TCBC

This stands for Transplant City Beer Company and it's located in Litchfield Park, Arizona. We last visited in April 2024 and I'm happy to say I would go back.

I didn't take notes so I can't tell you what we tasted. We went with a group of friends and everyone chose something different. Overall, the responses were good. I remember that I enjoyed my beer (and if I had to guess, I tried their hefeweizen which I liked enough to get a refill).

To tell you the truth, I had been hesitant to visit TCBC as they are a self-described nano-brewery. While small batches give brewers the flexibility to experiment and provide a wide variety of brews, the brew drinker never really knows what she's going to get. "Experimental" doesn't always translate to "yummy." It sometimes translates to "weird." That's been my experience in the past and so I will usually pass by anything that suggest "nano" or, for that matter, "new."

New breweries are often the first professional step past the home brewer stage and sometimes there's a translation problem between the recipes brewed at home and the recipe needed to brew on a larger system. Sometimes, it's more than just math and it takes it a while for newly professional brewers to get the same results they were getting at home. If you have a beer you don't like at a new brewery, come back in about a  year. They will have likely worked out the kinks by then (or suffered the consequences).

TCBC took over the spot vacated by Peoria Artisan Brewery when they moved to their Peoria AZ location. TCBC made significant improvements to the space, updating the interior and adding seating both inside and outside on a new, adjacent patio. It has a local community vibe, which I personally prefer to a touristy vibe, and it's in a good location.

It's possible we visited TCBC in their early days. Certainly, I remember seeing their beer menu and thinking it was a little too experimental for me. That was years ago.

When we were invited to visit this past April, we couldn't resist the opportunity to be with friends, make new friends, and try some new beers. We were pleasantly surprised. 

To be fair, as I look at what's on tap today, there's still some weird stuff on the menu but weird can be good and sometimes I even seek it out. If you'd rather steer of weird, there's plenty of styles to choose from. Stick to your lane or venture from it but give TCBC a try. It's a laid back neighborhood spot where you're bound to feel welcome. It might just become your favorite local watering hole. I know I'll be back.

Rating: 🔙 👫🐕‍🦺🍻