In a place as hot as Phoenix, you just need good drinks. The city’s top brewers, mixologists, and baristas have been quietly turning heads for a decade, the best channeling the unique energy and creative spirits of the desert. Recently, a new crop of maestros has emerged.

The best spots can be elusive. Phoenix spreads over a whopping 517 square miles, and that’s not even including adjacent towns like Scottsdale and Tempe. To taste the drink landscape to its last wonky drop, you need to plot a course beyond downtown hubs.

Brewheads know that the Valley of the Sun’s beer scene has been a powerhouse for a decade. Two of the biggest stalwarts—Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company and Wren House Brewing Company—have opened new outposts expanding their visions.

Meanwhile, the coffee scene is becoming more fun.…