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The residents of Tucson have a great love for beer, and this fondness led them to discover more. They evolved the traditional techniques throughout the years by adding their own spin. Mexican spices and fresh local ingredients, along with this Tucson-owned technique, gave birth to craft beers you can only taste in the city.
If you want to experience these uniquely brewed beers, grab a seat and read on as we take you to the eleven best breweries you should never miss out on in Tucson, Arizona!
1. Pueblo Vida Brewing Co.
Wear your helmet, and join Pueblo Vida in its Night Bike Ride! This self-guided and no-one-left-behind ride led by local bike enthusiasts is the event Pueblo Vida is most passionate about. It also organizes more fun events like an hour-long, bring-your-own-mat yoga class and, for art lovers, a coloring day every last Wednesday of the month.
At Pueblo Vida’s taproom, you can find 15 beers on tap and, a variety of cans for in-house pours. And although the brewery doesn’t have a kitchen on-site, it sells little snacks like popcorn for light munchies. But if you want something heavier, you can order food from the great restaurants around Pueblo Vida.
- Crowd Favorite: Hef. A classic bavarian-style hefeweizen with 5.5% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Andromeda
- Hop-py Note: Dog-friendly. Movie Nights. Non-alcoholic options.
- Fun fact: The building of Pueblo Vida was built in 1918.
Hours: Open Mon-Thur 3pm-9pm, Fri & Sat 12pm-10pm, Sun 12pm-8pm
Address: 115 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85701
Contact: (520)623-7168 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
2. Borderlands Brewing Co.
If you’re a traveler on a tour in Tucson or a local who just wants to try something new, Borderlands has something to offer you. It has misters for you to beat the heat under its tree and fabric-shaded patio. And you may enjoy delicious food from the food trucks on site while drinking the brewery’s award-winning and fan-favorite beers.
Speaking of a fan-favorite beer, Borderlands co-founded a project called Las Hermanas, a collaboration of women brewers on the US and Mexico border. Together, they brewed a West Coast IPA named after Las Hermanas. After this project, Borderlands hosted a free brewing educational conference and technical workshops that tackle brewing ingredients and new brewing techniques.
- Crowd Favorite: Noche Dulce. A sweet dark chocolate and coffee-flavored porter with 7.3% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Toole Avenue
- Hop-py Note: Pet-friendly. Live music.
- Fun fact: Borderlands uses solar energy to brew its beers.
Hours: Open Mon-Thur 12pm-10pm, Fri & Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10pm
Address: 119 E Toole Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
Contact: (520)955-9826 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
3. Barrio Brewing Company
Serving its first beer in 1991, Barrio is the longest-operating brewery in Arizona. It has a wide experience crafting different beer styles, with multiple award-winning beers like Scottish ale and dark porter as proof. It also serves the best mouth-watering food in the city, such as the most-liked Tortilla soup and Reuben sandwich.
To give back to the community, Barrio partners up with several local organizations. Some of these are fundraising projects for 988, a non-profit group that helps awareness for suicide prevention, and Pints4Pink, a breast cancer research. Moreover, it also supports animal causes such as Pint for Pups and Bark & Brews Dog Washing.
- Crowd Favorite: Barrio Blonde. A light and crisp blonde ale with 4.7% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Citrazona
- Hop-py Note: Dog-friendly. Trivia Night. Billiard games. Live music.
- Fun fact: In 2020, Barrio became the first 100% employee-owned brewery in Arizona.
Hours: Open Sun-Thur 11am-10pm, Fri & Sat 11am-11pm
Address: 800 E 16th St, Tucson, AZ 85719
Contact: (520)791-2739 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
4. Dragoon Brewing Co.
Dragoon has been operating since 2012. Each year, it creates 30 different beers, which are mostly IPAs, sours, and stouts. Currently, its taproom features 11 premium beers on tap, year-round brews, and several specialty bottles for takeout. Since it only focuses on its passion for creating beers, it invites food trucks to serve light snacks and meals to its hungry customers.
