Planning a trip to Las Vegas and Phoenix.

[b-boy]

I'm planning a trip to Las Vegas, Phoenix, and possibly a 3rd destination. I'll be there for 10 days. I'd like to make a few beer-related stops. Any good brewpubs or beer stores I should visit?

 

[Billy-Klubb]

Barley's Brew Pub & Casino in Vegas/Henderson used to be real good. Holy Cow is closed down. I'd ask these folks http://snafubrew.com/Forum/index.php about both areas.

 

[scottland]

Four Peaks in Phoenix (Tempe) is our best brew-pub. The food and atmosphere are great, and they make some of the best beer in town. Their IPA won gold for Strong Pale Ale at GABF a year or two ago; it's pretty good =) Otherwise, it's a fun place to kick back a few beers, as it's about 1/2mi from ASU's campus. Great vibe, with a good mix of college kids and adults. It's a bit of a zoo around spring-training season, but always fun. If you have time for one, go here.

Papago Brewery is pretty much a bar, but a great one. Great beer selection (mostly other breweries), and good pizza.

Santan is down in Chandler. Pretty good beer, ok food. Good vibe. The brewpub it self is very nice, but I've never been wow'd by the food. Beers are hit or miss for me. None are bad, but most are just good.

There's a number of small startups in the past couple years, and I really don't have much feedback on those.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

In Phoenix I definitely 2nd Four Peaks and San Tan. Everything they make is good to phenomenal. I'm a huge fan of Four Peak's Kiltlifter and Hop Knot. San Tan's PA and IPA are also really good IMO, and they just released their seasonal Sex Panther which is a chocolate porter and also one my favorites. There is a small bar off Scottsdale Rd in Scottsdale (close to Papago) called AZ Wine that has a really good craft beer selection on tap. There are Groupon deals that pop up for Old World Brewery and I do not suggest going there, probably the worst beer in town.

 

[b-boy]

Thanks. I'll check a few of these out. I'm also hoping to pick up some hard to find west coast beers while I'm there. Any good beer stores that might stock some interesting stuff?

 

[scottland]

Thanks. I'll check a few of these out. I'm also hoping to pick up some hard to find west coast beers while I'm there. Any good beer stores that might stock some interesting stuff?

Yes, we get most West Coast brewey's beers. Russian River and Alpine are the only two popular ones we don't get.

Total Wine and Bevmo are the big-box liquor stores. Tops and Sun Devil liquor are the smaller family owned ones that have great selection. Firestone Walker Union jack and Double Jack. If you haven't had them, buy them.

I'm not sure what you don't get in your area, but Green Flash, Lost Abbey, Port, Moylan's, and Bear Republic are all fantastic.

 

[weirdboy]

For Vegas, not sure where you're going to be staying, if you'll have a car, etc. Last time I was there staying at Palazzo, and I spent a day checking out every single beer bar on the Strip, walking down one side and back up on the other side.

So, on the Strip, my favorite beer bars are the Pub (I think that's the name) inside Monte Carlo, and Burger Bar inside Mandalay Bay. Burger Bar has something like 20ish taps, although they have cut back on the number of craft brews on tap, and a decent bottle list. Usually they have one tap that's got something pretty good on it. Last time I was there it was DFH 120. The Pub has way more taps--not really sure how many exactly, and an impressive bottle selection to boot. I found the bartenders at both locations to be pretty friendly and knowledgeable.

If I had to pick one, I'd say The Pub is a better choice.



Also I will put a shout out to the bartender in Carne Vino, who sold me a $8-$10 glass of Pinot Noir and then gave me samples of all their homemade liquors sitting on the bar when I asked about them (apparently I was the only person who had ever asked to try them), followed by free samples of the bartender's favorite Italian grappas.

 

[b-boy]

Yes, we get most West Coast brewey's beers. Russian River and Alpine are the only two popular ones we don't get.

Total Wine and Bevmo are the big-box liquor stores. Tops and Sun Devil liquor are the smaller family owned ones that have great selection. Firestone Walker Union jack and Double Jack. If you haven't had them, buy them.

