Drinking experience in Vegas

[ChzHead]

I just wanted to post about a new place that I checked out on my last trip to Vegas. We were in the local liquor store, Lee's, and started to talk to a local about IPAs. He mentioned that there's a great bar for rare beers....The Freakin' Frog.

We got directions (it's off of Maryland near the university) and we on our way. It's truly a hole in the wall and very plain. I thought that the local was pulling our leg, until I looked at the beer list. HOLY #$%! I thought that we hit the jackpot! They have plenty of beers from all over, and the menu consists of an excel spreadsheet (about 7 pages long) that's updated weekly. They had Stone's Vertical Epic, from '02, '03 and '04. If you're willing to drop some cash, you can really get some rare finds!

It was too bad that I was driving, maybe next time I'll have to get someone else to drive.

Has anyone else checked this place out?

[nr706]

Only beer experience I had in Vegas was disappointing. Stayed at the Monte Carlo, partly because they had a brewpub on premises. Not very good beer - appeared to be a mostly extract operation, not whole grain. However, that was a few years ago, so I'm not sure that's still the case there.

[ChzHead]

When I was at the GABF in 2003, I got a chance to sample many beers from the Monte Carlo brew pub and some other casino brew pubs too. I agree with your findings, nothing to write home about. The brewpub itself was kinda disappointing too, I didn't think much of the food there either.

[blork]

Hmmm... The Freakin' Frog sounds great except for one thing... Do they get much turnover? I ask because I've encountered a number of places over the years that have impressive beer listings but some of them don't get much traffic towards the back of the menu. So you see that very rare bottle of lager from some obscure mountain village in Luxembourg and you try it, and it tastes like crap because they only sell about one a year and the case they're taking it from has been there since 1992.

OK, I exaggerate, but I'm always a bit worried about places that list too many kinds of beers. The 80/20 rule applies -- 80% of the customers drink from 20% of the menu, which leaves the other 80% to get old and skunky.

I hope I'm wrong in this case. Just asking :-)

[ChzHead]

Good point, that's something that I really didn't think about. Most of the inventory is in bottles, they only have a few on tap. We were in there just after it opened, so there wasn't anybody else in there except us and a few that stopped in for a short pint. I've read a little bit on the beer advocate site about this place, and perhaps we were there on a not so busy day. It's right across the street from UNLV, but I can't image the place draws too much from the university crowd...since the beers aren't the usual crap on tap.

If your curious about the list, here's the link: http://www.freakinfrog.com/beerlist.html

I've been going to Vegas at least once or twice a year for the last 15 years...and I've never heard of this place. It's not the best place that I've ever been to, but it's worth checking out!

[blork]

Thanks for the link. I haven't been to Vegas since 1997, and I don't have any immediate plans to go back. But if I do, I will definitely drop in on this place for a cool one (or three).

[daves]

I'm known as a bit of a beer snob ;^), and I'm usually disappointed when I visit LV. The brew pub at Monte Carlo has gone downhill. I'll put it on my list to drop in at the 'Frog...

Although last time I was there, I did stumble into the Irish pub in NYNY (called 9 Fine Gentlemen, or something like that). Guinness and Swithwicks on tap. Expensive, but

[john b]

I'm known as a bit of a beer snob ;^), and I'm usually disappointed when I visit LV.  The brew pub at Monte Carlo has gone downhill. I'll put it on my list to drop in at the 'Frog...

Although last time I was there, I did stumble into the Irish pub in NYNY (called 9 Fine Gentlemen, or something like that).  Guinness and Swithwicks on tap.  Expensive, but

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Hey, nice Kamado!

[daves]

thanks! And I meant "Smithwicks"

[Jambalyle]

Anyone tried the new Hofbrau in Vegas? I'm itching to go next time I am there... I had such fond memories of the Hofbrau in Munchen.

How 'bout a review?