Moreover, Dragoon conducts a boot camp in its taproom on several Sundays of the month where anyone at any fitness level can join. It also hosts the event Transit Ride every second Tuesday of the month, wherein riders can have $1 off their to-go beers.
- Crowd Favorite: Dragoon IPA. Herbal and citrus-scented beer with 7.3% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Stronghold Session
- Hop-py Note: Sells merchandise. Family-friendly. Live music.
- Fun fact: Dragoon was founded by a father and son, who are both brewers and craft beer evangelists.
Hours: Open Tue-Fri 3pm-9pm, Sat 12pm-9pm, Sun 12pm-5pm, Mon Closed
Address: 1859 W Grant Rd #111, Tucson, AZ 85745
Contact: (520)329-3606 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
5. 1912 Brewing Company
Famous for its sours and goses, 1912 has been serving great beers since 2015. Its owners, Allan and Alicia Conger, are Arizona natives; that’s why they outsource nothing but locals in running the brewery. From its suppliers to employees, painters, photographers, and musicians, all reside in their communities. Moreover, even though 1912 had its own kitchen for snacks, its owners still invite local food trucks to serve delicious meals to hungry folks.
And as for its beers, 1912 also uses flavors only indicative of Tucson. This resulted in 1912 having more than 20 beers and several wines on tap available for an in-house pour, cans, and bottles, as well as a flight of 6.
- Crowd Favorite: Weapons Check. A dry-finished Irish red ale with 4.7% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Naughty Naranja
- Hop-py Note: Movie and Trivia nights. Indoor and outdoor seating.
- Fun fact: 1912’s name was derived from the year Arizona became a state.
Hours: Open Tue-Fri 3pm-9pm, Sat 12pm-9pm, Sun 12pm-6pm, Mon Closed
Address: 2045 N, Forbes Blvd Ste 105, Tucson, AZ 85745
Contact: (520)256-4851 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
6. Dillinger Brewing Co.
If you find baked goods and beers a good combo, then Dillinger is for you. Colorful macarons, flavored cookies, and tasty cupcakes are just some of the items waiting to melt in your mouth. Along with these goodies, a selection of beers on tap are available for flights, pints, and crowlers. And you can also find non-alcoholic options like kombucha and cold-pressed coffee in the taproom.
Presently, Dillinger has two active locations. Its taproom in Oracle Road conducts Guided Flights led by its brewmaster Jamison, giving you a one-of-a-kind drinking experience. And on the other hand, its 4th Avenue Taproom has Paint Nights and Live Mural Painting for artists.
- Crowd Favorite: Mango Nada. A fruity sour with 5.7% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Serrano Seduction
- Hop-py Note: Open for outside food. Trivia nights. Tabletop games.
Hours: Open Mon-Thur 3pm-10pm, Fri 3pm-11pm, Sat 12pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-8pm
Address: 402 E 9th St, Tucson, AZ 85705
Contact: (520)207-2312 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
7. BlackRock Brewers
If outstanding beers are what you’re looking for, BlackRock has various beer options waiting for you. It has award-winning IPAs in its lineup, including its top-notch strong Scottish ale. You can drink a variety of its flagship beers on tap and several exclusive brews.
You better have your stay here on a Tuesday night because BlackRock has a game night. You can gather up your pals for enjoyable activities like board games, tabletop games, and cards. Great news as well because just by playing, you can get a chance of a 10% off your bill.
- Crowd Favorite: Vanilla Infused Porter (VIP). A smooth and dark malty porter with 6% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Baja Sol
- Hop-py note: Trivia and comedy nights. Occasional live music.
- Fun Fact: BlackRock is the first brewery to operate in East Side Tucson.
Hours: Open Mon 3pm-8pm, Tue & Wed 2:30pm-9pm, Thur & Fri 2:30pm-10pm, Sat 12pm-10pm, Sun 2pm-7pm
Address: 1664 S Research Loop #200, Tucson, AZ 85710
Contact: (520)207-3203 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
8. Thunder Canyon Brewery
Thunder Canyon has been brewing great beers since 1997. Besides beers, it has a great passion for arts, may it be visual or music. Every week, a local performer shows off a variety of music styles to the brewery, like Americana, folk, hip-hop, and more.
