: Sour Sour-Fruited 6.1% ABV 14 IBU. Description: Red brown in color. Pomegranate smell. Tart flavors of berries and pomegranate. 
• Gateway Blonde Beer Style: Blonde, 5% ABV, 18 IBU 
• West Valley Amber Ale Beer Style: Red Ale - American Amber, 5.5% ABV, 30 IBU. Description: This American Amber has rich, complex caramel flavors and finishes with a dry, moderate hop flavor. 
• Blood Orange IPA Beer Style: IPA - American, 6.7% ABV, 67 IBU. Description: Our West Coast Blood Orange IPA pours bright red in color. Following primary fermentation, there is a heaping addition of California-grown blood oranges to the brew. The tartness from the Blood Oranges, along with the hop profile, create the perfect balance. Additionally, the hops provide a wonderful citrus burst up front followed by a mild bittersweet finish. 

In addition to their own beer, Throne Brewing Company also offers several other guest beers, alcoholic ciders, and kombuchas on tap. These offerings tend to be from other micro-breweries located within Arizona. If you go to Throne Brewing Company looking to drink, say, Coors Light or Miller Lite, you might be at the wrong place. Throne Brewing Company doesn't have any beers from the big, national brewers on tap. Throne Brewing Company is all about craft brewing. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the beers that Throne Brewing Company offers. In my five or six visits to Throne Brewing Company, I am absolutely positive that I have had all of the beers on the above list at least once. There are probably some beers that I have enjoyed drinking more than others. However, which type of beer I order just depends on the mood that I am in at the time. On my recent visit to Throne Brewing Company, I ordered the Bell Road IPA, the Blood Orange IPA, the West Valley Amber Ale, and the Blueberry Pomegranate Sour. Of those four beers, I particularly enjoyed drinking the Blood Orange IPA and the Blueberry Pomegranate Sour. In fact, I drank not one, but two glasses of the Blueberry Pomegranate Sour beer. It is a truly sublime beer to drink. The Bell IPA and the West Valley Amber Ale are also really good beers. They are especially good beers to drink after spending all afternoon hiking under the sun. A personal rule I have is that if a micro-brewery cannot brew a good IPA and/or a good amber ale, then that micro-brewery has no business being open to the public. That's just me.  

Bell Road West Coast IPA

Blood Orange IPA

West Valley Amber Ale 

Blueberry Pomegranate Sour

According to Throne Brewing Company's website, their beer is available at various stores in the Phoenix area, such as Sprouts Farmers Market, AJ's Fine Foods, and Total Wine and More. The cans look vaguely familiar, so I have probably seen beer from Throne Brewing Company at either AJ's Fine Foods or Total Wine and More. Curiously, I think I have yet to set foot inside any Sprouts Farmers Market. The cans are beautifully illustrated. If the website is anything to go by, the only beers Throne Brewing Company offers in cans are the Bell Road West Coast IPA, Helles Lager, and the Blood Orange IPA. 

The Food

Spicy Gorgonzola Burger

If you are expecting fine dining, Throne Brewing Company may leave you disappointed. On the other hand, if you have eaten at a brew pub before, then you would know what to expect and would probably feel right at home with the menu. When I eat dinner at Throne Brewing Company, I typically order the Spicy Gorgonzola Burger. It's a hamburger loaded with green chili, jalapenos, and gorgonzola cheese. When I see a hamburger with green chili on the menu, it's just something that I just have to order. It must have something to do with the fact that I am from New Mexico originally. For the Spicy Gorgonzola Burger, the patty isn't largest or flattest, but it is remarkably thick and juicy. The green chili, jalapenos, and gorgonzola cheese are really spicy and blend together rather well. I typically order the burger cooked to medium doneness. While you don't get a whole lot of French fries with your order, the fries are warm and crispy. I think on an early visit to Throne Brewing Company I ordered the Cheddar Bacon Burger. It was really good. However, the Cheddar Bacon Burger just isn't in the same plane of existence as the Spicy Gorgonzola Burger. If you don't like spicy food, and there are many people who don't, then order one of the other burgers. As for other items on the menu, such as the Philly Steak or Nashville Chicken sandwiches or the BYO (Build Your Own) Mac & Cheese, I couldn't tell you. For now, I am quite content to order the Spicy Gorgonzola Burger when I go to Throne Brewing Company. If the Spicy Gorgonzola Burger and the Cheddar Bacon Burger are anything to go by, my guess is that the rest of the menu is just as good. 

Final Verdict

Throne Brewing cork coaster.

