Buckbean Brewery

This was a fun place. I have been told that it is now closed.

The beer is superb and unique, in my opinion. The staff are usually courteous and prompt. They may not be experts on beer but that is trivial. Considering that they freely offer samples and then I can make up my own mind. The beers are not the strongest but they are unique. I find the Oktoberfest and Roler Bock (both seasonals) to be smooth and satisfying. Overall, I find the brewery pleasant, low key, and a place to get some good beer that is not too expensive.

At this point I’ve nothing else to believe about Buckbean and their beer beyond the obvious fact that it’s a joke and a gimmick. They can their beer. OK. They could pour their beer into filet mignon, wrap it in apple smoked bacon and deep fry it, and the whole thing would still leave me searching for my Boston Terriers ass to lick only to get the taste of their schwill off my tongue. I could take a dump into an aluminum can, and it would still just be a can full of shit.
Their two staples, which I’ve had off and on throughout the past few years since they opened doors in Reno in 2007, were relatively flat, unbalanced and pedestrian in flavor. Orange Blossom and some red ale named after a duck. I couldn’t tell the difference, the experience was too close to drinking a glass of tap water.
So I was reluctant when my girl told me she had a growler coupon to cash in there. It was a good deal and I was short on cash for my weekend buzz so I quiesced. My past experience interacting w/​Dan Kahn and a few other folks there has been an attitude of aloof condensation and so I didn’t have high hopes for personality, but I did want my growlers filled for cheap so I was willing to tolerate it.
The bartender this Friday apparently made a point of not dispelling my preconceived prejudice against Buckbean. He was vapid and distracted, and knew nothing about the beer he was serving. The further events were uneventful… had a pint, taste just OK, gathered our booty and went home.
It was when I got home and really poured into the two beers we had filled our growlers with; an IPA and the Duck Piss Red or some such name which was supposed to be an amber. To qualify, prior to leaving the house, I washed both growlers with dish soap and rinsed and then a drop of iodine and rinsed thoroughly. They were both sterile and clean. Both beers were entirely overwhelmed by Diacetyl. It’s a bacterial byproduct of fermentation and skilled brewers can control it, and actually use it to enhance their beers flavor given certain malt combos, but we’re talking about Dan Kahn here. The buttery, creamy, carmel sickness… even on the IPA was just disgusting. Waste of $ 10. Both growlers were down the drain as that’s the only place for Buckbean’s schwill. I’ve lived in Reno a long time and there are some really quality brewers and beers coming out of this town. Buckbean is just a disgrace.

Stopped by for their limited tasting hours and definitely were not disappointed. They had six beers on tap and you get a free sample of each. They were outstanding. I have been to many breweries on Nor Cal and I think this place is right up there. The beers are not widely available except in the Reno area but I would make the drive there just to pick some up. YUM

This is my favorite brewery in Reno. Not only is the beer really tasty, the atmosphere in the joint is great.
Taste all of their beers at the bar, buy a pint of your favorite, and play a round of darts.
Great place to grab a beer on a hot afternoon.

Happy Birthday Buck Bean!

First of all, ignore the 1 star review; what a pompous maroon.
I dropped into Reno for just 2 nights, to work an event, and had some down time, so, of course, Unilocaled some good beer. Lo and behold, local Reno brewer, Buckbean Brewery. (BTW, it is easy to miss, in a strip mall/​warehouse, the address is on Rock, but go south of Rock on McCarron to easily find the Entrance.)
The Orange Blossom Ale is a revelation. Delicious. Not to be confused with Oranjeboom or that swill known as Blue Moon, Orange Blossom is actually a delightful full-​bodied ale, with a wonderful hint of Orange Blossom on the nose. (Just to be clear, I can’t stand fruit flavored beers, but this is only named after a flower.) You can also get as many tastes as you want of each type (dangerous), and they sell 4-​pack cans on sight (not sure if they will survive my checked bag).
Definitely worth the trip.
The only reason they don’t get 5 stars is the lack of grub, (though Patti did bring me a microwave pizza, a bag of Kettle chips, and free popcorn; more than enough for a late lunch).
A Strong Recommendation.

Great beer. Friendly locals. Could use some music or something, but if you like it quiet, then this is your place! Give the Orange Blossom a try, it’s tasty, especially during the hot summer months. Be careful that you don’t miss the entrance turn or you’ll be forced to play a fun game of U-​turns.

First of all, they are local! Secondly they are delicious! Im no Beer snob at all, but i know what I like and what i dont. My gf and I went here one afternoon, and we keep coming back. The gal working the tasting area, was great, her personality and her cordial demeanor was most appreciated. She didnt even have to talk us into buying a growler apiece. The product sells itself!
Some people may not like what they have to offer (its not a big selection, its like 4 beers), but they let you sample every one, sometimes more than once!
Go local business, you guys will succeed!

