Reno’s frontier-like quaintness softens the glitzy glare of its casinos, allowing them to be part of the fabric of the community without taking over. It’s a far cry from Las Vegas’ colossal gambling compounds and that’s how residents like it. Reno happily owns its status as “The Biggest Little City in the World,” even as it faces unprecedented growth as the likes of Google and Tesla draw in Silicon Valley transplants. Reno’s job market and population are expanding by leaps and bounds, and so, too, is the local beer scene, which boasts well over a dozen breweries offering all manner of ales and lagers in varied settings in and around the city, including a walkable downtown brewery district.
RENO-SPARKS BREWERIES
Revision Brewing
380 S. Rock Blvd, Sparks (Brewery & Taproom); 235 Flint St., Reno (Pignic Pub & Patio)
Mastery of all manner of India pale ale (IPA) behind a founder hailing from Knee Deep Brewing has made this Reno’s most widely known brewing entity. From hazy to clear, single- to triple-strength, Revision’s beer board boasts roughly 15 different varieties of IPA. Other styles are available (lagers, pastry stouts), but hops are the lure here. It’s rare and delightful to be able to explore so many different IPA iterations in one sitting, especially at some of the most reasonable prices around.
Revision’s namesake Simcoe-laced, World Beer Cup (WBC) award-winning IPA and double IPA abound with orange and tropical-fruit aromas. So, too, does Jewel Box, a 100% Galaxy-hopped New England-style IPA (NEIPA), which smells like a tangelo grove and tastes like a screwdriver, and fellow fruit-bomb, Disco Ninja, a hazy IPA (conceived with Carson City’s Shoe Tree Brewing) that’s Creamsicle on the tongue and passion fruit in the finish.
Particularly impressive are the layered flavors of Revision’s stronger IPAs. Every element of Nelson Sauvin hops (gooseberry, petrol, white wine, pine cone, popcorn hull, guava) shows through in the brewery’s fourth-anniversary double IPA. And while fiery in its 11.3% ABV (alcohol-by-volume), Dr. Lupulin triple IPA brings big notes of tangerine and peach melba before finishing surprisingly dry. Then there’s Reno As Fuck, a double NEIPA with notes of black currant and a grassy finish Revision’s crew describes as the embodiment of their hometown: “real, down-to-earth and unfiltered.”
Pro tip: The different hop varietals used in each beer aren’t listed on the menu board, but some of that info can be found taped to the shelves of the to-go beer fridge.
IMBĪB Custom Brews
785 E. Second St., Reno (Brewery & Taproom); The Outlets at Legends, 1180 Scheels Dr., Ste B-113, Sparks (Brewery & Taproom)
Twin foeders and an impressive row of awards from the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) and other brewing competitions grace the tasting bar at IMBĪB’s original brewery. The wide array of beer styles that fetched those high-profile awards speaks to the skill of the pair of homebrewers behind this six-year-old interest, who went from forging funky ales in their garage to crafting what are widely considered some of the best sours in the region.
Nevada Weisse, a GABF bronze-winning fruited Berliner with low acidity and bold berry flavor, is a sublime starting point before breaking into beers birthed from the brewery’s collection of 70 used wine barrels. A gem from that oaken stock is Distemper, a blonde, balsam-rich Flanders-style ale that took gold at the 2019 GABF’s pro-am competition. The glory of Brettanomyces is also on display care of an herbal, lettucy Belgian-style table beer dry-hopped with Strata.
IMBĪB’s brewers excel at tart, wild ales but evenly balance their menu with lagers, easy-drinking ales, IPAs, and barrel-aged stouts and strong ales. On the lighter end of the spectrum, a heat-vanquishing cream ale called Cutthroat is a simple standout. On the dark side, an imperial stout called I Like Coconuts doesn’t work off a pastry base but has enough sweetness for oodles of coconut to shine, while the caramely whiskey notes of Jarbidge, a bourbon barrel-aged quadrupel released each October, sync beautifully with floral notes from Belgian yeast to create an extra-special sipper.
Pro tip: Local beer fans mark their calendars for IMBĪB’s anniversary, which takes place the first week of June and includes a tap list with 20 one-off beers.