Overall, I really enjoyed my several visits to Throne Brewing Company in northern Glendale, AZ. I really enjoyed drinking all of the beers that they have to offer. All of the beers are really good. I especially recommend both the Blood Orange IPA and the Blueberry Pomegranate Sour beers.  I also enjoyed eating the Spicy Gorgonzola Burger with jalapenos and green chili. A visit to Throne Brewing Company really hits the spot after spending the afternoon hiking in desert terrain. If you find yourself in northern Glendale, AZ for whatever reason, do give Throne Brewing Company a try. 

Final Word

Despite the good beer and the good food, what does strike me as odd is that Throne Brewing Company doesn't strike me as being a very popular place for people in the local area to go to. Out of the six times that I have been to Throne Brewing Company, I can only remember one visit where the brew pub was particularly crowded with people. On that visit, I ended up sitting at my own table since the bar was full. In contrast, on my other visits, Throne Brewing Company wasn't very crowded. I can't figure that out. On my most recent visit, which occurred on Saturday, December 14, 2024, there was a moderately large crowd at around 6:00 PM when I walked in. At around 9:00 PM, when I paid my bill, Throne Brewing Company was largely empty. There were more employees than there were customers. Is there an explanation for that? Is it a marketing problem? Does Throne Brewing need their own brand evangelists? Does Throne Brewing Company need to work on getting the word out via social media? I cannot say.  I do see that Throne Brewing Company does have a presence on Facebook,  Instagram, and Twitter/X. Throne Brewing Company does have an entry over at the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild website. Lastly, is the craft beer market in the Maricopa County, AZ area starting to contract? 

I do know that since the COVID-19 pandemic, many brew pubs and craft brewers in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore, MD area, where I used to live for 13 years, started to either go out-of-business altogether or drastically scale back their operations. For example, Dogfish Head Brewing once owned and operated three brew pubs, or alehouses, in the Washington, D.C. area. These alehouses owned by Dogfish Head Brewing were the gold standard when it came to brew pubs. The alehouses were the perfect place to showcase Dogfish Head beers and serve food that complemented the beer. Many brewers in the Washington, D.C. area attempted to copy the Dogfish Head Alehouse concept to varying degrees of success. A look at the Dogfish Head Brewing website shows that the alehouses in Gaithersburg, MD and Chantilly, VA are currently open; however, the alehouse in Arlington, VA is now closed. Full Disclosure: I used to visit the Dogfish Head Alehouses in Gaithersburg, MD and Chantilly, VA quite A LOT as I used to live in Reston, VA. It and had relatives that lived in Gaithersburg, MD.   

UPDATE: I just found out that the Dogfish Head Alehouse in Chantilly, VA has recently closed. Bummer. 

Lack of Activity on My Blog...

Explaining the Lack of Activity

There has been a significant lack of activity here on my blog.

As per usual, I have been really busy with all kinds of activity.

Here is a list of things that I have been working on:

• I have been working concerts at the Arizona Financial Theatre in downtown Phoenix, AZ.
• I have been working at football games at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ.
• I have started riding my bike again.
• I have been focusing a lot of time and energy working on the Network Support and Security online class from Cisco Networking Academy.
• I have been working out at the gym quite a bit.
• I have been organizing my photos into collections over on Google Photos.
• I have been trying to come up with a list of blogging post ideas to write about.
• I even flirted with the idea of moving my blog here at Blogger on to another platform.

I even fell into the bottomless pit that is Twitter/X.

I spent a lot of energy on two very long posts. Moreover, I was underwhelmed by the reaction I got to those two posts. Disappointment aside, I am writing this blog for myself. If other people are interested, then that's great.

Lack of interest in my blog isn't going to deter me. It just means that my blog has yet to find an audience. That will come as I write more posts.

Falling Behind on My Blog...

Lack of Updates

In case you weren't aware, I have fallen behind on posting updates to my blog for the past couple of weeks.

Yes, it is true.

As per usual, I have been REALLY busy doing all kinds of stuff.

Last week, I made completing the Final Exam for the Network Addressing and Basic Troublshooting online course from Cisco Networking Academy a top priority.

In addition, I somehow found myself getting involved with working at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ during public events. Not too sure how that happened, but there it is. As a result, I have been busy completing the online courses for serving alcohol and preparing and serving food.

In the meantime, I have started a new online course with Cisco Networking Academy. I will probably make that into its own blog post.

Plus, I need to keep working on the complex blog posts that I have been working on for the past couple of weeks here on Blogger. Those three posts NEED TO BE completed ASAP.

