Drink Like a Tucsonan

A Brewer's Dozen of Tucson Craft Beers

Tucson, being such a hotbed for award-winning creativity in food and the arts, not surprisingly has an explosive craft brewing scene! There’s far too many individual breweries and watering holes to list here, but here’s a delicious brewer's dozen (a 12-pack plus one) just to get your party started in the 520.

 

Barrio Brewing has been a hotspot for family gatherings, birthday parties, and nights out with friends for more than a decade. It’s the creation of Dennis and Tauna Arnold, active in the Tucson craft beer scene since the early 1990s (their first brewery, Gentle Ben’s, was Tucson’s first full mash brewery and is still an absolute campus fixture near the UA). Barrio is Arizona’s third-largest independent brewer and still exudes a neighborhood feel, which you’ll find right in the glass and on their full lunch and dinner menu.

Barrio Brewing Co., 800 E. 16th St., (520) 791-2739

1912 Brewing Company is a small, veteran-owned and family-operated brewery which has since developed into an exciting, yet down-to-earth venue for beer lovers. Known for a wide variety of beer styles, all served within a distinctive taproom at open to families with children.

1912 Brewing Co., 2045 N. Forbes Blvd., #105, (520) 256-4851

Borderlands Brewing Company was started by Mike Mallozzi and Myles Stone, both driven by a desire to make great beer that reflects the native ingredients of the Sonoran region. You can sample a variety of beers in their brewery in the historic Tucson Warehouse Arts District, often accompanied by live music and guest food trucks in the courtyard. Additionally, many of their standout beers are available canned at a variety of stores in town.

Borderlands Brewing Company, 119 E Toole Ave., (520) 261-8773

Crooked Tooth, just off downtown Tucson’s beaten path, offers a variety of beers that match their style, their mantra being that, much like a crooked tooth, you should be yourself and relish what makes you different. Their rustic brewery is also frequently host to trivia nights and video game tournaments! Check them out if you love sours.

Crooked Tooth Brewing Co., 228 E 6th St., (520) 444-5305

Dragoon Brewing Co. is an independent brewer whose goal is to make beer they can be proud of and share with their neighbors. Dragoon’s taproom is the perfect place to sample their brews in an inviting atmosphere. Enjoy food from some of Tucson’s best food trucks, or feel free to bring your own. You’ll also find cans of their flagship Dragoon IPA on shelves at better Tucson beer outlets!

Dragoon Brewing Company, 1859 W. Grant Rd., #111, (520) 329-3606

Ermanos, located along the Sun Link Streetcar line on Fourth Avenue, has an extensive selection of draft and bottled beer and wines with happy hour lasting from open (11 a.m.) until 6 p.m. every day. Their extensive gastropub fare is made from locally sourced ingredients, with daily food specials offered every day of the week!

Ermanos Craft Beer and Wine Bar, 220 N. 4th Ave, (520) 445-6625

Sometimes, amid the buzz of a big night out downtown, you want a cozy bar to duck into with a friend or two where the drinks are going to be interesting, perhaps with a tasty nibble or two, and good music being spun. Good Oak Bar has a compelling selection of local craft beers, whiskeys, wine, and cocktails, and that neighborhood vibe you’re looking for. 

Good Oak Bar, 7316 E Congress St., (520) 882-2007

"Iron" John Adkisson, of Iron John's Brewing Company, is perhaps Tucson’s most experienced brewer, having worked on his craft for over 25 years now. His complex and compelling beers serve as a great introduction to our gastrosphere, always drawing from native ingredients to create flavors you absolutely will not find elsewhere.

Iron John's Brewing Company, 245 S. Plumer Ave., #27, (520) 775-1727

Occupying a historic downtown space first built in 1918, Pueblo Vida is laid-back, but that atmosphere belies the obsession with quality in their beer offerings (not to mention the wildly colorful can designs they’ve become known for). They also host ‘Pints and Poses’, which merges yoga and consumption of a pint after your workout!

Pueblo Vida Brewing Company, 115 E. Broadway Blvd., (520) 623-7168

Appropriately, Tap & Bottle North has more than two dozen beers, eight wines, and cold brew coffee on tap, in addition to a massive selection of bottled and canned beers to take and enjoy. Enjoy the outdoor patio on their northside location or check out the original on Sixth Avenue!

Tap & Bottle North, 7254 N. Oracle Rd., (520) 268-8725

Right in the heart of the nightlife district on Congress Street, Ten 55 Brewing serves fine craft beer and delicious scratch-made sausage that go together like sunsets and saguaros! German and Polish-style sausages are accompanied by venison and vegetarian variants, along with sandwiches, salads, soups, Belgian-style frites, and more. Go hungry and leave happy.

Ten 55 Brewing and Sausage House, 110 E. Congress St., (520) 777-7877

Three Canyon is located out on Tucson’s northeast side, adjacent to the gorgeous Sabino Canyon. The European-style beer garden, with a lighted, covered patio is a wonderful way to enjoy the high desert landscape on the edge of the city, with frequent live musicians and guest food trucks.

Three Canyon Beer & Wine Garden, 4999 N. Sabino Canyon Rd., (520) 900-7866

Located in the MSA Annex of Mercado San Agustin, Westbound is a terrific westside spot for catching a pint of craft beer with your friends and watching the sunset over Sentinel Peak. They also have extensive take-home beer and liquor, and proximity to a variety of excellent food options in the Annex.

Westbound, 267 S. Avenida Del Convento, (520) 867-8308

More Breweries & Tap Houses