The campaign began Thursday and runs through May 16.

Every Wednesday night through Saturday night, police officers will work with staff at six bars participating in the campaign. The officers and bar staff will work to spot fake identification used to get into the bar and get served, said Chuck Palm, with the Pima Prevention Partnership, one of the campaign sponsors.

Officers will issue citations and confiscate fake identification, Palm said.

“We believe that if young people know some of the consequences to them for getting caught trying to pass a fake ID card, they will be less likely to try,” Tucson police Officer Hank Masek said in a Pima Prevention Partnership news statement on the program.

“One problem that has persisted for some time now is underage drinking and the use of fake IDs,” said Richard Fimbres, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “Underage drinking is the number one substance abuse problem among Tucson youth ages 16 to 20.”

The consequences of getting caught using fake identification or identification belonging to someone else who is of legal drinking age will be posted on sandwich board signs outside six “hot-spot” Tucson bars and on posters in the bars’ windows, Palm said.

For those caught by police with a fake ID, those consequences include mandatory six-month suspension of their driver’s license, fines and court fees that can mount to $1,065 and may lead to higher auto insurance rates, loss of a scholarship and a criminal record, the signs and posters say.

The news conference was held outside one of the hot-spot bars, O’Malley’s On Fourth, on North Fourth Avenue near East Eighth Street.

O’Malley’s general manager Bourke Floyd said, “We want O’Malley’s and the Fourth Avenue area to be known as a safe area.”

O’Malley’s is participating in the fake ID campaign, as are Maloney’s On Fourth and The Hut, also on North Fourth near Eighth Street; The Wildcat House on North Stone Avenue near East Grant Road; the Cactus Moon Cafe on East Broadway near Craycroft Road; and Sam Hughes Place Championship Dining on North Campbell Avenue near East Sixth Street, said Kim Briamonte, also with the Pima Prevention Partnership.

“They want to reduce underage drinking, just as we do,” Briamonte said.

Palm said the campaign is funded through a three-year federal grant for $920,000.

Under the grant, a study was done from Nov. 20 to Dec. 16 at five of the six hot-spot bars.

The study showed that of 23,301 patrons going to that bar, 92 of them were found to be using fake identification to get served.

The perfect pour of Guinness takes time - 119.5 seconds, to be exact - but it's worth the wait.

Tweed jackets, drizzling rain, shamrocks, shillelaghs, leprechauns. Now is the time when thoughts turn to all things Irish.

That includes, of course, Guinness stout.

Whether you’re in Dublin or Tucson, if you want a great pint of stout, be prepared to wait. The “double pour” is a technique that produces a dark ruby (it’s not black, hold it up to the light) body and a thick, creamy white head on a glass of Guinness.

The company says a pour should take 119.5 seconds. Try that with a typical American megabrew! It would probably go flat before you finished.

Legend holds that Irish beer is served warm, but they seem to have discovered refrigeration on the Emerald Isle, as the company recommends its stout be served at 43 degrees. That’s a bit warmer than you might want your Budweiser, but room temperature it’s not.

The temperature and pour bring out the flavor – a weighty mouth-feel and creamy foam accentuate the bite of roasted barley and smoothness of the traditional recipe.

Dublin’s St. James’s Gate neighborhood, wherein lies the Guinness brewery, is suffused with the aroma of hundreds of years of roasting barley malt. You can’t find that in Tucson, but where can a punter purchase a perfect pint on St. Patrick’s Day?

Great pints can be found around Tucson, but beware a bad one.

A clean, dry glass is essential because, unlike most beers, stout doesn’t contain many hops. Without that bitter herb, the unfortunate flavor of bar cleanser and bleach can utterly ruin a glass. Traces that would go unnoticed in a fresh Sam Adams or Flat Tire can lead to bitter disappointment in a pint of stout.

Old Pueblo publicans who provide a proper pour include Plush, 340 E. Sixth St., and The Shanty, 401 E. Ninth St.

Plush’s Kini Wade takes his time, and serves up a pint that’s brimming with thick foam that lasts until the pint’s gone.

The barkeeps at The Shanty not only know how to pour a pint, they’ll serve up a delicious small glass with a nip of whiskey.