Great Basin Brewing
5525 S. Virginia St., Reno (Brewery Restaurant); 846 Victorian Ave., Sparks (Brewery Restaurant)
Great Basin is Northern Nevada’s largest brewing company and the seven-barrel system at its original brewpub is the oldest brewhouse in the state. Since its commissioning in 1993, that apparatus has spawned a second brewpub and a much larger production brewery. Many a Reno brewer cut their teeth with this venerable operation before moving on to make their marks on the local scene. It’s a proud history that’s given way to an accomplished present.
A key to Great Basin’s continued relevance is its brewing team staying on pace with new beer styles and drinkers’ tastes rather than resting on their laurels. In recent years, the company has picked up plenty of GABF hardware, with a gold in 2020 for a rosé-esque raspberry Berliner weisse called Razzle Fo Shazzle, a gold in 2019 for a fruit-forward (versus fruit-dominant) wheat ale called Bitchin’ Berry, and a 2018 silver for its mimosa-like Blood Orange Wit.
Even without GABF credentials, Ichthyosaur IPA has garnered more awards than any of Great Basin’s beers, helping cement its reputation as Nevada’s most award-winning brewery. “Icky’s” blend of hops and caramel malts make it a fitting companion for Great Basin’s beer-cheese soup, “totchos” (tater tots served in loaded nacho fashion), fish and chips or a 50/50 beef-and-bacon burger. And fans of capsaicin should seek out cult-favorite Cerveza Chilebeso, a three-time GABF gold medal-winning Kölsch infused with fresh jalapeño peppers.
Pro tip: Great Basin operates a third public venue called Taps and Tanks, which opens up for special events, beer releases and private groups.
10 Torr Distilling & Brewing
490 Mill St., Reno
Named after a measurement of negative pressure related to the rare vacuum-distilling process this two-tiered business employs (less than a dozen American distilleries go this route), 10 Torr has a voluminous and ever-changing list of beers on tap as well as a wealth of house-made spirits and cocktails of the freshly mixed and canned varieties. A heavy door gives way to contemporary brick-and-wood environs including a diagram of the distilling process, plus a roomy shaded patio.
Known as Mill Street Still and Brew before being rebranded in 2018, 10 Torr has its GABF-winning former brewer back on the deck (and at the still) for a second run. The styles he and his brewing staff (which is 50% female) craft are based largely on staff recommendations, leading to great variety. A tart hazy IPA brewed with lemon and citrusy hops shares space with a malty-yet-crisp California common ale, bready Belgian-style dubbel and a weizenbock tasting of roasted squash and Bananas Foster.
While 10 Torr’s beers are impressive, so too are its spirits, which include vodka made from two-row malt using California Ale yeast, a slow-burn adaption of that spirit spiked with habaneros and jalapeños, a spa-water take on gin incorporating cucumber and citrus fruits, and a coffee liqueur laced with Madagascar vanilla. On the ready-to-drink cocktail front, a lavender vodka lemonade is 10 Torr’s best-seller, while Amantes Picantes, a spritzy, spicy mint- and lime-infused cooler made with the aforementioned pepper vodka is its most exotic.
Pro tip: In-depth tours of the brewing and distilling operations are available on request. Just make sure to reach out about that ahead of your visit.
Brasserie Saint James
901 S. Center St., Reno
Before Reno’s brewing boom, this Old World-inspired spot turned heads by winning Mid-size Brewpub of the Year at the 2014 GABF behind Belgian-style beers, including barrel-aged saisons and sours. Built in a 1920’s icehouse, Brasserie Saint James (BSJ) is outfitted with a menu of rustic, filling fare (chicken and waffles, jambalaya, braised short ribs) and four bars spanning its lodge-like interiors plus multiple patios. Following a change in ownership that included a temporary closure in 2020, the company’s original brewer returned to the fold and the beer program has expanded to include a plethora of New World styles.
