Vegas Homebrew opened in October, and after a two year wait, Las Vegans once again have a local homebrew shop. Owner Steve Berg formerly worked in pharmaceutical sales and is a recent transplant from Oregon. Steve said, “This is my retirement job. I love Las Vegas and love nothing more than talking to people about beer.” I watched Steve in action and can attest that he is very patient with his customers and extremely knowledgeable about brewing. The store has all supplies needed for homebrewing or winemaking and appears to be off to a great start; the day I visited there was a never ending stream of customers. The shop is open every day but Monday, and is centrally located and easy to spot at 5140 W. Charleston, two blocks west of Decatur.

  The Joseph James Brewing Company is now open. The family-owned microbrewery is located in Henderson (suburb of Las Vegas) and is producing beer in kegs and bottles on a seven BBL STI system and 20 BBL Bohemian system. Sales and Marketing Director Matthew Lisowski’s family has been in the beer distribution business for many years. They decided to begin producing their own, as they saw a demand for specific craft beer products that were not being met by their suppliers in Nevada. Matt said, “We decided to start the brewery with the intention of making a Russian Imperial Stout, a Belgium Wit, and a gluten free beer. Whole Foods Market has had an influence on the creation of our gluten free. As a distributor I also met Adam Carmer, owner of the Freakin’ Frog in Las Vegas; we have become good friends and have a cooperative agreement to produce specialty draft beer for his bars and restaurants.”

  Head brewer Jon Christiansen is a graduate of the Siebel Brewing Academy, apprenticed in Belgium and Germany and was a brewer at Water Street Brewing in Milwaukee. A sampling of his initial offerings are: Alpine Wit-Belgian-style Wit brewed with hints of sweet orange peel and coriander; Fox Tail Gluten Free-made from sorghum with a prominent hop bitterness; Red Fox Russian Imperial Stout-heavy dark stout with sweet chocolate, coffee, and vanilla; and Freakin’ Frog Apple-Belgian-style Wit with hints of sweet and bitter green apple.  

  Due to a six-month exclusive contract, the bottled beers are only available for retail sale at Whole Foods Markets throughout Las Vegas and Arizona, but on-premise draft and bottle accounts are spreading throughout Southern Nevada with Freakin’ Frog being one of the first to carry it. Although there won’t be a tasting bar until July, the brewery is open for tours. James Joseph is located at 155 N. Gibson Rd. just north of the 215 freeway. To arrange a tour, call 702-454-2739.

  Unless you’ve had your head buried in the snow, you’ve probably heard about the 10 inches of the white stuff that fell on Southern Nevada the week before Christmas. A casualty of the winter storm was the beer garden at Boulder Dam Brewing Company. The weight of the snowfall was more than the surrounding trees could handle, creating a domino effect that all but demolished the only outdoor beer garden in Southern Nevada. Owner/Brewmaster Todd Cook reports it should be rebuilt in time for their St. Patrick’s Day bash, which will feature live bagpipe music, a raffle, prizes, and food & drink specials. On Saturday, February 21, the brewery will celebrate its 2nd anniversary with festivities beginning at 7:00, but it’s recommended you arrive by 6 if you want a table.

  Utah’s Uinta Brewing Company celebrates its 15th anniversary of brewing in February. As always, the XV Anniversary Barley Wine will commemorate the occasion, but Uinta’s Four + line will also release Hive, a honey-stung ale with a hint of honey from the Beehive State.

  Vegas brewers continue to toil while bringing us unique creations. Dave Otto at Big Dog’s Brewing Co. has brewed a Bourbon Barrel Stout, aged 100 days in the wood, that’s due out sometime in March. In February he will release the last remaining 1/4 barrel of his 18-month old Moon Dog Barley Wine. Another interesting brew should be his Hodgepodge Ale, which Dave tells me was created from several odd half-full bags of malt and hops. Dave adds, “It has no real style, but is dark amber, rather hoppy and weighs in at 7.2% ABV.” At Gordon Biersch, Richard Lovelady will bring out an Altbier on Feb. 9, and his much anticipated Maibock on April 9. Todd Cook at Boulder Dam Brewing is brewing Reclamation Amber, a mellow malty amber, bittered and flavored with Hallertau and East Kent Goldings hops. At Tenaya Creek Brewery, Anthony Gibson has been aging a Belgian-Style Tripel in a French oak wine barrel. Aged since July, he is hoping to release it in February.  Tenaya’s brews are becoming easier to find all over town, with the latest new account being the Orleans Casino, where Tenaya’s Nut Brown Ale is on tap.

  The latest beer nugget I’ve unearthed is LBS: A Burger Joint, located in the Red Rock Casino. The beer menu is a well-rounded representation of beer styles with three dozen highly quaffable brews. Stand-outs are Anchor Steam, Unibroue’s Ephemere, Sierra Nevada Seasonal Ale, locally-brewed Tenaya Creek Pilsner, Chimay Blue, Triple Karmeliet, Wells Banana Bread Beer, Firestone Pale Ale, Flying Dog Doggie Style Pale Ale, New Belgium Mothership Wit, MacTarnahan’s Black Watch Cream Porter and Speakeasy White Lightning. While you’re there, be sure to try one of their gourmet burgers, which are colossal ½ pounders made with beef dry-aged for 21 days, giving the beef a decidedly steak-like flavor. LBS is open daily from 11:30 a.m. and is located in the Red Rock Casino at Charleston and the 215. As always, good beer happens in Vegas!

Vegas Homebrew
5140 W. Charleston Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89146
702-207-BEER
www.vegashomebrew.com

Joseph James Brewing Company
155 N. Gibson Rd.
Henderson, NV 89014
702-454-2739
www.foxbrews.com

LBS: A Burger Joint @ Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa
1011 W. Charleston Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89135
702-835-9393
http://lbsburger.com

About the author...
Bob Barnes is a native Las Vegan, and is celebrating his 10th anniversary as a regional correspondent for the Celebrator Beer News. He welcomes your inquiries and is standing by to assist you in your Vegas beer quest. He can be reached via e-mail at LVBobB@juno.com.

*This article is published in the Celebrator Beer News - February/March 2009 Issue