Great Basin Brewing

We were in Reno for the weekend and were bummed out because ski lifts on Mt. Rose closed early due to 90mph winds. So we had to kill time. Looking for something to do, we realized that Reno has been bubbling a bit as a new microbrew town with apparently its oldest staple being the Great Basin Brewery.
Great Basin has a cool history — its founders (still owners?) are pioneers for Nevada brewing in that they successfully lobbied the state to allow brewpubs, eventually opening up the first, Great Basin in 1993. Cheers to them!
We took a cab from Circus Circus downtown to the Sparks location which was about a 10 minute Über ride ($ 8-​$ 10 bucks). The brewery /​bar /​restaurant is right across the freeway and down the street from the Nugget. The area has a cool little strip of bars to check out.
Beer: with a beer advocate rating of 87, I had pretty decent sized expectations. The beer definitely did not disappoint. I had a flight of 6 4oz beers ($ 1.50 each) and tried the Black Eye PA, Icky IPA, Nevada Gold, Nitro Milk Stout and the Wheeler Peak Wheat.
The Icky was on the sweeter side of the IPA spectrum (at least for my palette, for me, I tend to like more bitter beers), but was enjoyable. The Black Eye was also pretty good.
Food: We had a basket of garlic fries, a basket of sweet potato crisscut fries and nachos and this was very filling for 3 people. The nacho plate was a little pricy with chicken included but it is a solid hitter. The sweet potato crisscut fries were off the chain! I wish we tried something else as there was a wide selection of food on their menu (American /​bar food cuisine). Based on the limited food we tried, I was satisfied.
Service: it took a little while to get seated but once we sat, the waitress who helped us was very kind, smiling and attentive in terms of checking on us and refilling with drinks.
Atmosphere: it was definitely a home-​y feeling place within a typical bar setting. There was ample space for seating of either couples or groups of 4 people. For bigger groups, tables could be easily put together. The place appeared clean and in order and was comfortable.
I would venture back sometime if in the area for sure.
Beer: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4

We went for the first time, yesterday. We had the lettuce wrap appetizer, along with chips and salsa. Excellent! The wraps were amazingly delish. We also had fish and chips and fish tacos. Super great! Hubby said they were the best fish and chips he’s had. The beer was great, atmosphere was too. Excellent food and service, thank you Zack! We’ll be back!

Mmm I love this place. The beer is yummy, I always get the wheeler peak wheat, jalapeño beer, or the bitchin berry. The jalapeño wontons are awesome and I seem to always go back to the barley crusted chicken salad. I add blue cheese crumbles. The only reason I give this place 4 instead of 5 stars, the service is always hit or miss. It’s a shame when it’s a miss.

I am a huge fan of bar food and Great Basin has some of my favorites! The mac and cheese with barley crusted chicken is one of the best mac and cheeses I’ve ever had. The Icky bread that comes with it is amazing. I’m not a beer drinker, but my beer drinking friends love the selection on tap.
My last visit was for my birthday with a party of 3 on the Monday night after New Years. There was no wait to be seated and it was moderately busy. We ordered the stuffed peppers and garlic fries for an appetizer, both were amazing. The stuffed peppers are big! I got my favorite, the mac and cheese while my guests ordered a burger and a dinner salad. Everyone enjoyed their dinner at the table. We shared the brownie sundae… oh my it was soooooo delicious! I was super stoked to find out the brownie didn’t have nuts and the chocolate sauce was amazing.
I used to love open mic night and the live music, especially when The Whitney Myer Band was playing. I haven’t been in on a weekend in awhile, but I hope they still have live music every now and then.

This place is by far my favorite brewery in Reno. My friends and I come here a few times a month and are never disappointed. The beer selection varies and keeps us in their toes. Great Basin always has amazing IPA’s. They also have a punch card where after you go there 10 times, you can grab an envelope out of a container. You can win anything from a $ 10 coupon to a keg! Highly recommend.

Great find! I was staying at the Nugget down the street for a trade show and was not super stoked about the food choices there. Stumbled upon Great Basin by luck. The fish tacos are awesome! Had the Icky and Death Wish beers, both were great. The staff is friendly and will let you try any of the brews. Get the hell out of the Nugget and have some good beer and food at the Great Basin!

