Las Vegas Microbreweries
Posted: Thursday, February 26, 2009
by Ken Hattaway
Seasoned Las Vegas gamblers know that a free drink is only as far away as the nearest waitress. Casino patrons making wagers either large or small can get a variety of libations, including bottled beer, without leaving the comfort zone of their favorite machine or table.
But what if a freshly brewed adult beverage were more than simply an afterthought? Where would a visitor to Las Vegas go for, say, a good quality beer? Better yet, where do locals gather to hoist a pint or two, and perhaps also enjoy a tasty bite?
Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas is a replica of the Hofbrauhaus in Munich and comes complete with festive beer hall and air-conditioned beer garden. The music and menu as well as towers, windows, balconies and even the roof tiles of the 1589 original have all been replicated.
The three versions of microbrewed Bavarian brews available here in Las Vegas are the Hofbrau Original, which has a slightly bitter flavor; Munchner Kindl Weissbier, a light-colored beer brewed with wheat; and Hofbrau Dunkel, a sweet, dark brew. Seasonal beers Maibock and Oktoberfestbier are available in April and October, respectively.
For anyone bringing along a healthy appetite, menu items include authentic German bratwurst, schnitzel and brotzeitteler.
The Hofbrauhaus Wurstplatte Vienna Style Frankfurters are especially good. Lighter fare such as salads and fish are available as well.
Live entertainment breaks out on stage every night. Las Vegas patrons are free to sing along, stomping their feet in time to the beat or proposing toasts to others in the vicinity.
Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas is located on Paradise and Harmon, across from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino located at 4510 Paradise Road. For more on this microbrewery, call (702) 853-BEER.
Barley's Casino and Brewing Company. Barley's has the distinction of being the first microbrewery in Henderson, located just outside Las Vegas, and has done a solid job of quenching thirsts for over a decade now.
Sunset Pale Ale is Barley's first America-style beer; it's light in color with a citrus palate.
Meanwhile, the Blue Diamond is a lager, which means a more robust malt flavor. And for anyone concerned about waistlines, the brewery's Neon Light comes with only 4.6 cards and around 95 calories per serving. The Las Vegas establishment also serves Red Rock, Black Mountain, Brew Master Select and Boulder Gold Hefeweizen.
Want to bring home a sample or two? Brews-to-go are available in five- and 15-gallon kegs. Orders can be placed at (702) 458-BREW, Ext. 206.
The Vegas-favorite establishment's Brew Pub Bar and Lounge serves handmade pizzas, calzones and favorite breakfast picks.
Barley's is located in the Green Valley Town Center, east of Green Valley Parkway at 4500 E. Sunset Road, Henderson, NV. The telephone number is (702) 458-2739.
Big Dog's Brewing Company. In June 1988, siblings Tom and George Wiesner, who hail from Wisconsin, opened the Draft House, a place known for its hospitality and a favorite of Cheeseheads, as Green Bay Packers football fans are known. Now, more than two decades later, a 3,300-square-foot addition houses a 1,500-barrel microbrewery system.
Microbrews on tap include Holy Cow! Original Pale Ale, an award-winning American offering; Leglifter Light, a light lager with a full-bodied taste; Dirty Dog I.P.A., a stronger pale ale; Black Lab Stout, a dark beer brewed with nine different malts, roasted barley and hints of coffee and cocoa; Big Dog's Real Draft; Red Hydrant Ale; Tailwagger Wheat; and various brewmaster's specials.
The pub restaurant is a great destination for bratwurst, ribs, walleye pike and other tasty Midwestern indulgences.
Big Dog's Brewing Company, open 24/7, is located at 4543 N. Rancho. Call (702) 940-2739.
Gordon Biersch. Dan Gordon and Dean Biersch first met in 1987, immediately hit it off and partnered to hammer out the details of a spot offering great beer and fine meals. The first Gordon Biersch brewery restaurant opened in California a year later. Today, sister outlet scan be found in Hawaii, Arizona, Washington and microbrewery-friendly Las Vegas.
