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Craft Beer’s Golden Age My A**: Craft Breweries Are Just Getting Started.

I’ve been reading a lot of articles and posts recently about the state of craft beer. Much of the literature paints a doomsday scenario, going as far to say the golden age of craft brew is upon us (I’m sure much of that, like most things on the internet, is due to regurgitated copies of copies with little to no analysis or original thought.) Well…I beg to differ with those profiteering plagiarists.

As an avid craft beer drinker who has been enjoying and brewing craft beer since college in the early 2000’s, I truly appreciate the plethora of choices on the shelves. Back then, in San Luis Obispo at least, craft beer meant Firestone Walker and Sam Adams. Of course, Rolling Rock, Natty Light and Pabst were always available and affordable, but one had to have a few more bucks to get the top-shelf brew. You certainly weren’t going to throw a kegger with or pass out those special beers to your friends. It’s a different day now and I’m glad craft beer has finally gotten to the point of recognition, acceptance and choice.

Is there some perversion of the term “craft” by mega producers snatching up small-brew outfits? Sure, without a doubt. “Crafty” beers are here to stay as long as the monopolies of big beer are allowed to thrive. However, still the vast majority of craft beer is still brewed by microbreweries (facts).

Given this fact, I feel craft beer is just starting to take off.

Look around…a lot of cities and towns in the United States–maybe yours–with a bustling and growing economy are showing signs of life. In down towns and main streets old restaurants are filled. New restaurants are popping up. Art galleries actually have interesting art to ponder. There is usually a wine tasting room nearby. And, by an incredible accident of sorts, there may be a brewery or two serving as the anchor of the epicenter of prosperity. All this activity nurtures a local culture while nourishing its economy.

Breweries have a long history of being economic catalysts. Not only do they create jobs directly in the operation, but the stakeholders are plenty. Local suppliers, bottlers, shippers, and surrounding business all benefit. For example, if there’s no downtown, because many breweries are located in industrial parks, the brewery will invite food trucks to set up shop creating a win-win-win scenario for the customer, chef and brewer alike. Not to mention the tiny bit of extra visibility unrelated or “hidden” businesses get from the increased foot traffic.

I only mention the economic factor because towns and cities are growing and breweries seem to be the bellwether of development. At the same time, Millennials’ tastes and preferences are finally coming to the forefront as their purchase power increases and Baby Boomers’ finances are reduced to fixed income and medical bills, and the need for gathering places is only increasing as social media dominates folks lives. With all the changes going on, how can one say the golden age of craft brew is waning? Simply because profits aren’t as large or market share is stagnating or there’s too many beers out there? Rather than focus on those metrics, allow me to introduce one more: customer satisfaction.

It seems customer satisfaction keeps growing as craft beer drinkers can get nearly any type of beer they can dream of. So let’s not lose sight of the goal that customer satisfaction is paramount in any industry. No matter the other metrics, if beer drinkers aren’t happy with the beer they’re drinking, the market will surely dry up and perish like a raisin in the sun. Until that time, plan to see more microbreweries come into the fold and introduce the dawn of craft beer–putting all that “golden-age” talk to the side.

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Tenaya Creek Brewery – Las Vegas, NV

tenaya creek sampler craft beer tix craftbeertix.com 2

Tenaya Creek Brewery

Las Vegas Craft Beer Tenaya Creek Is One Of My Favorites

tenaya creek sampler craft beer tix craftbeertix.com 7Tenaya Creek Brewery sits right across from the historically-significant site of the Moulin Rouge. The Moulin Rouge was once known for acts like Louis Armstrong and The Rat Pack, but that same West Las Vegas area is also known for being the center of Las Vegas’ civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s where integration was first introduced to Las Vegas. Paying tribute to this legacy, Tenaya Creek Brewery integrates flavors and aromas that defy assumptions of what craft beer is supposed to be while bringing people of different backgrounds together.

Entering the front door, one can’t help but notice the large brew operation in the back. It’s partitioned off by large glass windows so you can get a glimpse of the inner workings. The aroma of unbaked bread fills the taproom from the yeasts used in the process.tenaya creek sampler craft beer tix craftbeertix.com 5

The taproom is spacious, light, and comfortable with no cigarette smoke to linger in your nostrils. Wrapped in stainless steel, the industrial theme conjures up an image of a mad alchemist in the back laboratory, bubbling with delight of the elixirs fermenting away that will send his patrons into a drunken euphoria and keep them coming back for more.tenaya creek sampler craft beer tix craftbeertix.com 4

Pulling up a seat at the bar, I was greeted by a smiling Katy, who was extremely knowledgeable and guided me through the myriad of micros on tap. Tenaya has a number of small-batch test beers on hand too. These test beers are not around for long so be sure to get a taste while you can. Of the beers I tried, all were great, but several stood out:

  • Phantasm – A beautiful blend of vanilla pleases the nose while a nutty backdrop comforts the maple and cocoa finish. Every ingredient gets a solo through the taste while helping each other achieve a great performance.
  • Tandem – At 9%, this double IPA possess an enormous bouquet of citrusy hops, yet is as smooth and silky as the tunes that played across the street decades ago.
  • Hop Ride IPA – The citrus aroma captivates, while the Magnum & Summit hops influence your taste buds to seek another sip and fall in love with the bitter side of the craft.

tenaya creek sampler craft beer tix craftbeertix.com 3Tenaya Creek is easily a favorite of mine to visit and recommend to friends out of town. It’s not too far off The Strip and you get sip some stellar Las Vegas craft beer right on the historic Pioneer Trail.

Update: I recently brought my father here to pregame before the Mountain West Men’s Basketball Tournament. Not only did we have a great time, but the delicious craft brews on tap helped start the day of right.

Cheers!

Visit Tenaya Creek Brewery

Tenaya Creek Brewery, 831 W Bonanza Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89106