Nimbus Brewing Company

Nimbus Brewing CompanyNimbus Brewing Company
Nimbus Brewing CompanyNimbus Brewing Company
Brewery, Bar, Eatery

3850 E 44th St
Tucson, Arizona, 85713-5472
United States

// CLOSED //

This place is the Production Brewery / taproom. To review Bistro please use the entry for Nimbus Bistro - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25322
BEER STATS
Average:
3.48
Beers:
7
Ratings:
860
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.8
Reviews:
22
Ratings:
39
pDev:
13.95%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of andrewh995
Reviewed by andrewh995 from Arizona

3.59/5  rDev -5.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2.75 | food: 4
The place looks great, really nice vibes. The beer is overall very good although they only had three beers on tap. Considering they bottle 6 beers regularly they should probably have more. Service was friendly although a little slow. Food was pretty delicious too. I'd go again but I wish they would put more of their beers on tap.
Feb 05, 2018
Photo of PapaGoose03
Reviewed by PapaGoose03 from Michigan

3.44/5  rDev -9.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.25 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.25 | food: 4.25
This was stop #10 along a pub crawl for my wife and I in the greater Tucson area. The pub is located in an industrial area, and the interior of the pub reflects that setting with its high-ceilinged bar/sitting area. The brewing equipment is at the rear of the pub area. A patio was located at the front of the building. (Possibly a former truck dock?)

We stopped here to try their beers and to have dinner, but the beer style selections were not really to our liking and we were kind of tapped out from our week-long pub crawl (this was our last stop) so we just ordered a pint of two of their beers to go along with our burgers. We had heard about Old Monkeyshine so we had it, plus we selected the Brown Ale because we had hop burn-out from a week of drinking by then. Both beers were very good, with the rating advantage going to Old Monkeyshine (B grade vs. B- for the brown). This brewery seems to carry a neutral reputation for its beers by others, but based on these two beers, I'd say that everyone should give this brewery another try.

Based on the beers that we had, plus the best burgers that we've had in a LONG time, I think this is a place that is very much worthy of a visit, or a return trip by us if we are ever in Tucson again.
Mar 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.95 by UtisTheLaw from Texas

Feb 28, 2015
 
Rated: 3.54 by almostjay from Virginia

Feb 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.49 by italianstallion from Wisconsin

Dec 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Lobina from Arizona

Nov 28, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by LXIXME from New Mexico

Oct 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Chilly_E from Arizona

Jul 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by jbutt07 from Pennsylvania

Jun 20, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by timlyon from Arizona

Jun 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by kgrichards from Texas

Mar 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by livehoppy from Illinois

Jan 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by cellardwellersbrew from Arizona

Jan 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Philef from Arizona

Jan 05, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by GatorCoop from California

Dec 24, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by trytoketchup from Colorado

Dec 07, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by CuriousMonk from District of Columbia

Nov 19, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by BillRoth from Maryland

Oct 21, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by jaybrough from Arizona

Oct 12, 2013
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

3.09/5  rDev -18.7%
vibe: 3.25 | quality: 3 | service: 3.25 | selection: 3 | food: 3
I flew into Tuscon 5/30/13 and went to the brewery (not the bistro) since it was close to my hotel.

The interior was okay: an old warehouse converted into a decent sized brewery with a small restaurant and bar; an old warehouse garage door opens up to a small patio.

The bar only had three beers on tap, so that was a bit disappointing. The barmaid was attentive and friendly. When I ordered food, she made sure to order my hotwings first and then put in the cheeseburger order afterwards since (according to her) the kitchen would have just made everything at once. The two beers I had (their oatmeal stout and nut brown ale) were decent if unremarkable.

The food also was good if mediocre. The hotwings (they have about five or six degrees of heat - I opted for the mid-level "hot" variety) were tasty if a little overcooked. Plenty of celery, carrots, and dip came with them. I wasn't offered any napkins to help keep my fingers or face clean. The cheeseburger was tasty and sloppy.

