Barrio Brewing Company

uawildcat

Arizona

3.2/5  rDev -12.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Going south of Tucson in the warehouse part of town is a little bit odd to be going to a brewery. Also, the outside apparence doesn't look anything like a brewery; rather a kind of run down place. Nevertheless, upon entering it appears very welcoming with a large bar, lots of seating, and a neat slide game of some sort. The big vats for holding their beer are in the back and can be seen through windows. NEAT!

Service was not good. It was 4pm on a Friday and went with 3 other people. We entered to find all of the larger tables taken and not enough room at the bar. Nobody helped us find a seat as we walked around for 10 minutes. Upon seating service was decently fast and our beers were served to us quickly.

There was a decent selection of beer. We got the stout, raspberry beer, and heifiweizen. All of which were served cool, but not cold. Also, either the beer here is undercarbonated or something was wrong with the way it was served since none of our beers had ANY foam or head.

Luckily the food was better than the beer. I had a reuben which was quite well done and paired well with the stout I got.

09-15-2011 06:19:27 | More by uawildcat

bigbelcher

Arizona

3.73/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

Located in an industrial part of town, in what looks like an old warehouse/quonset hut. Very large bar area and a good patio with an unfortunate bad view of the neighborhood. Beers were really hit or miss. The bartender said they just hired a new brewer so don't know if things are getting better or worse. Service was above average with a pretty knowledgeable bartender. Food was decent pub food. Nothing special, nothing bad.

05-30-2013 15:26:44 | More by bigbelcher

BeerNooB

3.43/5  rDev -6.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

Great little place for a brew and burger, they offer samples of there different brews if you like one you can grab a 64oz Jug for about 10$ after a 4$ deposit. There hefeweizen was particularly good. You can smell the hops from the brewery in the back of the restaurant which just completes the overall experience of the joint. Be fair warned the service wasn't that great during lunch times they tend to be understaffed. Overall great food above average beer the atmosphere was a change of pace not as vibrant as some other places in tucson.

05-12-2012 06:23:03 | More by BeerNooB

SunDevilBeer

Massachusetts

3.26/5  rDev -10.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | $

I really dig the atmosphere and look of this place - I'm a sucker for old manufacturing sites re-done for restaurants and residences.

The only problem was that it was a 107 degree day and the A/C was not on (maybe they use swamp coolers that simply quite keep up with excessive heat?) It was really uncomfortable and distracting. Would like to try this place when it wasn't swealtering.

Started with the hefe since it seemed like a good refreshing choice on a hot day. Was simply mediocre...too much bubble gum flavor. On a side note, was served a lemon wedge even though I didn't request it...but it improved the flavor.

Next was the IPA, which I discovered was the "flagship" of the venerable Gentle Ben's brewery (same owners/brewers). Eh. Tated dirty to me, not very hoppy at all, was a struggle to drink.

Finished with a golden ale, which wasn't very tasty but was refreshing enough and washed away the unpleasant IPA taste still lingering.

Staff was friendly enough, and the prices were really CHEAP.

I'd visit again if not summer time and avoid the IPA.

08-27-2011 15:50:59 | More by SunDevilBeer

fcbaker49

Arizona

3.88/5  rDev +6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

Set in an industrial part of Tucson, this is a cool industrial makeover of a warehouse complete with lots of metal and concrete. The atmosphere is great and sophisticated (for my little ol' Tucson) and the brewhouse in the back looms over the large interior space. Bar is long and there are a good number of tables as well as seats at the bar. Usual selection of TVs for watching sports and a nice full length shuffleboard table (the old fashioned kind with sawdust) are inside. There's a shaded outdoor area that runs the length of the bar with a view of a railroad crossing and parking lot. This wouldn't be significant except that beer prices are reduced during the time the crossing guard is down when the train passes.
Usual beer selection is about 10 types from the brewery- generally including a wheat beer, lager, red ale, IPA, porter, and stout. There's sometimes special ones like a scotch ale my last visit. These are not of the best I've ever had, but they are local and refreshing. Service is fine, and if you see someone poking around in the brewhouse, just ask and they may give an impromptu tour.
Food is decent pub/college stuff with hamburgers, nachos, salads and more. The menu and beers are the same as Gentle Bens up by the University of Arizona, as the two must be co-owned or managed by the same folks. Can get very crowded on Friday night happy hour when this place seems to be on many folks' mind heading home from work. At these times parking and finding a seat become challenging.
Overall, a very pleasurable place, even better when you see a train coming.

