A Reno Tour of Hoppy Delights

We love beer. But then again who doesn’t? Being the eclectic and off-beat town that it is, Reno’s beer scene is not only rapidly expanding, but it’s pretty darn quality. Breweries are opening, distribution is constantly improving, and bar tap handles are housing some of the best and/or unique brews Reno’s ever seen.

For those of you who demand more depth than the typical domestics, we’ve put together another little list of places around town where you’ll find some hoppy gems.

One of our favorite places to kick back and grab a beer is Ole Bridge Pub. Perfectly set along the Truckee River, Ole Bridge is a Euro-style pub with shuffle board, outdoor seating, a selection of sports games playing, and of course, beers galore. Our favorite beer is a little “fruity”, but delightfully crisp and refreshing. Samuel Smith’s organic fruit brews come in 18 ounce bottles, pour like fruit juice, and are perfect for any lady date you’re trying to impress. Away from that, the selection continues to please pallets, and features several brews from De Molen, Grand Teton, Mikkeller, Rouge, and Stone. Bottled or draft, this is one fine place to enjoy the sunshine, downtown, and a delicious beer in a quite enchanting atmosphere.

If you’re going to call yourself a “west coaster” then you’ve got to have several things down and implemented into your lifestyle- one of those being an unsurpassed love and loyalty towards Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. And anyone who’s got that part down is well aware that the selection of brews offered by Sierra goes for miles, and covers ground on every style of beer that exists, from your strong imperials to the classic pale ale. And there’s one bar in Reno that houses an exclusive selection of these delightful beers. Sierra Tap House is tucked into the back of the same building Java Jungle and Jungle Vino call home. Its outside seating is a mere 2 feet from the Truckee and just across the bridge from Wingfield Park’s stage (by far the most convenient bar to pour into after downtown events such as the Reno River Festival, the Tour De Nez, or Artown) and inside it’s got that Cheers feeling of a neighborhood basement bar, where anyone and everyone are always welcome. You won’t find a place in Reno that only features one brewery’s beer yet holds so much dynamic in doing just that.

Take a stroll down Virginia and you’ll eventually land at Chapel Tavern. Now this is a bar we recommend you all become accustomed with and frequent. From the outside looks, you automatically picture a dive inside. But with a fresh renovation only a few years in, Chapel is top quality. Bar stools, comfy couches, and one random pole that will make your imagination wander with possibilities, Chapel beckons for fun. There’s always cool artwork rotating in display as well. But we’re here to talk beer. Chapel’s finest quality is their selection of European brews, particularly the Belgium imports. The diverse catalogue of brews Chapel houses has not been surpassed in Reno in our opinion. Beer snobs, this is your hot spot. Become a regular and make it point to get friendly with bartender Dave. He’ll take good care of you!

Much like Chapel, St James Infirmary on California & Arlington is a beer lovers haven. We’ve never been let down by their beer specials, which almost always include a few American and a few European craft brews from the tap, most of which fall under the $8 range (anyone who knows good beer knows it’s not cheap). Whether you’re in the mood for a nice Rouge Amber or a Blanche De Chambly, St. James hip but non-pretentious ambience is perfect for beers, good conversation, and a chance to try out one of the best jukeboxes in Reno.

Our final beer sanctuary is home to what we consider the best selection and prices in the area. First off, every beer is stored in a walk-in cooler that patrons can wander around and choose their brews from. The selection is divided between regions and includes beers from America, Europe, New Zealand, and Japan. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in here, then it probably can’t be found in Nevada at all. We’ve noticed that Craft’s foreign selection is unsurpassed by any place we’ve found in the area- Cantillon's, Panil, Mikkeller, de Struisse, and so, so much more. Best part? The staff is knowledgeable beyond belief, and not cocky in the slightest. They’re friendly, you can take the beer to go or drink it there, and the prices more inexpensive than most liquor and grocery stores around Reno-Tahoe. We wish this place the best of luck, as they’ve brought an awesome, innovative concept to Reno and provided all the beer lovers a place to call their second home.      

"Dive" into Reno

Reno is infamous for having a little something for everybody. Upscale, casual, or downright dirty, Reno is home to an eclectic mix of restaurants, bars, and general entertainment options. But when it comes to planning a night of seedy underground traveling, where are the best dive spots to hit? Where has cheap drinks, a jukebox to blow up, and a bartender with stories that would make Charlie Sheen fall off of his bar stool?

Despite having a reputation for class and sophistication, we would be lying if we said there haven’t been a few nights where we tore up the town on a tour of Reno’s more undemanding bars. Here are just a few of our favorites.