No regrets with going here, and I would go back. I just wonder if the bistro (several miles away) may have better quality food and a wider selection of beers made by the brewery. After all, this is a brewery facility primarily , in a slightly industrial part of Tuscon(off of 44th St.), and apparently with a more limited food menu than the bistro (on E. Tanque Verde), so I do factor these conditions into my overall rating of Nimbus.
Jun 08, 2013
Photo of Gatch
Reviewed by Gatch from Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +10.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
What a great spot to have a few beers and some good food. This is definitely the Tucson equivalent of Four Peaks in Tempe.

I'm not saying one is better than the other. They are comparable in many ways. Same laid back atmosphere with fantastically fresh beer, consistent menu with delicious items, and friendly staff who know a lot about beer.

The place is obviously very beer-centric. A lot of pictures, posters, and t-shirts with various beer imagery. The brewing equipment is twenty feet from the line of taps so you know the beer is the freshest you could possibly have. It's great to be able to see where your beer comes from. The small kitchen is next to the dining area in a open setup, so you also know where your food is coming from. Overall a very transparent operation. The building is an old industrial warehouse and the large door was open because it was a nice day. We could see the storm approaching over the Catalina Mountains. The location is strange because it is an industrial area with railroad tracks adjacent to the parking lot. The drive was interesting. But this shouldn't take anything away from the experience.

Since this is a beer website, I'll mention some of their offerings. They have 7-8 beers on tap. A wide range of styles from Pale Ale, to Red Ale, to English Strong Ale. I personally had the Red Ale, the Brown Ale, and the Pale Ale, in that order. All were fantastic. So fresh. Went great with the food I ordered, which was The Lebowski, a tri-tip steak sandwich with hash browns on top! The burgers are excellent as well.. The people I was with all approved of their beer and food as well. Their most consistent is the Pale Ale. Goes well with anything.

I could go on for a while talking about the place, but you need to go see it for yourself! You can't go wrong here.
Aug 03, 2011
Photo of NickH44
Reviewed by NickH44 from Washington

4.45/5  rDev +17.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
My wife and I visited some friends staying at a vacation house in Tucson this January. We scoped local breweries a discovered a few, but Nimbus was the only note-worthy one.

Ok, note-worthy is a horrendous understatement. The beer is great. They don't have the same boring standard American brewpub selection. The Old Monkeyshine quickly became our favorite but the nut brown and red were also great.

The atmosphere is amazing. Low-key, blue collar place you just feel comfortable at. You can also see most of the brewery from where you sit inside. One afternoon we sat and watched military jets land at the base nearby. A very intriguing place to relax and enjoy a beer.

The only food we had were burgers which were immense and delicious. Completely worth the price and fully satisfying.
Aug 19, 2010
Photo of rowew
Reviewed by rowew from Colorado

4/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Located on a dead end street in an industrial area - you definitely won't accidentally stumble across this place, you need to be looking for it. Large tank out front, as well as a decent sized patio with a nice view of the mountains and military aircraft landing at the base across the highway. Inside is a long room with brewing equipment in the back, and a small upstairs area (this was closed the day we were there for a private party). Live music later in the evening, created a nice casual atmosphere. Bar service only, if you order food they give you a number and will track you down to deliver it. All of the beers were solid .. nothing outstanding, but I didn't have any complaints either. The food was typical bar food, but it went down well with the beers.

Nice place to spend an evening if you happen to be in Tucson ..
Mar 26, 2010
Photo of Naugled
Reviewed by Naugled from New York

3.65/5  rDev -3.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3
I was in Tucson recently and found Nimbus. However, it wasn't that easy to locate. It is a bit hidden away down a dead end street in an industrial zone with no street lights and hear the railroad tracks. I felt like I was in a bad movie. Thank geeks for GPS. Once in I was pleased. The pub is housed in a seemingly large brewery from what i could see. Much larger cylindrical conical tanks than you see in a typical brew pub. It's a ball room layout: one giant room with the bar against one wall, tables spread in the middle, kitchen and restrooms on the other wall and more tables in a loft above the kitchen and rest rooms. But the acoustics were good for such a big space. It was not a loud boomy echoy place.

We ordered a sampler, they had about 12 beers on tap. All were well made and delicious. They had a typical pub menu and everything was $8. Which I thought was a good idea, made the menu very simple even with it's wide variety of choices. The quality of the food was adequate, much better than fast food, but no not fine dining.

A good value overall, food and beer.

