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Tour Stop 78 - The Address Brewing Company - 12/30/2018
The Address Brewing Company, 1702 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85719 phone: #520-325-1706
website: 1702AZ.com
Experience before you go . . .
Tucson is starting to get its groove on with how many breweries are popping up. In the last year or so alone 5-6 new craft beer brewing spots have hooked up the mash/kettle/fermenting & conditioning tanks and started scooping hops. The beer connoisseurs are lovin the increased activity and the more options to sit at a bar, drink great beer and share a story with their fellow hop heads. As I've always said......Life is not about the distinction but it's about the journey! And the Hoppin Brewery Tour Journey is a well defined, intricately planned tour that is executed without a flaw or a hitch or a missed step......yeah right!! No this journey is shot from the hip, random and welcomes a flaw, a hitch and that occasional miss step. These flaws, hitches and miss steps are what makes the journey more interesting, surprising, memorable and we can't forget.....F.U.N! I know, what's this F.U.N. thing.....Fabulous Unexpected Nonsense!! And I know the 17 folks that read these write ups appreciate it!!
So a dear friend of ours from Naperville needed a change of scenery and some relaxation for a couple, three days! I won't get into the details here but all I can say is RIP B!! So Kurt broke from his crazy busy schedule and flew down to Tucson to hike, hot tub, drink morning coffee in robes, hang with good friends and of course tour a couple breweries. I would normally say thaw out but Tucson had temperatures colder than Anchorage, Alaska when he was down here.....brrrrrr!
Sunday he flew in mid afternoon and straight from the airport we drove directly to The Address Brewery. This brewery shares the space with 1702, a popular bar for University of Arizona students. The bar was there first and then in came the tanks and the rest is history. Kurt and I arrived, parked the car, front door selfie and in the door we went. Warm, colorful and comfy, just the way we like it. Located in the corner space of an industrial strip mall and it appears they took over the space next door once it became available. Big round high tops, make shift wall bar, kitchen & food order counter and beer tappers located in the corner space and then next door we have ample tables and chairs for 30-40 people and a fabulous surprise......9 musicians with various instruments playing Irish music.
Kurt & I take the table right next to the circle of friends in the middle of an upbeat Irish jam session playing a little Irish ditty. We have four violins (fiddles), a mandolin, a harmonica, two guitars, an Irish Slide (small accordion) and a one of a kind hand held Bodhran Irish Drum. On Sunday afternoons from 4-6 pm what we have is a Comhaltas - Colt-us, that's Irish for a gathering of accomplished musicians and this all happens at The Address Brewery. They pull the chairs in a circle, break out the instruments and warm the surroundings with traditional Irish music. And for Kurt and I to stubble on this jam session is surreal.
In 2015, The famn damily spent two weeks in London and then Ireland and for the Ireland part, Kurt's son Colin joined us as we drove 1000 miles on the wrong side of the road getting lost on the back roads of Ireland. We had a ball!! Staying in Abnb's along the way and one of our favorite nights was dinner and a pint at McGann's Pub in Doolin. It was a Bank Holiday and everyone was at the pub and as we checked into Limestone Lodge in Doolin we were told if we planned on eating out for dinner we should leave now because everything will be packed. That day was just meant to be, long story longer.....drove to McGann's, no place to park, dropped off everyone at the front and drove around back and boom, perfect parking spot that just opened up. Walked in to McGann's, couldn't even walk forward because of the 8 drunks deep ordering beers at the bar. Finally worked through it, getting caught up in the festivities (bought 2 beers for complete strangers, signed a book I didn't write and got one phone # from an Irish lassie that wanted to get a cup of coffee later in the week). Finally I caught sight of the crew way back in the far corner at a table smiling from ear to ear. Come to find out, two drunk guys were holding down the table for hours being obnoxious and such and when they both got up to use the jacks, the waitress put a reserved sign on the table and up walked Kat....."It's your lucky day ma'am, here's your table". We ate fabulous Irish food and then the buzz was that a local favorite piper called Blackie O'Connell was on his way to the pub. In he walks with 2-3 other musicians and the sea of varied degrees of intoxicated Irish folks part like the Red Sea greeted by Moses and the Israelites. Everyone gathered around in any way shape or form they could, we of course join the table of instant new friends right next to Blackie and Boys and the night was random, unscripted......fabulous!!
Okay back to the beer.....Address Brewing had four brewed beers to choose from and I chose samples of two of them along with an interesting IPA. Started off with the Pumpkin Squashbuckler - Pumpkin Ale (6.2%, 24 IBU) definitely could taste the pumpkin....trick or treat, smooth and refreshing. Next was the Longer Ways to Gose - Honey Ginger Gose (4.2%, 5 IBU) well balanced honey and ginger...nice! Finally I sample the SanTan MoonJuice IPA - American IPA (7.3%, 65 IBU) grapefruit, smooth and very drinkable. Kurt started out with a pint of Beet Gose On - Beet Gose with honey, ginger & orange zest (4.2%, 5 IBU) all ingredients accounted for with a darker red tint, interesting and unusual. Kurt finished up with Freak'n Brown Noser Brown Ale - American Brown Ale (5.3%, 23 IBU) low IBU's so smooth and balanced, sitting by the fireplace kinda brown ale.
Address Brewing has really good pizza with lots of topping options, salads and sandwiches. Along with 3-4 of their own brews they feature beers from other local breweries and since they're a popular U. of A. bar it's a great venue for other breweries to offer tasting. I guess you can call the Address the connector and collaborator in the Tucson Brewery scene.
Until next time and remember.........
Go get'cha one!!
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