Nowadays, BSJ’s biggest sellers are lagers like the toasty Valkyrie (Vienna) and refreshing Santiago (Mexican). And like everywhere else, IPAs do well, with the CTZ-, Citra- and Simcoe-hopped Sierra Candy pleasing West Coast palates, and the new Terpene Haze double IPA pleasing East Coasters and cannabis fans alike with its tantalizing strawberry, banana and pineapple nose. There’s even a smoothie sour and blueberry pancake-inspired lager, but BSJ’s bailiwick is still barrel-aging.
The profile of the water from the artesian well beneath the brewpub is perfect for producing the gold-medal-winning Daily Wages, a funky saison fermented with a trio of yeast strains, a 100% Brett beer aged in white-wine barrels called 1904, a mixed-fermentation raspberry lambic made with whole-cone, house-aged hops going by Framboise Sauvage, and Quadrophobia, an oak-matured Beglian quadrupel with notes of caramel, sherry and bitters that proves there’s more to BSJ’s barrel program than acidity.
Pro tip: Make sure to spend time on the spacious open-air rooftop patio where all of the house beers are available along with a condensed food menu.
The Brewer’s Cabinet
475 S. Arlington Ave., Reno (Restaurant & Pilot Brewery); 8565 White Fir St., Reno (Production Facility)
Not to be confused with a bottle shop, this nearly decade-old interest was founded on the belief that its beers should be as appealing as the atmosphere they are enjoyed in. Resultantly, The Brewer’s Cabinet’s bar and restaurant (which includes a pilot brewery) is a hopping neighborhood hot spot frequented by Renoites in search of beers both simple and creative, plus a menu of pretzel-bun burgers, protein-focused sammies, mac and cheese, wings and beer-battered treats.
The Brewer’s Cabinet’s year-round beers mirror those of an old-school brewpub, with straightforward blonde, pale and amber ales, as well as the popular flagship Dragon Punch IPA. Piney with orange-candy notes and low perceived bitterness, it simultaneously pays homage to West Coast IPAs of today and yesteryear. Meanwhile, core offering Dirty Wookie is an imperial brown ale that’s deep in its color and toastiness.
The majority of the beer list consists of lighter-bodied thirst-quenchers such as Wolf Pack Ale, a crisp, floral and minerally Kölsch. There’s also a Mexican-style corn lager, German-style hefeweizen, Belgian-style blonde ale and fruited beers such as a strawberry witbier dubbed Berry White and a watermelon imperial sour ale called One in a Melon. Moon Dunes hazy IPA and an IPL (India pale lager) round out the hoppier end of the spectrum during the summer months.
Pro tip: Stave off any would-be cases of the dreaded Mondaze with The Brewer’s Cabinet’s Monday $10 Burger and Beer promotion.
The Reno Brewery District
Pigeon Head Brewery
840 E. Fifth St., Reno
This inauspicious brewery on the east end of Reno’s brewery district is the operation Northern Nevada brewers are most excited about. A lager-heavy interest since opening in 2014, Pigeon Head has expanded its portfolio to include a variety of ales since being taken over by its brewer (who got his start at Wiens Brewing in Temecula). Still, this remains the place to go for thirst-quenching, flavorful lagers crafted with respect for Old World tradition.
Pigeon Head’s clean German Magnum-, Perle- and Saaz-hopped Pilsner is its best-selling beer, winning high marks throughout the local brewing community. Delving into more colorful territory, Red Rye Lager offers myriad malt-borne notes of roasted chestnut, burnt caramel, clove and even a bit of cherry as it warms up, while the Dark Lager is a nicely balanced, highly drinkable German-style Schwarzbier with a roasty, minerally nose and lasting presence on the palate.
Pigeon Head’s hoppy stock is made up of several IPAs, an IPL spiced up with jalapeño and habanero peppers, and a pale ale brewed with sage that will be a liquid godsend for fans of the pungent kitchen herb. Similarly, a ginger-infused Belgian-style saison takes on so much character from its floral, spicy add-on that it practically begs to be served with sushi. But of all the adjunct beers, the best is a version of the Dark Lager supped up with cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, allspice, coconut, vanilla and a seasonal java blend from Reno’s own Magpie Coffee Roasters.
Pro tip: Pigeon Head’s tasting room offers happy hour, 2-5 p.m. every weekday, with $8 crowler fills on Mondays and 25% off four- and six-packs on Wednesdays.