My favorite aspect of the brewery is the graphics. Kudos to whomever is their graphic artist. If they can get their beers to the same level as the art they would be unstoppable.
Mar 02, 2010
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
Pulling up, I was glad that my CS host drove as this place was a bit out of the way for public transit. A huge grain silo sat in the center of the entry with a set of concrete steps leading up to the entry left. To the left of both the silo and the door was a patio/smoking area. Once inside, the kitchen was to the immediate right, followed by the lavs, a glass case of logo items, a staircase up to a short 2nd floor seating area, and all of the way aft, the brewing operation behind bars/caged in. The left side featured a rolling door leading to the patio, a funhouse mirror, then the straight, laminated dark wood bar flanked by a pair of brewery-related mosaics. The back bar was a vintage mirror, wood and stained glass construction. There was also a cooler of sixes to go to the left of the back bar. To the right of the back bar were two green-felt pool tables. Now a word about the brewery - the bottling line was impressively ancient! Truly impressive that they can keep it running. My CS host and I were allowed to walk around and she marveled at the size of some of the 1560-GL FVs.

Beers: Dirty Guera (Blonde) Ale; Red Ale; Pale Ale; Brown Ale; Oatmeal Stout; Old Monkeyshine (English Strong Ale).

Seasonals: Belgian White; IPA; Dunkelweizen; Hefeweizen; Porter; RIS; Scottish-style Export.

"Join the Resistance. Support Your Local Microbrewery. Legion of Nimbus."
Dec 22, 2009
Photo of baiser
Reviewed by baiser from Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -12.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 3
Nimbus Brewing is located in an industrial area, just south of the main downtown area. It could get a bit hard to find, so look it up on the map before you head there. The bar/restaurant is in the front, with the brewery in the back. They have mainly their own beers, with 1 guest tap.

I went in August, so Tucson was still boiling hot, and they didn't have air conditioning which made it a bit unbearable. Also, as a result, the beers warm up quickly so you have to drink it fast.

I only had an order of fries so I can't really comment on the food. At the time, they were setting up for what seemed like a party, so it was pretty busy. You order beer and food at the bar, which I have no problem with - just don't expect full service here.

Overall, it's a decent place to kill a couple of hours if you don't mind the heat. If you want a place to relax and enjoy really good beers, go to 1702. If you want to hit up a local brewery, come to Nimbus...but nothing on tap really wowed me.
Aug 24, 2009
Photo of bbothen
Reviewed by bbothen from California

3.55/5  rDev -6.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Stopped in prior to heading to airport to get the hell outta town.

In an industrial part of Tucson. Real brewery warehouse like feel. Fairly big bar on left, 15-20 or so tables for eating, small kitchen on right. Classic rock on the radio and plenty cool inside. Small patio(the dock) with a few tables and chairs. Brewery and bottling line in back and in full view. Plenty of flatscreens for sports viewing.

Had 10 Nimbus brews on tap on my visit. Porter, Nitro Porter, Red, Oatmeal stout, Monkeyshine, Belgian Wit, Maibock, Brown, Pale, and Dirty Guera. Well balanced line up. I had the nitro porter, which I really enjoyed. Roasty, bitter, and creamy. Also had the Red, which was just okay. Sweet & malty.

The young bartender was attentive and quick. I did notice him give some attitude to a couple that ordered at the bar, then went and sat down at the tables about 4 feet away. He scolded them that it "wasn't cool" to do that and they should have notified him. No signs saying this cant be done and he was kind of a dick about it. Also called me "bro" during each conversation. Nothing wrong with that I guess...brah.

Food was good. Nice sized menu for a small kitchen. I had burger with green chilis, cheddar, and BBQ sauce. Tasty. Curly fries were really good as well.

I'd go back if ever in the area.
Jul 27, 2009
Photo of steelerguy
Reviewed by steelerguy from New York

4/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I am a native Tucsonan who after college moved to Los Angeles, then Austin, then the burbs of NYC. I go back very regularly and only in the last year discovered Nimbus.

I will admit, I may be a bit biased because...well...this place is in my hometown.

It is in an out of the way place, around refineries, storage, and places that don't mind being out of the way. This only makes it cooler if you ask me. This is certainly not a sketchy part of Tucson, it is simply an industrial area that becomes deserted after 5.

