Downtown may be an incubator for new breweries, but Las Vegas as a whole is a growing epicenter of beer culture. Although tourists are surprised at the sheer number of breweries in the Valley, it comes as less of a shock to locals accustomed to getting their fix all over town. Although Las Vegas is still known for its craft cocktails, the tide is turning towards these beer destinations. Here are seven Las Vegas breweries that need to be on your list.

Tenaya Creek Brewery

Courtesy of Tenaya Creek Brewery

Tenaya Creek Brewery hasn’t spent its entire 18-year run downtown, but its latest location on West Bonanza is a prime spot for beer tastings. While Tenaya Creek does not have gaming, this is a source of pride for the brewery. With a total of 28 beers on tap, Tenaya Creek supports other local breweries by serving them as guest pours alongside their own line. And the brewery is also known for its bottled beer sold at restaurants throughout the Valley. If you’re in the area, Tenaya Creek’s circulating food truck schedule makes it possible to buy their beer in other locations throughout Downtown. 

Big Dog’s Brewing Company

Courtesy of Beerquest

This year, Big Dog’s Brewing Company celebrates 25 years in business, which makes it Southern Nevada’s first and oldest brewery. Their Dirty Dog IPA, Las Vegas Craft Lager, and 38 Special are longtime local favorites. Along with gaming and monthly events like bottle releases and front porch music, Big Dog’s also has daily specials such as Monday Night “Moo and Brew,” pairing build-your-own-burgers with their beers.

Hop Nuts Brewing

Courtesy of Hop Nuts Brewing

For unique brews like Lemon Cake IPA, Passion Fruit Sour, or Bourbon Barrel Aged Omniscient Imperial Stout, Hop Nuts Brewing is a destination for beer lovers. With a regular 4-7 p.m. happy hour in the taproom, Hop Nuts may be newer on the scene, but its weekly spoken word, poetry, and comedy event is a must-see.

Ellis Island Casino and Brewery

Courtesy of Here for the Beer

What makes Ellis Island Casino and Brewery in Paradise such an appealing place is not just the hotel, casino, and brewery but also the nightly karaoke. Ellis Island claims to serve a million beers a year, and it’s a “Best of Las Vegas” darling. In addition to regular specials, Ellis Island’s standard brews include an IPA, Weiss, and stout, but they’ve recently expanded into hard lemonade and root beer.

Sin City Brewing Company

Courtesy of Sin City Brewing Company

Launched in 2003 by Gordon Biersch Director of Brewing Operations Richard Johnson, Sin City Brewing Company has five signature beers and several rotating selections brewed in small batches. Unlike other breweries in town, Sin City Brewing distributes exclusively in Las Vegas. With four locations on the Las Vegas Strip, Sin City Brewing serves brews like Weisse Is Nice, Say Hello To Amber, and The Dark Side of Sin, which has a hint of chocolate.

Banger Brewing

Courtesy of Vegas.com

Five local friends opened Banger Brewing fifteen years ago, the first craft brewery in Downtown. Located in the Fremont Experience next to Heart Attack Grill, Banger Brewing famous brews are El Heffe, a jalapeno hefeweizen, and Morning Joe, a coffee Kolsch. They run daily small-group tours which can be reserved ahead of time online. 

Chicago Brewing Company

Courtesy of the Chicago Brewing Company

With a beer garden, upstairs cigar lounge, and 24-hour breakfast, Chicago Brewing Company, offers a lot of options. They brew all their beers in-house, including Golden Ale All-Nighter and Bavarian Wheat Weizenheimer. The outdoor patio with twinkling lights is a prime Friday night spot, but Chicago Brewing Company also offers indoor seating with a retro vibe.