Great Basin is a local favorite for craft brews and good food. This is an establishment worth frequenting. Though I’ve tried and enjoyed many things on the menu, it’s hard for me to pass up the Philly Cheesesteak; quality meat, perfectly cooked onions and peppers, tasty cheese, all on their signature Icky bread. Try it with the garlic fries for a great combination.
Lots of greats beers to choose from… You’re sure to find something you like.

So checking in at the front desk to get a table. The girl was so funny because she did exactly what most people do when I first introduce myself, she was like really? Is that really your name? Then I’m like yes that really is my name hehe. But anyways it was going to be 10 – 15 minute wait. For a Tuesday night is was busy. I don’t really think we waited to long for our table. It is nice that they have a place for you to sit while you wait for your table. Once we got to our table our waitress was there in under 10 minutes to greet us and take our drinks. But we were ready to order because we were so hungry. She took our order and appetizer came in a very timely manner for being busy. The noise was a bite on the loud size but I think that was not an issue to us because we where so busy stuffing our faces because we were hungry. The food was good and the staff was great. Very friendly and inviting. Thank you for great service. You guys are awesome and keep up the good work.
Parking here is not bad. We got lucky and got one spot close to the door. But other than that is was packed. But if you use the parking garage you can get a spot. It is always nice to get a spot by the door. Makes for an easy get away after the stuff you with food. You can just waddle back to your car haha. Oh they make their own drinks here. So I’m not a big beer guy but I like drink their beers here from time to time. Also we got their homemade root beer. I don’t usually like root beer. But this root beer made me a believer. It was good. For dinner we got ribs and the Sheppard pie. I would recommend both these items. Also the salmon was good when I got it last time. I would definitely go back for more. Thanks for reading my review.

Strutted up to Great Basin with three friends looking to catch Derek playing music outside on stage. Many people we knew were sitting outside enjoy the weather so we bopped inside for a drink. I was looking for a sour but no luck. I sampled the Whoop ass wit but it was not for me so I went with the bitchin berry.
We hovered outside hoping a table would open with a good view of the bassist before going on. Nick and I went inside and got our name on the list. We ended up with the perfect spot. The bassist was the center of attention, we were outside and along the wall of the building. We ordered some fries, chips and salsa, and an ice cream beer float drink. The fries were not bad, the chips and salsa were good (I like my salsa a little spicier) but I didn’t care for the float dessert. I didn’t mind the ice cream with beer flavor but I found it was not my taste to drink the beer with the ice cream.
We later order a round of bloody mary’s before two more friends joined us. Two of the friends and I enjoy reviewing bloody mary’s together. This one was no bueno. We gave it a ³⁄₁₀. This was a disappointment because of the great one we ordered at the Reno location. It could have been the timing of night vs afternoon, who knows. I wasn’t wowed by anything there. The bar staff was pretty great though! Our server struggled a little but it was a busy night. I probably would go back again only if it was to sit inside at the bar for a beer or to catch music.

Great Basin Brewing Co. was one of the original craft brewing pioneers in Northern Nevada and I think they make some incredible beer. The creativity and variety is something to be admired, and the growth and success is too. From Chile Beso to Dawn Patrol, their Bitchin’ Berry and, of course, the legendary Icky, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone in Reno Sparks that doesn’t have at least one favorite in their constantly expanding portfolio. And to top it all off, their support of this community is outrageous.
The original location in Victorian Square has a ton of character, and that’s why I love going here for a drink. The bar is a great place to hang out solo or a few friends and I love that you get the brewery as a backdrop. They also have plenty of tables, inside and outside, to host a larger group as well. The service has always been on point here, and the staff is super friendly and helpful, but most of all knowledgeable about the beer and menu. With such a wide variety it’s nice to have their guidance.
All of that said, while I love the drinks, service and atmosphere, the food has just never wowed me. Ok, the Icky Bread is AMAZING and there have been a few visits where all I’ve eaten is that with butter and a beer! The fish and chips are delicious and the cucumber salad is light and refreshing, the pizzas they serve at the Reno location are awesome, the fried zucchini is legit and the garlic fries ain’t nothing to mess with, but anytime I stray from those items food I’m left wanting a bit more.
Tonight we ordered garlic fries, the Thai Sweet & Hot wings, and spinach artichoke dip. The fries were fantastic, as always, but the spinach dip was really one note and the chips served with it were stale. The wings had great flavor, but they weren’t fried long enough to crisp up the skin, which is a major pet peeve of mine. All in all, the food was a-​ok, but I want this menu to have me rushing back.
I’m a fan of this Reno Sparks institution, and this review is a solid 3.5 stars factoring in the service, beer, atmosphere, and good food and drink I’ve enjoyed in the past. I guess I just wish, in general, that the food was held to the same high standards as the beer. If it were, this would quickly become a regular spot for me. I’m silly for perfect pub grub.

