When you walk into Stogie Cutter Cigar & Craft Beer Lounge, you immediately think of a great neighborhood pub. There is a nice, friendly bar, taps flowing with nothing but craft beer, inviting couches and some standard tables. The walls are decorated with various pictures and beer merchandise. Finally, you notice it sitting in the back past the bar…it’s the humidor. A closer look around reveals that this isn’t just the local bar, it’s a cigar bar like none you have seen before. Forget about the private club in the back, forget about the special reserved tables, this place is for everybody, which is exactly how owner, Richard Picco wants it. “I want a homey place, I don’t stock every cigar, I don’t carry every beer; I’m just a small guy trying to run a good business,” says Richard in response to a question about his bar. In fact, a quick perusal of the humidor shows that Richard carries a large number of unusual, boutique cigars. He seems to have hit his mark, several people drift in and out over the course of the afternoon. Most, if not all, are regulars and Richard bounces back and forth between tending to business and participating in this interview.

No worries however because the fine selection of craft beer and cigars keeps everybody happy while waiting for Richard to finish up with whatever he is doing. The relaxed, casual atmosphere makes this a comfortable place to enjoy a beer or a cigar or both. It is most likely just this that makes the bar, located on the northeast corner of Cooper and Guadalupe in Gilbert, attractive to all folks. Picco has a sizable contingent of lady cigar smokers and craft beer drinkers that frequent the establishment. Like any other cigar lounge owner, Picco has been smoking cigars for years. It was his step father who first introduced him to the pleasures of a fine cigar, and it is his step father who partnered with him in opening the shop. And while most cigar bars offer fine cognacs, scotches and wines, Stogie Cutter focuses on outstanding beer. In addition to two taps from local favorite, San Tan Brewery, there is Hop 15 from Port Brewing and Ten Commandments from The Lost Abbey.

There is Papago Orange Blossom and several other draft beers as well as a wide variety of bottles, including several from Big match for a good cigar is often a strong spirit - perhaps the subtle sweetness of an aged rum or brandy, or the heady, smoky nose of a fine single malt Scotch or whiskey. 

All of these make fine partners to a cigar. So what made Richard decide to focus on craft beer as a companion to the cigars he sells? Certainly it ties in with his pub feel, and it turns out, he likes good beer. Don’t be alarmed if you don’t know what beer to pair with your cigar. Richard is quick to put together some tantalizing pairings.

For instance, he offers a flavored cigar named CAO Moon Trance Vanilla for which he offers the Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat as a match. How about the peppery Hammer and Sickle? No problem, SKA Decadent IPA fills the bill. For the Gurkha Status – Ten
 

Commandments on draft served in its own Lost Abbey glass to maximize the experience. Switch it up and tell him what beer you are drinking and he will find the right cigar for you. With the Alaskan Barley Wine, he immediately suggests a relatively new cigar, the Esteban Carreras 187. Since many of us that are getting in to cigars are trying light to medium body cigars, there are a couple of really good beers to pair with these transition cigars. Alaskan Amber will pair well with many of the lighter bodied cigars, while Big Sky IPA does great with the medium body cigars.

Stogie Cutter is by no means the only great cigar bar in the Valley. Magnums, on Seventh Street and Union Hills in North Phoenix also offers a wide variety of cigars and great beer, while also featuring the cognacs and scotches that are commonplace at most cigar bars throughout the country. Back down in Chandler (3305 W. Chandler Boulevard), Richard’s good friend runs Cubanos Cigar Lounge. Although they don’t have a liquor license, members of their private club are allowed to bring their own adult beverage to enjoy. Likewise members of the club at Mojito (4705 E. Carefree Highway, Cave Creek) can enjoy a beverage of their own choosing in the private back room. There are numerous other cigar lounges that will allow you to enjoy a beer with your cigar in their private room.

In fact, the PUFF section of AZ Weekly has a comprehensive list. Check with the lounge first to see what their rules are. Despite Arizona’s smoking ban, there are several bars with good beer that have cigar friendly patios, as well as somebody that can help you choose the right beer for your cigar. Buffalo Wing and Rings (1760 W. Chandler Boulevard, Chandler) has a large patio, a great beer selection and can help you put together the right combination of beer and cigar. Brix Wine Spot (7100 E. Cave Creek Road in the Stagecoach Village, Cave Creek) has a new selection of craft beer, a patio to smoke cigars on and an owner that knows enough about flavor to put them together. Another great restaurant with a relatively new beer list is at the Lantana Grille (7677 N. 16th Street, Phoenix). Located on the grounds of the Pointe Hilton Resort at Squaw Peak, Lantana Grille has a large patio with wood burning fire pits, the perfect spot to enjoy a cigar with a nice beer. Just about any place with a patio can be cigar friendly; before going out, call up your favorite establishment to determine their policies for their patio.

You might be surprised at how many will accommodate you. A great business thrives on appreciating its customers and showing them how special they are. Stogie Cutter believes in showing its appreciation by offering a special evening for craft beer lovers. Saturday, July 10th, they will pull out all the stops as they offer a variety of great craft beers including SKA, Flying Dog, Sonoran, San Tan, Alaskan Amber, Lost Abbey, Leinenkugel and Big Sky, any of which can be paired with one of their cigars. Stogie Cutter’s liquor license also allows for carry out, so if cigars aren’t your thing, stop in and grab some great beer to take home.

For Father’s Day, Richard will work with you to put together a nice selection of craft beer and cigars customized to suit your father’s tastes. Whether you are a cigar smoker or not, an establishment that believes in great flavors is a treasure. Stogie Cutter, along with all the other cigar lounges, and cigar-friendly bars in the area provide a great opportunity to match some flavors and look at a different way of experiencing craft beer. Why not get out this weekend and try a pairing?