As per usual, there never is enough hours in the day.

More to follow.

Hiking at Thunderbird Conservation Park, Part 1...

First Hike in Maricopa County

This post will be another entry in my continuing series about hiking at various locations throughout Maricopa County. If you like this post, you can view the previous entries in this series here, here, here, here, here, and here.

This post will contain maps, charts, and photographs taken by me.

The first place I hiked in Maricopa County after moving back to Arizona from Maryland was Thunderbird Conservation Park.

Thunderbird Conservation Park Overview Map

It was a rainy Saturday morning on November 18, 2023. Nothing too serious. Not a heavy rain that you would get on a Saturday morning in Maryland. It was a light rain. The kind of rain you would get in the Phoenix area in November. Someone suggested that I go hiking for something to do. Curiously, in my previous visits to the Phoenix area to visit my sister and my mom, I had never been hiking. After an exchange of text messages, my sister recommended that I visit the Thunderbird Conservation Park in nearby Glendale, AZ. The borders of Glendale, AZ are unusual. I always thought that Glendale was primarily centered around the State Farm Stadium and Luke Air Force Base to the northwest of downtown Phoenix. For the most part, that is a true statement. However, Glendale also stretches north between Phoenix to the east and Peoria to the west. The Thunderbird Conservation Park more or less demarcates Glendale's northernmost extent.

The Parking Lot at Thunderbird Conservation Park

After gathering all of my hiking things together, I got in my car and then entered Thunderbird Conservation Park into Google Maps. I then drove north on 99th Street and then east along West Deer Valley Road before making a left turn on N. 59th Ave. After a short distance, I made a left turn onto N. 61st Dr and looked for a parking spot. It was immediately clear that I wasn't the only person who wanted to go hiking that morning. I was fortunate to locate a parking spot for my car. Later on, I would learn that there was an additional parking lot at Thunderbird Conservation Park.

Looking for a Map

After putting on my sun hat, my scarf, my Salomon hiking boots that I once bought from the REI in Fairfax, VA, and my CamelBak as well as filling up my cargo pockets with Clif Bars, a spare USB cable, and a charging bank for my phone, I went looking for an overview map of Thunderbird Conservation Park. 

Getting ready to go hiking at Thunderbird Conservation Park.

By that time, the morning rain had largely dissipated, yet there were large patches of mud everywhere I walked. After a short walk, I found a park map. I quickly realized that the Thunderbird Conservation Park consisted of three separate sections.

• The Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail
• The Cholla Loop Trail
• The Arrowhead Peak Trail

Overview Map of Thunderbird Conservation Park

After studying the map for a couple of minutes, I made a decision to hike the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail on my first visit to Thunderbird Conservation Park.

The Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail

Since I had parked my car at a parking lot that was closest to the Coachwhip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail, it just seemed logical that I should hike on that trail. Given the fact that this was my first hike in several months, I thought that I would do an easy first hike. Something of a getting to know you type of hike. Nothing too strenuous. Nothing too difficult. That was my I idea. Based on the Trails Rating Guide, I'm sure that the Coachwhip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail would probably be classified as a trail with Easy-to-Moderate difficulty. 

Trails Rating Guide

Using Google Maps, But Not AllTrails

According to the AllTrails website, the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail rates as a trail with moderate difficulty and a 2.2 mile length. The trail maps that I found near the parking lot did not specifically indicate the trail difficulty. However, the map I consulted (see graphic above) did a pretty good job at indicating the types of terrain that would be encountered along my hike.

At various points along my hike, I would also consult Google Maps on my phone for up-to-date location information. In a later hike that I am planning to write about on my blog, I would encounter the fallacy about depending upon Google Maps for hiking trail information.

Just a quick note about AllTrails. I used AllTrails a couple of times for hiking in the Baltimore area when I lived there. I even installed the app on my phone. I am not too sure why I didn't use AllTrails on this hike. My thinking was that the hike would be a relatively simple one.

Hitting the (Wrong) Trail

Once I decided that I was going to hike the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail section of Thunderbird Conservation Park, I hit the trail. Almost immediately, I went down the wrong trail. Somehow, I ended up on a trail that led out of the Thunderbird Conservation Park in a southeast direction to N. 59th Ave (see map below).

On the Wrong Trail 

Once I made got my bearings, I was on the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail. The landmark of interest that I came across was a large outdoor amphitheater.

