Tucson is officially experiencing a craft beer renaissance.
Dozens of new breweries, taprooms and craft beer-friendly bars have opened in the last few years, and the city's passion for excellent beer shows no signs of slowing down. For discriminating beer drinkers who appreciate the sophistication, care and regional flavors of quality craft beer, Tucson is a good place to be.
And while most of Tucson's craft beer scene has been concentrated in the brewing rooms and bars around downtown and midtown, the east side is now home to a new taproom: Arizona Beer House.
A new place to enjoy and sample craft beer has opened on Tucson's east side — Photo courtesy of Arizona Beer House
This taproom and bar has opened its doors near Broadway Road and Kolb Road, bringing high-quality brews to the neighborhood.
Arizona Beer House is the brainchild of longtime friends Brian McBride and Alvin Kuenster, who wanted to showcase the state's best craft beers in an inviting, neighborhood setting.
The ambiance at the bar is low-key, unpretentious and friendly, with a clean, minimal decor that makes it easy to focus on tasting your beer and enjoying time with friends.
Long, wooden communal tables and vintage-style bar stools make it easy to gather larger groups and enjoy a long night of beer-tasting.
There are no TVs at the bar, but old-fashioned, pub-style games like darts make it easy to mingle with fellow beer-lovers.
Some of the beers you might find on tap during your visit include Arizona favorites like the Barrio Tucson Blonde from Barrio Brewing Company; the Four Peaks Leftys Lager from Four Peaks Brewing Company in Tempe; and the SanTan Negro Nitron Black IPA from SanTan Brewery in Chandler.
While most of the beers featured at Arizona Beer House are locally brewed, there are also many craft favorites from the West Coast and other parts of the U.S.
You'll find craft beer classics like Lagunitas Pils from Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma, Calif.; the apple-spiked Woodchuck Gumption from Woodchuck Cidery in Vermont; and a Belgian-style abbey from Destihl Brewery in Illinois.
Arizona Beer House also operates a small bottle shop where guests can purchase Arizona wine and regional craft sodas.
Arizona Beer House doesn't currently serve food, but the owners plan on arranging food truck nights and delivery from nearby restaurants. Live music nights are also in the works.
Ready to see what's on tap? Check out the bar's website, where you can see a real-time inventory of the bar's current tap and cask list.