The one star review on here is a bunch of crap. What a great local story. Doug and Brewmaster Dan have done a fantastic job representing Reno and providing yet another craft brew for us locals to enjoy. Patti does a GREAT job serving up thirsty fans at the brewery, which has a ton of character, cheap beers, new batches to try, darts, and a huge wall collection of beers from around the world. Oh, and the beer? It’s tasty, the menu is growing and so is Dan’s talent.

Buckbean is the Bibo’s of beers (Reno people know what I mean).
I haven’t had the chance to visit their brewery, but their Orange Blossom and Dark Noddy beers are my favourites! amazing taste, not to heavy not too hoppy, the only beer that is comparable to the orange blossom is Hoegaarden, though I like the taste of Orange blossom better. I like that they sell this beer at Costco. I had some of my Dutch friends over during spring break and they loved it! They even asked me to bring some Buckbeans back next time I visit them.

As a starter brewing company they are doing a great job. Recently had their «Naughty» beer. Excellent! IPA is good, but personally I think it needs more hops and thought the spiciness was little strange.
Out of the three beers they sell in cans, my husband and I like the Red Ale.
Bonus: Last time we heard they will let you use their warehouse for gatherings for free if you buy their beer. For those who are looking for something on the cheap and know alot of beer drinkers its a great place to host a little party. No food, so bring your own.
Keep it up Buckbean. Wish we weren’t moving soon, because we would like to see you grow.

Went to Buckbean today after work with a friend to have a couple beers and to play darts. It’s a mellow «warehouse» building feel with a few tables and bar seats. If you remember that the establishment is more of a distribution site than your typical Microbrewery restaurant, you’ll like it. They have a super naughty dark that’s too strong for my taste. I believe it’s 11% and the alcohol is a bit overwhelming even considering it would be in the barley wine category. Their most popular has to be their orange blossom. It’s good, but something in it gives me heartburn and I can’t usually have more than one or two. Probably just me. I love the red they’ve come out with and that’s what I drank tonight. I can’t remember the official name, but it’s really good. I’ve never tried the new IPA, and probably won’t because I don’t like really bitter beers. One thing I really like is you can walk in and have a beer without having to wait hours for a seat or table like some of the other breweries in town. I’m still not sure I buy into the whole tin can container being better than bottles. The tap to me just tastes better than what I get out of the can. My two cents :-)

I will give this review one star but really it’s more of a half star. I can’t say really anything decent about their poor excuse for a beer because they are all swill. The Orange Blossom is far too sweet. The Black Noddy is supposedly a schwarzbier but tastes like slightly flavored tap water and the Tule Red tastes like kerosene. Now don’t get me wrong, I have fine tastes in beer running the gamut from really like ales to super dark porters but Buckbean doesn’t hit anything good about beer. I think the marketing has got them where they are but the product is horrible.
If you really need a local beer go to Great Basin or Silver Peak and try one of theirs, just avoid Buckbean if you actually want good beer.

Great beer! Love the idea of the canned craft beer and Buckbean is really proving that good beer CAN come in a CAN — no pun intended! They offer four or five beers on tap and you can grab a growler to refill for around $ 10 — the beer is amazing and the brew master will give you a tour if he’s not busy!

Before I start I would like to say that I have become very picky about the beer I drink. I only drink Bud when were out of everything else (including water).
That being said I really enjoy most of the beers I have tried from Buckbean. I’m more of a porter or dark beer kind of guy and would have to say that the Black Noddy is my favorite so far. The Orange Blossom is an everyperson kind of beer, especially for the ladies that like something crisp and a little fruity. I didn’t care for the Scottish Ale but I don’t really like any Scottish Ales in general. LOVE the IPA that recently came out; pale but not too pale. Overall the beer taste from the can isn’t different from getting it from the tap, just tastes a little fresher from the tap.
I enjoy heading down there on a Friday after work and filling up my growler. (If you don’t know what a «growler» is and you’re a beer drinker, go check it out… NOW!) Basically it’s a 64 oz. jug to fill up and reuse which is not only cost effective but environmentally friendly. If you’re unsure of what beer to get they can hook you up with a couple of tasters first. Everyone that I’ve met there is really nice and informational when it comes to beer and they really enjoy talking about their beer.
They have charity events such as dart tourneys every so often that I really want to check out soon. If you’re really into your beer you can take a self guided tour or even if you have alot of people you can schedule a guided tour. (just ask them for details). There is a few placese to sit and chat while enjoying a beer, but unfortunatly they don’t serve food… just mixed bowl snacks. That is the only drawback besides the hours. But if they are closed you can find the beer at a variety of pubs, bars, pizza places and at your local grocer.
I buy local and so should all of us especially now. This beer is for you!

The location is a bit difficult to find (the entrance is actually off of McCarran, and not Rock).
Basically a warehouse, and you can see all the brewing equipment in the back. They’ve got several dart boards, and it looks like they run leagues there. Small tasting/​seating area in the front, and a few more tables in the back.
I’m imagining the place is probably pretty slow most of the time, but for a group event, the space seems pretty good.

Buckbean has the most amazing beer — and it comes in cans so I can take it on hiking with me and enjoy a great beer at the end of a long hike! does it get any better? Support your local brewery!