The service is not great but will not leave you wanting. When you walk in you are asked if you would like anything from the bar. If you sit at a table your order is taken quickly.

The number of beers here at BA will have you thinking they have an endless supply of varieties. They do not, at anytime they have around 8 you can choose from. Since they are all brewed on premises, I think this is a pretty good number.

The food is surprisingly good for pub fare. I love the burgers and the nachos and cheese crisp (if you are not from Tucson, a flour tortilla with cheese and other goodies on top) is great.

There are a couple of decent pool tables in there, they have TVs with some sports on them, and generally good music.

I hit this place up after golf at least once and generally another visit one night. It will not blow you away, but if you want some good beer and grub, this is a great place to go in Tucson.
Mar 04, 2009
Photo of instrumentality
Reviewed by instrumentality from California

4/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
I was in Tucson to visit family last week and early this week and, based on BA's listing, this was the place to go if I wanted to get locally brewed beer.

We arrived on a Monday night around 8pm. As others have mentioned, it's a bit nondescript from the outside and consequently not the easiest place in the world to find, even with a GPS, but it is where it says it is.

Various ape themed artwork was displayed around the joint, reflecting the brewery's mascot. It definitely brightened up what would otherwise look somewhere between a warehouse and a large cabin.

The bar stools were mostly occupied, although the patrons were pretty quiet, the only real consistent sound being the blues rock playing from their sound system. The tables were empty. My wife and I sat behind the taps.

The bartender took our order immediately. Given the huge list of beers they've brewed at one time or another according to BA, I was disappointed to see only about 6 or 8 taps, and more disappointed that the touted Old Monkeyshine nitro tap was blown. I still give the selection a 4 given the diversity of the styles relative to most small breweries I've visited.

I wound up getting a pint of their IPA, which was a solid 3.5, then got tasters of the regular Monkeyshine (better than expected - actually had a nice hint of butterscotch or something along those lines in what I expected to be a pretty bland, sessionable English style ale) and the Oatmeal Stout (a bit weak for my taste but still enjoyable). I wound up buying a sixer of the oatmeal stout, more based on a request from a friend back home than any real preference on my part.

My wife had the Belgian style wit, which was a pretty good, somewhat spicy representation of the style.

I asked about the scotch ale, as it's my favorite style, and the bartender said they hadn't brewed it in a couple of years but if they did, it would likely be around Christmastime.

The bartender was attentive, although he seemed a bit bored, which I guess is to be expected on a fairly dead Monday night.

I can't speak for the food as I didn't order any, despite the repeated "are you SURE you don't want any food?" coaxing from the bartender.

I went to a couple of other beer-serving establishments in the area, the most notable of which was a place called the Frog & Firkin (175 beers, allegedly (I didn't count them), mostly in bottles), but never saw any Nimbus representation outside of the Nimbus brewery itself.

That being said, given the good quality of the beer, this place is worth checking out. I'm curious to see what a busy night looks like, although the slow Monday night scene was fine given my relaxed state of mind at the time.
Nov 14, 2008
Photo of cokes
Reviewed by cokes from Wisconsin

3.73/5  rDev -1.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
I came into Tucson basicially just to catch a flight home. After touring the surrounding desert and mountains during the day, and holing up at hotel near the airport, I googled some nearby spots for a place to eat. This shows up, and I'm pleased. I didn't figure to have time to hit any brewpubs.
Even with accurate directions, it's hard to find. Tucked way, way, way back in an industrial park, all better instincts say you've made a wrong turn. But you haven't. When you can't go any further, you're there.
Big open interior, with something of a garage-type feel. Brewing equipment is corded off in the back. Live country-blues on the Thursday night I was there. I'm not sure about the $3 cover, especially since there was all of 15 people there, but whatever. I like the spot, and the sketchiness didn't bother me.
They had about nine or so brews on tap. Blonde, Amber, Nut Brown, Pale Ale, Oatmeal Stout (both conventional and nitro), Olde Monkeyshine, Belgian Gold, Scottish Ale, and Smoked Porter. The samples I had of their mainstays were all decent, if not outstanding. The pints of Monkeyshine and Smoked Porter were very good. The Belgian Gold and Scottish were fair at best.
The bartenders were a bit aloof, but not utterly rude. The girl was a lot more friendly than the dude, but I guess I prefer it that way.
Food was alright, hit the spot, and was reasonably priced. But having been in Sedona the night before, pretty much anything seemed cheap. Still, I had a decent-sized carne asada burrito for about $7 with rice and beans. No world-beater, but solid.
Overall, I like this place. The beer was somewhat hit or miss, but the hits more than compensate. Food was on the plus side of average. I can dig the industrial setting and live tunes are always a plus. It's probably way out of the way for many, but if you're anywhere near the Tucson airport, it's absolutely worth a stop.
Apr 22, 2008
Photo of russpowell
Reviewed by russpowell from Arkansas