*Side note: We know that this varies from person to person, but we must warn that some of these places allow smoking inside. Some might not find that to their liking

·         The Hideout: Located off Ryland just before Wells, The Hideout is an infamous Reno watering hole. This is your quintessential dive bar. You walk in to two pools tables, a jukebox ready to engulf, and a long stretch of bar. This is the kind of place where the bartender can out-drink you. There’s not a ton of beer selection, particularly when it comes to their tap choices, but they’ve got plenty of whiskey to keep you happy and warm. Rumor has it that the infamous Ke$ha made a pit stop here while performing in Reno. Good enough for her? Well, the Hideout will always be good enough for us.

·         Shea’s Tavern: Shea’s is right in the center of things, located just a few blocks south from downtown right on Virginia St. It often scares ladies and small children walking their dogs, who are near blown away by the raw punk and metal music blasting from inside on any given occasion. But don’t let that put you off. Its unrefined approach posts no dress code and no inhibitions. With great drink specials and possibly some of the most wide open hours in the city, Shea’s lives up to its reputation of never letting a patron go thirsty.

·         Abby’s Highway 40: The classic Reno dive bar. Think: 4^th street. Relaxed. Everyone’s welcome, everyone’s friendly. And they’ve really got all the necessities for a dive bar. On any given day, one can catch live music, spend a warm night in their massive backyard/beer garden, or enjoy the comfortable, no-frills-needed atmosphere inside the bar. One thing is for sure- you’ll walk away with stories you would have never otherwise heard. And that’s a good thing.

·         Wonder Bar: The classic 70’s sign, the perfect spot for Wells Ave bar crawling, or just place to come feel at home- the Wonder Bar is your prime dive bar pit stop. You walk in and it’s relatively simple: a bar, some video poker, darts board, jukebox, and a few feet of moving room. But while you’re intrigued with simplicity, remember that the jukebox is meant to be played, and the few feet of room is meant for any kind of dancing; the darts games lead to new best friends and the bar is lined with interesting characters. This is a place that looks ordinary at first, but show up on the right night/day, and you’ll find yourself in the middle of the most comfortable, anything goes kind of party. Oh, and if you smell something good coming from the back patio, be sure not to pass it by.

So there you have it! While there are more we’d love to include, these are really what we consider to the highest quality of keeping it real. Unbutton your collar, or maybe the whole shirt after a few, and crawl around to the “dark side” of Reno. We think you’ll find yourself redefining the term “diamond in the rough”.

Party Refined Style

You’re never too “old” to have a good time in Reno. It’s crawling with the young, hip party goers, but is also a fantastic social outlet for those who just need to unwind outside of that delicious bottle of chardonnay and American Idol or Glee nights.

We’re always getting asked where and what’s going on in Reno that’s a good ‘ol time, but outside of club lines, spilled Bud Light, and 30 minute drink waits. We feel everyone deserves a good time; after all, that’s why we exist! So we’ve put together a little rundown of hot spots that don’t require your college ID.

• The Grill on McCarran Blvd. has always been a well-known staple for Reno’s more refined ladies and gentleman to enjoy a glass of wine from an impeccable selection, a nice meal, and meet similar folks without feeling like they’re in a meat market. A little off the beaten path of downtown, but perfect for those who live in the south end of town.
• Roxy’s inside the Eldorado is one of our favorite dancing spots in Reno. Placed on the “border” of the El Dorado and Silver Legacy, Roxy’s is the quintessential example of sophistication meets play; known for their grand martini selection, award-winning plethora of wines, and a lounge act that’ll get your great grandma out of her chair, Roxy’s brings fine dining, exquisite drinking, and a night of “living it up” to downtown in the classiest of ways.
• Keeping outside of downtown in mind, but not excluding casinos, we must recommend the Reserve win bar inside the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino. Reserve is unique in that there’s no bartender; it’s all self serve. Over 80 wine bottles are kept in cases, assuring temperature and freshness are right on the money. Upon entering, you buy a credit card sized wine card, load it up with cash (in any increment you’d like), grab a wine glass, and go to town. A lounge atmosphere accompanies the experience, so once you’ve chosen your poison (you can also control the amount of wine you get from each selection), you’re free to sit down, chat, drink, refill whenever suits you, and never have to fight to grab the bartenders attention. Sounds pretty dreamy to us.
• For those who just want a casual drink, meal, and socializing, the newest hot spot is Napa-Sonoma at Plumgate Center. Its unique atmosphere combines all the enticing aspects of your neighborhood wine bar but doesn’t call for a formal dress code or casino dealings. Located in the heart of Old Southwest, Napa-Sonoma offers lunch and dinner, specializing in scrumptious Panini’s and Italian inspired appetizers, and a wine selection capable of making any wine connoisseur melt. One can purchase wine to-go, make gift baskets and Napa-Sonoma offers special events, including live jazz every Tuesday. Keep it business casual and unbutton that collar with a glass of vino and treat yourself to their signature carrot cake…you deserve it.