A Guide to the Best Las Vegas Breweries
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Las Vegas may be a gambling and entertainment destination, but it's also emerging as a craft-brewing hotspot. In fact, the scene is expanding so rapidly that in mid 2021 the city established its very own Brewery Row, a concentration of breweries and restaurants in the city’s Downtown Arts District, which hosts festivals and events monthly.
Wyndee Forrest, president of the Nevada Craft Brewers Association and co-owner of CraftHaus Brewery, loves the community feel of the Arts District and the recent changes to the area made by the city. “Within the footprint of Brewery Row, the city has offered incentives for breweries and craft beer-focused locations to move in, which includes improved parking,” she says. “We all complement each other, and we’re proud of what we have created.”
Forrest successfully lobbied for breweries in her state, helping to change licensing options and make it more realistic for breweries to open. Combined with a new mindset in response to the pandemic, this has sparked a movement of support for local breweries in Las Vegas. Here are the ones to check out on your next visit to Sin City.
CraftHaus Brewing
Inspired by Bavaria’s craft beer culture, husband and wife team Wyndee and Dave Forrest opened CraftHaus in Henderson, Nevada, seven years ago and added a second taproom on what would become Brewery Row in 2019. With local artwork lining the walls, CraftHaus offers a rotating selection of two dozen seasonal beers, including lagers, sours, and IPAs. Forrest suggests one of her favorites: Czech Plz, a crisp, unfiltered pilsner made only with ingredients sourced from Prague and served in a dimple mug. As she succinctly puts it, “Beer is art in liquid form.”
Able Baker Brewing
Named after Able and Baker, the first two atomic bombs detonated at the Nevada Test Site in 1946, Able Baker Brewing pays homage to the Atomic Age with clever artwork and decor. Pull up to one of the long wooden tables and order their signature beer, a citrus-forward IPA called the Atomic Duck. (Legend has it that a duck was the only animal to survive the blasts.) AD Kitchen, which is located inside Able Baker, serves classic pub favorites that incorporate Southeast Asian flavors. Pair a pint of Vertical Smoke Trails, a Scottish-style ale with cherrywood- and mesquite-smoked malt, with an order of diablo shrimp tacos or a beer-battered fish po’boy.
HUDL Brewing Company
Serving strictly beer and with a goal of pleasing every palate, HUDL Brewing Company encourages friends both old and new to bond over their love of beer. Enjoy a flight that includes the Vanilla Oak Cream Ale, a staple on the evolving beer menu, or try a pint of the High Hatter Hefe on Pineapple, a traditional German hefeweizen with a Hawaiian twist. Better yet, grab a spot on the outdoor patio and pair your beers with beef tri-tip or pork spareribs from neighboring Soulbelly BBQ, which was opened this spring by Top Chef contestant Bruce Kalman.
Nevada Brew Works
One of the few breweries that is open to all ages and also dog-friendly, Nevada Brew Works features a selection of beers on tap, from a Schwartzbier dark lager to a lemon drop saison. Guests can order from a cocktail menu and full kitchen which serves brick-oven pizzas and a variety of burgers. Sharing both a building and a vision, owners Jason and Lauren Taylor joined forces with HUDL to create a tribute beer to their daughter, who was born with cerebral palsy. For every sale of the Ariana Rye, a rye India pale ale, the brewery will make a donation to the foundation that was set up in her honor. They also feature a new beer each month that sponsors a child with a life-altering disability, donating a portion of proceeds to the family.
Beer District Brewing
Beer District Brewing opened in March 2020, right before the pandemic forced Nevada businesses to shut down. Despite that, it has managed to stay in operation, in part to the tenacity of their head brewer, Jimmy Doyle, who now runs the entire brewing operation himself. Top sellers include Heaven is Helles, a clean German lager, and Captain Haze, a New England–style IPA with mosaic, citra, and sabro hops. CocoNillaCan, an imperial stout made with toasted coconut, roasted pecans, and 200 Madagascar vanilla beans, is another favorite. Check their calendar of events for activities such as trivia nights and calligraphy workshops.
Tenaya Creek Brewery
With over two decades in business, the family-owned Tenaya Creek Brewery originally opened as a fine-dining restaurant with a stellar wine list and freshly brewed craft beer. After outgrowing its previous location, it moved into a new location in the Arts District. About half of their 28 handles are house brews (like the Craft Pilsner and Gypsy Fade IPA), and the others are from neighboring microbreweries. Join founder Jim Etter in celebrating the brewery’s 22nd anniversary in November with exclusive event beers and live music.
The Front Yard at Ellis Island Casino & Brewery
A two-story indoor/outdoor beer garden outside Brewer's Row, The Front Yard features a second-floor atrium with unobstructed views of the Las Vegas Strip and Instagram-worthy garden walls. Front Yard serves over a dozen beers on tap that were brewed on-site, and the menu features items such as house-cured bacon and brisket. Select from small-batch Ellis Island brews like Bonfire Rauchbier, a Bamberg-style Maerzen blend. Live entertainment ranges from local acts to headliners and special events, and because this is Raider Nation you can also enjoy game day specials and special drinks such as the Silver & Black, a Jameson and lemon juice concoction. Wander into the casino and try your luck at the slots, gaming tables, or sports book wagering.
Trustworthy Brewing Company
The first and only craft brewery on the Las Vegas Strip, Trustworthy Brewing Company—which has a second location in Burbank—is located at the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian. After a day of retail therapy, you can find a seat at their raised bar, which is surrounded by stainless steel tanks filled with their on-site brews, or enjoy a round of skeeball or shuffleboard. Smoked beef brisket and chicken schnitzel accompany favorites like the Trustworthy IPA or T-Shirt Weather, a hoppy continental pilsner. To further your knowledge, book a brewery tour to learn the process and history of beer-making.
