Big Dog’s Brewing Quarterly Beerfest 

The next Big Dog’s Brewing quarterly beerfest will be its 10th Annual Peace Love Hoppy-ness, held in the outdoor area of the Draft House in northwest Las Vegas on April 27 from 3-9 p.m. As always, more than 40 local, regional and international beers will be poured, including several from the host brewery. As this is a celebration of bold, hoppy beers with several IPAs and double IPAs, all hophounds will need to make plans to attend. For more info and to view the beer lineup visit www.bigdogsbrews.com/festivals/plh.

Just a reminder, three events mentioned in my column in the February issue are coming up as well: Lovelady Brewing 3rd Anniversary Celebration on March 23, Boulder City Beerfest on March 30 (bouldercitybeerfest.com) and Motley Brews Great Festival of Beer on April 5-6 (greatvegasbeer.com).

Update on New Southern Nevada Brewery Openings

Last month I reported on delays to the opening of our two new Vegas breweries: Scenic Brewing and District One. Now I can relay that according to Scenic Brewing Head Brewer Jamie Roberts, they are looking toward a March 15 opening. I promise more news on both in the next issue.

American Homebrewers Association 2019 Craft Beer Clone Recipes

The American Homebrewers Association has released its 2019 Craft Beer Clone Recipes, with 51 recipes scaled down to 5 or 10 gallon batches of a stellar commercial beer from each of the 50 states and Washington D.C. Representing Nevada is Reno’s IMBĪB Custom Brews. Owner/Brewer Matt Johnson provided his recipe for his award-winning Nevada Weiss, a 3.8% ABV traditional Berliner Weisse style. This beer was likely picked because it is one of the most award-winning beers in recent history, having garnered 7 medals in 3 years: This beer and its fruited iterations collected a 2018 GABF medal and six awards at the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Best of Craft Beer Awards. To view Matt’s recipe, which uses pilsner malt, malted wheat and Wyeast 3191 Berliner Weisse Blend yeast, visit www.homebrewersassociation.org/homebrew-recipe/imbib-custom-brews-nevada-weisse. Don’t do a double take looking for the hops in the recipe; according to Matt, there are no hops, as hops inhibit the strain of lactobacillus bacteria that sours the beer. 

What’s on Tap

This month Joseph James will launch its Ginger Lemongrass Berliner Weisse with a release party at Slater’s 50/50 on Thursday, March 7. The brewery will also be doing a steal-the-glass event at Eureka! in Downtown Las Vegas for the same beer at the end of March (date TBA). The slightly tart 4.1% ABV sessionable ale was made with fresh lemongrass and ginger. Also releasing in the coming months are Cradle to the Grape Suave Felon #005, the fifth beer in the series, with this one an 18-month wine barrel-aged sour with Shiraz and Merlot grape must; and Candied Bacon Smoked Rauchbier, a sweet, smokey, lightly salted Bamberg-style Rauchbier with a base of beechwood smoked malt caramelized with turbinado sugar. The brewery reports there was no bacon used in the making of this beer, but you might swear there was. 

Tenaya Creek Brewery has released Dreamtime, a 5.4% ABV draft-only craft pilsner with the addition of grapefruit juice and peel; and in the coming weeks it will be canning its El Charro, a Mexican-style lager brewed with Vienna Malt from Germany and flaked corn, which at 4.9% ABV will be a very crisp, sessionable lager perfect for the springtime and summer warmer weather. In addition, they have resumed their Detox to Retox yoga and beer sessions, held the 3rd Saturday of every month in the brewery. To register visit realresultsfitness.com/events/detox-to-retox. 

As always, great beer happens in Vegas!