06-21-2011 04:38:30 | More by fcbaker49

t0rin0

California

2.8/5  rDev -23.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 2 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | $$

Visited 3/3/2011 during RBWG.

The place is a large building with tin siding next to a set of train tracks. Very open on the inside with lots of tables and places to sit.

Service was alright. We had one server for 15 or so of us. The place only had enough sample glasses for 3 full sampler sets.

They had 12 taps going. Most weren't noteworthy and a couple were enjoyable but some were downright disgusting.

I didnt eat anything as I was already full from the giant burger that I had at Nimbus. Prices were reasonable.

03-07-2011 05:53:18 | More by t0rin0

arizcards

Arizona

4.13/5  rDev +12.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

Visited here on May 25th.

Atmoshere was good, nice job on coverting the warehouse inside, lighting was especially cool. Adequate room to accomodate a decent crowd. Outside there was a shaded deck running the length of the building with an ample number of tables. Quality of the offerings was good, i enjoyed an oatmeal stout and porter and Da Boss enjoyed her 2 pints of the Copperhead PA. Service was good, it was not too busy inside during the late afternoon wait staff attention was quick. Selection of beer was quite good with 10 offerings too chose from covering a good range of styles. Only thing missing was something on the imperial side of life. Food was good, Da Boss enjoyed the Fish Tacos and my hamburger was good as well. Overall value was very reasonable, our happy hour beers were $2.78 each; the two meals were $17. Cool place to visit, nice vibe, good beer and food was tasty - glad we tried the place!

05-29-2010 21:50:43 | More by arizcards

ATGHomebrewer

Colorado

4.14/5  rDev +13.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Read mixed reviews of this place online and I Came away very impressed. Interior and exterior match surrounding warehouse district. Cool place. Nice vibe. Oldies playing. 11 beers on tap. Bartender was gruff but nice and knowledge. IPA was very good. Smoked porter was good and heavy on the peat. Mocha java porter was fine but a little thin for my liking. I plan to be back someday when its warmer out. Go figure, the first and only time I'm in Tucson its cold and rainy. next time I want to check out the deck. And I hear they're dog friendly too.

02-07-2010 20:05:43 | More by ATGHomebrewer

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +15.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

The two things that I noticed as my CS host drove me here were the grain silo at the corner of East 16th Street and Toole as well as the long porch with outdoor patio seating that ran along East 16th. The entry was just left of the grain silo and there was table seating just inside the doorway to the right. The inverted Omega-shaped laminated blonde wood bar inlaid with grains of malted barley was on a left oblique. Continuing aft, on the right was a high bench-like table, followed by the grist mill all of the way right with an English dartboard fastened to its door. Before continuing, a note on the décor - industrial, baby! High arched, insulated ceiling with exposed ducting, beams, ceiling fans, and corrugated aluminum or stainless steel and slatted wood walls. The brewhouse was fully visible all of the way aft, slightly right of the bar area. Continuing left from the bar was the kitchen up a short ramp, followed by the servers' station; a mix of high tables and chairs; and standard seating; and the lavs, slightly to the right. A door way to the left of the lavs led to the rest of the outdoor patio area, through a rolling steel door. Live music 4 to 5 times a month on a pull-down (!) stage.

Food: Fish tacos! Not quite Rubio's in SD, but I would be there before long. Quite sustaining.

Beers: Red Cat Amber; Tucson Blonde; IPA; Nolan Porter; Bear Down Nut Brown; Hefewiezen; Copperhead PA; Taylor Jayne's Rasp. Ale.

Seasonals: ESB; McBlain's Oatmeal Stout; NCAAle (brewed on first day of tourney).

Ian was my bartender.

12-22-2009 10:14:31 | More by woodychandler

LittleDon

Texas

3.8/5  rDev +3.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 2 | $$

Located in an old warehouse. I don't know if they were having a problem with the AC, but it was warm and stuff inside (105 outside). Ten beers to choose from with a nice variety of styles. The server was knowledgeable about the offerings. The beer sampler was well worth the price, giving you a 2 to 3 oz pour of everything available. The food, on the other hand, was poorly prepared. I had a chicken panini, which, despite the green chilis, was bland and dry. I'd suggest having a snack before coming here.

07-15-2009 21:46:33 | More by LittleDon