Benson brew: Cody Sexon brews beer at Turquoise Hills Golf and RV in Benson. Certified by the American Brewer's Guild, Sexon brews about 60 gallon of beer per week. (Thelma Grimes/photo.)
Published: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 10:34 AM CDT
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
With so many stresses in life, sometimes breaking bread with a cold beer is what one needs to have a good time.
With the proper licensing and certified staff on board, Turquoise Hills Golf and RV is making this kind of entertainment possible, especially with the addition of karaoke on Friday nights.
With new owners in place, the 18-hole, Par 3 golf course on Country Club Road off State Route 80 in Benson is undergoing changes. One of those changes is a brewery.
With Benson City Council and state approval, Cody Sexon has been able to start a small brewery in the back of the kitchen.
Sexon, of Tombstone, said right now he is producing about 60 gallons of homemade brew a week.
Sexon, who was certified by the American Brewer's Guild in 2001, said he once owned the Eldorado Brewing Company in Tombstone.
Sexon said years ago after working at a construction job all day, he was sitting at a bar thinking, "Man, I've got to do something else with my life."
Holding a beer while he was thinking about what to do with his future, Sexon said he realized he liked drinking it and wanted to know what it took to make it.
He attended a year-long program in California to find out.
"Ultimately it was beer and bread that brought the world together," Sexon said. "Instead of hunting, long ago, these men found that by growing the food they could make bread and beer at the same time."
Sexon said the first beer was created in the 1300s and was known as India Pale Ale, or IPA. Since then, the art of making beers has transitioned into so much more, and Sexon explained that at Turquoise Hills he is looking forward to making seasonal brews.
"In the summer we have a light, yellow brew, but in the fall and winter we will be making some darker brews," he said. "The color of the beer has to do with its flavors. The lighter the color, the sweeter the beer."
In getting started, Sexon said he served a traditional amber brew. Turquoise Hills kicked things off on Friday, serving 10 ounces of the new brew for $1.
As time goes on, Sexon said he hopes to increase volume and sell up to four or five varieties at a time.
To start, Sexon and Art Bale, general manager of the facility, said they will serve one brew and work to increase production as business increases.
Bale said besides having a karaoke night on Fridays, the new brew will also be available with wing night during Monday night football. With games such as Monday's, where Brett Favre made his return to Green Bay, the bar can become quite lively.
Bale said besides the addition of the brewery, they have also been working on the restaurant, which reopened this week.
They are also doing some reseeding of the golf course for the winter season, when the 18-hole course will remain open and ready for competitors.