It’s no secret that the Downtown Las Vegas 18b Arts District has become the hub of the local brewing scene, with seven of Southern Nevada’s breweries and taprooms all situated within blocks of each other. Now there are eight, with one more having been welcomed into the fold: Bad Beat Brewing.
Bad Beat Brewing opened as a production brewery and taproom in the Henderson Booze District in 2014. After much success, that location was closed in early 2023 to facilitate a move to another District in a much more trafficked area.
Owner Nathan Hall made a living as a poker player (hence the Bad Beat moniker and card-playing names for some of its beers) and had been homebrewing for a few years when several people told him how much they liked his brews and urged him to open his own brewery. The lofty idea was kick-started, and he sold his house, drained his savings, and went into debt to open the brewery more than a decade ago. History has repeated itself, as he had to do the same again for this relocation. “I wanted to focus and rely more on on-premise beer sales rather than distribution and saw an opportunity here in the Arts District when we saw this place become available,” said Hall. “I like having other breweries all in the same location and think of it like fast food joints next to each other, because it brings more people and more business.”
The new digs at 1421 S Main between Utah and Imperial required quite a bit of renovation, as the space formerly housed a stainless steel fabrication shop using heavy machinery. The flooring had to be replaced, and the building was completely gutted to accommodate the 10-barrel brewhouse equipment and reconfigure it to house a taproom and bar. Permitting and construction delays also contributed to an extended period needed to complete the reopening.
The taproom’s décor features five distinct seating areas with comfortable upholstered chairs and couches, a full bar, hanging lights, two large wooden spools fashioned into tables with faux olive trees with lights protruding from the center, dart boards, a wood slat ceiling, and a beer garden feel via a pergola and greenery throughout. A nod to the brewery’s former location is the original sign from its Booze District location, attached to the plant wall near the restrooms. A nice touch is the Bad Beat logo projected from above onto the floor at the entrance. A small outdoor patio will seat 40 and offer games such as cornhole when the weather permits.
A wise move was securing the services of award-winning, longtime local brewer Anthony Gibson, who made quite a name for himself building up quite successful brewing programs over three-plus decades at Monte Carlo Brewpub, Tenaya Creek, Beer Zombies, and Able Baker. Beers he’ll be brewing first are the four Bad Beat core beers that will be available all the time: I Heart Nevada Amber Ale, Hoppy Times IPA, Bluffing Isn’t Weisse Hefeweizen, and Dreamy Life Japanese Rice Lager.
Unlike the Booze District brewery, a full bar will not only pour the housemade beers, but also wine, traditional and craft cocktails, and possibly beer cocktails. As no food will be served (but patrons will be allowed to bring in outside food), the brewpub, by law, is 21+.
Bad Beat began a soft opening on August 8 with several beers from other local and regional breweries being poured, and a tentative grand opening is planned for First Friday on Sept. 5, or whenever its beers are ready to be poured.
