At the end of a street in a business park just east of Interstate 10 and near a motorcycle parts store, brewery owners Todd and Erika Button are realizing their dream with Button Brew House.
After years of contributing to the craft beer community, the Buttons decided to go all-in. The long and arduous process will finally come to fruition over the weekend of September 16 and 17.
The History
The Buttons bring a wealth of experience in business and entrepreneurial ventures, as well as significant brewing education. Todd, the brewmaster, brings with him diplomas from two of the more prestigious programs in the country. First, he completed a 22-week Intensive Brewing Science and Engineering course at the American Brewers Guild out of Salibury, Vermont. He also holds a Business of Craft Brewing diploma from Portland State University, which focuses on the business side of brewing along with a focus on distillery and cidery business models.
With Todd focusing on producing great beers, the marketing and advertising end of the business falls on his wife, Erika. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art, Design, and Industry from San Francisco State University and a decade of experience operating a successful graphic design firm, she is now deeply entrenched in the local Tucson business community.
The Beers
Button Brew House sets itself apart from other breweries in town.
One of the year-round classics will be Chiltepin Red Ale, brewed with spicy local Chiltepin peppers and lime peel. Although small in size, this “mother of all peppers” clocks in at 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville heat units — 20 to 30 times hotter than your standard jalapeño pepper. This Spicy Red Ale packs a moderate ABV of 6.0%, is low on the IBU scale at 16 and is the perfect complement for another local favorite – Sonoran hot dogs. The heat in this brew is forward and immediate, but not overwhelming.
Another year-round classic is the Button IPA, a true West Coast IPA with four different varieties of American hops and packs a punch with 70 IBUs and a relatively high ABV of 7.0%. Next, the All Souls Stout is a rich beer that will satisfy anybody looking for a nice American stout. This full-bodied beer brings notes of coffee, chocolate, toffee and caramel and is also available on nitro providing a thick, creamy head, if you are so inclined.
Button is hoping to also have the Volstead Pilsner ready for the grand opening celebration although it was still reaching completion at this the time of writing. The Volstead is an American pre-Prohibition Western Lager that gets its name from the infamous act intended to carry out the 18th Amendment.
Other specialty beers that will be available for the grand opening will be the Single Malt and Single Hop (SMASH) Ale lovingly titled The Traveler as it was the first batch brewed in the brewery and visited every tank and vat on premises. This light, straw-colored beer is dangerously easy-drinking and will be extremely popular among craft beer rookies and aficionados alike.
Two additional and yet-to-be-named beers are in the tanks and should be ready by the grand opening.
“The beer tells us when it’s ready,” Todd said. “I’d like to open with seven beers on tap but I won’t serve beers that aren’t ready.”
Also, look for a Berliner Weisse and a New England-style IPA to hit the taps in the coming weeks if not available at the grand opening.
Grand Opening Schedule of Events
The party starts in earnest with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with the Marana Chamber of Commerce at noon on Saturday, September 16. Some of the best food trucks will be on hand to feed hungry suds-seekers including:
- American Flying Buffalo from noon to 9 p.m.
- Tucson Fat Noodle from noon to 4 p.m.
- La Garrafa Ice Cream from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Luke’s Wood-Fired Pizza will be onsite from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Saturday and all day on Sunday.
Live music will be provided by Austin Alexander Counts on Saturday and Christian Kemp on Sunday.
Button Brew House is located at 6800 N. Camino Martin, Ste. 160, Marana, AZ 85741. For more information, call (520) 268-8543 or visit buttonbrewhouse.com.
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