The Auld Dubliner, 800 E. University Blvd., brims with knickknacks and signage imported from the auld country. It offers a menu of Irish fare, including shepherd’s pie and corned beef and cabbage, but sometimes falls short on its pints.

It’s a busy college bar and getting a pint that features a whiff of bleach is a too-common occurrence. To its credit, the staff’s always been happy to pour again, and there’s plenty of Harp lager and Irish whiskey if you’re not in the mood for a heavy stout.

The Tap Room at Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St., is a great spot to sip a pint. Feed a couple of quarters into the best jukebox in town and enjoy.

Irish Pub, 9155 E. Tanque Verde Road, doesn’t much live up to its name. It serves Guinness, along with quesadillas and buffalo wings, but putting such items as the Paddy Melt and Tipperary Tuna on the menu don’t go far in reproducing a true Celtic atmosphere.

Got a favorite spot to quaff the black stuff? Who pours the best? Let us know in our online comments.

March 2008: Bartender Jonas Black works on pouring a perfect pint at The Auld Dubliner.

Cata Vinos Wine Shop & Tasting Room has tastings Wednesday through Saturday each week.

The Old Pueblo may not be the hills of Tuscany or the vineyards of Napa Valley, but Tucson has an assortment of affordable and entertaining wine-tasting options throughout the week.

For a seasoned oenophiles or a new “grape nut”, you can get your vino fix and even learn a bit, thanks to local businesses ranging from a wine shop with a down-home feel, a lounge with a bar atmosphere, and even a national megastore.

CataVinos Wine Shop & Tasting Room

3063 N. Alvernon Way, 323-3063 www.catavinoswines.com

Wine tasting gets personal here.

“We offer a community environment,” says owner Yvonne K. Foucher.

The long dinner-style tables in the shop and on its patio provide an intimate experience that has attracted a steady group of regulars since CataVinos opened in September 2007.

“We encourage people to be friendly and socialize,” Foucher says.

“And even if you didn’t know anyone at the table, you’re meeting people you wouldn’t meet anywhere else,” adds Bonnie Lewis, a regular at the tastings.

From 4 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday through Saturday, Foucher and staff pour samples of as many as six wines for $10. The price is $8 if you buy a bottle of wine.

Each week’s tasting is based on a theme or region.

All of the 300 wines that occupy the modest shop are $15 or less per bottle. Foucher, a former architect, says she couldn’t find a good selection of such affordable wines, so she decided to open a shop focusing on them.

“The concept is that they’re great wines – not just good,” she says, explaining that her wines are seriously critiqued and can’t be found in supermarket liquor departments.

Foucher also takes suggestions and advice from her regulars.

“A lot of the customers are on (our) board of advisers,” she says. “They’re my eyes to the actual buyer.”

Starting this month, CataVinos will host combined tastings and events Saturdays, with a wine tasting and art opening first in the lineup. (See its Web site for details.)

“I don’t know if I would go anywhere else,” says Christopher Pray, who professes to be a longtime wine lover. “CataVinos is about community.”

Armitage Wine Lounge & Café

2905 E. Skyline Drive, 682-9740 www.armitagewine.com

Illuminated by candlelight and furnished with lounge sofas and a long front bar, Armitage may seem ideal for an upscale wine-tasting experience. Patrons say yes and no: yes to the atmosphere; no for putting on airs.

“It’s where people can enjoy wine, it’s not for the wine snob. . . . It’s pretty chill,” customer Jon Hanna says.

From 6 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday, with the help of a wine distributor or winery representative, Armitage offers tastings of four or five wines for $10.

“It’s almost a game trying to figure out what (the wines) are, especially with a quiz,” patron Greta Arendsen says.

She and other guests were working on a recent night’s tasting challenge in “The Color Red” theme. Tasters sample a selection of red wines then try to match them to the names on their list. Anyone who correctly identifies all the wines wins a $50 gift card.

“The idea is to create something different,” Armitage general manager Lisa Hanley says. “We team up with the distributors and we work with the wines that we have in house.”

Since Armitage opened in August 2007, Hanley says the tastings have steadily increased in popularity.

