Saddle Mountain Brewing Company in Goodyear, Arizona

Located in a small strip mall in Goodyear, AZ is Saddle Mountain Brewing Company

Saddle Mountain Brewing Company is a craft brewery and restaurant in a strip mall in Goodyear, Arizona, just west of downtown Phoenix. Jacob and Laura Hansen, a local couple passionate about brewing their own beer at home, founded the brewery.

They took this passion and love and eventually opened a craft brewery in the West Valley, which needed good craft beer. The name Saddle Mountain comes from a mountain in nearby Tonopah, Arizona, where Laura grew up.

Though not located in central Phoenix, Saddle Mountain Brewing Company is a quick drive from almost anywhere in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Its location along Interstate 10 is perfect for those driving between Los Angeles and Phoenix.

Since I was making this drive myself from Sedona to Los Angeles, I decided to stop by for lunch and a beer before continuing back to California.

Interior of Saddle Mountain Brewing Company

Open and roomy interior, Saddle Mountain Brewing Company, Goodyear, Arizona — Open and roomy interior

As I walked through the door and into Saddle Mountain Brewing Company, I entered a large, open dining room.

The main dining area, scattered with tables, flowed into the bar area to the right. The open concept made the already big room feel much bigger.

At first, the interior design seemed stark with a modern, industrial décor. You had cinderblock walls, exposed lighting and air ducts, metal pipes, and polished concrete floors with black ceilings and gray walls.

The tall ceilings and big windows allowed in plenty of sunlight, making the place bright and spacious.

Those wanting to watch the game with a cold beer will find a few televisions above the bar.

The walls were also adorned with paintings of planes, referencing Jacob’s passion for flying and his love for our military. They also offered a military discount, which I thought was great.

Outdoor Patio

On a Monday afternoon, I was surprised at how busy the restaurant was. With a wait for a table inside, I decided to brave the heat and ask for a table on the outdoor patio where there was no wait.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t as hot as I thought in the shade, especially with water misters spraying away.

Saddle Mountain Brewing Company Menu

The first page of the menu at Saddle Mountain Brewing Company, Goodyear, Arizona — The first page of the menu at Saddle Mountain Brewing Company

The menu at Saddle Mountain Brewing Company featured all the foods you want to eat with a cold beer.

You had your nachos, wings, pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, and more unique options, such as a bison burger and Thai pizza.

Other options included an assortment of skillets, beer-battered fish, and salads.

Saddle Mountain Brewing Company also offers a happy hour Tuesday through Friday between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM and all day on Monday.

Happy hour deals will give you $1 off any pint, $2 off wine by the glass, $2 off cocktails, $2 off starters, and $2 off Margherita pizza.

Note: Their menu has changed since my visit. They currently do not offer the Smoked Cubano Sami Sandwich, and all sandwiches and burgers come with fries.

Fire Burger

If it’s spicy, I’m going to order it. So, it was a no-brainer to order the Fire Burger ($16.00).

This burger was big with a house burger blend patty, fire-roasted poblano chile, spicy chile pepper blend, poblano cream cheese, pepper jack cheese, fried onion strings, lettuce, tomato, and onion on a brioche bun.

When ordering, I forgot to tell my server I wanted my burger to be cooked medium-rare. Luckily, the fresh and flavorful house burger blend patty was cooked well with just the right amount of pink in the middle.

While it wasn’t the juiciest burger I have ever had, the meat wasn’t dry. The patty could have used more salt and pepper, but this wasn’t a deal breaker as it tasted great.

Fire Burger cooked with some pink in the middle

I was expecting this burger to burn my mouth. My server even warned me when ordering that it would be hot. Unfortunately, it wasn’t spicy for me. It may be for you.

My favorite part had to be the fire-roasted poblano chile. The peppers had a smoky flavor with a kick of heat. I could put these things on anything.

The spicy chile pepper blend, poblano cream cheese, and pepper jack cheese all melted into one creamy, gooey, flavorful layer of goodness. Flavorful? Yes. Spicy? Nope.

Finally, there were fried onion strings, fresh lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and julienned red onion. While they weren’t crispy, the onion straws added a rich flavor and tender texture.

Finally, you had a simple, fluffy, golden bun that was sweet and smoky after lightly toasted. Being so airy and light, it was impressive how the bun held up to the very last bite. I thought it would fall apart, but this was not the case.

Coleslaw

All burgers and sandwiches came with either coleslaw, carrots and celery, fruit, or freedom fries. I settled on the coleslaw.

For an extra $1.50, you had a choice of onion rings or a house salad. Sweet potato fries were an additional $2.50.

The version of coleslaw served at Saddle Mountain Brewing Company was basic. I found it crunchy and fresh without being overly dressed with mayonnaise.

That said, there was more mayonnaise than vinegar, giving this coleslaw a creamy texture, which I enjoyed. So, if you prefer your coleslaw with an acidic vinegary bite, you might be disappointed.

Smoked Cubano Sami Sandwich

Next up was the Smoked Cubano Sami Sandwich ($14.50). The sandwich came with house-smoked ham, pulled pork, swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles on a hoagie roll. Unlike other options, this sandwich came with sweet potato fries.

The house smoked ham added a smoky, salty flavor to the sandwich. I enjoyed how the grilled sliced ham, lightly charred on the outside, added to the depth of flavors.

Even though the house-smoked ham was great, the pulled pork was the star. Each piece of moist, tender, shredded pork was full of bold, smoky flavors. The pork tasted like they smoked it for hours and probably did.

The tangy, stone ground mustard, gooey melted Swiss cheese, and crispy dill pickles not only added texture but complemented the smoky flavors of the ham and pork. The pickles especially added a fresh, salty kick and a crunchy bite.

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting the hoagie roll to be great. At first, it appeared charred to the point of being burnt on the outside.

Surprisingly, it tasted great. While charred, I enjoyed the smoky component and crunchy bite of the bun. After being pressed so thin, I was surprised at how moist the bread was inside. In the end, the toasted hoagie roll was great.

Served on the side was a generous portion of sweet potato fries.

Each piece was soft inside while crispy on the outside. And they were never greasy. I also enjoyed how the sweetness of the fries complemented the salty, smoky pork.

While simple, the fries tasted fresh and not from a bag. I would guess they were cut fresh and fried.

Service at Saddle Mountain Brewing Company

Being the only customer sitting on the outdoor patio, and with the restaurant busy inside, I thought the staff would forget me. Luckily, this wasn’t the case.

My server was friendly and attentive when greeting me, taking my order, asking if I needed another drink, and bringing the bill at the end of the meal.

I couldn’t have asked for better service at Saddle Mountain Brewing Company.

Conclusion

Breweries in the Phoenix metropolitan area are a dime a dozen. You can find one on every corner. Yet, Saddle Mountain Brewing Company was different from your typical brewery.

Unless you are a local or driving along Interstate 10 between Los Angeles and Phoenix, you might miss the brewery located in a strip mall in Goodyear. Even on a Monday afternoon, the place was busy, so I knew the beer and food had to be great.

With an extensive menu full of exciting food options, a good selection of craft beers, happy hour, and excellent service, I recommend visiting Saddle Mountain Brewing Company.