Expert Chat: Handlebar Tempe's Beer Geek Nick Nitz on Craft Beer and Arizona Beer Week
As Arizona Beer Week approaches, we connected with a genuine beer authority. While many enjoy beer, few match the expertise of Nick Nitz, Handlebar Tempe's Resident Beer Geek.
If you've visited Handlebar Tempe, you've likely spotted Nick behind the bar in his signature baseball cap, engaging customers with enthusiasm. Preparing for his Certified Cicerone exam—the beer equivalent of a wine sommelier—Nick joined the team when the venue opened in September 2012 and was promoted to Beer Geek in January 2013. He still bartends part-time alongside his beverage management role.
Hailing from Baroda, Michigan—a small town 90 minutes east of Chicago—Nick recently toured Colorado breweries with his girlfriend, including Left Hand Brewing Co., Oskar Blues Brewing, Odell Brewing Co., and New Belgium. "Every stop deepened my passion for craft beer and its passionate creators," he shared. As an avid homebrewer, he found the large-scale production processes eye-opening: "Those pros really know their craft."
When asked for the world's best beer, Nick echoed blogger Logan Thompson: "The best beer is the one in your hand." He emphasizes context—a Tecate with lime poolside or a barrel-aged Imperial Stout in winter. On pairings, he notes, "Beer offers more styles and flavors than wine, making it endlessly fun." Guidelines include IPAs with spicy foods and stouts with chocolate desserts. Skeptical at first of Stone Brewing's Dr. Bill Sysak's IPA-carrot cake suggestion, Nick now calls it phenomenal.
Arizona Beer Week (February 15-22) celebrates the state's craft beer scene statewide, from Flagstaff to Tucson, with Tempe events headlining. It kicks off with the Skirt Chaser 5K on February 15. Handlebar Tempe partners with Four Peaks Brewing on February 17 at 5 p.m., tapping Barrel-Aged Sirius Black, Tequila Barrel Raj IPA, and Pumpkin Porter. On February 18 at 6 p.m., enjoy a Sierra Nevada takeover with 24 rare drafts.
For more on Arizona Beer Week and Tempe happenings, visit the Tempe Tourism website or call 800-283-6734.
