I'm a major beer snob, and am often disappointed in beer offerings at various places. Â However, Dragoon was fantastic! Â A little difficult to find, but just once. Â A simple rule to remember to find this place: Â Head west on Grant, and turn south right before the Arby's. Â Easy, even after you've already had a few beers somewhere else.
Their IPA is fantastic! Â It's the closest thing to West Coast IPA to be found in Tucson. Â I like how I can get their IPA in many places in Tucson as well. Â Just check <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftaplister.com&s=222de2a14f0cfa11d9f04e36183507c3b54c7292923cf7f4b1695a0fcf28db30" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://taplister.com</a> for locations.
The facility is a little small, but-- it's a tasting room! Â I've been to tasting rooms in San Diego (most of them actually) which don't even have chairs. Â At least we have chairs here!
The pricing is very reasonable, considering all the micro brew price gouging going on at various bars in Tucson for growler refills and pints. Â A growler will cost $12 at Dragoon.
Keep up the great work!
There is a reason that Dragoon is getting so much recognition - they make GREAT beer. Â You cannot go wrong with any beer on the menu, but I would recommend that you order the IPA at least once - it's incredible. Â
The atmosphere is comfortable and clean. Â The staff is very friendly & fun, and they always fill your pint to the top instead of leaving that one or two inches of foam that we all hate.
The owners are wonderful people and I fully recommend you support them while supporting your own fine craft beer needs :)
I don't think I've even awarded five stars to my favorite breweries back home in Albuquerque, so this is pretty huge, but well-deserved.
First off, the Dragoon IPA is as good as the reviews on Beer Advocate led me to believe, which is to say their a close second to La Cumbre's Elevated IPA for best IPA in the southwest.
Second, every other beer in here was either outstanding or so adventurous as to be deserving of praise. The Imperial Stout here was superb, rich, malty, a great complex profile and was not dominated by alcohol like many ISes. The double IPA was, interestingly enough, a shadow of the IPA but still good. The Berlinerweiss was intensely tart, yet light and refreshing. The dark session beer had great roasted malt nose and flavor and did great just to the name session.
Oh, and they had the IPA on cask when I arrived and it was mind-blowing.
Add to this a cool staff that are laid-back and not the least bit pretentious, plus very reasonable prices $5-6 a beer and $7 for a flight and this place would easily be my go-to brewery if I lived in Tucson.
The only drawback is that it is a bit of a journey to get to and if the place every really gets popular they do not have the space to accommodate folks, but I'm sure they'll cross that bridge when they get to it.
First let me say I love beer! Since my first sip of Dragoon's IPA I have been a huge fan of this brewery. I stick mostly to IPAs and Dragoon's IPA is as good as it gets. Tucson is super lucky to have this quality of beer being produced and distributed locally. I try to buy local as much as possible, but that is not hard to do when you are talking beer if Dragoon is offered on tap, as it is in many of the restaurants I frequent. There is never a question when I have choices from all over the country of which IPA I will choose. I just look for the smallest handle and hope it says Dragoon IPA.
So yesterday I biked out to the Brewery to escape the heat and enjoy an IPA or three. Â After my first IPA I decided to get a flight of all of their beers offered. What a treat! The quality and flavor of every single style was amazing. From the newly produced Daisy to the Dry Hopped Stout I was in beer heaven. The Saison was incredible and quite frankly I usually stay away from the Belgian style beers - so much did I like this beer that I bought a growler of it before I left ,as well as my usual IPA purchase.
The staff was super cool and Stout (yep Stout is his name) the barkeep was a very cool dude and knows his beers.
They had a food truck parked out front and I had some crazy Thai hot dog that was super stupid awesome!
Great beer!!! Great beer!!! Great beer!!!!
....... bought a T Shirt
Best Beer in the West? Nay, Best Beer in all the United States says I. I am a huge fan of these magical brews that fortify the soul and enliven the spirit. The Seasonal Saison Blue is unbelievable and my personal favorite. I wish it was part of the permanent rotation. The Session is a unique rich malty pint of happiness. This nondescript warehouse on the other side of the tracks is definite destination for all craft brew lovers in the area. Do yourself a favor and discover this gem.
