Sip These Suds

Las Vegas is not the beer desert it once was

By Bob Barnes

While few would describe Las Vegas as a beer destination, the Entertainment Capital of the World is certainly not the beer desert it once was. Much of the growth in the proliferation of craft beer has occurred in the past 10 years and the pandemic had a positive side effect of solidifying and increasing support for local breweries. Here is a sampling of half of Southern Nevada’s 18 breweries.

Able Baker

The most prolific of the four breweries in the Arts District, the name is derived from the code words for the first two atomic bombs detonated at the Nevada Test Site in the 1950s. Head Brewer Matt Marino is quite skilled. Keeping with the atomic theme, their best-selling beer is the Atomic Duck IPA and the 30+ tap handles are topped with the iconic ducks. Many styles are offered, such as Mango Calutron Girl Hefeweizen and the potent 11.1% Honey Dip Imperial Stout. 1510 S Main, ablebakerbrewing.com

Big Dog’s Draft House

The OG of Las Vegas breweries, this Wisconsin and dog-themed brewpub on Rancho near Craig was the first to open as Holy Cow! in 1992. It was renamed Big Dog’s in 2003 in honor of founder Tom “Big Dog” Wiesner. It has earned more major brewing competition medals than any other Southern Nevada brewery, and its Head Brewer, Dave Pascual, more than any brewer in Nevada. Its taps pour 50 Big Dog’s brews (the most of any local brewpub). Many beers sport dog-themed names, such as Dirty Dog IPA, Black Lab Stout and Tripel Dog Dare. 4543 N Rancho Dr., bigdogsbrews.com

Beer Zombies/Tenaya Creek

After contract brewing his popular Beer Zombies beers for over a decade, Owner/Founder Chris Jacobs purchased the Tenaya Creek Brewery on Bonanza Rd. near MLK Blvd in late 2023 and merged it with his brand known for its creative label artwork and hoppy beers. He wisely retained Tenaya’s extremely skilled brewer, Anthony Gibson, and you’ll still find Tenaya Creek’s core beers pouring, such as Bonanza Brown Ale and 702 Pale Ale, alongside Beer Zombies brews covering a wide range of styles, like Boomstick Blonde and Zombie Duck Hunter IPA. 831 W Bonanza Rd., thebeerzombies.com

BrewDog

The only brewery on the Vegas Strip, this location of the Scotland-based brewery chain is situated on the third and fourth floors of the Showcase Mall and is the largest, spanning 30,000 sq. ft. with a capacity for 1,300 people. In addition to popular beers such as the crowd-pleasing Elvis Juice IPA brewed at BrewDog’s production brewery in Ohio, a small 10-barrel system is utilized to brew seasonals by Weston Barkley. His creations include Scrummy, an English-style porter and Hops with a View, a 7.1% Hazy IPA brewed with Mosaic and Cashmere hops. 3767 Las Vegas Blvd S., drink.brewdog.com

Chicago Brewing Company

One of the oldest Vegas brewpubs serving the Summerlin, Lakes and Peccole Ranch areas, you won’t be able to miss the neon signs perched on the front and side of the building, modeled after those outside the Chicago Theater on State Street. Beers by Head Brewer JP Chavarria pour 24/7 including year-round beers All Nighter Golden Ale and Old Town Brown Ale, and the GABF medal-winning 9.7% Quad Damn-It! Belgian Quad. 2201 S Fort Apache Rd., chicagobrewinglv.com

Evolve Brewing

This newly opened 9,000-square-foot brewery by Aces & Ales is one of the first establishments to debut at The Bend on Sunset near Durango. Head Brewer Josh Kunzli is an experienced brewer with a chemical engineering degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. His specialty is hoppy beers and we can expect to find both West Coast and Hazy IPAs, a Mexican Lager, a Czech Pilsner and a rotating fruited sour. 8680 W Sunset Rd., evolvebrew.com

HUDL Brewing Company

The name is a shortening of huddle, denoting a community getting together for a good time. Award-winning Head Brewer Joe Cuozzo offers easy-drinking beers like the 5.5% High Hatter Pineapple Hefe with sweetness from added pineapple puree and clean and crisp 4.2% Super Mini American Lager. But this Arts District brewery has also become known for its bold creations, like the GABF gold medal-winner 10% Soul of a Star Wheat Wine, brewed with 50% red wheat, and the 10.5% 115° Imperial Stout with dark chocolate and light roast character. 1327 S Main St #100, hudlbrewing.com

Las Vegas Brewing Company

This brewery on Tenaya near Cheyenne has the distinction of being the only brewery in Southern Nevada with an all-female brewing team: Head Brewer Amanda Koeller and Assistant Brewer Becca Halpin, who brew crowd favorites including Chantilly Vanilla Cream Ale, Penny O’Reilly’s Irish Ale and Electric Blonde Ale. One of the owners, Jamie Dolder, is a 4th generation native Las Vegan. It’s fitting that a recurring seasonal beer is the IYKYK (if you know, you know), and IPAs with backstories any longtime Las Vegan would know and remember. 3101 N Tenaya Wy., lvbrewco.com

Nevadan Brewing

Situated within Sagos Tavern on Fort Apache just north of Tropicana, a small 3.5-barrel system is in full view inside the restaurant and bar. The spanking new brewery is a partnership with Brewer Adam Cegavske and Sagos Tavern Owner Jason Godfrey, longtime friends who were both born and raised in Las Vegas and have training in professional brewing. The Tavern will initially pour four to six taps of the brewery’s beer, such as NZNV, a 4.8% single-hop Pale Ale brewed with New Zealand Nectaron hops, and Hazy NV, a 5.2% Hazy IPA. 4790 S Fort Apache, sagostavern.com