Lead Dog Brewing
415 E. Fourth St., Reno (Taproom); 305 E. Glendale Ave., Sparks (Production Facility)
Opened in 2017, Lead Dog Brewing is one of Reno’s largest breweries. It’s also one in transition after bringing aboard a new brewer. Operating on a 30-barrel system (which will soon be joined by a nano-sized pilot brewery), that recent addition is pumping out all manner of modern styles, from kettle sours and a golden stout to a peanut-butter beer and IPAs of the fruited, hazy and milkshake varieties. Experimentation is a way of life, and nothing is off the table.
Lead Dog has a whopping four constantly evolving beer series. The first is devoted to hazy IPAs and is highlighted by Secret Stash, which leads with Citra hops and is rife with orange and lemon flavors. Fruited milkshake IPAs like Pineapple Passion, an imperial-strength shaker brewed with lactose and its eponymous edible, comprise the second series, while a Savage Sour Series is embodied by Blue Fruit, a mixed-berry kettle sour that’s evocative of fruit punch care of blueberries, blackberries and black currants.
A line of pastry stouts is set to debut the winter, and Lead Dog’s lager program will be in full swing by the time Oktoberfest season rolls around. Also en route is a kitchen at the company’s tasting room in the brewery district, which has a homier feel than the industrial but still welcoming environs of its production facility in Sparks.
Pro tip: Lead Dog Brewing recently merged with Mammoth Brewing, and beers from the latter operation are on tap at the former’s locations.
The Depot Craft Brewery & Distillery
325 E. Fourth St., Reno
There’s a lot going on under the roof of the historic former headquarters of the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway. In addition to the brewing and barrel-aging of beers of all styles (oak-aged double IPA, anyone?), The Depot is distilling spirits using local corn, wheat and rye. There’s also a two-story restaurant putting out casual yet worldly fare (tacos, Nashville hot chicken sandwich, curried salmon dumplings, Cajun pork belly) made using house beers and other ingredients sourced from Northern Nevada.
Beers are named for the types of individuals who would have passed through the old train depot. The Farmer is an amber-hued farmhouse ale featuring Topps bubble-gum aromas and a peppery backend. The Drifter is a lemony Belgian-style witbier given a parfait effect care of its fluffy white head, and The Milkman is a milk stout with a fresh-baked brownie bouquet, soft mouthfeel and restrained sweetness. Honey malt lends a touch of earthiness and balance to The Voyager, a West Coast IPA hopped with Citra and El Dorado, while a seasonal pineapple-infused IPA dubbed The Islander is a must-have during the sunny season.
A Reno native heads brewing and distilling, having gained experience at FiftyFifty Brewing and Ballast Point Brewing and Distilling. The beer menu is a moving target stylistically, but the first-story bar typically offers 18 beers, five whiskies and a pair of gins. There are also packaged barrel-aged and bottle-conditioned ales like a Merlot barrel-aged Brett saison with apricots called The Wild 49er and a bourbon barrel-rested iteration of the above-mentioned milk stout named The Return of The Milkman.
Pro tip: The Depot uses a circa-1950 liquor distribution warehouse that’s located next door and outfitted with its own bar for private and special events.
Record Street Brewing
324 E. Fourth St., Reno
This music-themed and youthfully cool brewpub opened not long before the pandemic stymied the hospitality industry. It was bad timing, but the crew behind it are finally able to show off its high-concept music-driven motif, sleek interiors and a roomy outdoor patio set against a postcard-art mural proclaiming its part of town “The Biggest Little Brewery District in the World.” Also on display are well-made early-draft beers doubling as fuel for shows at The Alpine music and event venue next door.
For the most part, Record Street’s beers veer slightly from the everyday. In many cases, that is attributable to alternative yeast strains and brewing whimsy. High Rollers Pale Ale bursts forth with big, fruity yeast esters and an herbaceous hop presence. A dry-hopped Belgian blonde ale called WAM is all lemons and flowers. Even a would-be humble, low-alcohol beer called Malt Rosé is made interesting by honey and clove notes. These tasty tweaks increase the beers’ pairing potential for a menu of wood-fired pizzas and hearty pub fare.
