Barrio Brewing Company & Gentle Ben’s Celebrate 25 Years

Did you know that the Barrio Blonde from Barrio Brewing Company is the longest continuously brewed craft beer in Arizona?

Though the oldest Tucson brewery title goes to Pioneer Brewery, it closed one year after its opening in 1870. Barrio, which started as Gentle Ben’s Brewing Company in 1991, has reached the 25-year mark.

“When we began brewing operations in May of 1991, the Soviet Union was still around, George H. W. Bush was president, and Timothy Dalton was still James Bond,” said Dennis Arnold, owner and brewmaster of Barrio and Gentle Ben’s. “Craft brewing was in its infancy and there was only a handful of craft breweries in the country.”

Nowadays, Barrio brews ten year-round beers and three seasonal beers.

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Barrio and Gentle Ben’s is offering a special dinner from October 2 – 7 featuring an appetizer, entree, gelato dessert, and beer. The dinner also includes a commemorative anniversary t-shirt and pint glass. The dinner is $25 per person plus tax and gratuity.

For more information, visit barriobrewing.co and gentlebens.com