Arizona State Parks and Trails has partnered with Historic Brewing Company to bring outdoor enthusiasts a series of park-themed custom brews. If you love to pull up a chair by the campfire or enjoy a refreshing beverage after a hike or mountain bike ride, these custom beers will delight you! Plus, a portion of the sales of these specialty brews will benefit Arizona’s state parks. The partnership engages the community with our state parks, the outdoors, and the history of Arizona.

Keep your eye out for four seasonal beers from this partnership. The first, released in fall 2024, is a Mexican lager featuring Oracle State Park. 

The Story of the Kannally Ranch House Brew

Oracle State Park has more than 15 miles of trails to explore in the northern foothills of the Catalina Mountains. The 4,000-acre park is also a wildlife refuge and Arizona's first designated International Dark Sky Park. Within the beautiful landscape sits the historic Kannally Ranch House, which showcases the lives of 1900s ranchers and artisans.

The 5,000-acre ranch was developed by five Kannally family siblings who built the ranch house in 1929-1932. The one-of-a-kind property, now on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in the Mediterranean Revival Style with Moorish influences and patterned on Italianate villas of the 1920s. Today the ranch house is prominently featured on the custom can label of Historic Brewing Company and Arizona State Parks “Kannally Ranch House Mexican Lager.”

The thoughtful selection of a Mexican lager for this specialty brew was an intentional choice by Historic Brewing Company. Around the time the Kannally ranch house was built, this style of beer would have been enjoyed in the Tucson area. It combines traditional Mexican ingredients with the European influence of Austrian immigrants in the area at the time who brought their brewing traditions with them, resulting in a blend of cultures and flavors.

Beer enthusiasts with a keen palette will detect the beer’s European hops and malts, including a Pilsner malt traditional of Germany and a Vienna malt traditional of Austria. These malts, plus maize (corn)—a traditional ingredient used throughout Mesoamerica—and a special strain of yeast from a Mexican brewery, result in an authentic flavor.

The recipe melds together, creating a golden, crisp, and refreshing beer with a backbone of malty sweetness, perfect for fall days after time on the trail and evenings around the campfire.

Thank you to those who came out to the fall 2024 tasting events at Tap + Bottle in Tucson and Oracle State Park! We also thank volunteers from the community and with our partners Historic Brewing Company and Sonoran Insiders for their hard work on the trails and in the historic Kannally Ranch House during a stewardship event on November 2, 2024.

About Historic Brewing Company

Meet Historic Brewing Company, the makers of craft beer and awesomeness! The company’s owners, John and Tami Kennelly, and head brewer Zack Stoll like to create beers and partnerships that connect with local communities and align with their values. As their company name suggests, the group is passionate about preserving and giving new life to historic places that deserve to be in the spotlight. Historic Brewing Company also jumps at the chance to craft specialty brews that tie into their employees’ interests, making a collaboration with Arizona State Parks and Trails a perfect fit for this group of adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts. 

For head brewer Zack Stoll, the creator of the Kannally Ranch House Mexican Lager, this partnership is a natural fit. He spends weekends out in the forest hiking with his dogs and recharging in nature—a passion and habit born from his background in environmental science and past work with the U.S. Forest Service. This collaboration offers an exciting opportunity for the team to be creative with a new and different brew that’s connected with something their love for the outdoors and Arizona history.

Historic Brewing Company began in 2013 in Flagstaff, AZ with a strong purpose and drive to bring an unparalleled experience to the market. Historic Brewing Company built its brand by expanding production and distribution capabilities, elevating its taproom, and establishing the company’s Barrel + Bottle House concept in both Flagstaff and Williams. Throughout their locations, you will experience mainstay brews such as their beloved Piehole Porter, seasonal favorites like Undercover Cucumber and unique limited-release brews like the Kannally Ranch House Mexican Lager that have a fan base of their own. As Historic Brewing Company continues to write its own history, its team strives to stay true to their core values that will drive the company forward. Learn more about Historic Brewing Company at HistoricBrewingCompany.com.

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