2025 Ales on Rails
The first sign of autumn isn’t always the changing of the leaves; sometimes it’s the changing of the kegs. The air turns crisp, and pint glasses are raised in celebration that Oktoberfest has arrived. Ales on Rails beer festival is Verde Canyon Railroad’s way of toasting this German tradition, providing a rollicking farewell to summer beginning Tuesday, September 17, and running through Monday, October 31.
Today beer is so much more than the “suds” of your granddad’s day. The drinking of ale has been elevated to an art form, on par with wine for its regional origin, hints and notes; a bonding experiences for the legion of aficionados who hold their beer to a higher standard. Verde Canyon Railroad’s Ales on Rails is a great big shout out to Arizona craft beers, as well as to the Canyon’s beautiful autumn sipping weather to complement these local flavors.
Savor a WIDE range of local Arizona breweries offering richly crafted beers ranging from the lightest pilsners to the hoppiest IPAs to the deepest stouts that this Copper State has to offer.
Barrio Brewing Co. – Tucson
Cider Corps (Cider) – Mesa
College Street Brewhouse – Lake Havasu City
Fate Brewing – Scottsdale
Greenwood Brewing Co. – Phoenix
Lumberyard Brewing Co. – Flagstaff
Mother Road Brewing Co. – Flagstaff
Moto Sonora Brewing Co. – Tucson
Mudshark Brewery – Lake Havasu City
Oak Creek Brewing – Sedona
O.H.S.O. Brewery – Phoenix
Pedal Haus Brewery – Tempe
The Shop Beer Co. – Tempe
Smelter Town Brewery – Clarkdale
Superstition Meadery (Mead) – Phoenix
Tombstone Brewing Co. – Tombstone
Uncle Bear’s Brewery – Gilbert
Wild Tonic (Kombucha) – Cottonwood
Wren House Brewing Co. – Phoenix/Prescott
- In order to showcase the maximum number of local beers on our taps, featured breweries may vary on a rotating basis
During the Ride
The celebration continues to flow aboard the train with an assortment of customized brews available for purchase during the excursion.
Passengers can leisurely raise a Verde Canyon Railroad insignia glass full of ice-cold beer high into the air as a salute to autumn and the wild beauty it brings to the Canyon.
Even more enjoyable is stepping outside from a comfortable interior coach to an adjoining open-air viewing car. This is the best vantage point to take in the fresh air and vibrant foliage during this four-hour excursion near the remote Sycamore Wilderness, accessible only by rail.