“I’ve been here a few times for wines tastings and I enjoy it,” customer Gregg Lindholm says. “I’m familiar with wines . . . and I really like the concept of the blind tastings.”

(For this month’s tasting schedule, see its Web site.)

Total Wine & More

4370 N. Oracle Road, 887-0174 www.totalwine.com

A penny doesn’t usually go very far, but it does at this new superstore.

“We have a bar license, so you can shop while you taste,” says Jesse Mason, wine manager. “That’s why we charge a penny.”

For that penny, Total Wine offers tastes of about nine wines noon to 6 p.m. every Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. The wines come from the store’s stock of about 8,000 wines (it also sells beers and liquor).

“There are plenty of tastings where you can pay $10 for four to five wines, but you’ll be hard pressed to find eight to nine tastings for a penny,” Mason says.

Total Wine’s staff of sommeliers seeks out customers’ tastes and opinions.

“The person pouring is definitely knowledgeable,” Mason says. “Usually we have winemakers pouring their own wine.”

Sisters Lane and Leigh Beck say they have been coming to Total Wines’ tastings regularly since it opened this fall. This particular Saturday, they were in search of Thanksgiving wines. They joke about trying to restrain themselves from visiting twice a week.

“It’s so wonderful to have a wider selection available that goes beyond some of the smaller specialty stores,” Leigh Beck says. “We do like that it’s a specific selection each time (for the tastings). It’s the learning process that we like.”

The two wine lovers say they are drawn to Total Wine’s large selection and the staff”s expertise.

Mason says that large selection makes the store accessible despite its size – nearly 22,000 square feet. “I think it’s just a great place to try seven to eight wines you’ve never had before.”

Tasting themes this month are:

• Saturday Tour of Bordaeux

• Dec. 13 Great Wines for Holiday Entertaining

• Dec. 20 Give the Gift of Wine

• Dec. 27 Celebrate with Sparkling

(From left) Sara Morris, Betty Ann Warfield and Marti Cotner sample wines during a recent tasting event at Armitage Wine Lounge & Café, 2905 E. Skyline Drive.

Alan Deardorff pours wine for customers during the wine tasting at Total Wine & More.

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MORE REGULAR TASTINGS

Wednesday

58 Degrees & Holding Co. 5340 E. Broadway, 299-5804 www.58degrees.com • 5-7 p.m. ($10 fee)

Every other Thursday

Hotel Congress 311 E. Congress St., 622-8848 hotelcongress.com • 5-7 p.m. ($5)

Friday

Pastiche Wine Shop 3025 N. Campbell Ave. 325-3333 www.pasticheme.com • 5:30-6:30 p.m. ($5)

Vila Thai Cuisine 972 E. University Blvd., 903-9777, www.vilathai.com • 5-7 p.m. ($5)

The Beverage House Oracle 6250 N. Oracle Road, 219-6424 www.beveragehouse.net • 4-6 p.m. ($2)

The Beverage House Broadway 8660 E. Broadway, 296-9933 www.beveragehouse.net • 4-6 p.m. ($2)

Vin Tabla 2910 E. Skyline Drive, 577-6210 www.vintabla.com • 5-6:30 p.m. ($10)

Saturday

RumRunner Wine & Cheese Co. 3131 E. First St., 326-0121 www.rumrunnertucson.com • 2 p.m. Saturday (free)

Primo (at JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa) (class) 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd., 791-6071 http://primo.jwmarriottstarrpass.com • 3:30-5 p.m. ($25, plus tax and tip) Reservations strongly recommended.

Barrio Brewing owner Dennis Arnold works in the brewery's cold storage area.

Golden Eagle Distributors Inc. on Thursday announced an agreement to distribute four beers of local Barrio Brewing Co.

Under the agreement, Golden Eagle will offer the brewery’s Tucson Blonde, Red Cat Amber, Taylor Jayne’s Raspberry Ale and Copperhead Pale Ale in kegs to restaurants, bars and stores that sell kegs, says Golden Eagle spokeswoman Michelle Fisher.

Barrio neither bottles its beers nor plans to for this deal, she says.

Dennis and Tawna Arnold own Barrio, 800 E. 16th St., which opened a little more than a year ago. They also own Gentle Ben’s Brewing Co., 865 E. University Blvd.

