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
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