3.63/5  rDev -4.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
This warehouse type setup wasn't what i had in mind, but I like the whole chimp theme & it amused me.

These unfiltered pale & the oatmeal on nitro were good, the brown was okay & the old monkeyshine had some offputting cardboard notes. I expected the quality across the board to be better, a little hit & miss.

I didn't like the walk up service concept. The bartender had some attitude, but seemed to get friendlier with every order & took care of me pretty well

8 beers on tap all ales

The quality & the selection of food were a cut above average pub grub. I really enjoyed my Beef & green chile burrito

I expected more from this place, but I'd go again if I lived in Tucson
Apr 08, 2008
Photo of yemenmocha
Reviewed by yemenmocha from Arizona

3.05/5  rDev -19.7%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Best local beers in Tucson. Monkeyshine was not on tap. I was disappointed overall because they may be a 1 or 2 hit wonder brewpub. Nothing besides the Oatmeal Stout or Monkeyshine is above average. Their seasonals were below par as well.

Food was quite good. Traditional pub fare with a few contemporary items, and a few for the vegetarian customers.

T-shirts and other cool products for sale at location.

Warehouse location is in a "sketchy" area. Service wasn' so great, and cleanliness is questionable. The bartenders had attitudes and if it's your first visit they certainly don't let you know that you'll have to go to the bar for service. Figure it out the hard way I guess. It has a "dive" feel to it, not a traditional brewpub at all.
Nov 05, 2007
Photo of Pooba001
Reviewed by Pooba001 from Arizona

4.03/5  rDev +6.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
One of my favorite places in Tucson to go for a pint, there are only two things that keep me from really frequenting Nimbus. Number one is the location (lets hope the proposed move downtown comes about), number two is that I can buy a 6 pack of their beer in bottles for the price of about 2 pints; even the growler isn't a great deal. Just seems weird that there are other bars in town selling Nimbus on tap cheaper than Nimbus. That said, you haven't had Old Monkeyshine until you've had it on tap, nor the Oatmeal Stout until you've had it Nitro'd. Monkeyshine's smoother, and the rich malty character of the Stout comes out so much more. There are also occasional seasonals (Dunkelweizen, RyePA, nitro porter, etc.) that you don't find anywhere else. Bartenders know the beers they're serving and are usually pretty prompt, food's pretty good pub fare. If Nimbus does get to move downtown, I'll surely spend more time there.
Mar 29, 2006
Photo of bennetj17
Reviewed by bennetj17 from Arizona

3.88/5  rDev +2.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3
This brewery isn't much to look at from the outside, and its hidden away off the beaten path in an industrial park in southern Tucson. Fortunately it's worth the trip for some of the better micros in the state. The few times I've stopped by it wasn't too busy so I was able to sit right up to the bar with no trouble. The inside is quaint, somewhat unfinished, but relaxing nonetheless. There is a pool table and a couple games if you are interested. The walls are covered with a good supply of merchandise- t-shirts, signs, etc.

The place was clean and the beer was fresh. I had a sampling of all their brews and the lone bartender was friendly, although I was sad when he told me the "Mug Club" was closed. It looked like some of the regulars had purchased mugs in the past and got to come in and fill em up cheap! How did I miss out on that? All the standard brews were on tap, including a Nitro Stout, much like Guiness but with a slightly more robust flavor. There were 7 or 8 choices altogether.

