Tempe's Yucca Tap Room has been a Tempe dive bar favorite for years, especially for its live music. (Photo by Benjamin Leatherman)
But now there's a whole lot more on tap.
Earlier this month, owner Rodney Hu unveiled the Yucca's expansion into the space next door, a craft beer and whiskey lounge that can be accessed separately from outside as well as from inside the existing venue. It's a quieter atmosphere, with pool tables and lounge seating.
Now, there are 16 beers on tap (in addition to 12 on tap in the original bar) and 140 different bottled beers, which run the gamut of microbrew and import faves -- Lagunitas, Bear Republic, Stone, Delirium Tremens, Deschutes, Lost Coast, Rogue, and many more.
"Pretty much every beer that was at the Strong Beer Festival, we have," says Hu.
There's also a selection of booze from microdistilleries such as Dry Fly Vodka and Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey, and aged whiskeys from Jameson, Glenlivet, and Chivas.
"We're still in our soft opening and playing around with the mix," Hu says, who plans to rotate the offerings regularly and also host tastings. A grand opening is planned for March 1, and a Big Sky beer tasting is scheduled for March 4.
In about a month, Hu also hopes to begin serving food, including sandwiches, calzones, pizzas, and fried snacks.
The Yucca Tap Room is open daily from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.
