Mountain Region Beer Appreciation Thread (2024)

Sad news here. With the sale of Tenaya Creek to Chris / Beer Zombies, the Tenaya Creek brand will be phased out, as will some of the standard offerings including this excellent Oatmeal Stout.

Tenaya Creek Hauling Oats

 

They will keep their best selling beers, at least initially, but it sounds like Hauling Oats will not make the cut. I was told the distributors are returning beer with the Tenaya Creek branding, so I’m guessing everything will be released under the Beer Zombies brand once all the current beer is exhausted. I would have brought a few six packs of Hauling Oats home, but they don’t can beyond crowlers.

The good news is the brewers and front of house will remain, at least for now. Second beer on $3 Select Pint Night.

Tenaya Creek Hop Ride IPA

 

I enjoy their Aviators Golden Ale served at the AAA Baseball Games in Summerlin (RIP Stars). This is the same base, but with grapefruit.

Tenaya Creek Ruby Red 40th



Brewery Notes: Aviator Ale, a Golden Ale, brewed with grapefruit. $6 16 oz draft served in a shaker pint (might be part of the $3 HH), 4.8% ABV.

Appearance: Yellow straw crystal clear base, faint carbonation, bright white head leaves after a few leaving a light dusting over the base and soapy lacing clinging for dear life. 4.0

Aroma: Grapefruit strong, OK, can’t get anything beyond it. 3.0

Taste: All grapefruit, all the time. Not pleasant, some old grandma’s perfume thrown in the blend. Ouch. 2.5

Mouthfeel: Thin persistent carbonation, light plus body, drinks light consistent with the ABV. Pure grapefruit, so no vase or balance, grapefruit lasts until the palate is cleansed. 2.75

Overall: Needs a lot more balance, not for me. 2.5

 

I've enjoyed most everything I've had from Tenaya Creek, but I had a feeling a good chunk of their lineup wouldn't be long for this world. They're pretty old school across the board, and while some styles have come full circle (like the pils), others just aren't retail-friendly in 2024. Gypsy Fade is the only other one that struck me as tasting "modern" for better or worse. My tastes lean old school so I really dig what they are/were doing, though.

 

Co-sign. Most places don’t make oatmeal stouts, but there version is on point, and like Deth’s Tar for BA.

Enjoyed two solid standbys at Lovelady (State of Change and Hop Atomic DIPA). Change of pace with this one at Mohave.

Mohave Stouty Doesn’t Know



Brewery Notes: 5.3% Dry Irish Stout on cask. 16 oz draft pour.

Appearance: Base pitch black, nice creamy tan white head, looks like a Guinness. 4.0

Aroma: Decadent milk chocolate, roast malt, mild in strength. 3.75

Taste: Roast malt, chocolate, caramel. Nice blend. 3.75

Mouthfeel: Fluffy light pour, dry and slightly bitter pairing with the sweet flavors. Very easy drinking, caramel chocolate lingers nicely. 4.25

Overall: This is a nice solid stout, reminds me of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. Packed with flavor, similar to a nitro pour. This is why I make the trek to Henderson. 4.0

 

At Able Baker, nice enough to brave the elements.

Able Baker 4Our



Brewery notes: BA Stout, 13% ABV, $11 12 oz. Brewed for their fourth anniversary.

Appearance: Pitch black base, very fine tan lacing, what’s left a few seconds clings around the rim. 3.5

Aroma: Now 20 minutes after pour, nice strong bourbon aroma, oak barrel. Don’t get much beyond this, no base notes. Am enjoying the bourbon. 3.75

Taste: Bourbon consistent with the aroma, with a very sweet base. Tastes like maple syrup, lots of it. I asked the bartender and was told nothing was added to the stout base. Not sure what they used as the base, but this is pure sugar. 3.75

Mouthfeel: Creamy rich decadent. Drinks stronger than expected, sweet as fuck, maple syrup guzzle on the finish. 3.5

Overall: This is too sweet for my liking, but I do enjoy the bourbon and oak notes, and I’m enjoying it nonetheless. Depending on the mood, I would order again. 3.75

 

An old standby in Vegas.

Hop Nuts Hopathon IPA



Here is my OG review. It has held up over time.

 

Alright, a rate new to me beer here.

Hop Nuts Harry Porter



Brewery Notes: $5 HH 16 oz draft in shaker pint glass, 6.8% ABV, 46 IBUs.

