🎟️ Desert Magic | Aug 29 — Get Tickets & View Featured Chefs →Get Tickets →
Tucson FoodieCelebrating local food, drink, and community.
10 Spots For Craft Brew On A Budget

10 Spots For Craft Brew On A Budget

Jul 16, 20155 min read

What’s a beer geek to do when you’ve got Utopia tastes and a PBR budget? Get crafty!

One great way to enjoy craft brew while out on the town is to peruse the package. More and more bars are opening up as bottle shop combinations, such as Tap & Bottle, Ermanos, and the new Arizona Beer House. There are untold treasures in these bottle shops at substantial values. Compare the bottle or can pricing along with any cappage fees against the draft menu. Sharing a bomber or 750ml bottle with a friend can be just as romantic as it is frugal.

In no particular order, these ten local spots offer up craft brews on draft and in bottles on the cheap.

1702

1702 E Speedway Blvd.
New beer options at 1702 (Photo: 1702)
New beer offerings at 1702 (Photo: 1702)

Long hailed as Tucson’s first and best craft beer bar, 1702, has 46 craft beers on tap and a bottle shop out back with numerous gems in addition to their extensive tap list. Happy hour, brewery tap takeovers and promotions provide even better specials from their already reasonably priced beer list. Added bonus, delicious pizza slices bigger than your head!

For more information, visit 1702az.com.

Danny’s Baboquivari Lounge

2910 E. Fort Lowell Rd.

Ask just about anyone and they will tell you that Danny’s is either their favorite or one of their favorite neighborhood bars. Danny’s draws an eclectic group of great regulars, always has some solid craft beer offerings from Arizona and beyond for cheap, has a substantial patio out back, pool tables, darts, foosball, air hockey, and shuffleboard. They don’t serve food unless you count the occasional potluck, but consistently have a food truck in the parking lot.

For more information, visit dannyslounge.net.

Arizona Beer House

150 S. Kolb Rd.
Arizona Beer House (Photo: Sarah Ritchie)
Arizona Beer House (Photo: Sarah Ritchie)

Arizona Beer House is Tucson’s newest addition to our hopping craft beer scene with 33 craft beers on tap and more in their bottle shop to enjoy there or take home. Their draft beer prices are already low, but grabbing a bottle or can to enjoy on site with a cappage fee is the serious bargain. A classy family run craft beer bar with dive bar pricing and knowledgeable staff, Arizona Beer House is a gem in east Tucson.

For more information, visit arizonabeerhouse.com.

Che’s Lounge

350 N. 4th Ave.

Che’s cheap local craft beers and drinks, artsy hip patio, live local bands and DJs, fun bartenders, and never a cover make this place a beloved institution of the 4th Ave scene. Che’s is open daily from noon to 2am.

For more information, visit cheslounge.com.

Monsoons Tap & Grill

6781 N. Thornydale Rd.
Monsoon's Tap & Grill (Photo: Monsoon's)
Monsoon’s Tap & Grill (Photo: Monsoon’s)

Monsoons is the favorite northwest Tucson sports bar for craft beer lovers. They offer eighteen local beers on tap and others in bottle, a large and affordable menu, fourteen televisions, patio dining, and a super friendly staff. Prices are always reasonable, but drink craft for cheap during happy hour.

For more information, visit monsoonstapandgrill.com.

BZ’s Pizza Company

8838 E. Broadway Blvd.
BZ's Pizza (Photo: Sarah Ritchie)
BZ’s Pizza (Photo: Sarah Ritchie)

BZ’s Pizza Company is a family restaurant and sports bar on Tucson’s east side with good food, warm staff, 21 mostly-craft beers on tap and many more in bottles and cans. BZ’s is passionate about supporting craft beer in Tucson and this is a local favorite for happy hour in east Tucson.

For more information, visit bzpizzaco.com.

Arizona Pizza Company (or AZP Tavern)

4955 N. Sabino Canyon Rd.
Arizona Pizza Company taps (Photo: Sarah Ritchie)
Arizona Pizza Company taps (Photo: Sarah Ritchie)

AZP Tavern manager, Justin Kent, knows craft beer and curates a most beautiful tap list of highly sought after brews, then serves them at ridiculously low prices. AZP Tavern is converting the masses to world class craft beers one insanely cheap pint at a time, with pizza! AZP has 19 beers on tap with special discounts on beers, pizza, and cocktails every day.

For more information, visit azpizzacompany.com.

Saguaro Corners

3750 S. Old Spanish Tr.
Saguaro Corners (Photo: Saguaro Corners)
Saguaro Corners (Photo: Saguaro Corners)

Saguaro Corners has been serving up comfort food and breathtaking views just outside Saguaro National Park East since 1956. They recently expanded their craft beer selection to twenty-two beers on tap. Happy hour specials make it affordable to enjoy quality craft brews on the cheap, plus they are offering happy hour prices all day on Mondays and Tuesdays through the end of the month.