Review Source:Although Dragoon is small- it packs a punch.
I dropped by with some friends for some afternoon brews. The Dragoon tasting room is very small, just a bar set up with a couple of chairs and tables in the room (so not good for large parties).
They have a selection of 6-8 brews on tap with a half pint or pint option with pricing ranging from 5-6$ depending on what you are getting.
I started off with a half pint of the double IPA which was so freaking good. A half pint was enough to enjoy this brew.
Then I tried the Dragoon house IPA which was also equally delicious.
BTW- the guys that work here are awesome! Got into a great discussion about Northern California breweries.
I am a big fan of tap rooms, and this one is no exception.
For those not in the know a tap room sells beer, by the glass or growler. They do have sampler sizes but why embarrass you self, just get a pint of everything.
This place is hard to find it is two rows of warehouses off of grant, there are no signs that can be seen from the street and even one you make the turnoff it can be hard to spot.
Inside there is a small bar, a few tables and a drink rail. The chairs a basic plastic a metal and the tables are industrial metal , not a date place.
I like many of the beers, the aroma of the IPA here is great, at is the smoky porter. I was not a huge fan of their quad but overall this place is good.
Pints range $4-5 which is not bad but if I am going straight to a no frills tap room maybe $3-$4 would make more sense.
There is no popcorn or any other food as I said before, Â but food trucks do frequent the parking lot here.
A great new microbrewery off to a strong start, Dragoon Brewing serves up a mix of standards along with unique brews to offer a range of beer drinking experiences.
The current lineup included their IPA, Stronghold Session Ale, Biere del Bac, Scout Porter and E. River Collaboration Saison. Â The stronghold stood out with its herbal flavor profile accentuated by hints of wood and caramel, all with minimal alcohol behind it. Â Up a different alley, the dark saison was the first of its kind in my experience and I really enjoyed the mix of bright yeasts with dark fruit.
Flights, pints and growlers are all available here and at fantastic prices to boot. Â Best wishes to these folks!
I like the business model of this place. It's definitely just focusing on the beer. Don't go here expecting anything else, they have a tasting room, but that's it. Honestly the environment is a little stale so I don't think going there to hang out and taste beer would really be quite the nice experience as it is at places like Borderlands.
My husband really likes the beer. I'm not a beer drinker so I have no comment, but he is and he likes it so there you go.
You can trade in a growler (from any place) for a new growler for a much reduced price. So that is definitely the way to go!
My only problem with this spot is the staff. When we were in there they were super super standoffish and slow. Like they didn't want to sell us anything and were annoyed we were there. It was kind of uncomfortable. Â But everyone at the get together we took the beer to loved it so I guess I can handle a few minutes of uncomfortableness!
i thought the atmosphere was perfect for a small brewery. Tucked away back of what seemed to be warehouses, where you really have to want to go there to find it. A few tables to sit at, and just enough room at a small bar. Minimal selection of beer choices, but the choices spanned a good range of beers-- lighter to dark and strong. No food inside, but a food truck was setting-up outside. That's ok, i just came to try the beer. Another excellent thing, no screaming kids. I'm not a kid hater, but i really dont think kids belong where there is drinking. There are usually enough obnoxious drinkers in bars that act like kids, dont need the real thing- and neither were here on this quiet saturday.
i say give it a try, you'll like it.
Are you a fan of beer? If not pass on this place but if you answered yes get your butt down to Dragoon Brewing Company. This is a no frills place to have a great locally brewed beer.
There are 4 beers on tap brewed about 20 feet away and all of them are super stealer (my fave was the Saison Blue, great beer for a hot summer day).
The location is a bit off the beaten path (they are brewing beer in this warehouse you know) and they have limited hours but it is definitely worth the trip.
Added bonus was Food Truck Foodie Fleet parked outside to provide an afternoon snack delish.
