Bartender Chris Jones poses in the brew area of Pigeon Head.
PHoto/EriC Marks
Here’s tHe rN&r’s guide tO lOcal breweries—iN tHe valley aNd beyONd
Over
the last two or three years, since the recovery of the local economy slowly started to pick up, there have been innumerable stories in the local news media, on social media, and chattered about in bars, by brad byNuM coffee shops and churches, about the supposed progress of one industry or another, bradb@ one neighborhood Newsreview.cOM or or another. The Reno restaurant scene, according to many local observers, seems to grow wider, more diverse and more sophisticated. Same with the coffee scene. I can’t tell you how many times
I’ve read that Reno’s art or music scenes are on the verge of “blowing up” into the national consciousness. (I’ve even, on occasion, been guilty of writing that claim myself.) Businesses in every sector of the city have started to claim that their blocks are poised to become “the next Midtown,” revitalized and rejuvenated. Every industry, be it outdoor recreation, medical marijuana, tech start-ups, or a damned battery factory, is going to “replace gambling” as the cornerstone of the Northern Nevada economy. Often, these claims are hyperbole— harmless exaggerations of the modest successes experienced locally after a
half-decade of bitter recession. But in a couple of cases the claims are not too far from the truth. Anyone who dines out regularly in Reno can’t deny how eclectic the local offerings have become—dishes designed in places all around the world are now made fresh with ingredients delivered daily from local farms. And whether downtown Reno, downtown Sparks, Wells Avenue, Fourth Street, the university area, or any other neighborhood becomes “the next Midtown,” it’s clear that Midtown is definitely Midtown. Where once there were only a few streets and unrelated businesses, now there’s a district where
people walk and shop. And there is one local industry were progress is quantifiable: beer. “It’s definitely booming and we’re excited to be part of that growth,” said Matt Johnson, co-owner and brewer of Imbib Custom Brews, 785 E. Second St., 470-5996. “It’s tangible. Not just in how much is being produced, but in how many jobs are being created. People are just excited. … If you look at the national data, the beer market has continued to grow, and the craft beer market is growing significantly faster than the big boys, and that’s reflected in Reno’s economy as well.”
brew Masters • cONtiNued ON Page 13 OPINION
|
NEWS
|
GREEN
|
FEATURE STORY
|
ARTS&CULTURE
|
ART OF THE STATE
|
FOODFINDS
|
FILM
|
MUSICBEAT
|
NIGHTCLUBS/CASINOS
|
THIS WEEK
|
MISCELLANY
|
DECEMBER 3, 2015
|
RN&R
|
11