According to an e-mail announcement, Dennis Arnold – who worked for Golden Eagle and William H. Clements in 1980 – worked on the agreement with his children, Christopher and Kimberly Clements.

“If Golden Eagle hadn’t been interested in carrying my handcrafted beers, I wouldn’t even consider offering my beers outside the brewery,” Dennis Arnold said in the announcement.

Tucson-based Golden Eagle was founded in 1974.

Besides Arnold’s brewing operations, Tucson also has Thunder Canyon Brewery (7401 N. La Cholla Blvd.) and Nimbus Brewing Co. (3850 E. 44th St.), each of which operates a brewery and brewpub but also has beers on tap at other local restaurants and bars. Nimbus also bottles some of its beers.

Bartender Jennifer Norton pours a pitcher of beer at Barrio Brewing.

Campaign pins are especially popular with collectors.

Question: While watching the Democratic convention on television, I suddenly remembered a box of campaign pins that I was given by my grandma several years ago. She was active in the party and was especially supportive of Franklin Roosevelt. My small collection includes campaign pins of FDR, Harry S Truman, Adlai Stevenson, John Kennedy and Jimmy Carter. Do you think they are worth keeping? – Stephanie, Tucson

Answer: Campaign pins have always been popular with collectors of political memorabilia. The values depend on design, rarity, condition and the candidate or issues involved. Political collectibles include much more than pins, however. Postcards, jewelry, photographs, textiles, toys, dolls and even clocks were often issued to promote a specific candidate. Examples of typical prices are: a stereo view card of President and Mrs. William McKinley, $30; a Teddy Roosevelt pin from 1904 campaign, $75; a “Votes for Women” pin from 1915, $35; an Alfred Smith cotton handkerchief with his image, $50; a ticket to the Democratic National Convention of 1948, $10; a Nixon charm bracelet, $25; a Jimmy Carter windup toy of a walking peanut, $35; and an Eisenhower bumper sticker from 1952, $10.

One of the better reference books is Warman’s Political Collectibles: Identification and Price Guide by Dr. Enoch L. Nappen (Krause, $24.99). Nappen, a member of the American Political Items Collectors, has one of the largest private collections of political items in the country. His guide features current prices of more than 1,100 items issued during the past 150 years.

I have an autograph of Dwight Eisenhower and would like to have it authenticated. – Steve, Tucson

Brett Sadovnick, owner of Tucson Coin & Autograph, can help you. His contact information is 6470 N. Oracle Road, Tucson 85704, and 219-4427.

Several weeks ago, I purchased a mint copy of the biography of George Washington by Woodrow Wilson at a garage sale. How much is it worth? – Connie, Green Valley

I found a so-so copy for $3 plus postage at www.abe.com. A first edition or signed copy could be worth much more.

In addition to his work for the Tucson Citizen, Larry Cox writes book reviews and a weekly collectibles column that are syndicated by King Features and distributed throughout the United States and Canada. E-mail: contactlarrycox@aol.com

JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa's beverage director Chris Horton with a Wild Berry Mojito at Salud Lounge.

Need a cool retreat from the heat this summer and a refreshing beverage to satisfy your thirst?

Several Tucson hot spots, including NoRTH, Sullivan’s Steakhouse and The Cup Cafe, have integrated new, tasty cocktails into their menu.

Kevin Brown, NoRTH’s general manager, says that they introduce cocktails in the summertime to give guests more options.

The restaurant in La Encantada shopping center starts preparing the new cocktail list about three to four months in advance, keeping in mind that people prefer light and fruity drinks during hot months. The goal is to make the drinks as refreshing as possible, but not overly sweet.

“We like to be trendy, always changing,” Brown says. “You always have to in the (restaurant business).”

At Sullivan’s Steakhouse, on the corner of River Road and Campbell Avenue, bar manager Travis Thatcher says, “Anything you can do to bring in business in the summer is always a positive thing.”

Sullivan’s most notable new cocktail is the Classic Caipirinha, what some would call the national cocktail of Brazil, with Leblon Cachaça rum and a lime twist garnish.