Outdoor Ampitheater at Thunderbird Conservation Park - 1

Outdoor Ampitheater at Thunderbird Conservation Park - 2

Outdoor Ampitheater at Thunderbird Conservation Park - 3

After taking some photos of the amphitheater with my cell phone's camera, I began my ascent up the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail.

Looking Towards the Cholla Loop and Arrowhead Peak Trails

The Cholla Loop Trail Section at Thunderbird Conservation Park

The Arrowhead Peak Trail Section at Thunderbird Conservation Park

The next landmark that I came across was a structure known at Thunderbird Reservoir. It looks like construction crews cut out a large chunk of the park to create the reservoir. In fact, it appeared as though the reservoir was still under construction due to the presence of construction equipment.

Thunderbird Reservoir - 1

Thunderbird Reservoir - 2

After taking some photos of the Thunderbird Reservoir, I continued my ascent on the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail. The views of the Glendale, AZ area continued to get more and more impressive. At the peak, I could see north to Lake Pleasant, southwest to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, and south all the way to downtown Phoenix. Plus, you could see all of the private lakes and golf courses near Thunderbird Conservation Park.

Additional Trails Hiked at Thunderbird Conservation Park

After enjoying the views, eating a Clif Bar, and drinking some water, I made my way down the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail. Since the trail was only 2.2 miles in length, I went ahead and started to hike other trails in the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail section of Thunderbird Conservation Park. The temperature had to be in the upper 80s. There was a slight breeze in the air. The rainy weather from earlier in the morning had become a distant memory. Moreover, I felt pretty good. My upper body was covered in sweat. As a result, I hiked all the way to the northwest corner of Thunderbird Conservation Park near 67th Avenue. I also hiked the trails along the western, southern, and northern boundaries of the Thunderbird Conservation Park. In all, I think I hiked close to six miles that afternoon. The trail was challenging, yet overly taxing or exhausting. 

At some point during the hike, I stopped taking photos with my cell phone camera. I'm not too sure why I stopped taking photos, but that's what happened. However, the photos I took did turn out to be surprisingly decent.

Ascending the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail

Halfway up the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail

On the way to the top

Saguaro Cactus - 1

Saguaro Cactus - 2

Heading down the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail

Panorama of northern Glendale, AZ

Trail marker at the intersection of the Coach Whip and Ridgeline Trails

Welcome to Thunderbird Conservation Park

Me after hiking six miles

Final Verdict

I enjoyed hiking the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail in Glendale, AZ. It was a challenging yet not overly difficult trail to hike, deserving of its moderate rating on the Trails Rating Guide. If the main trail is too short, then you can easily add additional trails in that section of Thunderbird Conservation Park. If the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail is too short or not challenging enough or not scenic enough, have I mentioned yet that the Thunderbird Conservation Park consists of two more additional sections? The following week, I did hike the Cholla Loop and Arrowhead Peak Trails at Thunderbird Conservation Park. That will be the subject of a future post on my blog.

New Ethernet Cable Tester...

New Ethernet Cable Tester

On Monday afternoon, I bought a Klein Tools Ethernet cable tester from a Home Depot in Peoria, AZ. Just as a disclaimer, I refer to anything in Peoria, AZ that is south of Bell Avenue as being located in "South Peoria". I live close to the isthmus that runs between Glendale, AZ and Sun City, AZ that connects "North Peoria" to "South Peoria". Yes, the city boundaries of Peoria, AZ are strange. It would make for an interesting post to investigate why.

Anyway, I bought an Ethernet cable tester because I wanted to test the Ethernet cables that I made using the T-568A and T-568B cabling standards. To put it another way, I made a straight-through cable and a crossover cable. Now, I want to test both cables to see if I did it correctly.

While making the cables, I took a series of photos with my cell phone camera.

In the coming days, I will write a post about making a straight-through cable and a crossover cable.

Stay tuned.

Attending the Phoenix Polish Festival 2024...

Attending the 19th Annual Polish Festival

Way back on Saturday, April 13th, 2024, I attended the 19th Annual Polish Festival on the grounds of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in Phoenix, AZ.

19th Annual Polish Festival Website

My sister informed me that she was going to attend the 19th Annual Polish Festival. She said that she had always wanted to go. However, in previous years, she said that something always came up at the last minute. After performing a quick internet search I noticed that this year's Polish Festival was being held on April 13th and 14th of this year. My sister said that she was going to go to the Polish Festival on Saturday, April 13th. As a result, I made plans to attend the Polish Festival that day as well.