Furthermore, Thunder Canyon provides a space in its taproom for artists to display their curated art. The brewery matches the devotion of the artists around them by achieving a perfect combination of flavors and aromas using quality ingredients. With this, the brewery earned a handful of national awards.
- Crowd Favorite: Deep Canyon Amber. An American amber ale with 4.5% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Sky Island IPA
- Hop-py Note: Family-friendly. Board games and video game console center.
- Fun fact: Thunder Canyon is the longest-running craft brewery and distillery in Downtown Tucson.
Hours: Open Thur & Fri 4pm-12am, Sat 8pm-12am, Sun 12pm-12am, Mon-Wed Closed
Address: 220 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85701
Contact: (520)396-3480 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
9. FireTruck Brewing Company
If you think that firefighters can only put off flames and not your cravings for beer, then FireTruck will prove you wrong. It is a microbrewery owned by a group of firefighters passionate about brewing beers. FireTruck opened in 2014 in Midtown Tucson, and now it has 2 other branches located in Eastside and Oro Valley.
Being a restaurant brewery, FireTruck specializes in making fresh and tasty cuisine. A variety of mouth-watering foods like slow-smoked wings, pulled pork barbeque, and hummus platters are specialized by the brewery. If you have a little one with you, FireTruck has your back, as it also serves a kid’s menu.
- Crowd Favorite: Salida Del Sol Mexican Amber. A Mexican-style Vienna lager with 5.2% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Icebreak IPA
- Hop-py Note: Pet-friendly patio. Family-friendly. Sells merchandise.
- Fun fact: FireTruck is the first restaurant brewery to open at Great Swan.
Hours: Open Tue-Thur 11am-9pm, Fri & Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-8pm, Mon Closed
Address: 4746 E Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ 85712
Contact: (520)777-9456 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
10. MotoSonora Brewing Company
MotoSonora is a brewery owned by Tucson natives and brothers Jeff and Jeremy DeConcini. The two owners built MotoSonora out of their passion for overland road trips and great beers. They believe that good beers are essential when creating a wonderful overland trip.
MotoSonora features a taproom with a road trip theme and an outdoor patio with picnic/barrel tables and shades. As for its beers, MotoSonora boasts its own take on old-world beer styles, so you can expect to find a wide variety of brews in its taproom. Moreover, MotoSonora offers a flight of six different beers so you can maximize your beer-sampling experience.
- Crowd Favorite: Victory Or Death IPA. A dry and piney American IPA with 6.7% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Fog Lights Hazy IPA
- Hop-py Note: Wheelchair accessible. Bike and street parking. Dog-friendly.
Hours: Open Mon-Thur 3pm-10pm, Fri & Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-8pm
Address: 1015 S Park Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719
Contact: (520)416-6686 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
11. Harbottle Brewing Company
Harbottle is a 7-barrel brewery founded in 2018. It is a fun establishment offering delicious craft beers and Tucson pizza. You will find the place lively as the owners and team members are all fun individuals ready to share their stories about their love for beer.
Harbottle Brewing is open daily serving its winner IPAs and ales. You can find ten different types of beers available on tap in its cozy taproom. Moreover, the place is covered with the addicting smell of freshly baked pizzas from its in-house kitchen.
- Crowd Favorite: Harbottle IPA. A piney and citrusy American IPA with 6.3% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Easy Going
- Hop-py Note: Live music. Occasional events. Kid and dog-friendly.
- Fun fact: The brewery got its name from an interesting man in the late 18th century named Captain John Harbottle.
Hours: Open Mon-Wed 1pm-7pm, Thur 1pm-8pm, Fri 1pm-9pm, Sat & Sun 12pm-7pm
Address: 3820 S Palo Verde Rd #102, Tucson, AZ 85714
Contact: (520)499-2518 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
