As a former resident of Southern California, I used to be quite familiar with weekend trips to Las Vegas. Now that life has slowed down a bit and getting there is a little pricier than a three hour drive, I get out to Vegas about every other year…. but earlier this week that’s exactly where I found myself. Vegas.
One thing I figured is this will be a vacation away from good beer, and for the most part I was right. The beer of choice in Vegas seemed to be Bud Light in the aluminum “bottle”; talk about a beer wasteland… with one notable exception, The Hofbrauhaus
Designed to be a faithful recreation of the Hofbrauhaus in Munich (I wouldn’t know, I’ve never been), Eryn said it did look similar, which in Vegas I suppose is good enough. Here’s what I do know, this place was fun and the beer was good.
Pardon the photo quality, all I was armed with was my camera phone. Here’s a general interior shot, as you can see, it’s got a high ceiling making the place feel nice and open. The beer garden was closed for a private reception full of what I can only describe as drunken nerds. We arrived in town on a Sunday, so the place wasn’t packed, I’d say the room was running at about 40% capacity but I could see on a Friday or Saturday a packed house. 
Arriving on Sunday also meant I missed the tapping of their seasonal Maibock on Friday. Checking in at a healthy 7.2% ABV, the Maibock was surprisingly light with a nice malty body. Unfortunately they wouldn’t serve it in a liter mug, so here’s Eryn with our puny half liters of Maibock and Dunkel.
Like any good German beer hall there was a band. The photo may not tell the whole story, but I think it is safe to say these Austrians do quite well with the ladies. I don’t understand why the dude in the lower right is wearing a lei in a German beer hall.
The food also exceeded expectations. We ordered a sausage sampler plate seen below featuring some of the best frankfurters I’ve had this side of Ottos along with an excellent Brat and a chicken sausage. We also enjoyed a schnitzel with some delicious german potato salad.
After the Maibock, round two arrived in the form of a liter of the Dunkel. Sweeter and with a little bit of caramel, the Dunkel was another excellent beer.
As you can see, it’s BS Brewing approved.
So, with all this beer flowing, fun music playing and plenty of toasts, what do you think happens, even on a slower Sunday night? That’s right, lots of dancing on tables and benches. Although not this guy, another did do enough table dancing and high fiving people he eventually got cut off, so don’t go completely crazy. Drink responsibly.
Overall, if you’re looking for beer that isn’t Heineken, MGD or Michelob Amber Bock and you want to soak up a little of that faux-Vegas Octoberfest feel, I recommend the Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas as a refreshing change from the noise and clutter of the Strip.
The Hofbrauhaus is located on Paradise Road, across the street from the Hard Rock and is open from 11 to midnight on weekends (Fri & Sat).
Disclaimer: My meal and airfare was paid for by me; lodging was courtesy of my wife.
Chipper Dave Says:
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:46 amVisit Chipper Dave
Nice review. This reminds me exactly of the Hofbrauhaus in Newport, Kentucky – directly across the river from Cincinnati. They had excellent food and I also loved their Dunkel. If you’re going to the National Homebrewers Conference in Cincinnati this summer – you should visit that place as well. Cheers!
DR WORT Says:
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:53 pmVisit DR WORT
Fun little walk through….
The Hofbrauhaus in Las Vegas is supposed to resemble the Original Hofbrauhaus in Munich, Germany. I think it’s even owned by the Hofbrauhaus Brewing Co. which was established in 1589 in Germany.
Since I’ve been to both Hofbrauhaus’s, the one in Munich and the one in Vegas, I can report that the Vegas one is about 1/8 the size of the original Hofbrauhaus in Munich and although it has the general feel of the original Hofbrauhaus, the Vegas one is very Vegas like… A sterile waterdown rendition of the real thing. Kind of prop like, rather than authentic, like the Venetian or some of the other make believe or reconstructed renditions in Vegas.
Not to slight the Vegas Hofbrauhaus… The beer is excellent and fresh, just like in Munich! The food menu is, of course, different in Vegas compared to Munich with a more AMERICANIZED version of some German food specialties. The food is decent and German hearty.
Unlike the real Hofbrauhaus, the servers seemed pretty ignorant about the beers being served, calling them by color… “Do you want the Blonde, the amber or the dark?” In reference to a Helles, Martzen (Oktoberfest) and Dunkle. Being the “ASS” that I am, I always see how educated the beer servers are… ;-} The two Vegas Hofbrau servers we had that day failed miserably at describing, even in simple terms, what the beers tasted like or any descriptors. When in Germany, I had a German girl describe each Hofbrau beer in extreme detail…and she didn’t even speak English that well… :-O
I enjoyed my visit to the Vegas Hofbrauhaus, as well as, the beer and food. Service was OK, at best.
The Real German Menu can be found Here:
http://www.hofbraeuhaus.de/en/01/speisekarte_schwemme_en.html
…and the German Hofbrauhaus web info is here:
http://www.hofbraeuhaus.de/en/index_en.html
A little added info for your readers: Vegas is a Beer “Dead Zone,” but there are some beer oasis’ in the desert.
A short cab ride off the main strip, you can find 750 bottles of beer from around the world at the “Freakin’ Frog.” Plus, they have a Whiskey attic. For more info, check out: http://www.freakinfrog.com/
Other possible fresh and interesting beer zones in Vegas:
Barley’s Casino & Brewery
4500 East Sunset Road #30, Henderson, Nevada
(702) 458-2739
Chicago Brewing Co.
2201 S. Apache Road, Las Vegas , Nevada
(702) 254-3333
Draft House Barn & Casino
4543 N. Rancho, Las Vegas, Nevada
(702) 645-1404
Ellis Island Casino
4178 Koval Lane, Las Vegas, Nevada
(702) 733-8901
Main Street Station Casino, Brewery & Hotel
200 North Main, Las Vegas, Nevada
(702) 386-4431
Tenaya Creek Restaurant and Brewery
3101 N. Tenaya Way, Las Vegas, Nevada
(702) 362-7335
Cheers!