| Great Basin Brewing Co. | |
| Type: | Private |
| Foundation: | 1993 |
| Location City: | Sparks, NV |
| Location Country: | United States |
| Key People: | Cameron Kelly[1] |
| Products: | Beer |
| Production: | 7,932 barrels (2013)[2] |
| Owner: | Tom Young |
| Homepage: | greatbasinbrewingco.com |
Great Basin Brewing Co. is a brewery headquartered in Sparks, Nevada. It is Nevada's largest and oldest currently operating brewery[3] —though not the state's longest operated.[4] Great Basin beers are available as bottled draught beer at over 400 locations in Northern Nevada and the surrounding regions, including Aces Ballpark. It also serves beer at 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.
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.[5] The original brewery and restaurant is on Victorian Square in Sparks. Its 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.[6] Great Basin began regular bottling operations in 2011 (holiday releases had previously been available for several years, but on the scale of a few hundred bottles a year) and currently bottles three of their flagship brews.[7] [8] As demand increased further, a third facility was established when Great Basin moved into the warehouse formerly occupied by the defunct Buckbean Brewery.[9] Along with the facility, it also acquired Buckbeans 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 its millionth beer.[10] Great Basin saw increases in business every year during its first 20 years in operation.[11] Taps & Tanks no longer serves the public due to new regulations on bars, but beer is still brewed and bottled there. In September of 2021, Great Basin merged with Local Food Group and expanded into Carson, Nevada. [12] In December of 2023, Great Basin celebrated 30 years of operations.[13] In 2024, Great Basin has expanded to Minden, Nevada.[14]
Great Basin brews several different beer styles and maintains ten to fourteen beers on tap.[15] Many of its brews are seasonal or available for a limited time. Cask conditioned, barrel aged and nitrogenated beers are available by the glass on location.
Great Basin also integrates its beers into its food menu.[16] It reuses 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.[17]
Great Basin's brews have garnered several awards at many national and international beer competitions.[18] [19]
| Name | Style | Honors | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitchin' Berry | Fruit wheat beer | Great American Beer Festival- 2013-Silver, 2019- Gold. World Beer Cup 2018 - Bronze | |
| Black Rock ESB | Extra Special Bitter | 2001 World Beer Cup Silver | |
| Blood Orange Wit | Fruited Belgian | 2018 Great American Beer Festival Silver | |
| Cerveza ChileBeso | Jalapeño-spiced pilsner | 1999 Great American Beer Festival Gold, 1997 Great American Beer Festival Gold, 1994 Great American Beer Festival Gold | |
| Death by Chocolate Stout | Chocolate-flavored stout | 2002 World Beer Cup Gold | |
| Firelit Haze | Hazy IPA | 2021 USA Beer Ratings SIlver | |
| Ichthyosaur IPA | India Pale Ale | 2006 World Beer Championships Silver, 2020 Best of Craft Gold, 2021 USA Beer Ratings Silver | |
| Jackpot Porter | Porter | 2012 Beverage Testing Institute 86 | |
| Leave No Trace Lager | Munich Style Helles Lager | 2021 USA Beer Ratings Gold | |
| Nevada Gold | Kölsch | 2001 Beverage Testing Institute Silver | |
| Outlaw Milk Stout[20] | Sweet oatmeal stout | 2014 World Beer Cup Silver, 2014 Great American Beer Festival Bronze, 2012 World Beer Cup Silver,[21] 2011 Great American Beer Festival Bronze,[22] 2008 World Beer Cup Silver, 2002 World Beer Championship Silver, 2012 Beverage Testing Institute 86, 2019 Best of Craft Gold, 2021 USA Beer Ratings Silver | |
| Red Nose Holiday Wassail | Christmas beer | 2012 Beverage Testing Institute 86 | |
| Rosemary Rye Patch | Rosemary-spiced rye beer | 1998 Great American Beer Festival Gold | |
| Slam Dunkel | Dunkel | 2008 World Beer Cup Silver, 2001 World Beer Cup Bronze, 2000 Great American Beer Festival Silver | |
| Smokecreek Rauchbier | Rauchbier | 2006 Great American Beer Festival Gold | |
| Stone Mother Märzen | Märzen | 2006 World Beer Championships Bronze | |
| Tectonic Event DIPA | Double India Pale Ale | 2018 New York International Beer Competition Gold, 2021 USA Beer Ratings SIlver | |
| Truckee River Red Ale | Red/Amber Ale | 2018 World Beer Cup Bronze | |
| Whoop-Ass Witbier | Witbier | 2010 World Beer Cup Bronze,[23] 2013 Beverage Testing Institute 87 | |
| Wild Horse Ale | Altbier-style amber ale | 1995 Great American Beer Festival Bronze, 1994 Great American Beer Festival Bronze, 2018 Best of Craft Gold | |
| Wild Lemon Wheat | Wheat ale | 2010 Great American Beer Festival Bronze[24] |