I'm not sure what you don't get in your area, but Green Flash, Lost Abbey, Port, Moylan's, and Bear Republic are all fantastic.

Actually Union Jack is one I 'm hoping to get. I can get Double Jack around here, but not Union Jack for some reason. I had some on tap in NYC and thought it was fantastic.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Vegas isn't a great place for craft beer... Last time I was there, though, I went to Todd English P.U.B. and generally enjoyed it.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/todd-english-p-u-b-las-vegas-3

I wrote a review here:

http://www.brewcommune.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=2452

Good tap list, good food, hot waitresses, and open your wallet. That about sums it up.

 

[scottland]

Actually Union Jack is one I 'm hoping to get. I can get Double Jack around here, but not Union Jack for some reason. I had some on tap in NYC and thought it was fantastic.

UJ is probably my favorite beer in the country. At the moment I'm particularly smitten with Stone's Enjoy By IPA, but Union Jack is amazing.

They date their bottles, so check the dates. It holds up pretty well, but it's even better fresh.

Also there are a couple bars that almost always have it on tap. The Hungry Monk down here in the East Valley has it on tap about 99.4% of the time.

 

[b-boy]

Bumping this thread. I'm leaving next week. Looking for any other ideas.

Doing a side trip to the Grand Canyon. Anything good along the way?

 

[scottland]

There's a number of good breweries in Flagstaff, which is on the way to the grand canyon. Lumberyard (and their sister brewery Beaver St.). Mother Road is new and pretty tasty as well.

PS, the pizza at beaver st. is really tasty.

 

[b-boy]

There's a number of good breweries in Flagstaff, which is on the way to the grand canyon. Lumberyard (and their sister brewery Beaver St.). Mother Road is new and pretty tasty as well.

PS, the pizza at beaver st. is really tasty.

Thanks. I'll have to Google-map that for the trip.

BTW - I did find some Union Jack in Buffalo. The stuff is a bit pricey. $13 for a sixer. No bombers. Still worth it. What does it cost out West?

 

[bob1852]

I picked up some Union Jack for $7.99/sixer the other day. It's usually a bit more expensive.

Scottland covered it, Beaver Street is great for beer and food.

Ditto to Oak Creek Brewery if you wind up going through Sedona. A little out of the way, but a really scenic drive up Oak Creek Canyon.

Enjoy the trip!

 

[Totiviridae]

I second the lumberyard recommendation and you should drive down oak creek canyon to Sedona and hit oak creek brew co. Their nut brown is amazing.

 

[bob1852]

I second the lumberyard recommendation and you should drive down oak creek canyon to Sedona and hit oak creek brew co. Their nut brown is amazing.

Yep. My favorite commercial brown ale by far.

 

[scottland]

UJ is $7.99 to $9.99 pending any sales.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

Beaver St has decent beer, I wasn't too impressed with the pizza there, but the beer cheese and beer bread fondue is incredible. I highly suggest hitting Mother Road, the guys there are great (actually homebrewers as well who run the city's homebrew club) and the beer is very tasty. I love their black ipa because it doesn't taste like an overhopped stout, it actually tastes like an ipa.

 

[jaspass]

For Vegas, you want to hit the Freakin' Frog. It is not far from the airport near UNLV. I have been on the same mission to find a good craft beer place as I travel there monthly. The Freakin' Frog has by far the largest beer selection, several hard to get beers, and in some cases verticals of some brews spanning several year releases. The owner is nice, and the bartenders (if not too busy) are happy to give a tour of their vast beer inventory. It is impressive. The bar itself is not fancy, doesn't look like much outside, but trust me the selection is fantastic and worth the visit. It also is the only Vegas bar listed in Draft magazine's top 100.

 

[b-boy]

My schedule is pretty flexible. Any advice for this time of year? Sedona vs the Grand Canyon - which is the better option? Never been to either.

