| While there's plenty of Budweiser to be had, several | | | | Street venue draws a downtown club set interested in |
| regional beer-making operations have taken hold in | | | | mingling, while the Wonder Street shop is geared more |
| recent years, making Reno a worthwhile destination | | | | for dining and relaxing. Both feature outdoor dining |
| for connoisseurs as well as rowdy vacationers looking | | | | during all but the coldest months, with the rooftop patio |
| for a touch of local flavor. Here's what to expect from | | | | on Wonder Street being one of the most pleasant |
| some of the area's best taphouses: | | | | lunch spots in Reno. Silver Peak's owners constantly |
| Great Basin Brewery (846 Victorian Ave., Sparks, | | | | emphasize that they are "a restaurant that makes its |
| greatbasinbrewingco.com) Perhaps the most | | | | own beer" rather than just another bar, and indeed the |
| respected microbrewery in Nevada, Great Basin | | | | food is good and unexpected. But the Red Roadster, |
| generally offers four flagship beers and a rotating cast | | | | Peavine Porter and the house IPA are the real stars |
| of six seasonal brews along with excellent fish and | | | | here. |
| chips, shepherd's pie and other gourmet bar grub. | | | | The Brew Brothers (345 N. Virginia Street inside the |
| Beers such as the Ichthyosaur India Pale Ale continue | | | | Eldorado casino, eldoradoreno.com) The Brew |
| to win national awards some 15 years after they were | | | | Brothers presents a conundrum to any beer fan. A |
| introduced. Don't be deterred by the Sparks address -- | | | | Reno casino bar and grill that hosts frequent rock |
| Great Basin is closer to the downtown Reno tourist | | | | concerts and dance parties, it's the sort of place locals |
| area than many attractions, and on a summer night | | | | love to hate -- and yet, it's always crowded with |
| when the Sparks Hometowne Farmer's Market is in | | | | people having a good time. The beer selection, which |
| full swing, it's the best place around to grab a drink. | | | | may or may not pass through the copper-plated |
| Sierra Tap House (253 West First St., myspace.com | | | | brewing equipment on full view in the bar area, is |
| sierrataphouse) The Sierra Tap House is the type of | | | | pretty standard microbrew fare and a definite step |
| place that makes you remember why people have | | | | down from the brews mentioned elsewhere on this list |
| been going to bars for centuries. A smallish | | | | -- and yet, it constantly wins local "best of" contests. In |
| basement-level pub that faces the Truckee River, the | | | | short, you should go to Brew Brothers for the |
| Tap House is attractive, intimate and communal. In | | | | atmosphere and nightlife, and if you discover that you |
| addition to serving a wide range of beers from Sierra | | | | like the beer as well, that's just gravy. A decent food |
| Nevada Brewing Co. that you're unlikely to find | | | | menu is also available late into the night. |
| elsewhere, the bar hosts social events such as trivia | | | | Shenanigans Olde English Pub (77 W. Plumb Lane) |
| nights and home-brewed beer contests. It can get | | | | Generally agreed to be as close to an authentic |
| fairly crowded, but the general upbeat attitude means | | | | English pub as you're going to get in the middle of the |
| fights and other "college night" problems are rare. | | | | West, Shenanigans imports many European beers and |
| Silver Peak Grill & Taproom (135 N. Sierra St. and | | | | liquors and serves them in a relaxed environment. It |
| 124 Wonder St., silverpeakbrewery.com) The two | | | | may not be the best spot to find a date, but if you |
| locations of this Reno stalwart tend to attract different | | | | want to unwind with a Harp or a Guinness Double |
| crowds, but they share most of the same | | | | Stout while watching rugby, it's perfect. The food is |
| award-winning beers and upscale dishes. The Sierra | | | | surprisingly good as well. |