But tradition isn’t thrown out with the spent grain. A pleasantly bitter session IPA called Soundwaves has the piney, pithy, grapefruit-and-peach punch of an IPA with average alcoholic potency, while a Scottish ale dubbed Flowers of the Forest has the herbal, hay and heather notes that are the hallmarks of this UK style. And for those traveling with hard-seltzer swiggers, Record Street’s Tahoe Tessie line includes strawberry lemonade and lime varieties.
Pro tip: Want to support local on a larger scale? 20% of proceeds from sales of Flowers of the Forest benefit the Truckee Meadows Firefighter Foundation.
Brew Brothers
El Dorado Resort Casino, 345 N. Virginia St., Reno
This brewpub was installed in the Eldorado Resort and Casino in 1995 by Reno hospitality magnate Don Carano. At the time, microbrews were virtually unheard of, and Brew Brothers was the first-ever brewing facility to be sited inside a casino. It took a while, but locals eventually took to the concept, and now almost everyone in Reno has a fun story from good—or outrageous—times had at this brewery-restaurant, which converts to a night club in the evenings.
Though not there from day one, the current head brewer has manned the brewhouse for the past 21 years, evolving the menu over time. Brew Brothers’ first IPA debuted in 2005…and they couldn’t give it away. Now, the piney Big Dog IPA (Cascade, Centennial and CTZ hops) is the brewpub’s fastest, most consistent seller, running slightly ahead of a light, golden beer dubbed Carano Extra. Also popular is Redhead Amber, a WBC gold awardee with mild toffee notes and pithy citrus from Cascade hops.
Newer to the beer list is Wild Card, a hefeweizen with intense bubble-gum and banana flavors and aromas. Beers best suited to pair with a lengthy menu of assorted beer-friendly apps, pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, meal-sized salads and desserts include Gold Dollar, a pale ale hopped with Mandarina Bavaria, and Double Down, a dry Irish-style stout brewed with chocolate malt and molasses, featuring a chocolaty nose with hints of coffee and dried blueberry.
Pro tip: Sixteen-ounce house beers can be yours for the low price of $4 each during happy hour, which runs from 2-5 p.m. on weekdays.
BREWERIES OUTSIDE RENO-SPARKS
Carson City
Shoe Tree Brewing
1496 Old Hot Springs Rd, Carson City; 1758 US 395, Ste A, Minden
What started as two brothers opening a humble family brewing biz in a converted garage has evolved over the past eight years along with beer-drinkers’ changing tastes. Now, Shoe Tree Brewing and its fraternal founders are the pride of Carson City craft (and close-by Minden after opening a second venue) thanks to quality across styles, a pair of medals earned at the 2020 GABF and the company’s support of the community, which includes “helping handles” earning money for local charities and causes.
Shoe Tree’s darker creations won the aforementioned awards, with an imperial stout dubbed Stoutacus nabbing bronze, and a gold going to Choco Burrito, a porter brewed with Choco Taco ice-cream treats, cacao nibs, peanuts and vanilla in the mash. The result is confectionery yet, somehow, not overdone. Both beers have imperialized versions: the 13.2% alcohol-by-volume Stoutacus Maximus and even more dessert-like Choco Burrito Supreme.
The rest of the beers follow a playful bent with kettle sours like the fruity but not-too-tart Cherry Godmother and Sherbert Herbert, a passion fruit, lime and raspberry number emulating a tri-color Push-Up Pop. Fun from a nomenclatural standpoint but seriously crafted to exude a dank, resinous, orange- and grapefruit-tinged flavor profile is Shoehorn Double IPA. It’s right in line with a 4/20-inspired IPA called Bob Rastafar IPA that’s brewed with terpines and hemp (and has a lively, well attended annual release event), and a 180-degree turn from a crushable light beer called 40 Mile Lager.
Pro tip: Enjoy Shoe Tree beer with food delivered from Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint next door after a soak at the Carson Hot Springs two doors down.
