This week, Barrio Brewing — Arizona’s oldest brewery — unveiled its historic collaboration with the Presidio San Agustin Del Tucson Museum: a limited-edition beer that celebrates this year’s 250th anniversary of Tucson.
The Presidio Pale Ale will soon be available in taprooms, bars, retail stores, and restaurants throughout Southern Arizona. The new brew honors the history, culture, and traditions of Tucson in its semi-quincentennial year.
Also, a portion of beer sales will raise funds for the non-profit Presidio Museum.
“At Barrio, we believe that every adult birthday should include a celebratory beer, but really big birthdays, like a 250th, require something truly special and historic, and that’s what the Presidio Pale Ale is all about,” said Jaime Dickman, chief operating officer for the 100% employee-owned Barrio Brewing Company.
Brief History Lesson
On August 20, 1775, Lieutenant Colonel Hugo O’Conor established the Presidio San Agustin del Tucson, which is now downtown Tucson, marking the beginning of the subsequently incorporated city’s history.
The museum, located near the northeast corner of the original Presidio at 196 N. Court Ave., has a reconstruction of the original Tucson Presidio. It also features multiple exhibits, a historic 1850s Sonoran Row home, a replica of a 2,000-year-old pit house, and the Early People’s Park.
“Working with the Presidio Museum is a real privilege for us, and the historic connection that we share, along with the local heritage that we embrace, makes this a natural partnership for us, ” said Dickman.
The Beer
The Presidio Pale Ale has everything you’d want in a classic pale ale — its 6% ABV makes it a perfect pairing with the Tucson summer and fall seasons.
More sudsy details:
- A solid malt backbone will balance the floral, spicy, citrus-like flavors and aromas of Amarillo hops
- A tasty companion alongside spicy, salty, deep-fried, barbecued, and grilled foods
“That we can both celebrate this Tucson 250-plus story in such a unique way is extraordinary, and we’re grateful to Barrio for their friendship and support,” said Amy Hartmann-Gordon, executive director of the Tucson Presidio Trust for Historic Preservation which operates the Presidio Museum.
“We’re beyond thrilled to be bringing this beer to market soon,” Dickman added.
“One of the many things that the Presidio Museum and Barrio Brewing have in common is the storytelling nature of our work,” said Amy Hartmann-Gordon, executive director of the Tucson Presidio Trust for Historic Preservation which operates the Presidio Museum. “Our work at the museum is anchored by the stories we’re honored to tell about the region’s history and the impact those stories have on life-long learning. And, as we know, every good beer has a story of its own to tell, and those stories have been the foundation of Barrio’s success for decades.”
Stay tuned for the official release date. Meanwhile, support both Presidio San Agustin Del Tucson Museum and Barrio Brewing.
Presidio San Agustin Del Tucson Museum is located at 196 N. Court Ave. Barrio Brewing is located at 800 E. 16th St. For more information about both, visit tucsonpresidio.com and barriobrewing.com.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
