cul8rv8
08-28-2008, 05:25 PM
Well, I was in Reno this past weekend, trying to make it around to all the brewpubs. There was more to this trip than just sampling all the beer, but that's another story for another day. :) I apologize for the book, but if you are interested, please read on. I actually only had about 1 or 2 beers at each establishment, and I'm not good with words when it comes to describing beers, so again, please forgive me. Just thought I would share a note or two about each brewpub we hit, kind of a quick trip report.
We drove from Vegas to Reno, what a haul. Luckily the annual Vegas to Reno off-road race was going on as we were driving up, so we were able to watch some of the racing action off in the desert along the freeway.
We get to Reno Friday night around 10:45 pm, and go to check in at the Eldorado. We were excited to stay here because there is a brewpub in the hotel/casino, Brew Brothers. Well, the hotel did not have our reservation, Travelocity's website somehow got our reservation as Oct 22nd rather than Aug 22nd. So we drive around trying to find an internet connection so I can get on my laptop and find a decently priced bed, that's all we were worrying about at the time. We end up at the Super 8 in Sparks. Outside of town, but it was nice enough, and the price was right.
So we check in at the Super 8 at around midnight, then we head to Great Basin Brewing Company. And they were closed. We were shocked. So the next closest place to just grab a beer or two was the Rail City Alehouse, located at the Rail City Casino in Sparks. They have their own labeled beers, the bartender told us who brewed them, but now I can't remember who it was. Back to the hotel and in bed by 4 am.
Next morning we were up around 9:30, down to the lobby for the continental breakfast, then off around 11. We stopped at Great Basin to start our day with a little hair of the dog. I really enjoyed the beers, they had a smoked rauchbier that the bartender said tastes like bacon. In my head I hear that dog treat commercial, "bacon?!?" So we get a sample, and sure enough, it smelled and tasted like bacon. It was so good! The bartender told us that the local smoker that smokes all of their bbq meats smoked the malt for them. I also had the wit, and really enjoyed it, they used more spice than the local brewpub I go to here in Vegas, and it was a wonderful taste, reminded me of the wit I made at home.
We left Great Basin with the intention of ending the long day there at night when the live band would be playing on the patio. We head south, then west to Lake Tahoe. We went to the northern side of the lake, then continued on up to Truckee, California, and hit Fifty Fifty Brewing for lunch around 1:00. Again, I had the wit, and again it was much spicier than I was used to, which is how I like my wit. My cousin had the IPA, and I had a swig and it was quite tastey as well. We each got a burger, and they were perfectly prepared. My only complaint was how expensive it was, for a total of 3 beers and 2 burgers, with tip it was $45. However, this is Truckee, and it is somewhat expensive up there.
We then headed back south past Lake Tahoe, then down the mountain and up the next to go to Virginia City, home of The Comstock Load. Really a neat town, weather was beutiful. We headed back down the mountain to stop at my cousins brother-in-laws house, then headed from there back to the hotel for a nap. This was around 6pm. Nap until 7, shower and clean up, and head to Silver Peak Grill and Taphouse downtown around 8:30. Here we grabbed a couple beers each, I had the Blackberry Ale, and it was an interesting taste. A little more fruity and sweet than I typically like, but the flavor was very good. I then had the wheat, and it was quite good as well. For food we got an order of the fried pickles, and they were some of the best fried pickles I've ever had. Then for a meal I had the barley crusted chicken sandwich. What a great taste this had!
We then headed from here back towards Great Basin. It was around 11:00, so we figured it would be perfect to have a few more beers, enjoy the live band, then only 2 exits over to our hotel. Well, we get there, and it's closed again. So we decide we aren't done for the evening, so we head back downtown, then hit Brew Brothers at the Eldorado.
All I can say about Brew Brothers is that it is definitely a brewpub in a casino. They had a live band playing, and the place was packed. The beers were sub-par, nothing exciting about them at all. They were too expensive as well. It was nearly $8 for two probably 10 oz beers in plastic cups. And one of the things we found out in the morning from the bartender at Great Basin, the brewery behind the glass at Brew Brothers is not used, they brew their beers elsewhere. Well, looking back there, it is all copper equipment, just a beutiful brewery. And to think it's all just for show. I see the computer controllers, everything, all for looks. So sad that this equipment isn't used.
Anyways, we finish up there and head back to the hotel, in bed by about 2:30am.
Next day, up at 9, checkout by 9:30 or so. We go to Peg's Glorified Ham and Egg's for breakfast. If you are in Reno, you HAVE to have breakfast here, it was some of the best breakfast I've ever had. We then headed to the UNR campus to just look around (this was part of the alternate reasons for going). We then headed to the bro-in-laws again to say goodbye, etc., then head down the highway to Carson City, and stop at Doppelgangers. The brewpub interior here was by far the best we had seen all trip, just a really nice layout. The beers were excellent, though sadly after all the beer and no sleep I can't remember what I had. Should have taken notes and written it down. As for food, all we had was an order of fries, so I can't comment on that.