The Fox Brewpub
310 S. Carson St., Carson City
A fixture at the base of downtown’s historic St. Charles Hotel (an 1860’s building predating Nevada becoming a state), this English-inspired pub is overseen by a veteran brewer who’s back in action after a lengthy international hiatus. The Fox Brewpub is benefiting from his experience as well as his willingness to stay current with the styles of beers he brews in order to meet the desires of the locals and tourists patronizing his stomping grounds.
A New England-style IPA called Hazy Street is a highlight of the new-guard beers; a gem bursting with passion fruit, papaya, honeydew melon, peach and apricot flavors coaxed from Galaxy and Citra hops. Though a historic style, The Fox’s take on a popular-again Czech-style pilsner, Kings Falls (named for the Kings Canyon Waterfalls on the edge of town), is delightfully crisp and all Saaz hops on the palate.
Staid standards include a super-dry, semi-earthy honey ale called Buzzed Bee. That beer won a gold medal at the 2013 WBC when the pub’s beer was being brewed at then-parent company High Sierra Brewing in Sparks. The Fox’s West Coast and double IPAs work off the same base recipe, with a hop bill of Nugget, Cascade and Centennial hops getting upped for the latter, while a Vienna lager called Mas Equis (that actually tastes more like Modelo Negra), the big-on-banana El Jefe hefeweizen and an imperial stout with spice and bittersweetness borne of cacao nibs even out the beer board.
Pro tip: As part of its charity efforts, The Fox brews a brut session IPA called Greenhouse Project, which supports efforts to feed Carson City’s food insecure.
Incline Village
Alibi Ale Works
204 E. Enterprise St., Incline Village (Brewery & Barrel House); 931 Tahoe Blvd, Incline Village (Public House); 10069 Bridge St., Truckee, CA (Public House)
Not to be overlooked in one’s Northern Nevada brewery touring is Alibi Ale Works, a remarkable operation on the northeast corner of Lake Tahoe. Founded as a five-barrel operation by homebrewers hailing from San Diego and Portland, Oregon, the business has grown to include taprooms in Incline Village and nearby Truckee. The former is the newest and features a tiered outdoor deck, family-friendly backyard, fresh air, a lovely view of the lake and plenty of beer.
Alibi aims to keep the homebrew spirit alive and has brewed more than 350 different beers in its five years. Those range from a summer-friendly Kölsch and soft-bodied cucumber Gose to a best-selling Citra-dry-hopped pale ale and a dry, peachy IPA showcasing Strata and Mosaic hops. A harder to come by Chinook and Cryo Cashmere-hopped Session IPA is an outstanding all-day option that punches far above its weight; a real knockout.
Much of Alibi’s ingenuity and creativity comes care of barrel-aging, mixed-fermentation and an open fermenter. Notable among such next-level beers is Saison Nouveau #1, a dry-hopped, stainless-and-oak-fermented farmhouse ale marrying Brett spice with tropical nuances and restrained tartness. Acidity is also delivered in bright kettle sours like the passion fruit-, peach- and plum-infused Mr. Tartacular’s Forbidden Fruit Threesome, as well as The Queen, a funky creation inoculated with a culture taken from bees that, like many an Incline Villager, have made a home for themselves at Alibi’s public house.
Pro tip: When asked, servers are always happy to suggest their favorite “beer cocktails” made by blending several of Alibi’s house beers.
Other Northern Nevada Breweries
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
13999 S. Virginia St., Reno
A link in a nationwide chain, this long-operating brewpub has been a starting point for brewers who have gone on to smaller local brewing outfits.
Battle Born Beer
360 E. Fifth St., Reno
A business working with The Depot to brew an easy-drinking, low-alcohol American lager from a combo tasting room and private-event space.
Schussboom Brewing
12245 S. Virginia St., Reno
A new brewery-restaurant that’s serving guest beers from Nevada and national breweries as it gets its own brewing program off the ground.
The Union
302 N. Carson St., Carson City
A family-friendly restaurant and bar that’s equipped with brewing equipment but has its beers contract-brewed by another local company.
