Las Vegas, that western adult playground where you can let loose and free yourself from the constraints of society, is unquestionably a place where memories are made. Granted, some of those memories are the type you may not want to repeat in the company of others, but there is one area where Las Vegas- influenced cognitive imprints are safe to replay time and time again. That area is beer and the craft beer scene in Las Vegas continues to grow, mature, and improve year by year. I got to visit a few craft beer wonderlands when I visited Sin City with my family and one that we all enjoyed is Chicago Brewing, located at 2201 S. Fort Apache Rd., Las Vegas, NV, west of the famed Strip.
Eat, Drink, Light(en) Up
Searching for Las Vegas area breweries with the family, Chicago Brewing caught my attention for several reasons. I noticed that the online reviews were generally positive, as were reviews of the beer. I also noticed that the place was deemed family friendly, so I felt comfortable dining here with the wife and two young tweens in tow.
But what probably got my attention more than anything was the name. ‘Why is a Lag Vegas brewery/brewpub named Chicago Brewing’, I wondered aloud. Once I visited, it became apparent why the founders selected this name. It’s because the food, which is basically pub style grub with an assortment of entrees, burgers, sandwiches, desserts, pizza, wraps, and appetizers, has a Chicago personality and nowhere is this more obvious than with the pizza, which is prepared Chicago style.
My family ordered a wide range of foods, like we usually do, both to satisfy individual preferences and for sharing purposes. We loved the pretzel bites with cheese and mustard dipping sauce. The pretzels themselves were ordinary, but the sauce? It was truly the bomb. My sliders and coleslaw were great with my beer and the Magnificent Mile Meat Lover pizza, with it sausage, pepperoni, ham, bacon, meatballs & mozzarella cheese, is like a true slice of the Windy City, with enough protein, fat, and calories to fuel the bod for several days.
Chicago Brewing features a distinct looking brick building and you know you’ve found the right place when you see the large, red truck parked outside. Once you walk through the entrance, you will see the main dining area straight ahead, but there is also outdoor seating and a cigar lounge upstairs. And it would be impossible not to notice the large banners adorning the walls, boasting of Chicago Brewing’s many Great American Beer Festival medals. Some of these awards date almost all the way back to when Chicago Brewing was founded in 1999.
How About Some Brew?
My cup overfloweth at Chicago Brewing. They had a large number and variety of beers on tap when I visited and I tasted a bunch. Here is a list of the beers I tried, in alphabetical order, followed by the style and my Untappd rating on a 5 point scale:
- All Nighter, Golden Ale, 3.25
- Bocky Balboa Heavy Wheat Champ, Weizenbock, 4.25
- Brewcasso’s Self Esteem, California Common, 3
- Hardway, IPA, 4
- Old Town Brown, American Brown, 3.75
- Ramblin Reck, Red Ale 3.5
- Show us Your Rubies, Sour Ale, 3.75
- Sun Down, Irish Stout, 3.75
- Weizenheimer, Hefeweizen, 3
The beer flight sampler is served on a two- tiered rotating carousel, which not only looks cool, it makes it easy to get to the beer you like with less chance of knocking things over and spilling the precious liquid. This is an excellent way to sample the different suds and discover which one you like best.
Chicago Brewing has its house beers, like Hardway IPA, Old Town Brown, Sun Down Stout, and others, which are almost always available. Expect to find at least one or two specialty or seasonal beers on tap as well, when you visit. One of the limited release beers I tried, Bocky Balboa Heavy Wheat Champ, turned out to be my personal favorite. It’s brewed in the German weizenbock tradition with lots of grainy wheat and yeasty character.
They are unpretentious at Chicago Brewing. If you don’t feel the need or desire to sample the house- brewed beers, they have plenty of other beers and ciders on tap and in bottles, with familiar names like Wasatch, Duvel, Seadog, Chimay, Dogfish Head, and others.
Memories Worth Sharing
Chicago Brewing is a welcome reprieve from a day of entertainment. We visited here one afternoon, right after the kids engaged in ice skating on the Strip and right after I finished taking a few spins of the roulette wheel. We were hungry and I was thirsty for some crafted suds, so Chicago Brewing seemed like the place to go for a family drinking and dining adventure.
I had heard about Chicago Brewing long ago, but its name escaped me before I started researching breweries to visit in Las Vegas. Once I saw the name and looked up a few facts, the memories started to return. I had, indeed, heard of Chicago Brewing in the past, and the reason was because of its many awards. Chicago Brewing has racked up quite a few metals and other awards over the years, and they like to brag a little, as you will notice when you enter the main dining area and gaze at the large banners on the walls.
Chicago Brewing does serve up some nice, agreeable, and well- crafted beers and I am happy to report that the food is every bit as good as the beer. Even a simple appetizer like the pretzel bites were memorable and all members of the family reacted positively when I inquired about their opinion of this and other foods. It’s typical for at least one family member to find an issue with something, but everyone was happy with Chicago Brewing and its Windy City- accented pub grub.
I’m not sure when I will make my way back to Vegas and I’m always wary when I visit because, well, you just never know what could happen and where. But in a city where excess is the norm and keeping secrets is commonplace, it’s nice to know that one bit of information can be readily shared: Las Vegas has a solid beer scene and Chicago Brewing is at the forefront of a Sin City craft beer uprising. Pay a visit to Chicago Brewing the next time you’re in Las Vegas. And tell them Great Beer Now sent you.
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