Business changes make space for successful beer bars and breweries.
written by Emma Schmitz
photo by Donna Victor
Now’s not the first time in history that Reno-Tahoe has enjoyed a booming beer scene (see: Reno Brewing Co., circa 1903), but the recent turnovers, mergers, and business pivots may make this the most sustainable era so far for Reno-Tahoe beer.
Yes, local breweries have closed (Huntsman Brewing, Wonder Aleworks, and Record Street Brewing) and yes, breweries have changed hands (Great Basin Brewing Co. to Local Food Group). Consolidation can be good for the longevity of the market.
On the flip side, Reno-Tahoe’s beer industry sees brand-new businesses at least a few times a year (Craft & Logic Taproom, Schüssboom Brewing, Slieve Brewing, and Tahoe National Brewing, to name a few). And existing breweries and bottle shops continue to open in more locations, emphasizing on-site consumption rather than distribution. Keeping the focus local benefits both the small business owner and consumer.
National beer sales decreased by 3 percent in 2022 (yielding to other options such as seltzers and canned cocktails), but small and independent brewers have continued to gain a foothold within the overall beer market, according to the Brewers Association. So no, craft beer is not dead; it’s simply settling in for the long haul, which is what we’re seeing in Reno-Tahoe and beyond.
In these pages, we’ll show you the lay of the land in our local beer scene.
Local Brewers Share Hop Talk on the Industry
Cheers to More Breweries
Keys to a Quality Beer Bar
Beer 101: Know Your Brews
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