Golden, amber, caramel or coffee are just a few of the shades of beers being poured from the taps by two new breweries in Tahoe City. Some of these brews boast subtle notes of citrus and fruits, while others offer sour notes with a little bite. Beers can be mild, light and go down easy, while others are bold, robust and complex.
Whether you enjoy drinking IPA, a lighter Kolsch or Belgian-style beer, Tahoe National Brewery Company and Three Sheets Brewing Company have a brew for every palate. On a beautiful day, you can savor a flight of beers with a stunning view of Lake Tahoe.
Tahoe National Brewing Company
Tahoe National Brewing Company opened its doors in January. Tucked away behind Tahoe City Safeway, the location is epic and the vibe is charming. With a modern industrial decor, the open space has a large bar with 21 taps, a full cocktail bar and a house-made ginger ale that is to die for. There is plenty of seating inside and out with a deck that looks out over the lake.
On a beautiful day, you can savor a flight of beers with a stunning view of Lake Tahoe.
Owner David Renkert and chef and head brewer Kevin Lui have created a fantastic menu and delicious brews.
Renkert poured a Berlinerweiss beer for me and my friend Elan Patri, who joined me on a recent visit.
“We sometimes top it off with our house-made Chambord or Limoncello,” he said.
Parti opted to try the beer without topping it off with their liquors. We were off to a delicious start.
Renkart and Lui were working on a new recipe for steak tartar and asked us if we wanted to try it. Lui’s steak tartar was indeed out of this world and only the beginning of the culinary adventure we were about to embark on.
Renkart poured a flight of beers that included a Belgian Wit, English IPA, Vienna Lager, two different Kolsch’s, the Fletchers Farmhouse, a Saison-style brew, a light summer Porter and a Philadelphia Amber, an ode to Renkert’s roots. Along with our beers, we sampled items from the menu.
Lui prepared a shishito pepper appetizer with curried tahini and Za’atar praline cream and scallops with cured bacon, edamame, snap peas and crusty croutons in a basil emulsion. We also tried their Beets and Lola Salad with pea puree and harissa dressing and a delicious marinated burrata cheese in a basil emulsion with a creamy tomato sauce. Everything was delicious, including Lui’s rosemary focaccia.
“This is my first time here. It is the best new experience in Tahoe. Top-notch. I am super excited,” said Joanna Webb, a Tahoe City resident seated at the bar next to us.
Tahoe National Brewing plans to offer new seasonal dishes every few months, along with live music. Reckart envisions serving breakfast in the future, as well. | tahoenational.beer
Three Sheets Brewing Company
The charming and affable Gus Banuski is the creative force behind Three Sheets Brewery at Moe’s Original BBQ. It, too, offers views Lake Tahoe from its location at the Tahoe City Marina.
Banuski was the owner of the now-closed Tahoe Brew Tours and has been mastering the art of brewing. The name of the company was inspired by the nautical term, “three sheets to the wind,” which pays homage to its marina location.
“We have nine taps and sometimes we have 11,” said Banuski.
Banuski chose a flight of beers for Patri and me to sample. His current favorite is a Belgian Witbier, which was citrusy and delicious and went down easy — perfect for a hot day. It was crisp and delicious. He also poured a Kolsch, which I also loved, as well as a Session West Coast Pale Ale, a Hazy IPA and an Altbier.
Banuski also brought out his Saison, which has a lower alcohol content in the summer and higher in the winter. He’s currently working on a Czech-style Pilsner that takes six to eight weeks to produce and should be ready in the fall. All the beers we tasted perfectly paired with Moe’s barbequed food — thanks to our fabulous server, Gunner, who made suggestions and guided us to our menu choices.
Patri and I enjoyed barbecue ribs and buffalo chicken wings, collard greens, baked beans, potato salad, broccoli salad and cornbread. Everything we ate was amazing, flavorful and excellent. Every beer we drank was delicious. Banuski’s brews reflect the love and passion of his craft. | 3sheetsbrewing.com, moesbbqtahoe.com
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