We can’t tell you how important it is for you to have a valid passport. Oh, we’re not talking about traveling internationally – for us, it was all about the 3rd Annual American Craft Beer Tasting Event held this weekend at the Golden Nugget Resort in Downtown, Las Vegas. Here’s a quick video of who loves the “I Love Beer” Show at the show:


Sure the event was a bit pricey at $50 plus tax per head, but walking into the room full of over 30 award winning craft beer microbrewers with an all-you-can-drink ticket means we all got our money’s worth and more.

Immediately upon entering the venue, we were given a beer glass (yes, glass – not an annoying plastic cup!) and of course, the Craft Beer Tasting Passport, which listed all the brewers in attendance, along with the specific brews they were putting out for beer tasting.

How good was it? Great! First of, all the microbreweries that participated where award winning entities, so you almost couldn’t go wrong. Add some good food, beautiful beer girls, and (loud) music, and you have a winner. Here’s a quick list of the types of craft beers on display:

  • Dixie Brewing Co. (Blackend Voodoo, Jazz, Lager)
  • Mendocino Brewing Co. (Black Hawk Stout, Blue Heron Pale Ale, Red Tail Ale)
  • Indian Wells Brewing Co. (Death Valley, Orange Blossom, Pumpkin)
  • Ace Premium Hard Ciders (Apple, Joker, Pumpkin)
  • Squatters Beers (Hell’s Keep Belgian Style Strong Ale, Hop Rising Double India Pale Ale, Outer Darkness Russian Imperial Stout)
  • Wasatch Beers (Pumpkin Ale, Belgian Style White Label White Ale, Winterfest Seasonal Ale)
  • Left Coast Brewing Co. (Asylum Triple Ale, Hope Juice Double IPA, Voodoo American Stout)
  • Noble Beers (Pale Ale, Nobility Imperial IPA, IPA)
  • Moylans Brewery (Hopsickle Imperial Ale, Irish Red Ale, Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale)
  • Brewery Ommegang (Witte, Hennepin Farmhouse Saison, Ommegang Abbey Ale Dubbel)
  • Speakeasy (big Daddy IPA, Prohibition Ale, Double Daddy Imperial IPA)
  • Full Sail (Amber Ale, Pale Ale, IPA)
  • New Belgium Brewing (Abbey Belgian Style, Trippel Belgian Style, 1554 Black Ale)
  • Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (Double Barrel Ale, Union Jack IPA, Walker’s Reserve Porter)
  • Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR, Schlitz, Lone Star)
  • Anchor Steam Beer (Anchor Steam, Liberty Ale, Humming Ale)
  • Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Torpedo Extra IPA, Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale, Kellerweiss Hefeweizen)
  • Dogfish Head (Punkin Ale, 60 Minute IPA, Raison D’Etre Belgian Style Brown Ale)
  • Tommyknocker Brewery (Maple Nut Brown, Small Patch Pumpkin Ale, Butt Head Bock Lager)
  • North Coast Brewing Co. (Red Seal Ale, Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, Le Merle Saison)
  • Deshutes Brewery (Black Butte Porter, Mirror Pond Ale, Chainbreaker IPA)
  • Shiner (Bock, 102 Double Wheat, Oktoberfest)
  • Blue Moon Brewing Company (Belgian White, Pale Moon, Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale, Carmel Apple Slice Ale)
  • Ballast Point (Black Marlin Porter, Calica Amber Ale, Wahoo Wheat Beer)
  • Buffalo Bills Brewery (Pumpkin Ale, Strawberry Blonde Ale, Alimony Ale IPA)
  • Stone Brewing Co. (IPA, Smoked Porter, Arrogant Bastard)
  • Alaskan Brewing Co. (Amber, IPA, Winter)
  • Lost Coast Brewery (Great White, Tangerine Wheat, Winterbrau)
  • Bear Republic Brewing Co. (Racer 5 IPA, Red Rocket Ale, Black Bear Stout)
  • Samuel Adams (Oktoberfest, Pumpkin Ale, Angry Orchard)
  • Rogue (Santa’s Private Reserve, Dead Guy Ale, Morimoto Black)
  • Lagunitas Brewing (Brown Shugga, IPA, Censored)
  • Leinenkugel’s (Oktoberfest, Sunset Wheat, Lemon Berry Shandy)
  • Crispin Apple Ciders (Honey Crisp Artisanal Reserve, The Saint Artisanal Reserve, Cho-Tokkyu Artisanal Reserve)

And the winners? I really liked Deshute’s Chainbreaker IPA alot, and all of Ballast Point’s selections were a big surprise. I’m not much of a wheat beer fan, but their Wahoo was excellent. It’s hard to beat Stone’s IPA and Arrogant Bastard, but Rogue’s Dead Guy Ale is a “must-have”. And what’s in Racer 5’s IPA – was it 33% alcohol or what? Either way, a great taste. I’m not partial to flavored beers at all, but word on the street was Leinenkugal’s Lemon Berry Shandy was awesome, likewise for Blue Moon’s Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale. Finally, Noble Beers’ Nobility Imperial IPA scored great as well. I guess if you’re a true beer drinker, you really couldn’t go wrong with any of the selections – it was that good a show!

Missed it? You won’t miss out on events like this if you got on our texting alert list (it’s free). Just take out your phone and text “BEER” to 69302 and we’ll keep you up to date on all show events and happenings with the I Love Beer Show. Become a fan here at facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/BeerShow

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