The food menu is definitely more Pub-fare, so I wouldn't recommend it for a nice dinner, but there are plenty of appetizers and sandwiches to go along with your beer. The price is reasonable too, so its a great value overall. I really like this place, unfortunately it's a trek from the northwest part of town. If you get a chance, stop on in. I recommend the Dirty Guera Blonde, Oatmeal Stout, or Old Monkeyshine (if you want something a little stronger)...
Dec 24, 2005
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Reviewed by UberWasser from Arizona

4.28/5  rDev +12.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
Nimbus proclaims their position as the largest Microbrewery in Arizona. They distribute their Pale Ale to nearly every supermarket in the state, and out of state through Trader Joe's. Most of their other year-round beers are available in bottles at specialty stores in the area.

But in order to get the real Nimbus experience, I would recommend making a trip to the brewery and brewpub itself. Located in an industrial area, hidden behind the large tanks of a local petroleum distribution company, it can be difficult to find, but once there, it is worth it.

As one pulls into the parking lot, the large tank outside, labeled with the Nimbus logo, rises high above the entrace. The outside of the building itself is rather unassuming. Concrete walls frame a small grouping of windows next to which the door is located. There is also a large, roll-up metal door that is open to the outside air when the weather permits (most of the year, thankfully, in the summer sun). Just outside of this large door is a patio with tables and chairs for warm sunshine drinking.

Once inside, the atmosphere quickly asserts itself as very warm and welcoming. Dark wood walls, floors and furniture create a coziness in an otherwise large, high-ceilinged room. To the right lies the door to the new full kitchen, to the left is the bar, and in the middle fifteen to twenty tables are scattered about. Up a set of stairs, above the kitchen, is another area of seating. TV's hang in each corner with sports playing most of the time. Music, usually some form of classic rock, plays from the stereo at a pleasent volume. The back of the room is filled with two coin-operated pool tables and a classic arcade game. You can see through a high gate to the brewery itself, with large silver tanks towering high. Unfortunately tours are not offered, to my knowledge.

Now to the beer. This last weekend was my third visit and it has been very consistent. Six beers were on tap: Dirty Guera, Pale Ale, Red Ale, Old Monkeyshine, and Oatmeal Stout on both regular and nitro tap. The only one I haven't tried is the nitro Oatmeal. All of them are consistently of the highest quality and are very enjoyable. They are served properly at a cool but not cold temp and in room temp glasses. They also offer any of their beers in to-go six packs slightly below retail price and will fill growlers for you. All of them go really will with the food offered. Prices are good too, at $3.00 for pints, $2.50 during happy hour (

Speaking of the food, it's great. It isn't anything fancy--it is definitely bar food--but it's consistently tasty and fresh, with some of the better french fries in town. Prices are also good. My favorite is their Build-a-Burger with mushrooms and carmalized onions. It's served with a healthy serving of fries for $6.50. I also ate a bit of the fish and chips from a friend's plate and both were great; the fish was soft and buttery with a great beer batter and the potato chips were fantastic. I would assume they make them on site.

The only real critisism that I have is the service. While it has usually been friendly, a few bartendes have been fairly disconnected and uninterested. They also do not offer table service, which is fine, but the bar tenders will sometimes get frustrated if you come and sit down without making an order right away, as if you're expecting them to wait on you. Nothing that can't be forgiven, though.

In summary, Nimbus Brewing is a great place to hang out and drink local beer in the Tucson area. The beer is good, the food is good, and the atmosphere is laid back and relaxing. A highpoint, for me, was that on a Sunday night, the bar tender muted the music and cranked up Family Guy on the TV's. Conversation stopped in the bar and it turned into a bit of a comedy club. It felt like I was kicking back in my livingroom with friends. Cheers to that!
Dec 12, 2005
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Reviewed by highibus from Arizona

4.38/5  rDev +15.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I have been here before, but this is the first time since all the changes have been made. There is now a full kitchen and the inside has been redone and is very nice. Also, they even have a kids menu and is perfectly approriate to bring the family. I saw a grandpa having a beer with daughter and granddaughter and he walked out with a mini keg. Wonderful. Beer was excellent as always, but the fish and chips was incredible. They were homeade potato chips. I will definitely be coming back more often.
I had the rye ale which was outstanding, oatmeal stout was very good and a red which was good as well.
Dec 10, 2004
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Reviewed by HighCarbDiet from Colorado

4.14/5  rDev +8.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Nimbus was a bit out of the way, but worth the trip. I'll definitely be going back. The parking lot is really big, which is good, because there's no way I'm walking there.

