A seemingly obvious choice, the Hofbrauhaus, does not. Why? All its beer is brewed and bottled in Munich, then shipped to Las Vegas. "However they would probably be open to tours of their facility," says spokeswoman Michelle Howell, "as they do have some interesting technology with their beverage/beer dispensaries and kitchen machinery. There's also a lot of history within the building itself, because it's the closest replica of the one in Munich." Probably the best thing to do would be to either call in advance or show up in person (lederhosen optional) and try to schmooze your way behind the scenes.
In terms of sales by volume, Ellis Island has the number-one craft beer in Nevada. If you go to Ellis Island Casino & Brewery, at 4178 Koval Lane (just a few blocks off the Strip), you can walk right in and see the good stuff being made, courtesy of floor-to-ceiling windows that show the brewery in operation. And if you’d like a tour, call brewmeister Joe Pickett at 733-8901, extension 252.
Banger Brewing at 450 Fremont St. has free tours daily (limit six per tour). Get information and sign up online at bangerbrewing.com. The just-opened Old School Brewing Company at 8410 W. Desert Inn Rd. also has daily tours that you can arrange by … just going in and asking. These aren’t dedicated tours, per se, given that Old School is a "really small operation." But it’s open 24/7 and if you want to see the brewery they’re happy to show you around. The same goes for another recently opened brewery, Hop Nuts Brewing at 1120 S. Main Street. While there's no official tour program, they'll show you around if you ask. Hop Nuts is open 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. and until 4 a.m. on weekends.
While not a craft-brewery tour, you can always register to join the newly formed "Aleluminati," sponsored by Corner Bar Management Group. It gathers once a month at Park on Fremont (506 Fremont Street) and at Due & Proper, at 2235 Village Walk Drive, in the District, in Henderson. The Aleluminati will gather monthly to tap limited-edition beers straight from the keg (Cocoa Mole, Slow Ride Session IPA, and Grätzer will be among the brews represented) and receive an education in the night’s brew. If you join the Aleluminati in April, May, or June, you'll be designated a "founding father," which garners you discounted pricing per pint whenever the Aleluminati gather.
On the evening of April 3, SLS Las Vegas is presenting a one-night-only beer and music festival at its Foxtail Pool Club. Presented under the auspices of Rock Star Beer Prods., it will showcase 50-plus craft brews, many of them from Nevada. A slice of the proceeds will benefit the Beverage Management Club at University of Nevada Las Vegas. General admission tickets are $35 (but only $28 if purchased in advance) and the beerfest runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will be a fashion show, live music by the band Falling Doves, and complimentary admission to LiFE nightclub afterward. VIP tickets -- $40 in advance and $50 at the door –- include entry to the exclusive Foxtail VIP Lounge. There you "can taste limited-release beers and cocktails from Cocktail City Vegas."
Other choices for home-brewed and craft beers include the Triple 7 at Main Street Station, the Pub at Monte Carlo, Barley's, Tenaya Creek Brewery, Big Dog’s Brewing Company, Sin City Brewing Company, and Gordon Biersch. And this doesn't even consider the numerous bars in town with extensive craft beer selections. So, while brewery tours are thin on the ground, craft beers are well represented in Las Vegas.