What a cool hidden little bar/brewery. Could use some interior designing but maybe in due time ; ) Beer was Good, Staff was friendly . The place was pretty busy the whole time we were there so that speaks for itself ,it was cool that they had Animal Farm Food Truck outside , what a great idea. 2 Thumbs up from me ; )
Review Source:Based on the other reviews, clearly my experience was the 'one off'. First, I'll say, the beer is quite good. Like the others posting here, the IPA was really tasty, and once I got home, and got over my poor experience, . I'm not a beer expert, but I like to try different beers from a variety of places, and before my visit this afternoon, I was looking forward to making frequent visits. My poor experience was not for a bad beer, but more for the rest of the experience. I walked in with my wife to buy a growler...and I don't really know how to describe it, but it felt like we crashed somebody's house party, and we weren't invited. I think one of the bartenders was upset we broke up the conversation with a collection at the bar of what appeared to be some of the hangars on from the local home brewers club. I think we finally got beyond that, and the growler was filling (the Mexican food truck in the parking lot smelled sublime and the food truck folks were friendly and approachable, contrary to the Dragoon folks). It seems that the bartenders that we interacted with, haven't quite caught on that this is now a commercial enterprise, where I just paid you good money ($20 for a full growler + a $3 tip) for a growler. I'd think that if you want to have any degree of success selling beer to people outside your little circle of home brewers, you might want to mix in a "hello" and a 'thank you". Maybe that's just me. Despite the fact that the beer is good, and the atmosphere is perfectly fine, I won't be back, at least not for awhile.
Review Source:So Tucson has a new brewery, and it's on the West side--perfect for those of us on this side of town. Â Don't let the hidden location deter you. Â Think of it as a fun scavenger hunt, where your reward is a tasty beverage, perfectly poured. Â
When I have been by, there have only been a couple beers to choose between. Â The first is their IPA. Â A delicious offering for this hop head. Â The second selection is their take on a Session Ale. Â This darker ale was smooth and subtle. Â Perhaps a little too subtle for me. Â Or perhaps I had already ravaged my taste buds with all the hops from the IPA. Â Still, a good beer. Â If you're not sure which to go with, you can opt for a half-pint size instead of committing immediately to a full pint. Â But be warned, the half-size will only run about a buck cheaper than the big-kid's glass.
I've been assured that more offerings, including a Russian Imperial Stout and perhaps some southwest-centric offerings are on the way. Â
The staff are truly friendly and professional. Â Be sure to chat with them if you have any questions about their brew. Â Tours can be arranged as well.
As for the setting--it's a hidden gem. Â For some reason, I love this aspect. Â You just aren't sure where you're really going on your first trip as it's located in the back of a series of warehouse-type structures. Â Even the door is nondescript. Â And you know, I can't even remember for the life of me if there is a sign on the door (although there is at least now a sign off Grant Rd.). Â Here's a hint--on the south side of the road, just east of Ace Hardware. Â
My only real problem, and in a way it's a big one, is with the decor of the place. Â Simply put there isn't any. Â No really--there is no panache to this place at all. Â No signs, no fancy lighting, no fancy tables or bar. Â No jukebox. Â Nothing. Â While the beer is quite tasty, the atmosphere of this place just limits it to a place to grab a growler. Â I can't imagine hanging out in here anymore. Â It's just too sterile. Â I'm hoping they have plans to dress it up a bit as I'd love to have a new local watering hole on my side of town. Â Especially one that brews their own beer. Â
We shall see what the future holds. Â If you haven't been by to sample Tucson's latest offerings on home-brewing gone commercial, you are missing out. Â Cheers!
Bold statement time. A Tucsonan who claims to love beer but has not yet tried the beers at Dragoon is nothing. Yeah I said it! NOTHIIIIIING! I had the pleasure of trying all four beers they had on tap today, and every single one of them was a winner. My palette and beer knowledge are unfortunately not sophisticated enough to deduce exactly what flavors/essences I experienced, but I'm going to try my best. Seasoned beer snobs, feel free to roll your eyes at me. :P
1. The IPA: I typically find IPAs to be too dry and hoppy for my tastes, but I can even enjoy imperial IPAs as long as the beer effectively layers other flavors on top of the signature bitterness. Dragoon's IPA has very pronounced floral, fruity tones to balance the hoppiness. It's by no means sweet, but the aroma and flavor render this very hoppy beer (IBU: 85) extremely drinkable.
