In a quiet stretch of north Phoenix, Kitsune Brewing Co. has turned into the kind of spot where a tense Magic: The Gathering match can unfold at one table while a couple of neighbors casually compare hazy IPAs at the bar. What started as a side project for two homebrewers now reads like a neighborhood living room with better beer and a built-in game night.
Owner Tyler Smith and business partner J.J. Johnson spent years brewing at home and pouring test batches at other local breweries and pop-ups before finally putting their name on a storefront. Smith walked away from corporate gigs at Nike and PetSmart to open Kitsune in October 2022, and the business leaned on collaborations early on before settling into its Bell Road location as a steady local taproom, according to ABC15.
Kitsune bills itself as a true "third space" - part brewery, part community hub, part game store - where regulars can show up for tournaments, casual hangs or just a quick pint on the way home. The tap list leans playful and varied, spotlighting fun sours and hazy IPAs alongside clean, easy-drinking lagers. Inside, the taproom rolls out Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon nights, and the parking lot plays host to a rotating mix of food trucks, as reported by Arizona's Family.
Sake, Ramen And A Broader Menu
Recently, Kitsune has been nudging past the usual beer-only playbook. The bar now pours sake, wine and hard cider, and the team has been experimenting with sake-based cocktails to reel in drinkers who are not automatically reaching for a pint. Owner Tyler Smith has described these additions, along with plans for a Kitsune Ramen House next door, as part of building a full-on neighborhood destination. He told Phoenix New Times that "Arizona has some of the best beer in the country. I believe that wholeheartedly."
Neighborhood Events And Festivals
Kitsune doubles down on its community pitch with a busy events calendar. The brewery hosted the third annual Tomodachi Beer Fest on March 7, 2026, and keeps the week lively with regular trivia, bingo and game pre-releases for players of all ages. Details for these events, along with the taproom's Bell Road address, are listed on Kitsune Brewing Co..
Where Kitsune Fits In Phoenix's Beer Scene
Even as breweries across the country navigate shifting drinking habits, Kitsune has carved out its own corner by pairing experimental brews with a schedule of neighborhood programming that keeps regulars circling back. That mix of playful beer and community focus has not gone unnoticed. The taproom landed on Eater Phoenix's list of notable metro breweries, highlighted for its creative tap list and growing local profile.
