Great Basin Brewing Company


Great Basin Brewing Co. is a brewery headquartered in Sparks, Nevada. It is Nevada's largest and oldest currently operating brewery—though not the state's longest operated. Great Basin beers are available as draught beer and in bottles at over 400 locations in Northern Nevada and the surrounding regions, including Aces Ballpark. They also serve beer at many special events, such as the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off and The Great Reno Balloon Race. Growlers and kegs may be purchased or filled at any of the company's tap rooms.

History

The company was established in 1993 after Nevada brewers, including company founders Tom Young and Eric McClary, successfully lobbied the Nevada Legislature to allow for brewpubs in the state. The original brewery and restaurant is on Victorian Square in Sparks. Their beers were winning national awards as soon as the next year. The Reno location was opened in 2010 with the expectation that its added capacity would satisfy demand for the next five years. Great Basin began regular bottling operations in 2011 and currently bottles three of their flagship brews. As demand increased further, a third facility was established when Great Basin moved into the warehouse formerly occupied by the defunct Buckbean Brewery. Along with the facility, they also acquired Buckbean's equipment, which was modified to meet Great Basin's needs. Taps & Tanks opened to the public at this location in 2012, and a high speed bottling line was installed there the next year - providing capacity to bottle seasonal beers. In 2014, just one year later, Great Basin bottled their millionth beer. Great Basin saw increases in business every year during its first twenty years in operation. Taps & Tanks no longer serves to the public due to new regulations on bars, but beer is still brewed and bottled there.

Beers

Great Basin brews several different beer styles and maintains ten to fourteen beers on tap. Many of their brews are seasonal or otherwise available for a limited time. Cask conditioned, barrel aged and nitrogenated beers are available by the glass on location.

Flagships

These beers are available year-round.
As a non-alcoholic or child-friendly alternative, Great Basin also brews their own root beer, which is available only on premises.

Use in food

Great Basin is renowned for integrating their beers into the menu items available from their kitchens and offers beer braised pork, homemade beer cheese, beer batter fish and chips, chocolate brownies baked with porter, and many other dishes. They also reuse spent barley left over from mashing along with brewer's yeast in artisan bread. As a result of these and similar initiatives, 95% of Great Basin's waste output is reduced.

Awards and recognitions

Great Basin's brews have garnered several awards at many national and international beer competitions.
NameStyleHonors
Bitchin' BerryFruit wheat beer2013 Great American Beer Festival Silver
Black Rock ESBExtra Special Bitter2001 World Beer Cup Silver
Cerveza ChileBesoJalapeño-spiced pilsner1999 Great American Beer Festival Gold, 1997 Great American Beer Festival Gold, 1994 Great American Beer Festival Gold
Death by Chocolate StoutChocolate-flavored stout2002 World Beer Cup Gold
Ichthyosaur IPAIndia Pale Ale2006 World Beer Championships Silver
Jackpot PorterPorter2012 Beverage Testing Institute 86
Nevada GoldKölsch2001 Beverage Testing Institute Silver
Outlaw Milk StoutSweet oatmeal stout2014 World Beer Cup Silver, 2014 Great American Beer Festival Bronze, 2012 World Beer Cup Silver, 2011 Great American Beer Festival Bronze, 2008 World Beer Cup Silver, 2002 World Beer Championship Silver, 2012 Beverage Testing Institute 86
Red Nose Holiday WassailChristmas beer2012 Beverage Testing Institute 86
Rosemary Rye PatchRosemary-spiced rye beer1998 Great American Beer Festival Gold
Slam DunkelDunkel2008 World Beer Cup Silver, 2001 World Beer Cup Bronze, 2000 Great American Beer Festival Silver
Smokecreek RauchbierRauchbier2006 Great American Beer Festival Gold
Stone Mother MärzenMärzen2006 World Beer Championships Bronze
Whoop-Ass WitbierWitbier2010 World Beer Cup Bronze, 2013 Beverage Testing Institute 87
Wild Horse AleAltbier-style amber ale1995 Great American Beer Festival Bronze, 1994 Great American Beer Festival Bronze
Wild Lemon WheatWheat ale2010 Great American Beer Festival Bronze