BREWER’S (DOUBLE) DOZEN
A list of standout beers sampled during a recent visit to Northern Nevada, doubled from its typical length due to the sheer volume of breweries and quality brews:
- Alibi Session IPA, Session IPA
- IMBĪB Nevada Weisse, Berliner Weisse with Raspberry
- Revision 4th Anniversary DIPA, New England-style Double IPA
- Alibi Kölsch, Kölsch-style Ale
- Shoe Tree Shoehorn, Double IPA
- IMBĪB Jarbidge, Barrel-aged Belgian-style Quadrupel
- Revision Jewel Box, New England-style IPA
- IMBĪB Distemper, Blonde Flanders-style Ale
- The Fox Hazy Street, New England-style IPA
- Shoe Tree Coco Burrito, Porter with Choco Tacos, Cacao Nibs, Peanuts & Vanilla
- Alibi Mr. Tartacular’s Forbidden Fruit Threesome, Sour Ale with Passion Fruit, Plum & Peaches
- Great Basin Razzle Fo Shazzle, Berliner Weisse with Raspberries
- Alibi IPA, West Coast-style IPA
- Brasserie Saint James Terpene Haze, New England-style Double IPA with Terpines
- Pigeon Head Black Lager, Schwarzbier
- Shoe Tree Stouticus Maximus, Imperial Stout
- 10 Torr Nancy! Daas Bock!, Weizenbock
- Record Street Soundwaves, Session IPA
- Revision Disco Ninja, New England-style IPA
- Brasserie Saint James Red Headed Stranger, Red Farmhouse Ale
- Pigeon Head Pilsner, Bavarian-style Pilsner
- The Depot The Drifter, Belgian-style Witbier
- Brasserie Saint James Daily Wages, Mixed-fermentation Saison
- Brew Brothers Wild Card, Hefeweizen
BEER-CENTRIC EVENTS
Capital City Brewfest (August 28, 2021)
Curry Street at Bob McFadden Plaza, Carson City
More than two dozen breweries and distilleries will offer up their goods against the backdrop of live entertainment to support the Rotary Club of Carson City.
Legends of Beer Festival (September 11, 2021)
The Outlets at Legends, 1310 Scheels Drive, Sparks
This first-ever event will launch this year with more than 30 breweries, live music and a “beer mile” relay that competition attendees can participate in to win prizes.
Biggest Little Invitational (October 2, 2021)
Bartley Ranch Regional Park, 6000 Bartley Ranch Rd, Reno
Northern Nevada’s largest annual beer festival attracts breweries from across the country, including some serious white-whale breeding operations.
Brew HaHa (February 2022)
Nugget Casino Resort, 1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks
This annual fundraiser for the Sierra Arts Foundation features more than 150 different beers of all ilk, from IPAs to sours and high-octane strong ales.
Strange Brew Fest (May 2022)
The Brewer’s Cabinet, 475 S. Arlington Ave., Reno
An event challenging local brewers to make the weirdest beers possible (even if they’re kind of dreadful) in the name of extreme fermentation experimentation.
The Great Eldorado BBQ, Blues & Brews Festival (June 2022)
El Dorado Resort Casino, 345 N. Virginia St., Reno
Each year, a collection of interconnected downtown casinos brings in 40-50 breweries, meaty ‘cue and two stages’ worth of blues acts for an all-out fest.
SUGGESTED LODGING
Reno-Sparks
Atlantis Casino Resort Spa (pictured above)
3800 S. Virginia St., Reno
Reno’s only AAA four-diamond and Forbes four-star-rated resort, this is a reliable recharge spot for high-rollers (or average craft-beer fans pooling their funds for their brewery-touring adventure).
Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
2500 E. 2nd St. Reno
Nugget Casino Resort
1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks
Reno Suites
175 E. 2nd St., Reno
Sands Regency Casino Hotel
345 N. Arlington Ave., Reno
Whitney Peak Hotel
255 N. Virginia St., Reno
Carson City
Staybridge Suites (pictured above)
972 Retail Ct
A recently debuted new-construction, all-suites hotel located in-between Shoe Tree Brewing and downtown’s main drag, which is home to Carson City’s other two local beer ops.
Holiday Inn Express
4055 N. Carson St.
Incline Village
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino
111 Country Club Dr.
All of the imagery included in this piece was provided by the businesses represented with the exception of Revision Brewing ad Lead Dog Brewing