Getting to the Polish Festival

When Saturday, April 13th, arrived, I made the drive out to Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish. I drove east on Bell Avenue out of Sun City and drove past Highway 101 and the Arrowhead Towne Center shopping area. I made a right turn onto 67th Avenue. After a short distance, I made a left turn on Greenway Road. I was suddenly driving in an area of Glendale, AZ I had never been in before. Suddenly, I could tell that I was officially driving in Phoenix because the City of Phoenix logo was present on all of the road signs on the traffic lights. Once I got to 29th Avenue, I made a left turn and looked for a parking spot at the NAU-North Valley branch campus. From there, the organizers of the Polish Festival had a shuttle van that would drive you over to Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish a short distance away to the south.

Location of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish

Food and Drink at the Polish Festival

The Polish Festival itself was held on the grounds of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish. Right in what would be the parking lot. The Polish Festival was organized along the lines of going to Oktoberfest. In order to get food or drinks, you had to purchase tickets from the ticket counter. There were row upon row of tents that offered Polish food. For 22 tickets, I got the combination platter, which consisted of Polish sausage, stuffed cabbage, several pierogies, a large potato pancake, and a couple slices of bread. You could get some food items, such as pierogies or sausage, al a carte. There was even a line for crepes. There were also tents offering Polish-themed desserts. For alcoholic drinks, you had a choice between beer or wine. For beer, there was only one brand of beer offered: Zywiec Pale Lager. Zywiec is pronounced as "Zhi-vietz". Just as an aside, the Zywiec Brewery was founded in 1856 by Archduke Friedrich von Habsburg, a member of the Habsburg Royal Family in Austria-Hungary. Currently, the Zywiec Brewery is owned by the Heineken Group. Zywiec Pale Lager beer is pretty decent. Zywiec is the name of a small town where the brewery was founded. Since it was a H-O-T and SUNNY day, the beer was refreshing.

Zywiec Pale Lager Beer

The Polish Festival Itself

Besides food and drink there were was a tent that offered all kinds of souvenirs (t-shirts, polo shirts, hoodies, baseball caps, scarves, drinking glasses, key chains, etc.) for sale. The tent was doing brisk business. I thought about buying a couple of souvenirs, such as a baseball cap, a scarf, and a replica Polish Men's National Team soccer jersey, but I ultimately changed my mind at the last minute. There were tents for various Polish-American associations and charity groups. Then there were the usual vendors that you would typically see at a public event. There were two large tents with tables and chairs for people to sit and eat. When I got to the Polish Festival, seating was standing room only. The Polish Festival was actually fairly crowded. I was surprised by the large attendance. There were people everywhere. In front of the two large tents, there was a performance stage. The festival organizers brought in dancing troupes from both Tucson and Los Angeles to perform traditional Polish folk dances while wearing Polish folk costumes. Since the temperature had to be at least 90 degrees that afternoon, I am sure that the dancers were hot and sweaty. The disc jockeys even played a Polish song that was quite similar to the "Chicken Dance" song that gets played ad nauseam at Oktoberfest. There was a playground for little kids to play. It shouldn't have been a surprise, but there was a sizable monument to Pope John Paul II, known in Polish as Jan Pawel II. Thinking about it now, I never bothered to go inside the church itself and take a tour. As a result, I didn't get to see any of the artwork, sculptures, or architecture. Incidentally, Czestochowa, Poland is home to the famous Black Madonna of Częstochowa religious artwork, which is housed at the Jasna Góra Monastery. Oh well, as the saying goes, maybe next year.

The Photos

My photos from the Polish Festival are quite disappointing. At the time, I wasn't posting to my blog, so I wasn't taking photos with the idea of posting them to my blog. I noticed that the longer I was at the Polish Festival, the less energy I had. Since I bought so many tickets, I ended up drinking four or five beers. Plus, it was an abnormally hot day for the middle of April and shade was in limited quantity due to large number of people at the festival. Next year, I will take more photos.

Sausage, perogies, stuffed cabbage, potato cake, bread 

Sitting under one of the tents.

View of the performance stage.

People at the Arizona Polish Festival.

View of the performance stage.

People at the Polish Festival.

More people at the Polish Festival.

People arriving and people leaving.

Homemade Kolaczki

In Conclusion

All-in-all, I had a good time at the 19th Annual Polish Festival. I went in with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised. You can show up, get some food, drink a beer or two, and hang out for an hour or two. Take a tour of the church. I recommend that you wear a long-sleeved shirt and a wide-brimmed hat just in case.