Best of Tucson 1996: Best Beer Selection On Tap

Best Beer Selection On Tap

Zachary's Classic Pan Pizza
1019 E. Sixth St.

READERS' PICK: For as long as owner Dave Ellis has had to battle the expanding techno-complex some ironically refer to as a University, Zachary's has offered the widest and most up-to-date beer selection within city limits. Seems odd the original local establishment to offer quality brewing from around the world has been a pizza shop, but who are we to question the appearance of greatness? Twenty-five taps line the wall, with four dedicated to "guest beers" which rotate as fast as loyal customers can drain them. The bottled selection is also broad, ranging from 20 to 40 brands, depending on the season. Sure, Zachary's keeps a few American standards on tap for those faint of heart; but why drink chemo-swill when you can saturate your palate with a real German wheat beer like Paulaner, or rich Belgian monk ales like Corsendonk and Chimay? And if beer's not your thang, there's always the impossibly thick Chicago-style pies. Rumor has it that Zachary's large pizzas crowd more than a pound of whole-milk mozzarella onto a beast of a thick crust. The best part: It takes at least three beers to wash it down.

READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: It's not that The Shanty has the most variety. In fact, O'Malley's right across the street has a good deal more to choose from; but if you're looking for quality, not quantity, The Shanty just does the beer-thing right. You want the line-up? From left to right: Bass, Harp, Guinness, a mystery tap (Celis Raspberry, at last check) and MGD, in all their pristine, simple glory. A no-nonsense bar with a classic sense of decorum, The Shanty doesn't waste your time with a lot of options. But for the smoothest, stoutest black-and-tan in the Old Pueblo, pull up a barstool. At this cornerstone of our own Little Dublin (The Shanty, O'Malley's and Maloney's) there on the corner of Ninth Street and South Fourth Avenue, the more pressing question to be asking yourself is how you're getting home at the end of the night. (Of course, if you want to complicate your life, you could ask about the more than 300 bottled brands of barley pop they've got chilling in those monstrous coolers.)