I have me wife with me, who generally prefers being 'comfortable'. She not really an outdoorsy type. Give her a choice and she'll take a cushy resort. I'd rather climb some old ruins.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

My schedule is pretty flexible. Any advice for this time of year? Sedona vs the Grand Canyon - which is the better option? Never been to either.

I have me wife with me, who generally prefers being 'comfortable'. She not really an outdoorsy type. Give her a choice and she'll take a cushy resort. I'd rather climb some old ruins.

Sedona would be the spot I would suggest... Very nice scenery, lots of nice resorts, and some amazing hiking too if you can get your wife outside.

 

[APendejo]

Check out Ellis Island in Las Vegas, it is a little dive of a casino just off the strip.
Flamingo Rd and Koval Lane.
They brew their own beer, not the greatest, but they have 4 or 5 you can choose from and the price is right, 2 bucks a pint.
They fire up the BBQ after 4pm and it's pretty decent.

Downtown at Main Street Station is the 777 Brewery. Get there for happy hour, Mon-Thurs and get plowed on the cheap. Their beers are excellent.

AP

 

[xeerohour]

Glad I found this thread. I will be in Vegas the weekend at the end of March for my 30th. Glad to see there are some good beer bars.

 

[HeavyKettleBrewing]

Ellis Island is a dive aleught. When did they start brewing their own beer?

Try to get Squatter's Hop Rising when you are out there. It's not distributed in CA yet. Anytime I go to LV, I got to Battista's for a dinner. Decent beer selection, bottomless wine (headache), and good food. Not great but good. Atmosphere is cool.

 

[daksin]

Skip Phoenix. Went there for an anniversary on a "hey, it's cheap and we've never been there before" wild hare and tried to plan as best we could. Were tremendously bored for the entire weekend. Vegas lacks craft beer, but is a hell of a weekend. Maybe pick another destination too.

 

[RachmaelBenApplebaum]

Being from Flagstaff I can say, go from Vegas to Flagstaff(we have 5 breweries, two are sister breweries and one that is production only, Cosmic), then south on 89A from Flag to Sedona(Sedona has great scenery, one good brewery, but try to stay away from the really tourist-y parts), and Sedona connects with I-17 south to phoenix which, along the way if you take page springs road towards Cornville you get 3 wineries within 1/2 mile from eachother(Stag's Leap, Grand Canyon Winery, and Page Springs Cellars<-my personal favorite). AZ is big on it's homemade stuff .

Only reason to go to Phoenix is to fly somewhere else btw. I suggest the Foodie Mecca, San Francisco.

 

[anengineer]

Near Fremont Street:
Main Street Station Casino, Brewery and Hotel
200 N Main St, Las Vegas, NV 89101

Decent craft brews and food, reasonable prices.
Try to be there for happy hour.

And make sure to visit Fremont street after dark,
quite an experience.

 

[dpatrickv]

I enjoyed The Pub at Monte Carlo while I was there last year.

 

[scottland]

Skip Phoenix. Went there for an anniversary on a "hey, it's cheap and we've never been there before" wild hare and tried to plan as best we could. Were tremendously bored for the entire weekend.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Phoenix is the most exciting place on earth, but if you can't find something to do in a town with 5 million people, you weren't looking.

At. All.

 

[b-boy]

I'm commited to Phoenix for a few days since I'm visiting my parents. I've been there before, but never for more than a couple of days. I've got some stuff setup. Going to see a concert at The Crescent Ballroom one night. I figure I'll hit up a few beer spots while I'm there.

The Pub at the Monte Carlo is a definite stop. I've been there a few times. I've been to Main Street Station as well. That was decent. I've got 3 days booked in Vegas (which is the perfect amount of time in Vegas IMHO). I've found that after more than 3 days it gets a little old. I can only listen to slot machines dinging for so long.

I've got time for a 3-day side trip. Sedona sounds more wife-friendly, but I'd really like to get to the Grand Canyon. However, my dad said it was extremely cold there a few days back, and at this time of year the weather can be a little dicey.

I'm going to be in Phoenix first, so the Sedona->Flagstaff->Vegas trip sounds promising.

Thanks for all the input.