This is the weekend dedicated to all beer lovers. Arizona Beer Week 2014, which was this week, will conclude the celebration with a festival, longer happy hours around town, special beer releases and live music.
The Southern Arizona Brewers Festival will take place at Maker House downtown this Saturday from 2-6 p.m. There will be three food trucks and live music from Tucson local jazz and funk band The Bennu.
Tucson is home to multiple microbreweries, including Dragoon Brewing Co., Barrio Brewing Co., Nimbus Brewing Co., Thunder Canyon Brewery, Ten Fifty-Five Brewing and Borderlands Brewing Co.. All will be celebrating with extended happy hours and new selections of beers this weekend.
Borderlands Brewing Co. incorporates local ingredients in its brews. Its beers range from its sustainably-brewed Noche Dulche, a medium-bodied moonlight vanilla porter, to the lighter Prickly Pear Wheat beer. In addition to hosting these beers at the festival this Saturday, Borderlands is also showing the Arizona debut of the film “Beer on a Roll” in its taproom Friday at 7 p.m.
“It’s about a guy who rode his bicycle from San Francisco to New York City,” said Mike Mallozzi, president of Borderlands. “He stopped at 20 craft breweries along the way.”
The movie is free and seating will be first come, first serve.
The weekend events incorporate many kinds of craft beer, which means there are plenty of stouts, hefeweizens and IPAs to go around. How can 21-and-ups decide which place to try? While the breweries this weekend won’t discriminate between those who enjoy lagers and those who prefer ales, there are a few special happy hours that might help narrow down which beer tastings to hit.
Pizza and beer spot 1702, which is within walking distance from campus, continually changes out its assortment of 46 beers on tap. It will host all Arizona brewers and a special Friday happy hour from 8-10 p.m.
Time Market, which is a short walk down University Boulevard, is a deli and pizza place. It’s offering a unique food and beer pairing Friday at 5:30 p.m. on its patio.
Local nano-brewer Ten Fifty-Five Brewing will have beers on tap at a happy hour tonight at Good Oak Bar on Congress Street.
Barrio Brewery Co. will join the taps at the Whole Foods Market on River Road with a happy hour from 4-7 p.m. Friday. Whole Foods Market on Speedway Boulevard offers a local beer tasting and pairing from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., as part of its “Beer of the Day” samplings this week. Friday will feature Dragoon beer with Four Peaks on Saturday.
World of Beer downtown also features specialty beers brewed by its own staff.
“One of the things that we’re all about is being a big supporter of the community,” Mallozzi said. “This is a festival that showcases some of the local breweries.”
The weekend’s festivities will bring together brewers, along with all of their tasty fermented grains, through local beers, food and music.
The $35 presale tickets for the festival covers access to beer and a commemorative pint glass.
