Tag: Guinness

A Beer Drinker’s Las Vegas Experience

~ Ken Valley ~ Leave a comment
Vegas Baby!
Vegas Baby!

My friends and I recently went to Las Vegas for a bachelor party.  Las Vegas is known for clubs, bright lights, and mixed drinks, but not really beer.  In actuality, Las Vegas does have a few beer experiences that don’t break the bank.  Since our hotel was on the south side of the strip, and didn’t have a car or didn’t feel like taking cab rides, our selection was limited.

The first place we tried was the Burger Bar, located in Mandalay Place.  They had a large selection of beers from common selections, such as Spaten Optimator to more exotic selections, such as Life & Limb, a collaboration between Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head.  The prices ranged from around $6 to upwards of over $100 for rare selections.  The atmosphere was nice, but the prices tended to be on the high side.

The next day, we stopped by Sin City Brewing, located in the Flamingo hotel and casino.  We tried the Amber, Stout, and Seasonal, which was an IPA.  All were quality beers, but at $6 each, again, we wouldn’t be able to purchase many pints.

While we were sitting at the bar, another patron mentioned that O’Sheas, the casino next door, had all-day happy hour, which included $1 Guinness drafts and $3 Black and Tans (Guinness stout layered on Harp lager).  We were excited to find such a great deal.  At the casino, a couple of my friends entered into a beer-pong tournament, and made it into the second round.  We enjoyed O’Sheas  so much, we went back the next day.

A couple days later, we heard of another place, just off the strip, called Ellis Island Casino and Brewery.  The casino had karaoke 7-days a week from 9 pm until 3 am, and had a brewery on-site.  We tried the brewery’s Amber, Wheat, and Stout (which mas more like a brown ale).  When it came time to buy the round, we found out each glass was only $1.50.  We sang all night, drinking $1.50 craft brews.

The next day, to finish our weekend, we went to Pour 24, a 24-hour, 24-tap bar located on the mezzanine level of the New York New York Hotel and Casino.  They had several craft brews not available in Iowa, including several Stone Brewing Co. options, such as Arrogant Bastard and Ruination.  On the pricey side at $7.25, we only had a couple of pints (in plastic glasses), but it was a nice way to end the trip.

Next time we go to Las Vegas, we have several great, inexpensive places to enjoy some beer.  What kinds of places have you found in Las Vegas?

The Beer Glass Makes a Difference

~ Ken Valley ~ 5 Comments
Samuel Adams New Glass
Samuel Adams "Perfect Beer Glass

If you are a fan of beer, you may notice many beer brands have their own glass.  Many Belgian-style beers, and the Guinness & Co. Brewery have created their own types of glasses.  They claim the glass makes a difference.  Within the past few years, Jim Koch of the Boston Beer Company, the makers of Samuel Adams, hired a company, TIAX, to help them develop the perfect beer glass (shown to the right, click for a larger picture) to showcase the Boston Lager.  From their website:

The key requirements for the perfect glass for Samuel Adams Boston Lager included: delivering sweetness from the malt; maximizing the hops aroma and flavor; maintaining the ideal temperature; supporting a rich and creamy head; and sustaining the right amount of carbonation.

Many restaurants have begun using this glass to serve their Samuel Adams Boston Lager.

So, do these glasses make a difference?

I recently tried the perfect glass/Boston Lager combination at a local restaurant, and I have to agree, it made my Boston Lager better.  Since this experience, I have used a goblet, tulip glass, wheat beer glass, pilsner glass, or even a wine glass to drink many of the different beers I purchase, and it has made my beer more enjoyable.

So, what of the common tapered pint glass?  It has been said that it was intended to mix drinks, and was never meant to dispense a beer.  So the next time you want to relax with a beer, a pint glass is better than out of the bottle, but the proper glass is even better and makes a world of difference.

Want to try it for yourself?  The next time you visit your local Applebee’s or Red Lobster, ask for a Samuel Adams Boston Lager in the Samuel Adams glass.  Let us know what you think!