Right when I walked in, the place reminded me of 4 Peaks (Tempe). It's definitely a brewery-- super high ceilings, equipment in the back, and a warehouse feel. Ceiling fans are on full blast.
I sat at the bar, which is wooden, and pretty long. There are some pool tables near the back. One side of the brewery has a high balcony where some people were sitting at tables. Lots of Nimbus memorabilia on the walls.

I really enjoyed their beers. I tried the wit (the only one I might not try again), nut brown, monkeyshine, oatmeal stout, and porter. I have yet to try the dirty blonde, pale ale, and the red. Next time. Compared to the last few brewpubs I've been to, Nimbus rates pretty high in terms of beer quality. Most pints were 3 bucks, but a few of the "special" beers were 3.50 per pint. I think there was a special low price on the red.

I was served well, by two different women. I was never left waiting for a drink, which is key. I was offered water about halfway through my visit (which is important in Tucson). The beers were all poured well, especially the porter. The servers both seemed knowledgable about beer, and were actively encouraging customers to try the monkeyshine. Samples were not offered, but were provided when requested.

The selection was wide, in that there were 8 different beers to choose from, but the beers were of relatively common varieties. But I was glad to see a Belgian wit instead of a German hefe, and the monkeyshine was interesting.

I thought the kitchen was closed for renovation (as the website stated), so I ate a Sonoran hot dog and some tacos in South Tucson before heading to Nimbus. Apparently, the kitchen was open, as the guy seated next to me at the bar was just finishing his dinner. He said the food is pretty good, and was especially complimentary about their potato chips, which they evidently make themselves. I generally didn't see many people eating though.

I was there on a Friday in July. When I arrived at 6, the place was fairly crowded, probably with people just out of work. After an hour or two, the place was nearly empty, except for a few of us at the bar and some people playing pool. At 8, a band started playing on the front stage. I usually don't like bar bands, but they were actually okay. It was weird though, since there weren't many customers left, and it was a Friday night. I wonder if it's the location, or the lack of students?

They sell pint glasses, which feature the cool Nimbus logo and a list of their regular beers. I bought one for 3 bucks.
Jul 12, 2004
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Reviewed by spazaru from California

4/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Went on a Saturday afternoon and the brewery was fairly crowded with what were obviously regulars. I tried the Nut Brown and the Pale Ale. Both were good beers, but were on the light side. I've found most beers at Tucson's three microbreweries to be light, although Nimbus beers aren't nearly as watery as Thunder Canyon's. I guess I'm just used to the heavier San Diego beers I get at home. Decent place, though, in a cool town.
Nov 08, 2003
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Reviewed by GreenCard from Maryland

2.36/5  rDev -37.9%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 2.5 | service: 1.5 | selection: 3
A bit disappointing, but still a good use of the brewery's space. Back half is a fenced-off brewery. The front half has a night-clubbish feel to it. Brewery is located in a sketchy industrial zone in Tucson. Had we gone there at night, we may have turned around before reaching the brewery. The interior has a very industrial feel to it as well. A giant steel A/C vent blasts cold air so hard you almost get blown off your chair. Don't go hear if you are hungry or you might get the answer we got:

Me: "Do you guys serve food?"
Bartender: "Uh, yeah... it's nothing special..."
Me: "Ok..."
Bartender: (says nothing else and walks away)

I thought he might have been getting a menu, but he never came back. So, we just had a couple of baskets-full of self-serve popcorn. This place might be cool at night. The crude stage set-up makes me think they might have bands playing from time to time. Just lock your car-doors on the way there.

I like their marketing scheme (the purple and yellow colors, the monkey, the "Join the resistance" slogan, etc.). Though my first impression was rather poor, I still might give it another shot if I'm in the area... something about it.
Apr 20, 2003
Nimbus Brewing Company in Tucson, AZ
Brewery rating: 3.48 out of 5 with 860 ratings