Then we hit the road for the drive back to Vegas. All in all a really fun trip. Most disappointing thing, Great Basin closing so early both nights. Meanwhile there were about 2 or 3 bars right around it that were still hopping, so I don't understand why they closed so early.
We drove from Vegas to Reno, what a haul. Luckily the annual Vegas to Reno off-road race was going on as we were driving up, so we were able to watch some of the racing action off in the desert along the freeway.
We get to Reno Friday night around 10:45 pm, and go to check in at the Eldorado. We were excited to stay here because there is a brewpub in the hotel/casino, Brew Brothers. Well, the hotel did not have our reservation, Travelocity's website somehow got our reservation as Oct 22nd rather than Aug 22nd. So we drive around trying to find an internet connection so I can get on my laptop and find a decently priced bed, that's all we were worrying about at the time. We end up at the Super 8 in Sparks. Outside of town, but it was nice enough, and the price was right.
So we check in at the Super 8 at around midnight, then we head to Great Basin Brewing Company. And they were closed. We were shocked. So the next closest place to just grab a beer or two was the Rail City Alehouse, located at the Rail City Casino in Sparks. They have their own labeled beers, the bartender told us who brewed them, but now I can't remember who it was. Back to the hotel and in bed by 4 am.
Next morning we were up around 9:30, down to the lobby for the continental breakfast, then off around 11. We stopped at Great Basin to start our day with a little hair of the dog. I really enjoyed the beers, they had a smoked rauchbier that the bartender said tastes like bacon. In my head I hear that dog treat commercial, "bacon?!?" So we get a sample, and sure enough, it smelled and tasted like bacon. It was so good! The bartender told us that the local smoker that smokes all of their bbq meats smoked the malt for them. I also had the wit, and really enjoyed it, they used more spice than the local brewpub I go to here in Vegas, and it was a wonderful taste, reminded me of the wit I made at home.
We left Great Basin with the intention of ending the long day there at night when the live band would be playing on the patio. We head south, then west to Lake Tahoe. We went to the northern side of the lake, then continued on up to Truckee, California, and hit Fifty Fifty Brewing for lunch around 1:00. Again, I had the wit, and again it was much spicier than I was used to, which is how I like my wit. My cousin had the IPA, and I had a swig and it was quite tastey as well. We each got a burger, and they were perfectly prepared. My only complaint was how expensive it was, for a total of 3 beers and 2 burgers, with tip it was $45. However, this is Truckee, and it is somewhat expensive up there.
We then headed back south past Lake Tahoe, then down the mountain and up the next to go to Virginia City, home of The Comstock Load. Really a neat town, weather was beutiful. We headed back down the mountain to stop at my cousins brother-in-laws house, then headed from there back to the hotel for a nap. This was around 6pm. Nap until 7, shower and clean up, and head to Silver Peak Grill and Taphouse downtown around 8:30. Here we grabbed a couple beers each, I had the Blackberry Ale, and it was an interesting taste. A little more fruity and sweet than I typically like, but the flavor was very good. I then had the wheat, and it was quite good as well. For food we got an order of the fried pickles, and they were some of the best fried pickles I've ever had. Then for a meal I had the barley crusted chicken sandwich. What a great taste this had!
We then headed from here back towards Great Basin. It was around 11:00, so we figured it would be perfect to have a few more beers, enjoy the live band, then only 2 exits over to our hotel. Well, we get there, and it's closed again. So we decide we aren't done for the evening, so we head back downtown, then hit Brew Brothers at the Eldorado.
All I can say about Brew Brothers is that it is definitely a brewpub in a casino. They had a live band playing, and the place was packed. The beers were sub-par, nothing exciting about them at all. They were too expensive as well. It was nearly $8 for two probably 10 oz beers in plastic cups. And one of the things we found out in the morning from the bartender at Great Basin, the brewery behind the glass at Brew Brothers is not used, they brew their beers elsewhere. Well, looking back there, it is all copper equipment, just a beutiful brewery. And to think it's all just for show. I see the computer controllers, everything, all for looks. So sad that this equipment isn't used.
Anyways, we finish up there and head back to the hotel, in bed by about 2:30am.
Next day, up at 9, checkout by 9:30 or so. We go to Peg's Glorified Ham and Egg's for breakfast. If you are in Reno, you HAVE to have breakfast here, it was some of the best breakfast I've ever had. We then headed to the UNR campus to just look around (this was part of the alternate reasons for going). We then headed to the bro-in-laws again to say goodbye, etc., then head down the highway to Carson City, and stop at Doppelgangers. The brewpub interior here was by far the best we had seen all trip, just a really nice layout. The beers were excellent, though sadly after all the beer and no sleep I can't remember what I had. Should have taken notes and written it down. As for food, all we had was an order of fries, so I can't comment on that.
Then we hit the road for the drive back to Vegas. All in all a really fun trip. Most disappointing thing, Great Basin closing so early both nights. Meanwhile there were about 2 or 3 bars right around it that were still hopping, so I don't understand why they closed so early.