For more information, visit saguarocorners.net.

Zona 78

78 W. River Rd. • 7301 E. Tanque Verde Rd.
Zona 78 Salumi
Zona 78 Salumi (Photo: Alicynn Fink)

Zona 78’s happy hour specials are where it’s at. Zona 78 offers happy hour specials of $3 craft brews from 3 to 6pm, Mondays though Saturdays, half priced gourmet appetizers, and the feel good factor from their emphasis on supporting local with their food, beer, wine, and spirits.

For more information, visit zona78.com.

Fox & Hound

7625 N. La Cholla Blvd.
Fox & Hound crowd (Photo: Fox & Hound)
Fox & Hound crowd (Photo: Fox & Hound)

Fox and Hound in northwest Tucson offers up Craft Beer Night every Tuesday with $3 draft beers. Combine this with their happy hour food specials of half priced appetizers available Mondays through Fridays from 3 to 6pm and 10pm to close daily. Fox and Hound is HUGE. This giant sports bar boasts four separate rooms, 44 high def televisions, 10 projectors, and 9 tournament style billiard tables.

For more information, visit foxandhound.com.

Article written by:

Sarah Ritchie

Sarah Ritchie

More about Sarah
Craft Beer Betty, aka Sarah Ritchie, is a craft beer evangelist as co-founder of Tucson Girls Pint Out and board member of Craft Tucson. Find her on Twitter and Instagram as @craftbeerbetty.

Advertisement

Weekly digest of new openings, events, and guides. No spam.

Take Tucson Foodie with you.

Discover the best local spots, browse the dish database, build and share your to-visit lists, support local, and join the Foodie Club when you're ready.

Follow @TucsonFoodie134.1K followers
Join the Tucson Foodie team for a very special dinner at @sawmillrun. A culinary journey from the Sonoran Desert to the summit of Mount Lemmon. TOMORROW! Aug 15, 6-8pm.❤️ 

Tickets in bio.
MENU👇🌲

AMUSE:
Forest Floor
Hazelnut Soil • Whipped Goat Cheese • Black Garlic • Pickled Mushroom • Crispy Mushroom • Mountain Herbs

FIRST COURSE: 
Desert Oasis
Compressed Melon • Whipped Feta • Chiltepin Vinaigrette • Pickled Cucumber • Toasted Pepitas • Mint

SECOND COURSE: 
Campfire Embers
Roasted Bone Marrow • House Chorizo • Pickled Shallot • Cilantro • House-Made Blue Corn Tortilla

THIRD COURSE: 
Juniper Ridge
Juniper-Smoked Pork Belly • Charred Corn Succotash • Prickly Pear Gastrique • Dehydrated Jalapeños

PALATE CLEANSER:
Aspen Breeze
House-Made Lemon Sorbet • Candied Lemon • Fresh Mint

FOURTH COURSE: 
Granite Peak
Mesquite-Grilled Vera Earl Beef • Smoked Tomato Chimichurri • Charred Heirloom Tomato • Crispy Shallot

DESSERT: 
Summer on Mount Lemmon
Arizona Honeycomb Ice Cream • Roasted Willcox Peaches • Huckleberry Compote • Almond Streusel • Honey Tuile

#tucsonevents #tucsonfoodie #mtlemmonJoin the Tucson Foodie team for a very special dinner at @sawmillrun. A culinary journey from the Sonoran Desert to the summit of Mount Lemmon. TOMORROW! Aug 15, 6-8pm.❤️ Tickets in bio. MENU👇🌲 AMUSE: Forest Floor Hazelnut Soil • Whipped Goat Cheese • Black Garlic • Pickled Mushroom • Crispy Mushroom • Mountain Herbs FIRST COURSE: Desert Oasis Compressed Melon • Whipped Feta • Chiltepin Vinaigrette • Pickled Cucumber • Toasted Pepitas • Mint SECOND COURSE: Campfire Embers Roasted Bone Marrow • House Chorizo • Pickled Shallot • Cilantro • House-Made Blue Corn Tortilla THIRD COURSE: Juniper Ridge Juniper-Smoked Pork Belly • Charred Corn Succotash • Prickly Pear Gastrique • Dehydrated Jalapeños PALATE CLEANSER: Aspen Breeze House-Made Lemon Sorbet • Candied Lemon • Fresh Mint FOURTH COURSE: Granite Peak Mesquite-Grilled Vera Earl Beef • Smoked Tomato Chimichurri • Charred Heirloom Tomato • Crispy Shallot DESSERT: Summer on Mount Lemmon Arizona Honeycomb Ice Cream • Roasted Willcox Peaches • Huckleberry Compote • Almond Streusel • Honey Tuile #tucsonevents #tucsonfoodie #mtlemmon
LE BUZZ IS CELEBRATING 30 YEARS!🎉☕️

Tucson staple @lebuzzcaffeplaza celebrates 30 years of business on August 22, and we stopped by their Plaza Palomino location to try some of the August specials created just for this location.

