Great Basin Brewing is open on Highway 395 in Minden. Great Basin’s butcher Frank Charez shows some of the meat. Photo by Sarah Drinkwine.
After just celebrating 30 years of craft beer and food services in three Western Nevada locations, the Great Basin Brewing Co. launched into another year with its grand opening in Minden late last month.
“It’s really cool to open our new location in our 30th year,” said Local Food Group Marketing Director Brennan Best.
Great Basin Regional Manager Ryan Hamel said at least 360 people were at the grand opening.
“We had a full house, both inside and outside,” he said. “The feedback has been very positive and receptive. The Detroit pizza and fire roasted brussels sprouts have been popular and people are really fired up.”
With a reputation for being Nevada’s oldest and most award winning brewery, Great Basin Brewing Company opened Dec. 4, 1993, in Sparks by Brewmaster and Founder Tom Young and his wife Bonda.
Success of the first opening was met by local rave reviews over their Brewmaster’s special Ichthyosaur IPA and winning their first two medals at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival in 1994.
Since then, Great Basin Brewing Co. has received 16 Great American Beer Festival medals and nine World Beer Cup awards and distributes in Nevada, California, Utah and Idaho.
In September 2021, Great Basin Brewing Co. merged with Local Food Group, launching the brewing company into a restaurant and brewing experience and expanding to Reno, Carson City and now Minden.
Local Food Group operates multiple restaurants in Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Gardnerville, including Liberty Food & Wine Exchange, Pizzeria Lupo, Cucina Lupo and the Overland Restaurant & Pub. The food group provides a management overlay that encompasses front of the house and back of the house operations along with financial management and administrative support.
While the other three locations are restaurant experiences, the Minden location is more “roadside service,” said Best.
“It’s not the same as the other locations, this style will be different and we hope it works out well,” said Best.
The restaurant has kiosk and counter cashiers for ordering, a fountain drink and self-serve station, malts, milk shakes, and ice cream with online ordering options, and a full service bar.
Though different in ordering style, the Minden location remains true to Great Basin Brewing Co.’s craft beer, gourmet foods, Park Ranch Meats, and a butcher shop with local bred beef.
“We’re proud to offer local products with the concept of drinking a beer made from the grain that feeds the cow that fills your burger,” said Best.
Best said the Minden restaurant’s menu gears around burgers, New York and Detroit style pizzas along with other Great Basin favorites.
“This space is special because we want it to be a gathering place for the entire community, with a spacious outdoor patio, a fire pit, outdoor activities, a comfortable atmosphere and a view of the Sierras,” said Best. “We’re looking forward to this spot and to it growing.”
