My Top Three Picks for Microbrew Beer in Tucson, Arizona

I enjoy beer. Good beer; not that yellow flavorless stuff that passes for beer these days. I have even tried my hand at a little micro-brewing myself, with varied results. These however, are my three favorite locally brewed beers to date.

Nimbus:

Nimbus is a brewery owned and operated right here in Tucson, Arizona. They have six beers to date and all of them are sublime. My favorite Nimbus beer however has to be Old Monkey Shine. This delicious, and quite popular, full bodied English style pub ale is the king of this category. It is made with seven different malts and a kiss of brown sugar. This is a dark beer and at 8.2% alcohol by volume, it is not for the beginner beer drinker. With its rich complex flavor, this beer must be savored not chugged. You can visit the brewery at 3850 E. 44^th street, and sample the many quality beers produced by Nimbus.

Thunder Canyon:

Thunder Canyon Brewery is another Tucson local favorite. This microbrewery boasts about 30different flavors of beer; and that's just the ones they brew. You can usually choose from about ten of these flavors on tap, so your taste buds never get bored. All the beer is brewed right here in Tucson, so it is also very fresh. You can buy the beer to go by the ½ gallon, refillable "growler", the ¼ barrel pony keg, the half barrel keg, and a full barrel keg. Of the many flavors available, I would have to say my favorite is their Bees 'n' Berries. This is a delightful medium bodied brew made with tons of ripe blackberries and just the right amount of honey. Its flavor tickles the taste buds, and refreshes the pallet. This is definitely my favorite beer during our long, hot summer months. It is so popular among the locals that there are times when you have to wait for the next batch for it to be available. You can visit Thunder Canyon Brewery in the Foothills Mall at 7401 N. La Cholla Blvd. Check out their website for a current list of beers available on tap.

Gentle Ben's:

Gentle Ben's is located right next to the University of Arizona, at 865 E. University Blvd., here in Tucson. They have a good selection of brews, about 8, they have been making on site since 1970. All of their beers are good and of excellent quality, however, I would have to say that their Copperhead Pale Ale is my favorite. Although it is only available on a seasonal basis, it leaves you wanting more and more. Its rich complexity leaves nothing to be desired, and its 6.1% alcohol by volume will not leave you disappointed. Its unique flavor is due to the specialty malts that are used in the brewing process. Although Gentle Ben's isn't my favorite place to drink beer, being it is usually full of college kids, its brews are definitely worth the trip.

Make sure that if you are a beer lover and find yourself in Tucson Arizona, that you make time to check out these awesome micro-brewed beers.