Walking along the eastern edge of the Fremont Street Experience, it’s hard not to notice the silo at the entrance of Banger Brewing, and while the silo does not contain any grain, it does serve as a beacon to alert passersby that there’s fresh beer being brewed inside.
Opened in 2013 as the first brewery on Fremont Street, Banger Brewing still remains as the only one on the bustling street, and over the years has garnered a following of beer fans that is a mix of about 60% tourists and 40% locals. It’s co-owned by Michael “Banger” Beaman, Nick Fischella, Roberto Mendoza and Eddie Quiogue. The longtime friends had been homebrewing as a group and appointed Beaman as the brewer, who at the time of the brewpub’s opening had nearly 10 years of brewing experience. (Beaman earned his nickname for his work ethic of “banging” it out when things get busy in a Strip restaurant that all four friends work at.)
The brewpub’s interior is equipped with rustic wood tables, red chairs, an epoxy floor and large windows providing natural light. A patio, which was enlarged during the pandemic, permits more outdoor seating, not to mention plenty of people-watching.
Among the core beers, the most popular include El Heffe Jalapeño Wheat (with fresh-roasted jalapeño, serrano, habanero and green and red bell peppers), Morning Joe Coffee Kölsch (infused with hazelnut and French caramel coffee beans), DTB (English-style brown ale) and Sandia (fresh watermelon, honey and orange peel). Rotating seasonals currently include Dangerous by Default, a 10% ABV English-style barleywine aged in a Heaven Hill bourbon barrel, and Haze and Loathing, a hazy IPA with hop notes resembling pineapple and mango.
Beaman said that in the coming months he plans to make a lot more beer styles; currently he has 12 wine, bourbon and gin barrels full of aging beer, and coming out soon will be Sour Solera, a kettle sour, and Hoppy Endings, an IPA.
A daily happy hour offering $2 off any beer is from 1-3 p.m. and 10 p.m.-close, hours are Mon.-Fri. noon-midnight and Sat.-Sun. 11 a.m.-midnight.
450 Fremont St. Ste. 135, 702.456.2739
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