Appearance: Pitch black base, creamy tan white head lingers before leaving a razor thin layer over the glass. 4.0

Aroma: Dark chocolate, dark roast malt, medium plus strength, similar enjoyment. 3.75

Taste: Really nice sweet caramel toffee milk chocolate flavors made a play date with a nice bitter hop presence paired with the roast malt that comes off well. I like the hop pairings with this brewery, and this is consistent with my love of the brewery. 4.25

Mouthfeel: Very nice hop presence balances the caramel, toffee and milk chocolate. Drinks light and easy, below the ABV. Nice balance, lightly dry, sweet caramel toffee lingers nicely on the finish. 4.25

Overall: I am digging this Porter, well brewed, packed with flavor, hits my Porter wheelhouse. Thank you as always Hop Nuts! 4.25

 

First stop at CraftHaus this trip. Too late for the Comrade on tap, but they have refrigerated a variant for me to enjoy shortly.

In the meantime, this is my opener here, a solid light ABV coffee stout packed with flavor.

CraftHaus Belgrad



Here is my OG review. It holds up.

Beer Notes: CraftHaus 12/19 Downtown. Belgard 5.2% abv 30 IBU 16 oz $6 draft pour into long tree shaped glass.

Appearance: Black pour, cream tan head leaves gone bubbly tan lacing. 4.25.

Aroma: Roast coffee malt and chocolate bold pleasant. 4.25.

Taste: Taste mirrors aroma, rich coffee leads, malt and chocolate back well. 4.5.

Mouthfeel: Medium body creamy light carb backs, clean finish. 4.0.

Overall: Solid coffee stout. 4.25.

 

Out at the Summerlin location of Chicago Brewing Company. I prefer this location over the more accessible Four Queens Fremont spot because they have a much wider selection of beers beyond their core line up, and there is a nice non smoking section whereas 4 Queens’ location is a dual Cigar Bar.

The Hardway IPA and this offering are two of my favorite year round beers here. This pairs better with the Fish and Chips that are on the way.

Chicago Brewing Company Sundown Stout



Beer consistent with my OG rating cut and pasted below.

 

New to me offering here, added it to the database.

Chicago Brewery Company Citra Rye Ass Down



Summerlin Brewery Notes: Unlisted price, 16 oz shaker pint draft, 7.8% ABV Rye IPA.

Appearance: Poured to rim, so head a faint egg white thin cover over a clear golden bronze pour with medium plus sustained carbonation. 3.75

Aroma: Not getting much aroma after a few attempts beyond faint rye. 3.25

Taste: Much stronger pleasant rye flavor, like the seeds you would find in good polish rye bread. Speaking of which nice warm out of the oven and caramel backing, the blend very enjoyable. As this warms, malt emerges and hops and rye spread their wings bringing out excellent strong flavors. 4.25

Mouthfeel: Medium to full rye body, malt presence enhances as does the complementary slightly prickly carbonation. Drinks lighter than high ABV, but still is great. Malt emerges more as this warm, but hop bitterness balanced well. Nice firm bitter rye finish. 4.5

Overall: I love rye flavors and this delivers. More malty than I typically like, but this is the exception to the rule. Really glad I stopped today, will order on return visits. 4.25

 

No clue if they always have it, but Nevada Brew Works has/had a really good Rye IPA that gave me flashbacks of Great Divide's old Showdown Rye IPA. In general, a lot of their beers reminded me of Great Divide and Odell beers from like 10-12 years ago. No clue if that helps them or hurts them with most people, but I liked it.

 

@LeinenkugelDrinker - Your Kilted Harvey sounds like an excellent offering. I will seek Salt Flat out if I get to SLC.

@Domingo - You are likely recalling Ariana Rye, named after the owner’s daughter. It is an excellent Rye offering, and I believe $1 of every sale goes to a children’s medical research linked in the post below.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...drinking-now-3386.664766/page-12#post-7445266

Ariana



I’ll be back likely in a day or two with my last chance at Mountain Region beers on the trip.

 

Cannonball has a rye pale ale on now. It's also their 11th anniversary party

 

First two at Tenaya. Highly recommend both.

Tenaya Creek Zombie Creek



Tenaya Creek Hauling Oats

 

Back to back stops in Henderson, have enjoyed these in the past. In order of consumption and enjoyment.

Lovelady Hop Atomic



Bad Beat Hoppy Times IPA

 

Rarely see this style available, so gravitated toward ordering.

CraftHaus For Keeps



Brewery Notes: $7.50 16 oz tulip glass draft pour, 7.8% ABV, 25 IBU Biere de Garde.

Appearance: Clear bronze pour, nominal carbonation, egg white thin fine head clings along the rim and over parts of the base, lacing slowly rolls down glass. 4.25

Aroma: Malt, cherry, barely there. 2.75

Taste: Stronger taste, tart cherry, light citrus. Refreshing, digging more as this warms. 3.75

Mouthfeel: Light, sustained light carbonation tries to help. Drinks light and easy compared to ABV. Tart wins out over sweet, lightly dry, nice tart cherries close out the tab. 4.0

Overall: Glad CraftHaus and I took a leap with this style. Warns to yield a nice tart cherry experience. Would order again. 3.75