I’ve been here a hundred times, truly, I was one of the first customers back in 1993 and have been a fan/​regular ever since. These guys started the craft beer movement in Reno and Sparks before it was even a thing.
I love the atmosphere of this location best out of the two but it may also be because I grew up around this location. I’m a proud Sparks Railroader through and through.
I recently moved back to Sparks and am now closer to my hometown favorite location.
The beer is fantastic, award winning and there is a brew for every palate. Darks, lights, wheaty, hoppy, fruity, whatever you like, they’ve got it and they know how to brew it well. If you don’t like beer, you’re covered with craft cocktails and wine choices too.
The food has always been delicious and creative. They are great with pairing the menu with the beer too.
Some of my favorites in years past have gone away from the menu but change is inevitable and they keep up with the times and create new and wonderful dishes as times change. The garlic fries (a long time staple) are a must try (unless you’re on a first date) and the happy hour tacos are also a great bet. From the fresh made beer bread to the mac and cheese the menu has a solid list of delicious choices for anyone.
Besides the craft beers, and great food. In the summer you can sit outside and can often enjoy live music. Inside you can enjoy open mic nights, Amateur comedians and tons of smart Sparks locals who know where to eat in downtown Sparks.

I can’t believe I haven’t already written a review here already. Well the time has come.
The atmosphere is very casual. Jeans and a T-​shirt or shorts and flip flops. The walls are decorated in a tribute to many things beer and a tribute to the lore of brewing. The staff is a blend of young bohemians who are friendly, engaging, and happy to serve you.
Numerous trips here and I’ve always enjoyed their food. On my most recent trip, the beer braised prime rib was good, nicely marbled, but a little difficult to cut; a fair part of that lies on me as I like very rare meat and that is typically part of the bargain. The accompanying vegetables were perfectly prepared and the mashed potatoes were equally good. Their black and bleu burger is amazing, tasty, succulent, and if you love bleu cheese as I do, it will blow your tastebuds it’s so good. The jalapeño wontons are amazing, made more so by the delicious dip it is served with on the side. They may have gone too far for some on the bacon that covers the Mac ‘n cheese, but I am not amongst those people. Their sausage trio is delicioso and housemade. I nearly forgot to mention the garlic fries, can you say garlectable? Finally, on this note, the beef and barley stew is served in their house made Ichy (no, it’s not icky, it’s Ichy and it’s delicious) bread. You can hardly eat the whole thing, but can’t help but to eat the whole thing, bread bowl and all; of course the bread is so savory having soaked up all that gravy.
On to the beer. It’s all good, brewed in house by skilled master brewers. I wish I knew them all personally and we could hang out. Outlaw milk stout is very good, I’ve noticed some milk stouts can be heavy on the galactose but not this one, it’s well balanced and what makes it better here is its availability on CO2 or nitrogen. I’ve long been a fan of their Ichthyosaur IPA, which is also a very good well balanced IPA; if I had a gripe about it, mine would only be to go heavier on the hop additions, but I’m a huge hop head so that’s probably on me. Their Russian imperial stout is good and it’s a big beer so it’s served in a smaller tulip glass, but that’s the way it is, it’s still a delicious beer.
Bottom line they make great beers and better yet, you can take a six pack home with you. For that matter you can find a few of them at your local grocer. They also have their brew in kegs, so take it home in bulk.