Arizona’s Barrio Brewing now canning its beers via Ardagh Group

Barrio Brewing, led by Arizonans Dennis and Tauna Arnold, has a history that dates back to 1991 when the couple opened up Tucson’s first full mash brewery. Twenty-seven years later the duo is going strong as the longest-running independent brewer in the state and is stepping up its retail reach by packaging its beers in aluminum cans from Ardagh — a supplier for both bottles and cans for the craft beer industry.

Strengthening the distribution goals of the company is the choice to package these beers in aluminum cans, which are filled faster and shipped and displayed more efficiently as cans stack easily so there’s no wasted space in trucks or on retail shelves.

“We believe market trends are tending to quality local beers supplanting multi-state regionals, but it will still come down to taste and quality in determining what brands will endure and grow,” Dennis said. “We’re confident Barrio Brewing will be at the forefront of craft beer growth and, in fact, we’re extending our brand lineup next spring.”

“Cans enable brands to tell a strong sustainability story as they are recycled at a high rate and are made with a high recycled content,” said Claude Marbach, CEO, Ardagh Metal. “The beverage can’s sustainability advantages are just a few of the reasons cans are increasingly a preferred choice in helping build brands and bottom lines.”

Key Barrio craft beer brands such as Barrio Blonde, Blanco and Rojo join Citrazona, Mocha Java Stout and many more now available in more than a few hundred bars, restaurants and stores across the state.