Brewpub Grub: Southwest Burger, THAT Brewery and Pub, Pine, AZ

I'm sitting in the pleasant outdoor patio of THAT Brewing after a vigorous day hike along the Arizona Trail near Pine, AZ. In front of me is the house Southwest burger, a 1/3 pound of burger with grilled whole green chili and melted pepperjack cheese. The burger comes with the usual accoutrements of lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle. For my side, I chose the seasoned wedge fries.

Southwest Burger

This is a hefty burger. With melted cheese dripping onto my fries, I bite into the burger: Juicy hamburger combines nicely with the grilled green chili, giving the sandwich the provocative taste of beef and pepper spice. The drippy jack cheese adds again to the spiciness of the burger to make the sandwich a true culinary Southwest treat. The fries did not disappoint. Simultaneously crunchy and chewy, they were what fries should be all about.

For my après hike brew, I chose the thirst quenching Strawberry Blond ale. The blond drank down clean and easy. With a touch of sweetness from the strawberries, the refreshing blond is mellow enough to enjoy after a great AZ Trail hike. If you are really thirsty from all that trail dust, you can have two blonds. It won't hurt.

The outdoor patio is dog friendly, so if you are in the area, feel free to bring your pooch for a brewpub grub experience. For AZ Trail hikers, THAT Brewery is less than a mile from the Pine Trailhead and is hiker friendly. I'm a Pacific Crest Trail hiker (2010) and can relate: yep, that means a hot shower and a cold brew. THAT has a hiker box and offers discounts on rooms for overnight hikers. Check it out.