🍒Tiki Cold Brew
Cherry-infused cold brew topped with cream of coconut cold foam

🥣Oatmeal Creme Pie Latte
Espresso, milk of choice, house-made oatmeal syrup and oatmeal creme pie cold foam

🎂Birthday Cake Latte
Espresso, milk of choice, house-made birthday cake syrup and birthday cake cold foam

And the food specials are just as tempting:

• Flan French Toast with flan caramel, house-made flan cream, whipped cream and fresh berries

• Croissant Croque Madame with Black Forest ham, Gruyère, mornay, chives and a sunny-side-up egg

Plus, we got to try some favorites from the main menu, including the quiche and soup, Summer Cobb Salad, LeVeggie Burger and Blueberry Brisket Burger.

2930 N. Swan Rd., Suite 130

Don’t wait too long to try the August specials!❤️

Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com 
#tucsonfoodie #tucsonfoodLE BUZZ IS CELEBRATING 30 YEARS!🎉☕️ Tucson staple @lebuzzcaffeplaza celebrates 30 years of business on August 22, and we stopped by their Plaza Palomino location to try some of the August specials created just for this location. 🍒Tiki Cold Brew Cherry-infused cold brew topped with cream of coconut cold foam 🥣Oatmeal Creme Pie Latte Espresso, milk of choice, house-made oatmeal syrup and oatmeal creme pie cold foam 🎂Birthday Cake Latte Espresso, milk of choice, house-made birthday cake syrup and birthday cake cold foam And the food specials are just as tempting: • Flan French Toast with flan caramel, house-made flan cream, whipped cream and fresh berries • Croissant Croque Madame with Black Forest ham, Gruyère, mornay, chives and a sunny-side-up egg Plus, we got to try some favorites from the main menu, including the quiche and soup, Summer Cobb Salad, LeVeggie Burger and Blueberry Brisket Burger. 2930 N. Swan Rd., Suite 130 Don’t wait too long to try the August specials!❤️ Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com #tucsonfoodie #tucsonfood
Sonoran Restaurant Week is back for its 8th year!🎉

❤️Restaurant owners: Applications close August 14. There is no cost to participate, and you’ll be included in Tucson Foodie’s biggest marketing campaign of the year, featuring print, online, social, radio, TV, menu previews, chef interviews, and more.

From September 4 to 13, local restaurants across Southern Arizona will come together for 10 days of incredible fixed-price menus, giving diners the perfect excuse to explore Tucson’s amazing food scene. 

#sonoranrestaurantweek #srw2026 
#tucsonfoodie #tucsonarizonaSonoran Restaurant Week is back for its 8th year!🎉 ❤️Restaurant owners: Applications close August 14. There is no cost to participate, and you’ll be included in Tucson Foodie’s biggest marketing campaign of the year, featuring print, online, social, radio, TV, menu previews, chef interviews, and more. From September 4 to 13, local restaurants across Southern Arizona will come together for 10 days of incredible fixed-price menus, giving diners the perfect excuse to explore Tucson’s amazing food scene. #sonoranrestaurantweek #srw2026 #tucsonfoodie #tucsonarizona
Opened in 2023, @kabulcorner is Tucson’s only Afghan restaurant, created to provide jobs, community, and a taste of home for Afghan families who made Tucson their new home. 

Today, Sediq Haidari and his family serve traditional Afghan dishes like bolani, mantou, Kabuli palaw, fresh tandoori naan, and house-made chaka, while preserving recipes and traditions rooted in Afghanistan’s rich history. 

With its warm hospitality, authentic food, and strong sense of community, Kabul Corner has become a little piece of home in the Sonoran Desert. ❤️ 

“These dishes are famous not only in Afghanistan, but in neighboring countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Iran, and even parts of China. It sits right between Indian and Arabic food.” Sediq Haidari

Read @sea_lyon’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com 
Photos by @sea_lyon 
#tucsonfoodie #tucsonfoodOpened in 2023, @kabulcorner is Tucson’s only Afghan restaurant, created to provide jobs, community, and a taste of home for Afghan families who made Tucson their new home. Today, Sediq Haidari and his family serve traditional Afghan dishes like bolani, mantou, Kabuli palaw, fresh tandoori naan, and house-made chaka, while preserving recipes and traditions rooted in Afghanistan’s rich history. With its warm hospitality, authentic food, and strong sense of community, Kabul Corner has become a little piece of home in the Sonoran Desert. ❤️ “These dishes are famous not only in Afghanistan, but in neighboring countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Iran, and even parts of China. It sits right between Indian and Arabic food.” Sediq Haidari Read @sea_lyon’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com Photos by @sea_lyon #tucsonfoodie #tucsonfood