liquid assets
PUSHING PARAMETERS
Greg Hinge tinkers with science.
WRITTEN BY DORESA BANNING
PHOTO BY CANDICE NYANDO
The Brew Brothers, inside Reno’s Eldorado Hotel Casino, distinguishes itself by always offering six traditional microbrews along with two, revolving originals — all house-made.
The standard offerings include Wild Card Wheat, a Bavarian-style unfiltered wheat beer (hefeweizen) with light body and flavor; Gold Dollar Pale Ale, an American-style, dry, crisp, pale ale with hop flavors and citrus and tropical overtones; Big Dog IPA, an India pale ale big on hop bitterness; and Double Down Stout, a dry Irish-style stout that is rich, velvety, and strong.
The others are Carano Extra — a light, refreshing, pale German ale (Kölsch), and Redhead Amber Ale — a German-style Altbier with medium maltiness and hop content and a hint of chocolate.
| Brew Brothers Brewmaster Greg Hinge behind the bar |
“We push the parameters of traditional brewing,” says Greg Hinge, the brewmaster who is a fan of English and German malts.
The specialty beers, which change when the existing supply runs out, are creations such as Hinge’s Copperopolis, a flavor combination of Cascade hops, Simpsons malt, and Crystal 15 malt. In winter the beers often are “darker with a bigger flavor profile,” Hinge says. Though innovative, these brews are more conservative than not, free of unconventional ingredients such as lavender and chilies.
To meet demand, The Brew Brothers annually produces 1,500 to 1,600 barrels of beer (each contains 31 gallons) along with large quantities of its own, full-bodied, draft-style root beer.
Hinge, the man behind the brews, has worked at the brewpub for 12 years. It all began when the former brewmaster asked him — then a biology student at University of Nevada, Reno — to examine yeast cells under a microscope. Today he applies to his work the knowledge and training subsequently gained from the American Brewers Guild.
During his brewmaster tenure, Hinge has learned the hard, unglamorous work involved in brewing pays off.
“I like to see people enjoy their beer,” he says. “That’s what makes me feel good.”
Doresa Banning is a freelance writer in Reno who also appreciates tradition.
Resources
The Brew Brothers
345 N. Virginia St., Reno
775-786-5700
http://www.eldoradoreno.com/reno-restaurants/the-brew-brothers/
