Arizona Beer House — Restaurant in Tucson

We parked and walked in. It's a shared parking lot with many businesses in the same lot and is neighbors to a karate spot. I've had my eye on this place for quite a while and had high hopes. It's usually super crowded and they always have popular food trucks. Especially being that my husband and I don't get out much and they had so many great reviews we were stoked. We walked in and checked out what they had in their refrigerators as there's an option to also buy liquor and beer to go. It wasn't crowded at all for being a Saturday night. I was still undecided on what I wanted so my husband recommended I try their "soda" a sasparilla which I had no idea what it was so we walked over the the bar and after standing a while and not really being served.(We wanted to go outside because it was a nice night) we kind of just sat down and waited patiently at the bar. Eventually a woman came over to help us and she was friendly. She let us know that the soda was akin to root beer so that was a hard pass for me. My husband ordered his beer, she poured it and rang him up on a tablet. He insisted I pick something out so I went and grabbed a bottle of raspberry cider and sat back down thinking she would notice at some point and ring us up as we wanted to 'pay as you go' and not hold an open tab. So about 5-6 other customers later my husband opened the top to which she came over and immediately told him " You can't do that!" "Don't do that!" "That's illegal!" "You just broke the law!" While pointing her finger at him. He immediately after the first sentence apologized and said he didn't know (because we didn't) and continued to apologize profusely. He was only maybe a sip or two into his beer when this happened so he wasn't intoxicated in the least and I hadn't even had one. So immediately after she goes through reprimanding him, her what I would assume boss chimed in with "Another red sox fan and you come in here and break the law in my bar?" To which he also said sorry to him and said he really didn't know. The guy just keeps insulting his intelligence at this point by saying things like " I would have expected more from another sox fan" then when he asked about what the law was that he broke he said to my husband "Maybe just apply logic" "Can you serve yourself beer anywhere?" So the law my husband broke was opening the bottle, they need to serve you. You cannot serve yourself (which by the way is not stated anywhere or posted ) this is not common knowledge unless you are a barkeep or owner. So my husband still kept trying to apologize and he just cut him off stating "it's done" "it's over." I don't recommend giving these people your business as they see it fit to speak to people like they are trash. We get it. He did something wrong. He apologized immediately and over and over again. It's not like we were heavily intoxicated and just popping bottles open and being argumentative when she told us he couldn't do it. This left a bad taste in our mouths and a horrible first impression. I suggest you take your money elsewhere. Somewhere that they don't disrespect their patrons. We paid for my drink. Finished the one drink each and left. What a huge let down and disappointment. The one star is obligatory because they are truthfully in the negative. We will spread the word to our friends so that they too don't waste their...

I rarely write a good or bad review unless I feel it is absolutely necessary. I have been to the AZ beer house a few times and I really loved the atmosphere as well as the selection. The cashier/bartender has always been very nice (I don't know his name but he has a beard). He was our cashier last night as well. After ringing us up for 4 beers, quick and easy transaction, my partner and I made our way outside to get some food, and while we waited for it to be ready, we sat and enjoyed our drinks. It was a good time. As we were eating and about 45 minutes into sitting there to ourselves, one of the other bartenders (not the kind gentleman that rang us up) comes and sits at our table with us. He was standing next to our cashier when we bought the beers, don't know his name but do remember his awesome shirt (Wood Tang -- wu Tang). Here I am thinking he is going to strike up a conversation, as it's odd that he just comes and sits down with us, but actually just invaded our little date night to tell us that we broke a law by cracking open our own beer, as opposed to having the bartender open and pour. We had no clue that was even a law, as we looked around seeing everyone drink their beers ... He could have left it at that or said something like "hey next time let us open your beer for you, it's the law so none of us get in trouble... No worries". No... He proceeded to tell us we ordered the beers "to go" and we can't sit there and drink them on our own accord, they have to open them for us, and that there are different prices for to go and to stay and drink... Which I now know is a law, I did not before and not to mention there are no OBVIOUS signs saying "do not open the beer you just purchased at this bar you're sitting at". Not everyone knows liquor laws quite like a bar. As he walked away he looked back after we apologized saying we didn't know, he says "ya, that's what TO GO means", rude and condescending. We did not purchase the beers "to go". It was never specified during our transaction, or the transactions we have made in the past for that matter, if we would be buying these TO GO, or drinking them at the bar like everyone else.... Honestly never thought I needed to specify in a bar if I would be drinking my drink I just purchased... AT the bar. But I guess this is a thing. My advice to the bartender who approached us on this, lose the chip on your shoulder, be more respectful to customers, if you need to let them know they can't do something, be nice... You don't need to sit at the table we are eating at and belittle us. You pretty much killed the vibe. Also, have better and VISIBLE signage specifying your TO GO vs. STAY AND DRINK law/rules. My guess from reading the other reviews is that this has been a problem with you in the past, so I know I'm not the only customer who has made this same mistake. We won't be coming back to an establishment who tries to belittle...

I understand this is a "beer house" and taproom and you should probably just go here to drink beer....and I dont drink beer. However, itd be awesome if there was anything here I could drink often. They do have one red and one white wine available but the staff rarely knows much about it other than "red" or "white" and can read whatever the label says and they charge plenty. There are ciders usually but again its usually $10/glass. They have coolers with other beverages but other than a few cans of Bai its almost all highly sugared drinks. I'd love even a can of diet coke...something. So basically, this is truly a beer house and you should go here with that in mind.

There isn't reliable food either. The only snacks are popcorn and while there's usually a food truck, they vary highly in price, quality and how long they stay/if they run out. That's not strictly ABHs fault...but it does reduce the experience. I'm not certain if maybe their license doesn't allow food sales directly?

The stools are uncomfortable and not plentiful (on quiz night or other events they often run out as it is popular) and it can get very loud.

The two pluses: they DO know a lot about the beers and ciders on tap and the staff is friendly. They also display art by local amateur artists for sale that can be fun to see.

Ultimately...if you wanna try some beers go for it. If you want any other experience...food, non beer drinks, place to hang out, conversation, might not be the place. Unfortunately my husband does drag me here sometimes...I grab whatever the food truck has, drop $10 on a cider or $1.50 on a water and try to get comfy...