Meet The Brewer: Valerie Adee

Behind the taps at Phantom Fox Beer Company, brewer Valerie Adee likes to keep things local and leave a little room for surprise.

Behind the taps at Phantom Fox Beer Co., brewer Valerie Adee is helping shape Mesa’s craft beer scene from a role where women have historically been underrepresented.

As the woman leading Phantom Fox’s brewhouse, Adee brings her own point of view to a tap list built around creativity, collaboration and local flavor. Located on Main Street in Downtown Mesa, Phantom Fox regularly pours around 20 of its own beers, ranging from familiar styles to pours that venture well beyond the usual beer list.

“Phantom Fox is a really cool place to be in Mesa,” Adee says. “We're really about community, keeping it small, keeping it local.”

A Woman Behind the Brewhouse

Women have long been part of beer’s history, but professional brewing and brewmaster roles in the modern U.S. craft beer industry have traditionally been male-dominated.

That makes Adee’s place behind the brewhouse an important part of the Phantom Fox story. She’s leading production while building beers around the people, ingredients and collaborations she finds close to home.

“We do a lot of collabs with local people, bring in a lot of local ingredients,” Adee says.

Her approach fits naturally along Downtown Mesa’s Main Street, where breweries, taprooms and locally owned businesses sit within an easy walk of one another.

The Beer That Goes Off the Beaten Path

With roughly 20 Phantom Fox beers typically on draft, there’s plenty of room to find a familiar style. Adee also makes a case for ordering something you probably didn’t walk in expecting.

Her pick is the pickle beer.

“If you want to go a little more off the beaten path and be adventurous with something that you might not find somewhere else, but that a lot of people have been taken by surprise with, is our pickle beer,” Adee says.

It happens to be her favorite, too.

For curious beer drinkers, that makes the tap list part of the discovery. Order a pint you know, or follow the brewer toward something a little stranger.

Find Your Pint on Main Street

Phantom Fox Beer Company adds its own personality to Downtown Mesa’s craft beer scene, with house-made brews, local collaborations and a woman leading the brewhouse.

For Adee, tasting Mesa means starting with what’s brewing right here.

You haven't tasted Mesa, until you've tried Phantom Fox.

FAQs

Who is Valerie Adee?
Valerie Adee is the brewer leading the brewhouse at Phantom Fox Beer Company in Downtown Mesa, Arizona. Her approach to brewing emphasizes community, local collaborations and creative craft beer.
What makes Valerie Adee’s role at Phantom Fox notable?
Valerie Adee leads the brewhouse at Phantom Fox Beer Company in Downtown Mesa. Women have historically been underrepresented in professional brewing leadership, making her role as a woman leading a craft brewery’s production especially notable.
What is Phantom Fox Beer Company?
Phantom Fox Beer Company is a craft brewery on Main Street in Downtown Mesa, Arizona. The brewery produces its own beer in Mesa and focuses on local collaborations, community and a rotating selection of creative styles.
How many beers does Phantom Fox have on tap?
Brewer Valerie Adee says Phantom Fox typically has around 20 of its own beers on draft at any given time.
What beer does Valerie Adee recommend at Phantom Fox?
Valerie Adee recommends Phantom Fox's pickle beer for visitors looking to try something more adventurous. She describes it as an unexpected beer that has surprised many guests and says it is one of her personal favorites.
Does Phantom Fox use local ingredients?
Yes. Valerie Adee says Phantom Fox works with local people on collaborations and incorporates local ingredients into its beers.
Where is Phantom Fox Beer Company located?
Phantom Fox Beer Company is located at 150 W. Main St. in Downtown Mesa, Arizona.
What kind of beer does Phantom Fox brew?
Phantom Fox brews a broad range of craft beer in Mesa, including lagers, IPAs and more experimental beers such as its pickle beer. The selection changes, with around 20 house-made beers typically available on draft.

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