The microbrewery's Blond Bock is a medium-hopped beer with a rich flavor, and its most popular beer, a Marzen, is a mildly sweet lager. The pilsner is a crisp, golden, highly hopped lager. In addition, Gordon Biersch also has a Hefeweizen and a light, while the company's Dunkles and Golden Export are served only in the restaurant.
Brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays until 3 p.m. and lunch and dinner are available daily. Menu items include Cajun pasta; roasted garlic and chicken pizza; bistro fillet and crab-stuffed shrimp; and barbecued salmon. Desserts include banana split cheesecake with toasted almonds and fresh berry puree, and warm apple bread pudding with vanilla ice cream and sticky-bun caramel sauce.
Gordon Biersch is located at 3987 Paradise Road. The telephone number for this microbrewery is (702) 312-5247.
Monte Carlo Pub and Brewery. With it expansive layout and arched ceiling, this spacious microbrewery brewpub is downright relaxing even amid the din or multiple televisions placed throughout. Microbrew customers can unwind and not feel claustrophobic, especially around lunchtime. The lace becomes livelier on weekend nights, with the occasional band cranking up the volume. It's both flashy and fun, a great combination.
All of the beer is brewed on-site and includes High Roller Red, an amber ale marked with caramel and toffee; Las Vegas Lites, a light lager with smooth flavor and a dry finish; and Silver State Stout, a traditional Irish stout composed of imported and domestic barely. Other brews include Winners' Wheat and Jackpot Pale.
Food selections from the menu lean toward standard bar fare with generous portions of nachos, salads , sandwiches, wraps, pizza, pasta and short ribs. The Monte Carlo Pub and Brewery is located inside the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino at 3770 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Call (702) 730-7777.
Triple 7 Restaurant and Microbrewery. With its mounted television sets near the back, Triple 7 has the look and feel of an upscale sports bar. Fans regularly huddle up to cheer on their favorite teams as they soak up mug after mug of award-winning beer. Triple 7 is one of the few major properties in downtown Las Vegas where you can imbibe without sitting inside a clamoring casino.
The beers, named after gambling terms, include High Roller Gold, Royal Red Lager, Market Pale Ale, Blackchip Porter Triple 7's featured brew of the month. The Graveyard Special, available midnight to 7 a.m., is a 16-ounce microbrew for $1.
Menu selections include mouthwatering appetizers, handmade pizza, savory sandwiches, succulent ribs, pleasing pasta, desserts and fresh seafood from the sushi bar at lunch and dinner. Recommended snack: garlic fries. Triple 7 Restaruant and Microwbrewery is located at 200 N. Main St., Main Street Station. The telephone number is (702) 387-1896.
Tenaya Creek Restaurant and Brewery. The Etter family first opened the doors to Tenaya Creek Restaurant and Brewery in November 1999. Their goal: high-quality food and drink in their neighborhood. They succeeded. The atmosphere is airy and casual, and the service is quite friendly.
Their beer choices at this microbrewery include a pilsner, a Hefeweizen, a nut brown ale, a Kolsch, Ringtail Ale and Winter Solstice Barleywine. Be careful with the latter, it's potent. Alcohol content is a reported 9.2% by volume, more along the lines of wine than the average beer.
The antithesis of the Winter Solstice Barleywine is the brewery's rich, creamy root beer, which may add an extra calorie or two to your system, but the smooth taste and cunning flavor more than make up for this.
If you're into appetizers, the fresh crab cakes, served with green onion aioli, fresh cucumbers and avocado, and Tenaya spring rolls, strips of filet mignon and vegetables served with orange chili glaze and soy sauce, are hard to beat. The Brew Master's Top Sirloin, a grilled, eight-ounce, USDA-choice baseball-cut steak topped with black forest mushroom sauce and truffle oil, is a Las Vegas microbrewery winner, as well.
Located at 3101 N. Tenaya Way. For more information, call (702) 362-7335.
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