Bob Barnes

Bob Barnes began his food and beverage writing career in as a regional correspondent for Celebrator Beer News, and wrote its Nevada Beer Nuggets column from 1998 to 2019. He was Editorial Director of The Las Vegas Food & Beverage Professional from 2012 to 2021, and has covered Las Vegas for Gayot since 2010, where he currently contributes to the Gayot Las Vegas Restaurant News and writes beer and spirit reviews. Barnes’ regional coverage is also a staple of the monthly Las Vegas Brewing News and weekly Las Vegas Dining and Entertainment News. He also produces a monthly dining news column for The Vegas Voice, while keeping San Diego Beer News readers up-to-date on Las Vegas’ expansive brewing industry and other beer-related news in his hometown.

Neighborhood: I live in Anthem in Henderson, a suburb of Las Vegas.

Family: I have a wife that I adore, as well as a daughter, son-in-law and grandson. We are very fortunate that they live close by, so we see them quite often. Also, we have two dogs who we consider our children.

Favorite Beer Style(s): Pretty much any Belgian style, but especially tripel, and big malty brews like barleywine and imperial stout.

Favorite Local Beer Events: I especially like beer-pairing dinners. My favorite is the annual BJ’s Belgian-style Dinner, which always features their Grand Cru. I also like specialized beer fests where the breweries and beers being poured are hand-picked by the festival organizer, insuring that unique and high-quality beers are in the mix.

Craft Beer A-Ha Moment: When I was in college in the late 1970s, every weekend my best friend and I would try to find a beer we’d never tried before, which back then meant imported beers. I got exposed to a lot of different types of beer by doing that and learned which beer styles appeal to my palate.