Janos Wilder’s J Bar at The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa also is offering a Caipirinha, this one with Ypioca Cachaça, fresh lime and cane sugar muddled and served over ice.

“You always want to do new, fun and different things,” Wilder says.

By changing the menu and introducing new cocktails, he believes that guests get more out of their dining experience.

The Cup Cafe at the historic Hotel Congress downtown has a new cocktail menu, with the addition of 10 drinks.

Bar manager Aaron DeFeo, who has been at The Cup about a year, says he and staff started working on the new cocktail menu in January.

“We only had one or two drinks on our specialty list (before),” he says. “I actually went through and redefined these drinks from scratch.”

Now DeFeo is confident that 60 percent to 70 percent of the cocktails are unique to The Cup.

“There are certain liquors that will always taste better during the summer,” DeFeo says. “A lot of these drinks use gin. Gin is generally a summer cocktail.”

He says the most popular new drink is the East India Ice Water, with Tanqueray Rangpur distilled gin, fresh and sweetened lime juice and a splash of soda.

At Salud Lounge at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in the Tucson Mountains foothills, Chris Horton, director of beverage, says staff uses all-natural and organic ingredients, with fresh juice.

“We change it up pretty much every three months or so,” he says. “We get new spirits in that we like and kind of build around them.”

Salud's Acai-Blueberry Martini

The Cup Cafe's Gin Blossom.

The Cup Cafe's Honey Dew Melontini

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A SAMPLE OF SUMMER COCKTAILS

THE CUP CAFE (at Hotel Congress)

311 E. Congress St. (798-1618)

New cocktails include: East India Ice Water (Tanqueray Rangpur distilled gin, fresh, sweetened lime juice and a splash of soda); Gin Blossom (Hendrick’s Gin and St. Germain elderflower liqueur); Honey Dew Melontini (Plymouth Gin botanicals, Stolichnaya Strasberi strawberry-flavored vodka and Midori melon liqueur), and Johnny Royale (Peach Royale with fresh peach nectar).

J BAR (at The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa)

3770 E. Sunrise Drive (615-6100)

New cocktails include: Caipirinha (Ypioca Cachaça, fresh lime and cane sugar); Strawberry Lemonade (with Absolut Citron); Pomegranate Martini (pomegranate liqueur and Belvedere Vodka); Key Lime Pie (Absolut Vanilla vodka, lime and pineapple juices and a graham cracker rim); España (Licor 43 a citrus-vanilla flavored liqueur and cranberry, pineapple and orange juices)

NORTH: MODERN ITALIAN CUISINE

2995 E. Skyline Drive (299-1600)

New cocktails include: Sangria; Mojito NoRTH a traditional mojito plus fresh raspberries)

SALUD LOUNGE (at JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa)

3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd. (792-3500)

New cocktails include: Acai-Blueberry Martini (fresh Acai berries, Van Gogh Acai-Blueberry Vodka, Bossa Nova Acai-Blueberry Juice, sour mix and Cointreau orange liqueur); El Carlotini (Malibu Rum, Cruzan Mango rum and pineapple and orange juices); Hand-Pressed Appletini (Absolut Citron Vodka, hand-pressed apple cider and Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur with a cinnamon sugar rim)

SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE

1785 E. River Road (299-4275)

New cocktails include: Classic Caipirinha (Leblon Cachaça rum and a lime twist); Goodnight Kiss (chocolate-flavored vodka and Hiram-Walker White Crème de Cocoa, with three olives, topped with a Hershey’s Kiss); Twist (DeKuyper Sour Apple Pucker, maraschino cherry;) The Knockout (Finlandia vodka infused with fresh pineapple and twist of orange); TKO (The Knockout plus Tuaca citrus- and vanilla-flavored liqueur from Italy).

WHY, a nonprofit group based in New York, fights against hunger and poverty worldwide.

Fans of the musical group are asked to bring a can of nonperishable food to the concert and drop it off at the food bank’s display as they enter the show.

The most-needed items are canned meats, canned vegetables, canned soups, cereal, peanut butter, canned fruit and canned tomato products.

The concert is at 8 p.m. June 23 at the Anselmo Valencia Amphitheatre, 5655 W. Valencia Road. Doors open at 7.

