Tucson craft beer lovers will find their nirvana this weekend when Tucson Foodie puts on the fifth annual Tucson Craft Beer Crawl from 1–5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24.
This year’s event will take place at 10 downtown breweries and venues that will collectively showcase an extensive selection of over 45 beers from 30 Arizona breweries.
Beyond the libations, the beer crawl transcends the traditional beer-tasting event. The venues will host live music, local vendors and food trucks offering everything from Moroccan cuisine from La Merguez to quesadillas at Bawker Bawker Cider House.
One of the locations for the 2023 Tucson Craft Beer Crawl was the rooftop bar the Playground on East Congress Street. This year’s event takes place on Saturday
Originating five years ago through a collaboration between Visit Tucson and a local PR agency, the beer crawl was conceived as a celebration supporting the local craft beer industry. Tucson Foodie took it over last year and Shane Reiser, the food-centric website’s CEO, said he is excited about the event’s evolution. Reiser and his team have worked to enhance the experience for attendees this year including bringing on a production company and changing the way the event operates, including allowing patrons to check in at any of the venues. That should eliminate check-in lines.
Reiser said the beer crawl has helped promote Arizona breweries.
“It’s a good way to promote and market the local beers in Tucson and the state of Arizona,” he said.
The crawl drives people to downtown venues, providing an opportunity for attendees to explore new restaurants. La Merguez, a Moroccan food cart owned by Jeremy Kneller-Hernandez and Zakaria Bouretta, actively participates in events like the beer crawl, hosting pop-ups all over town and catering services. Hernandez and Bouretta have operated the business for a year.
“It’s great for the community, great for getting publicity out there and getting the word out.” Hernandez said.
University of Arizona students who are 21 and older can catch a free ride downtown on the Sunlink streetcar. Designated drivers get in free and there will be non-alcoholic beverages available.
Ben Vernon, owner of Crooked Tooth brewery and a Wildcat alumnus, has been an active participant in the event for the past four years, with a brief hiatus during the challenges of COVID-19. He said the Beer Crawl has helped raise awareness of his brewery.
Vernon said his brewery participates in a number of community events including percentage nights for local causes, supporting local artists and collaborations with nonprofits. The brewery also supports Tucson businesses including incorporating local ingredients into their beers, such as fruit from Iskashitaa, a nonprofit organization that helps refugees find work.
The brewery also works with local student athletes.
“We’re teaming up with Desert Takeover, a NIL fund, and we’re going to be doing a beer exclusively with them to promote student athletes to receive additional NIL funding,” Vernon said.
Tickets are $50 per person, half priced for Tucson Foodie insiders, and includes 30 drink tickets. Insiders also receive a $10 food voucher. Tucson Foodie, a media company that promotes and reports on the Tucson food industry, gives back 25% of ticket revenues to local nonprofits, Reiser said.
For more information and a list of participating breweries, visit tucsoncraftbeercrawl.com. Here is a map of the venues participating in Saturday’s event.
For information on becoming a Tucson Foodie insider, visit Tucson Foodie Insider.
Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.
Photography by Taylor Noel
