It’s been five years in the making since Desert Hills residents Danny and Jessica Frusciano took a leap of faith and decided to combine their passion for beer with their background in real estate to open their own neighborhood brewery.
Rendering Courtesy Desert Hills Brewing Co.
Desert Hills Brewing Co. is under construction off Cave Creek road just south of Carefree Highway at the northeast corner of 53rd Street and Olesen Road. The project is being built from the ground up, with a dedicated brewhouse, office space and an attached 1,238-square-foot tap room, a covered patio, outdoor bar and a hideaway beer garden.
Danny began dabbling in brewing beer at a young age more than 25 years ago and kept up with it in college and beyond as a homebrewer.
“I started brewing beer with my brother in my mom’s garage in Michigan in 2001. We borrowed her large spaghetti pot and used snow to chill our beer. It was extremely unscientific, but we had a lot of fun,” Danny told Valley Vibe.
The couple’s vision began five years ago when Danny invested in professional-level brewing education to help take his skills from hobbyist to professional. The Fruscianos visited breweries and beer gardens across the country and fell in love with the atmosphere.
The Fruscianos are teaching their young children “you push through when things get tough” as they build their business from the ground up.
“Quitting would have been easier, but we picked each other up and kept going. We even kept a tally of the more than 50 times we thought about giving up, so we could show our kids that you push through when things get tough.”
Danny Frusciano – Owner / Desert Hills brewing Co.
“We wanted to bring that vibe back to our own community,” Danny said, adding that he and Jessica had always felt the area lacked gathering places for family and friends. After a long search, they found the right piece of land to fit their plan in 2022.
“We invested all of our savings into the project but struggled to secure financing, since ground-up construction for a start-up is always a challenge,” he said.
“For two years, we went from bank to bank and heard “no” more times than we can count. Our building permits were approved during that time, but still no financing. There were many moments when it felt impossible—wondering if we’d lost our life savings, or if the project was dead before it even began. Quitting would have been easier, but we picked each other up and kept going. We even kept a tally of the more than 50 times we thought about giving up, so we could show our kids that you push through when things get tough,” Danny told Valley Vibe.
Eventually, the Fruscianos secured funding after finding a bank that had funded other breweries in the past and believed in their vision. The project broke ground at the end of 2025.
The taproom will feature 20 taps, with a dozen or more house beers on tap, plus a few guest taps from local breweries. The lineup will include year-round staples, as well as seasonals, experimentals, a few seltzers and hard teas.
“My passion is for classic styles and clean flavors, blending old-world European profiles with American ingenuity and a Southwest twist,” Danny said. Some of his favorite styles include Amber Ales, West Coast IPAs, American Lite Beer, Mexican Lager, Oktoberfest, and seasonal brews.
If the construction and permitting process stays on track, the Fruscianos are targeting a late December/early January opening.