For additional information about the Community Food Bank food drive, call Jack Parris at 622-0525 Ext. 215.

Wednesdays
58 DEGREES & HOLDING CO. (Plaza at Williams Centre): At its Bar 58 & Bistro, this week, winemaker Kym Tolley of Penley Estate • May 21 Steve Goldman of Stephen’s Cellar & Vineyard of Templeton, Calif. When: 5-7 p.m. Where: 5340 E. Broadway Price: $10 Info: 747-5858, www.58degrees.com

TERRA COTTA: Call for Wine Wednesdays details. When: 4-10 p.m. Where: 3500 E. Sunrise Drive Price: $6 Info: 577-8100, www.dineterracotta.com

HILTON TUCSON EL CONQUISTADOR GOLF & TENNIS RESORT: Every Wednesday in its La Vista Lounge, sample a variety of wines and an hors d’oeuvres buffet. When: 6:30 p.m. Where: 10555 N. La Cañada Drive Price: $15 Info: 544-1905, www.hiltonelconquistador.com

Thursdays-Saturdays
CATAVINOS: Call for this week’s selections. When: 4-8 p.m. Where: 3063 N. Alvernon Way Price: $10 ($8 with purchase of a bottle) Info: 323-3063, www.catavinoswines.com

Fridays
BEVERAGE HOUSE (ORACLE): This week, summer white wines • May 23 French wines • May 30 staff picks When: 4-6:30 p.m. Where: 6250 N. Oracle Road Price: $4 Info: 219-6424, www.beveragehouse.net

BEVERAGE HOUSE (BROADWAY): This week, wines from Tobin James Cellars of Paso Robles, Calif. • May 23 “value” wines from Australia • May 30 staff picks with Memorial Day in mind When: 4-6 p.m. Where: 8660 E. Broadway Price: $2 Info: 296-9933

DISTRICT TAVERN: Call for this week’s selections. When: 5-7 p.m. Where: 260 E. Congress St. Price: $5 Info: 792-0081

PASTICHE WINE SHOP: Call for this week’s selections. When: 5-6:30 p.m. Where: 3025 N. Campbell Ave. Price: $5 Info: 325-3333, www.pasticheme.com

VILA THAI CUISINE: Call for this week’s selections. When: 5-7 p.m. Where: 972 E. University Blvd. Price: $10 Info: 903-9777, www.vilathai.com

Saturdays
JW MARRIOTT STARR PASS RESORT & SPA: Call for the topic of this week’s class. Participants usually sample five to six wines, with artisan breads and cheeses from its Primo restaurant. When: 3:30-5 p.m. Where: 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd. Price: $25 Info: 791-6071, http://primo.jwmarriottstarrpass.com

AJ’S FINE FOODS: Call for this week’s selections. Limited seating on a first-come, first-served basis. When: 2 p.m. Where: 2905 E. Skyline Drive Price: $5 Info: 232-6340, www.ajsfinefoods.com

Tuesdays
ARMITAGE WINE LOUNGE AND CAFE: Call for this week’s selections. When: 6-8 p.m. Where: 2905 E. Skyline Drive, Suite 168 Price: $10 Info: 682-9740, www.armitagewine.com

TERRAZA DEL SOL: Call for this week’s selections of tastings at Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort’s bar. When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Where: 5601 N. Hacienda del Sol Road Price: free Info: 299-1501, www.haciendadelsol.com

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Unless noted, no reservations are necessary, prices are per person and do not include tax and tip.

The best Irish red ales should be malty with a hint of roast, low bitterness and hop flavor and have a striking red color from the use of caramel malt grain.

Samuel Adams’ entry has the color, but just falls short in body and maltiness. It is, however, smooth and fresh – I let about a quarter-full glass sit on my counter for a half-hour, and when I returned there was still a quarter-inch of thick foam on the top. I can’t even get my homebrew to do that.

The only other Irish reds I know of that have a large distribution and are worthwhile are Smithwick’s and Goose Island’s Kilgubbin. Smithwick’s, made by Guinness, is the most roasted, while Kilgubbin (not available in Arizona) is a little too hoppy for the style, but still good.

