celebrating the life of

Anthony Canecchia

Founder and Brewmaster of SanTan Brewing Company, Anthony Canecchia dedicated nearly three decades to transforming Arizona’s craft beer landscape. His passion for brewing and commitment to sustainability turned SanTan into the state's largest independent brewery, recognized for its award-winning beers and groundbreaking achievements.

the rise of santan brewing

After leaving the University of Arizona to pursue brewing in 1996, Anthony turned his hobby of home brewing into a full-fledged career, first working at Four Peaks and eventually launching SanTan Brewing Company in 2007 alongside co-founder Aaron Sanchez. Under his leadership, SanTan gained a reputation for its innovative approach to brewing, creating a diverse range of award-winning beers, including the popular SanTan JuicyJack IPA, MoonJuice IPA and Sky Harbor Lager, Arizona Style Lager.

With Anthony as the Brewmaster, SanTan Brewing went from a 15-barrel brewhouse at the brewpub to a 50-barrel production brewhouse. SanTan beers have earned numerous accolades including multiple gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup. Notably, the MoonJuice IPA is a staple for Arizonans, further solidifying the brewery's status in the competitive craft beer landscape.

Uncommon Quality for Everyday occasions

Anthony’s relentless pursuit of sustainability and responsibility in both brewing and distribution paved the way for industry-leading action across Arizona and the Southwest. As one of the first in the United States to follow suit with Oskar Blues, SanTan led the way in canning craft beer, providing fresher beer with a significantly lower carbon footprint than traditional glass bottles.

Canning also made high quality local beer accessible to everyday occasions that were often off-limits for craft beer in glass bottles such as pool parties, outdoor activities like public parks, hiking trails and the like, contributing to the tagline that was more like a mission statement: uncommon quality for everyday occasions. Over Anthony’s tenure at SanTan, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been invested in equipment and processes that reduce water usage and decrease carbon emissions by nearly 40%.

Crafting Success

Anthony's commitment to quality and community has driven SanTan's growth, expanding the brewery’s reach with statewide distribution of over 10,000 locations. His entrepreneurial vision has led to the introduction of a successful line of spirits including ready-to-serve options such as Espresso Martini, low-calorie canned cocktails, and spirits including CaraMellow Salted Caramel Whiskey, and award-winning Sacred Stave American Single Malt Whiskey, a Double Gold Winner at the 2019 New York World Wine & Spirits.
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The heart of a brewmaster

After brewing and distilling, Star Wars, comic books, and Lego sets were his passions, of which he proudly displayed at the SanTan brewpub. He was fierce and expected greatness from those who worked for him, but with a giant, warm heart for those in need.

Beyond his contributions to SanTan Brewing, Anthony was a family man, a dedicated and loving son, brother and uncle, and partner. Anthony was deeply involved in local philanthropy and community initiatives. As one of the founding members of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, Anthony was a fierce supporter of all parts of the industry including home and micro-brewing,

While he rarely spoke publicly about it, Anthony passionately supported the underserved Arizona communities through various charities and organizations including Chandler Compadres, and St Joseph the Worker.

Until we meet again

There are not enough words to say “goodbye” to such a strong and influential force. Instead, we will simply raise our lightsabers in his honor and continue his legacy by working tirelessly to bring our customers the uncommon quality for everyday occasions that Anthony made our mission.

Until we meet again, Jedi Master.

Honoring Anthony​

We appreciate the outpouring of support during this difficult time. In honor of Anthony Canecchia's deep involvement in the local landscape, we invite those wishing to pay tribute in lieu of flowers to make a donation to the Chandler Compadres, a charity near and dear to Anthony. Since 1980, this organization has helped East Valley families in need and reflects Anthony’s commitment to the community. Donations can be made by clicking the button below. Thank you for your kindness and support.

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