Beer Fests, Oktoberfest Celebrations and Beer Dinners

  The cooler fall temps offer a much needed respite from Nevada’s summer heat. Fortunately for us, a handful of fests and Oktoberfest celebrations will take place during the months of October and November, offering pleasant opportunities to enjoy our beer. The Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas will host its second annual Fall Beer Festival with a two- day event on Oct. 14 & 15. On Friday, from 7-10 p.m., the All American Craft Beer Tasting will offer the opportunity to sample more than 120 craft beers, along with appetizers and live music. Cost is $50 plus tax and service fee. The next day will feature an Oktoberfest party with an authentic German band performing at the Golden Nugget’s spectacular pool and shark aquarium. There’s free admission to this event and more than 200 beers will be available for purchase from 3-9 p.m. At press time some of the breweries that had already confirmed included Ommegang, Alaskan, Rogue, Deschutes, Dogfish Head, Lagunitas, Stone, New Belgium, Sam Adams, Deschutes, Paulaner, Magic Hat, Kona and local breweries Tenaya Creek and Big Dog’s Brewing. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call (702) 386-8100 or visit <www.goldennugget.com/LasVegas/fallbeerfest.asp >.

  In Reno, 775 Gastropub continues to host bi-monthly beer dinners. Next up is a pairing of the barrel-fermented creations of Firestone Walker on Oct. 20 ($50), followed by a feature of the Danish brews of Mikkeller on Dec. 8 ($65). To reserve, call 775-828-0775. Buckbean Brewing Company is sponsoring the third annual international beer judging and tasting for canned beer, CANFEST, on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. Held at the Silver Legacy Resort & Casino in Reno, this event is the largest tasting of strictly canned beer in the world. This fest grows larger each year, especially in the variety of beer styles that are now available in cans. There’s no question canned beer is gaining acceptance; according to the CraftCans.com database more than 130 microbreweries are currently canning at least one of their beers. Winners of a judged canned beer competition will be announced the night before at an awards ceremony and beer pairing dinner with (you probably guessed) canned beer. The Silver Legacy is offering a room rate of $79.99 for each night, Friday & Saturday. For more information on CANFEST, contact Constance Aguilar at constance@abbipr.com or call (775) 323-2977.

  Also on November 12, down in Southern Nevada, the Brew’s Best Hand-Crafted Beer Festival will run from 1 to 6 p.m. at The Village at Lake Las Vegas. This will be an opportunity to sample brews from more than 20 local and regional breweries, with a total of around 75 beers available. Cost is $25 in advance or $30 at the gate. The Village is located 17 miles east of the Vegas Strip, and just a few miles from the entrance to Lake Mead National Recreational Area.

Good Bye to Rosemary’s

  I’m sad to report that Rosemary’s Restaurant, a Las Vegas fine-dining mainstay for a dozen years, has closed. One of the first restaurants in Las Vegas to serve an upscale beer list, Rosemary’s hosted quarterly beer pairing dinners over the past decade. The restaurant won numerous accolades and was voted the 4th best beer restaurant in North America in the CBN Writer’s Poll.

New Head Brewers

  Two Southern Nevada breweries have new head brewers. Jeff “Bubba” Amos has been promoted to head brewer at Barley’s after serving as assistant brewer at both Barley’s and Gordon Biersch. Just down the road at Joseph James Brewing, Alex Graham, a native Las Vegan, has also been promoted from assistant brewer to head brewer and has brought on Matt Breen as assistant brewer. Both Alex and Matt have been very active in the local homebrew club (SNAFU), and have numerous award-winning brews under their belts.

What’s on Tap in Southern Nevada

  In October Todd Cook at Boulder Dam Brewing will tap his Oktoberfest Marzen, using German Munich, Vienna and Belgian Biscuit malts and German Herschbrucker and Tettnanger hops with 26 IBUs and 5.5% abv. He’ll follow it up with his newest hoppy critter, a star jasmine IPA. Inspired by the scent of all the star jasmine at his house, it’s finished with over four pounds of star jasmine flowers and is is hopped with Northern Brewer, Willamette and Centennial.

  At Triple 7 Brewpub at Main Street Station, Matt Marino will help get us into the season with a pumpkin spice ale brewed with real roasted pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice. Matt will also have a 9% abv double IPA with the powerful Zeus, Centennial and Falconers Flight hops. Dave Pascual at Chicago Brewing Company is bringing back his Chocolate Coconut Porter using all organic chocolate and coconut. Dave reports his brewery is on pace to produce 1,300 barrels this year. In addition to the brewpub, his beers are served downtown at Benny’s Bull Pen Sports Bar at Binion’s and at 4 Queens Casino; and at a handful of the Magoo’s and Loose Caboose outlets around the Vegas Valley.

  Richard Lovelady at Gordon Biersch has brewed his annual Festbier, an unfiltered modern day interpretation of an Oktoberfest lager, along with Gordon Biersch’s first ever India Pale Ale that weighs in at 6.5% abv and a record setting (for G.B.) 64 IBUs. Tenaya Creek is helping celebrate the season with itsOktoberfest Lager, packaged in a 22 oz. bottle. Also new to the market is its Tandem, a 9% abv well-rounded and easy to drink double IPA. Both are easily found in retail stores with a decent craft selection.

More Great Beer on the Vegas Strip

  The latest beer nugget I’ve unearthed on the Vegas Strip is Holsteins at the Cosmopolitan. The name pays homage to the bovine species, and gourmet burgers hold top billing. In fact, they are the best I’ve experienced, and I’ve dined at all of the gourmet burger joints in Vegas. Complimenting the burgers are 120 bottled and 24 draft beers, giving Holstein’s one of the largest selections on the Strip. The list is indeed stellar, with gems like Dogfish Head Midas Touch, Bosteels Triple Karmeliet, The Bruery Rugbrød, and local brews Tenaya Creek Hop Ride IPA and Joseph James Red Fox Stout. Bar manager Russ Gardner is responsible for the beer selection and as a certified cicerone (beer sommelier) is adept at suggesting beers to pair with your menu choices. Russ knows more than a few things about beer and brewing, and is in fact the owner/brewer of Backyard Brewing. Members of SNAFU (the local homebrew club) receive 50% off on all drafts and 20% off on bottles every day except for Friday, Saturday and Monday. As always, great beer happens in Nevada!

Bob Barnes is a native Nevadan and is celebrating his 12th anniversary as a regional correspondent for the Celebrator Beer News. He welcomes your inquiries and is standing by to assist you in your Nevada beer quest. He can be reached via e-mail at LVBobB@juno.com.