There was once a building located at 841 N. Tyndall Avenue. It served, in turns, as a safe haven for students and soldiers in World War ll, a sorority and fraternity house, and as the official residence for University of Arizona presidents. In 1971, that historic building fruited a new home⎯ Gentle Ben’s Brewing Company.
We were a small, quaint restaurant at first but quickly became a neighborhood and local hot spot. With the support of our fellow Tucsonans, we launched our Brewing Company in 1991, along with three ales that would later become house staples. Our first brews were the Red Cat Amber, the Copperhead Pale Ale, and as a tribute, the Tucson Blonde.
When our original home was demolished in 1996, we took our name, brews, and locals a couple blocks North to 865 E. University Blvd. What once was a bank, equipped with a spacious vault that now houses beer, is where we settled down and continued our journey.
As our aspirations and palates grew, so did our beer selection. New additions to our beer repertoire launched rapid growth for our company. With excitement, we expanded our Brewing Company to the South in the Barrio District of Tucson. It was there, in 2006, that the birth of our sister store Barrio Brewing Company was established.
Since then we’ve prided ourselves on producing quality, craft beer for old and new generations to come. Stop by, grab a pint, and be a part of our tradition.
