The guys behind the beer
Family-built.
A shared obsession. A family-owned brewery.
Arizona roots / Since 1986
From the family archive / Where it all started
Chapter one / The garage
The roots.
Before Goldwater was a brewery, it was a family hobby.
Greg began homebrewing in 1986, before his sons Chad and Dillon were born. They grew up watching and eventually helping their dad brew in the garage. Chad continued brewing through college and exploring beer cultures abroad.
That shared passion became a shared project. Greg, Chad, Dillon, and Jimmy built Goldwater Brewing Co. together, opening in Old Town Scottsdale on May 1, 2015.
Four partners / One shared obsession
Built by four.
Different strengths. The same goal: make something we're proud to put our name on.
01 / The Operator
Jimmy
Disken
Jimmy leads daily operations across all taprooms, connecting the people and day-to-day decisions that keep the business moving and shape the experience for every guest.
02 / The brewer
Chad
McClelland
Chad leads the brewing team with over a decade of professional experience. Together, they develop recipes, refine the process, and bring every batch to life.
03 / The creative
Dillon
McClelland
Dillon shapes Goldwater’s visual identity through artwork, packaging, merchandise, and taproom design, making the brand as distinct as the beer.
04 / The foundation
Greg
McClelland
Greg brings decades of knowlege to the business behind the beer, guiding Goldwater’s finances and investing in what the family builds next.
The family archive / 1986 to today
A story still brewing.
Chapter / 1
Where it started
Greg begins homebrewing, starting a hobby that would eventually become a family tradition and the foundation for Goldwater Brewing Co.
Chapter / 2
Labor of love
Greg's hobby gets passed down to his two sons Chad and Dillon as they watch their father develop what would become one of the most important recipes in Goldwater's history; Desert Rose Cactus Kölsch - First brewed in 1989.
Chapter / 3
The turning point
Chad returns from his travels through craft beer scenes in Europe, Southeast Asia, and New Zealand and with the desire to turn the family hobby into a business.
Chapter / 4
Dream come true
The original 10-barrel brewery and flagship taproom opened for business at the corner of Scottsdale Road and Goldwater Boulevard in Old Town Scottsdale.
Chapter / 5
National recognition
Goldwater receives their first medal at the Great American Beer Festival for their Machine Gun Teddy American-style brown ale.
Chapter / 6
Back to our roots
Second location, 30 taps, in the Longbow Marketplace near Recker and the Loop 202 opens its doors. A homecoming for the brothers, who were born and raised in East Mesa.
Chapter / 7
Expanding our community
The team opens up their third taproom, at the bustling corner of Priest Dr. and Ray Rd in South Tempe.
Chapter / 8
More hardware
Oats M'gotes Oatmeal Stout wins bronze at the World Beer Cup giving Goldwater some global recognition.
Chapter / 9
Ten year milestone
A decade of Goldwater Brewing Company. The team celebrates 10 incredible years of serving quality craft beer to the state of Arizona.
Chapter / 10
Gilbert
A new state-of-the-art commercial brewery, taproom, and beer garden is on the way. More room to brew, gather, and keep growing the Goldwater brand.
Next up / Gilbert
Gilbert expansion.
More room to brew. Same family behind it.
We've grown from one Scottsdale brewery to three Arizona taprooms. Gilbert is the next chapter: a new commercial brewery, taproom, and beer garden.
The brand may get bigger. The people behind it haven't changed.
