Reno's breweries cluster in three places: downtown, the Brewery District just north of it, and the Sparks side. Downtown sits at about 4,500 ft, and most of the downtown and Brewery District taprooms are within a 20-minute walk of each other — which matters, because the alternative is driving.
The Tahoe basin ones are 35 to 70 minutes away over a pass, and that is a different proposition after a pint.
Reno and Sparks Breweries
Several breweries operate within the Reno and Sparks city limits, often offering food service alongside their tap lists.
- Great Basin Brewing Company: founded 1993, the oldest of them, with taprooms in both Reno and Sparks. Icky IPA is the one everyone knows — probably Nevada's most recognised beer.
- 10 Torr Distilling and Brewing: Located near downtown Reno, this facility utilizes vacuum distillation for spirits and maintains a taproom with craft beer options.
- The Depot Craft Brewery Distillery: in a 1910 railroad depot building, brewing and distilling on the same site from northern Nevada grain.
- Lead Dog Brewing Company: This brewery produces a variety of stouts, lagers, IPAs, and sours. Its Peanut Butter Stout is a year-round offering.
- Pigeon Head Brewery: This brewery focuses on German-style lagers and is situated in the Brewery District.
- The Brewer's Cabinet: This establishment offers a range of craft beers, including the Dirty Wookie. It operates a brewpub on Arlington Avenue and a production facility west of downtown.
Lake Tahoe Breweries
Breweries in the Lake Tahoe area often incorporate local water sources into their brewing process.
- Alibi Ale Works: This brewery operates at three locations: the Barrel House and Public House in Incline Village, and a Public House in Truckee. Their brewing process utilizes water from Lake Tahoe.
Distilleries and Specialty Spirits
Nevada’s distilling scene includes several producers in Northern Nevada.
- Ferino Distillery: Located in Reno, this distillery specializes in Italian liqueurs and amaro, which are ingredients used in the Picon Punch, a drink associated with Basque culture in the region.
- Seven Troughs Distilling Company: This distillery operates a speakeasy in Reno. Its production methods focus on 19th-century frontier standards.
- Frey Ranch Farmers + Distillers: Located in Fallon, approximately one hour east of Reno, this is an estate distillery. The Frey family farms the grains on-site for their bourbon and rye whiskey production.
- Forsaken River Spirits Co.: This Reno distillery produces gin using 13 local botanicals.
- Verdi Local Distillery: Situated near the Sierra Nevada, this distillery produces whiskeys infused with various flavors, including apple cinnamon and peanut butter.
- High Mark Distillery & Barrel House: This facility produces moonshine and vodka using Nevada grains and apples.
Travel Logistics and Road Conditions
Visitors traveling between Reno and Lake Tahoe breweries must navigate mountain highways. Weather conditions can change quickly at higher elevations, leading to road closures or mandatory chain controls.
Before departing, check the Road conditions hub for the latest updates. If driving west toward the mountains, consult the I-80 road conditions page for status reports on Donner Summit. For those traveling south toward Lake Tahoe, check the SR-431 Mt Rose road conditions or the US-50 road conditions page.
Cameras on the drive from Reno to the mountains.
Chain controls are frequently implemented on these routes during winter storms. Ensure your vehicle is equipped for mountain driving conditions if traveling between November and April.