Beer in Vegas

Got back from a four day Las Vegas trip recently... didn't get a chance to visit the local microbreweries, but I thought I'd give a brief report on the state of beer in the big strip casino/hotels:

We stayed at New York New York. They have a cool (if touristy...of course) "Irish pub" called Nine Fine Irishmen. I had the fish and chips. It was passable. Guinness and a few others on tap. Nothing very special, but the atmosphere was nice.

New York New York has bottled New Belgium Fat Tire, nothing else worth drinking. And I'm not really a fan of Fat Tire either, but it's better than BMC.

Paris, Bally's, and Planet Hollywood have Sam Adams.

Caesar's has an outdoor bar out front that has Rogue Hazelnut Brown! It's like ten bucks, but it was very good. I'm not a huge Rogue fan, but I really liked this one. Especially after untold numbers of Sam Adams.

That's pretty much it... but I was glad to see that just about everywhere I went, I could at the very least get a Sam Adams.

You really need to get out while you are in Vegas. They have some pretty good beers in that town. Ellis Island makes a couple, not spectacular but different. There is the 777 at Main Street Station downtown, there is Chicago brewery, they have a small bar setup at the 4 Queens downtown. Hit up the 777 during happy hr, 3-7 mon-fri and you can get a nize buzz on for cheap, I like their IPA when they make it, but their Pale Ale is pretty good too. They are also doing some specialty stuff now, tried a generic Belgian Ale there in July.
AP

Yeah, I had plans to visit the Freakin' Frog and a couple other places, but we didn't make it out for any beer side-trips. Next time.

New York New York also has Pour 24 - 24 American Craft beers on tap. Here is a list:

ON DRAUGHT
Abita Purple Haze
Alaskan Amber
Original Sin Cider
Adam’s Apple Ale
Big Sky IPA
Big Sky Moose Drool
Newcastle Brown Ale
Firestone Pale Ale
Wailua Wheat
Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat
Primo Island Lager
Sin City Amber
Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
Blue Moon Seasonal
Pyramid Hefeweizen
Deschutes Black Butte Porter
New Belgium 1554
New Belgium Fat Tire
New Belgium Mothership Wit
Sam Adams Seasonal
Rogue Dead Guy Ale
Rogue Shakespeare Stout
Stone Ruination
Stone Arrogant Bastard

They also do beer flights, and have bottles as well.

Cheers!

KMEichhorn said:

New York New York also has Pour 24 - 24 American Craft beers on tap.

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Yeah, not sure how you could stay at NY NY and be looking for good beer and not find that place...it's on the mezzanine overlooking the casino, right at the top of the escalator. I went there multiple times every day when I was in Vegas, and wasn't even staying at NY NY.

I saw an ad for that place but didn't even realize it was in New York New York! Didn't make it up to the mezzanine somehow.

One of the things I like to do in Las Vegas is search out the beer and drink specials. Since I usually stay downtown and take the Deuce (city bus) when I go to the strip, I don't have to worry about drinking and driving. Most of the 1 and 2 dollar specials consist of BMC bottles or drafts and short shots of Jack or such. Great for keeping cool while hiking the canyon (strip). Be careful at the Sahara, you can get plowed for less than 20 bucks there. Happy hour at 777 Brewery, pints of their own brews for 2 bucks.
AP

Anyone been to the Yardhouse? Supposedly the world's biggest selection of draft beers.

Stickshaker said:

Anyone been to the Yardhouse? Supposedly the world's biggest selection of draft beers.

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That place is a joke.

I just got back from Vegas as well. Best beer bar I ran into was "Burger Bar" 24 different taps and only one was BMC.

The burgers were fantastic. Definitely in my top 10 ever.

B

carnevoodoo said:

That place is a joke.

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How so? I'm going in march, and don't want to waste any precious drinking time...

Avoid the place with 100 taps. You have no idea how old the beer might be on the other side of the handle. I say again, 777 Brewery inside of Main Street Station makes some pretty darn good beers. Do a search, they are out there. The whole brewery is behind glass and if you are the inquisitive type the guys brewing will talk with you, if they happen to be brewing when you are there. 2 dollar imperial pints during happy hour.
AP

I like burger bar. Good selection, and the bartenders are knowledgeable and passionate about beer. Last time i was there the owner sat next to us at the bar and we had a good chat.

How so? I'm going in march, and don't want to waste any precious drinking time..

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I can't speak for carnevoodoo, but I've been to a few Yardhouse locations around SoCal and can answer for my experiences there. The staff generally are not knowledgeable about beer and at least the times I've been, have not been very friendly. They do have a decent beer selection, though, so if all you care about is trying some beers, I suppose you could do worse. One time we went there as a large-ish group when the place was practically empty, but were dismayed when one member of the group, who had a valid photo ID, was told he wasn't allowed in the place due to some kind of obscure policy regarding IDs.

Welcome to Yard House Restaurants - Great Food, Classic Rock, World's Largest Selection of Draft Beer

Food is average at best. They do have a large beer selection, but I would like MUCH more in the line of IPA's.

Nine Fine Irishmen is a fun place to go when they have trad playing. NY/NY in general I thought was overrated, MGM Grand has better bars in my opinion and further down in Treasure Island there's an awesome (if somewhat overpriced) sake bar, the name of which I've forgotten.