... or so says this Washington man.

Aaron DeFeo, the bar manager at Hotel Congress and Maynards Market and Kitchen, has launched this new boozealicious blog about the ever-evolving cocktail programs he heads up. Is it happy hour yet?

Acacia at St. Philip's (4340 N. Campbell Ave.) kicks off its Martini Mondays special today with half off specialty martinis from 5 to 9 p.m.

They serve a dozen or so specialty martinis, and the outdoor seating overlooking the courtyard is a lovely place to enjoy a cocktail. We tried their espresso martinis made with Van Gogh Double Espresso Vodka, and their chocolate-covered-cherry martinis served in chocolate-swirled glasses this weekend, and both were fantastic.

Call 232-0101, or visit their Web site and click on the "calendar" tab for more information.

Pastiche Modern Eatery introduces the Whiskey/Whisky Club. First meeting is tomorrow night at 5:30 p.m. Reservations required.

And have you checked out Pastiche's Bedrock Chop? Three and half pound Rib Steak Chop, rosemary demi-glace, chef’s vegetable selection. It appears a bit pricey at $44, until you consider that it can feed a family of four.

Hey, barkeep! Did you hear that Tucson was declared the ninth-drunkest city in America by Men's Health?

USA Today has the news.

We're still trying to figure out how Boston got ranked the "least drunk."

A limited-edition beer made by Barrio Brewing Company is being sold around town through Christmas to benefit Caridad de Porres, which provides more than 100,000 meals to hungry people across Pima County every year.

The beer has a Facebook page, which you can check out here.

And the Arizona Daily Star did a nice story on it here.

The beer is available at the Bamboo Club, Barrio Brewing Company, Buffet Bar and Crockpot, Cow Pony, The Dish, Fox and Hound, Frog 'n' Firkin, Gentle Ben's, The Hut, Jonathan's Tucson Cork, Kingfisher, Maloney's, Papagayo, Pastiche, T6 Filling Station and the Wooden Nickel.

The Facebook page says that every pint sold ($4.25) will provide four meals for Tucson's hungry.

The new astronomy-themed Sky Bar (536 N. Fourth Ave.) located right next to Brooklyn Pizza Company will be open for business as of tonight, says owner Tony Vaccaro.

The place has piped in images of deep space and other planetary goodness going on throughout. A planetarium with a full bar? Be still my cosmological heart.

It works like this: Send your wine inquiries to [email protected], or post them on Facebook by visiting the Loews Hotels Facebook page and clicking on the "Wine Line" tab.

All that’s left then is to kick back with a bottle of good merlot (or a box of blush, for that matter) while waiting for one of the hotel’s wine experts or sommeliers to respond, which they promise to do within 24 hours.

The free service is available through New Year’s Day.

Train whistles used to conjure up thoughts of hobos, traffic delays and old Johnny Cash records, but that was before I discovered “rail pints” on a recent visit to Barrio Brewing Company (800 E. 16th St.).

You see, Barrio Brewing Company is housed in this super old and very cool warehouse building that happens to be a stone's throw from a set of railroad tracks and its associated crossing. And every so often, the train comes blaring through, shaking tables and deafening anyone sitting at the dozen or so patio tables.

But Barrio has turned what could be a nightmare for many businesses into a bright spot. If you’re at the brewery when the train comes crashing through, you get a pint of their very tasty beer for $3 for as long as the road blocks are down across the nearby tracks.

On my visit, the waitress came crashing through the brewery doors, exclaiming "Rail pints!" to all that would listen. It was festive and fun, and before I knew it, I was half way through another pint and the sound of the train seemed somehow less important.

Good job, Barrio. Waiting for a train to pass has never been so much fun.

Tiger, the daytime bartender at the Tap Room at Hotel Congress and an all around nice guy, celebrated 50 years of working at the downtown mainstay with a celebration last night.

That's right, a half century.

For those of us who have spent a notable amount of time on the business end of Tucson bars, Tiger is the gold standard when it comes to the art of bartending.

To say Tiger is adored and respected by his patrons barely scratches the surface, and the hotel is marking the anniversary by taking 50 cents off any draft beers ordered during his shift through the end of the year. You’re the man, Tiger. Hotel Congress is located at 311 E. Congress St.; 622-8848.