Made by Coors, Killian’s Irish Red tastes too much like the typical mass-produced beers to be taken seriously. It has the name, but not the soul, of the Irish style.

In Tucson, Frog & Firkin 874 E. University Blvd.; The Auld Dubliner, 800 E. University Blvd.; and Firkin & Friar, 6958 E. Tanque Verde Road, serve Smithwicks Irish Ale on tap.

None of the three local breweries makes an Irish ale. But BJ’s Brewhouse Restaurant, 4270 N. Oracle Road, with beer brewed in Chandler, has one – Jeremiah Red.

Food & Drink Editor Dina L. Doolen contributed to this article.

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Unless noted, no reservations are necessary, prices are per person and do not include tax and tip.

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REGULAR WINE TASTINGS/CLASSES

Wednesdays
58 DEGREES & HOLDING CO. (Williams Centre): At its Bar 58 & Bistro, this week, sample wines of Chile with Dave Torkko of Alta Terra wines. • May 14 winemaker Kym Tolley of Penley Estate • May 21 Steve Goldman of Stephen’s Cellar & Vineyard of Templeton, Calif. When: 5-7 p.m. Where: 5340 E. Broadway Price: $10 Info: 747-5858, www.58degrees.com

TERRA COTTA: Call for Wine Wednesdays details. When: 4-10 p.m. Where: 3500 E. Sunrise Drive Price: $6 Info: 577-8100, www.dineterracotta.com

HILTON TUCSON EL CONQUISTADOR GOLF & TENNIS RESORT: Every Wednesday in its La Vista Lounge, sample a variety of wines and an hors d’oeuvres buffet. When: 6:30 p.m. Where: 10555 N. La Cañada Drive Price: $15 Info: 544-1905, www.hiltonelconquistador.com

Thursdays-Saturdays
CATAVINOS: Call for this week’s selections. When: 4-8 p.m. Where: 3063 N. Alvernon Way Price: $10 ($8 with purchase of a bottle) Info: 323-3063, www.catavinoswines.com

Fridays
BEVERAGE HOUSE (ORACLE): This week, select wines from South America • May 15 summer white wines • May 23 French wines • May 30 staff picks When: 4-6:30 p.m. Where: 6250 N. Oracle Road Price: $4 Info: 219-6424, www.beveragehouse.net

BEVERAGE HOUSE (BROADWAY): This week, Joel Gott Wines of St. Helena, Calif. • May 16 wines from Tobin James Cellars of Paso Robles, Calif. • May 23 “value” wines from Australia • May 30 staff picks with Memorial Day in mind When: 4-6 p.m. Where: 8660 E. Broadway Price: $2 Info: 296-9933

DISTRICT TAVERN: Call for this week’s selections. When: 5-7 p.m. Where: 260 E. Congress St. Price: $5 Info: 792-0081

PASTICHE WINE SHOP: This week, Italian wines. When: 5-6:30 p.m. Where: 3025 N. Campbell Ave. Price: $5 Info: 325-3333, www.pasticheme.com

VILA THAI CUISINE: Call for this week’s selections. When: 5-7 p.m. Where: 972 E. University Blvd. Price: $10 Info: 903-9777, www.vilathai.com

Saturdays
JW MARRIOTT STARR PASS RESORT & SPA: Call for the topic of this week’s class. Participants usually sample five to six wines, with artisan breads and cheeses from the resort’s Primo restaurant. When: 3:30-5 p.m. Where: 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd. Price: $25 Info: 791-6071, http://primo.jwmarriottstarrpass.com

AJ’S FINE FOODS: Call for this week’s selections. Limited seating on a first-come, first-served basis. When: 2 p.m. Where: 2905 E. Skyline Drive Price: $5 Info: 232-6340, www.ajsfinefoods.com

Tuesdays
ARMITAGE WINE LOUNGE AND CAFE: Call for this week’s selections. When: 6-8 p.m. Where: 2905 E. Skyline Drive, Suite 168 Price: $10 Info: 682-9740, www.armitagewine.com

TERRAZA DEL SOL: Tastings at Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort’s bar. Call for this week’s selections. When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Where: 5601 N. Hacienda del Sol Road Price: free Info: 299-1501, www.haciendadelsol.com