Media Contacts:
Chelsey Hamilton: chelsey.h@verdecanyonrr.com or 480-417-8844
Brandon Hamilton: brandon.h@verdecanyonrr.com or 623-986-9908
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ales on Rails: Verde Canyon Railroad’s Celebration of Autumn and Arizona Breweries
Clarkdale, Ariz. — [September 1, 2025] — Verde Canyon Railroad is thrilled to announce the return of Ales on Rails, its beloved version of Oktoberfest and fall festival celebrating Arizona’s vibrant craft beer scene, running from September 14 through October 31, 2025.
In its 23rd annual toast to autumn and Arizona brews, Ales on Rails begins each departure day at the depot’s outdoor bar under the shaded pavilion with a showcase of some of Arizona’s best microbrews, from crisp pilsners and hoppy ales to rich stouts. With more than a dozen breweries participating from across the state, locals and visitors alike can delight in high-quality pours.
Enjoy lunch and lagers during Hoppy Hour! Guests can purchase a scratch-made lunch at the Copper Spike Café, and can purchase samples or full glasses of local brews before the train whistle blows. Limited Edition stainless steel cups etched with the Verde Canyon Railroad logo will also be available for purchase. An assortment of private-label Verde Canyon Railroad brews can be purchased aboard the train ride. Tickets to ride the train are sold separately.
Please view the schedule below. Depending on the departure day and time, passengers can partake in Ales on Rails before the train departs or after the train returns to the depot.
Ales on Rails – Event Details:
- Ales on Rails: September 14 – October 31, 2025
- Enjoy Arizona craft beer at the depot’s outdoor bar under the shaded pavilion.
- Purchase samples or glasses of Arizona beer.
- Each day, a small amount of Limited Edition Stainless Steel Cups etched with Verde
- Canyon Railroad’s logo will be available for purchase.
- Buy lunch from Copper Spike Café.
- The train ticket is purchased separately, and we encourage guests to book in advance.
- The celebration continues to flow aboard the train ride with an assortment of
- private-label Verde Canyon Railroad brews available to buy.
Ales on Rails – Schedule:
1 p.m. Train Departure
- Café opens for lunch at 10:30 a.m.
- Ales on Rails on the pavilion starts at 10:30 a.m.
- Train boards at 12:45 p.m.
Morning Train Departures (Saturday)
- Ales on Rails on the pavilion starts at 12:30 p.m.
- Passengers can enjoy this event at the depot upon their return from the train ride
3:30 p.m. Train Departure (Saturday)
- Café opens for lunch at 12:30 p.m.
- Ales on Rails on the pavilion starts at 12:30 p.m.
- Train boards at 3:15 p.m.
Train Ride Duration: 4 Hours
Train tickets are sold separately.
The Train Ride:
Aboard the four-hour scenic round trip, passengers relax in luxurious climate-controlled train cars with living room-style seating and can step out onto an adjoining open-air viewing car to savor autumn hues along the Verde River. This unique vantage point provides an exceptional opportunity to witness Arizona’s longest-running nature show in all its autumnal glory. New in 2025, Saturday Starlight Tours extend through October 25, where passengers soak in the sunset transitions into starshine and moonlight, highlighting the Canyon in magical new ways.
Fall at the Verde Canyon Railroad is a visual feast with vibrant hues of amber, ginger, crimson and russet, creating a breathtaking backdrop for passengers aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad. The crisp, mild air invigorates both travelers and the Canyon’s wildlife, leading to increased sightings of deer, javelina, and coyotes during the cooler daylight hours. The leaves start to change colors the second week of October, and peak leaf viewing is around the second week of November.
Your Train Ticket Includes:
- Comfortable living room-style seating inside a climate-controlled passenger car
- Unlimited access to adjoining open-air viewing car
- Charcuterie box of gourmet meats, cheeses, crackers, fruit, brownie bites
- Champagne or sparkling cider toast upon boarding
- Not included but may be purchased upon arrival at depot: Beer and lunch
Price: Starting at $139.00 per person
Ales on Rails pricing is separate.
Why Arizona Craft Beer?
There’s a good chance that once you sample a great micro beer, a mass-produced macro beer will no longer satisfy. Microbrewery experimentation – tasting the local, innovative craft beers – is a true hallmark of getting to know Arizona. There’s a limitless world of craft beers out there, from light pilsners to rich stouts. You’ll find the one that suits your palate on Verde Canyon Railroad’s outdoor pavilion before climbing on board the train for an amazing journey through Arizona’s other “grand” canyon. Early miners and settlers braved water conditions and scarce resources to produce safe, flavorful ales. The modern resurgence of craft brewing continues this pioneering spirit — with many breweries across the state showcasing their latest creations.
For all public relations, media, marketing, and social media inquiries, please contact Chelsey Hamilton and/or Brandon Hamilton directly.
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About Verde Canyon Railroad
People travel from all over the world to ride the rails into the Verde Canyon to experience Arizona’s longest-running nature show. Over 120,000 people per year enter the depot doors to learn more about the Railroad and the ride, a scenic 40-mile, four-hour round-trip journey that immerses passengers in breathtaking scenery alive with vibrant flora, diverse fauna, and captivating geology. The Railroad’s mission is linked to the beautiful Canyon through which it passes, including the preservation of the environment, conservation of wildlife, protection of historic equipment and artifacts, and sharing with others the red-rock wilderness that makes this train ride a governor-designated “Arizona Treasure.” Learn more at verdecanyonrr.com.