2. The Session: What a great example of a session beer. Relatively low in alcohol content (4.8%, whereas everything else here is above 7%), but packed with flavor -- Dragoon's session would be an excellent introduction to darker beers for people who typically keep it light. Hints of chocolate and caramel and lots of malt make this oh so smooth.
3. The Uno -- Russian Imperial Stout: Whether you're here or at one of the many places that carries this (1702, for example), do NOT drink this first, because it will demolish anything you taste afterwards. It's pitch black, extremely hoppy (IBU: 92), and as is tradition with the style, it rocks a high alcohol content (silly Russians!). It's also ranks among the best imperial stouts that I've ever had. -- poooooooossibly better than Old Rasputin.
4. The Saison Blue: This beer shocked me. When Matt, one of Dragoon's brewers, described it to me, he explained that their saison was extremely dry, yet the guy next to me contended that the beer was actually sweet. My take? They're both kind of right...? A tasty contradiction!....?
The place is rather barebones. There's the bar, a few tables, and linear seating area against a wall, the brewery itself, and that's it. They do quick tours of the facility, so if you're interested in behind-the-scenes stuff, they'll gladly take you to the back and answer any questions you might have. If you want food with your beer, there's almost always a food truck sitting right outside.
If you're a noob like me, you might initially feel a tad out of place, but that subsides right after the first sip, because after that all you'll want to do is talk about how delicious their beer is.
If you enjoy craft beer this is your place. Â This is the story of a couple guys home brewing and expanding their dream full scale. Â Well they are off to a good start. Â On the menu this week is IPA, Session, Russian Imperial Stout, and a Saison Blue. Â Over the last 2 weeks I have tried them all. Â So far they are all excellent. Â The hours are limited to thursday, friday, and saturday. Â Check their website for times.
Since they don't have food they invite a different gourmet food truck for snacks. Â Good move boys. Â After a couple beers I'm ready for a little something to munch on. Â
The only draw back of Dragoon is the tasting room. Â There is a lack of tables and decor. Â Get there early to get a seat or do what I do. Â Wait till they start the tour of the brewery and grab the seats of the people that get up. Â If not you will be standing.
I'm new to town from Chicago and my chick pal here told me we should check it out. So we did. Man, what great brews. I'm an IPA drinker and their IPA was dee-lish. Hoppy enough to bite but also very smooth. It's quite sessionable. But look out, its potent. I was sufficiently hazy after just one.
The downside, if that's what you can call it, is the lack of any ambiance. But that's OK. It's not a club or even a boozin' joint. It's a place for fans of beer to enjoy some damn fine beer.
When I was in Chicago I worked at a beer-centric ad agency and we handled Leinenkugel and Henry Weinhard so we were always sampling other craft brews. I can state without reservation that I really enjoyed the IPA.
Once the owners find their groove and open up with steadier hours, I sense more people will head over. It's tucked away but you're not going to be seen with your new clubbin' clothes. You're going for some damn fine beer.
Have fun and enjoy.
p.s. I though of it as very forward-thinking that they use an iPad to reconcile their orders.
We went to Dragoon on Sat after seeing their beers featured at Cartel. Â Like the other reviewer said, the beers are outstanding, and we had a great time sitting at the bar.
Mr. Food for Todd, an IPA man, seriously loved the IPA. Â Which says a lot. Â The Session is awesome, too. Â There's nothing else really like it in town. Â Dark, easy to drink, toasty! Â It sounds like Dragoon also has a number of other unique brews in the works, including some locally inspired beers. Â
Don't expect a sexy, dimly lit bar, but sit at the counter, have a few beers, and you're guaranteed to have a good time. Â Already can't wait to go back!
Dragoon brewing is your typical home to brew make it big time type place. It's located in the industrial part of Grant Rd behind Arby's and as you approach it reminds me of San Diego (breweries tucked in an industrial area).
They had 2 beers on tap - the session and the IPA. I tried both and was pleased. They have an above average product. Both are good. We took a tour and were treated awesomely. I hope their beer takes off because they are genuinely awesome people. They are open thurs - sat. They have their beer featured at 1702, B line and Wilko.
5 stars! Oh and Animal Farm was their featured food truck!
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