It’s not hard to find a drink in Las Vegas. In fact, it’s probably harder to find yourself someplace where you can’t get a drink! But just because that next sip is only a cocktail waitress away doesn’t mean finding a great drink is always easy.

If you’re a connoisseur of the craft brew, don’t bother scanning the taps at some dimly lit bar tucked away inside a casino; instead take yourself on a tour of one of the multiple breweries that have sprung up around Las Vegas over the years. There is plenty of great beer to be had if you just know where to find it!

Start your brewery crawl off at the Tenaya Creek Brewery, located a few miles away from downtown at 3101 N Tenaya Way, Las Vegas, NV 89128. This is no mere “brewpub” type operation that represents itself as a brewery while really focusing on food and beverage sales – Tenaya Creek is the real deal. In fact, when they first opened their doors in 1999, there was a restaurant attached to the brewery. A little bit less than a decade later, they decided to close down the restaurant and expand the brewery. In other words, these are passionate beer people! Try their Hop Ride IPA or Calico Brow Ale. And we meant it when we said to start the day here: they’re only open for tours and tastings from 10 to 2.

Next let’s head over to Big Dog’s Draft House, proud purveyor of beers from the Big Dog’s Brewing Company. Why do we recommend this be the next stop? Well, there “Hoppy Hour” (very clever…) runs from 3 to 6, so the timing works great after leaving the last spot, see? We recommend easing into the evening with a Tailwagger Wheat, a Hefeweizen in the German-style that’s relatively low in ABV but plenty big on taste. Don’t leave without trying a Black Lab Stout or a plate of the Wisconsin Cheese Curds (the founders of Big Dog’s came from WI, FYI). Oh, and you’ll need their address 4543 N Rancho Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89108.

Time for the last stop on today’s Las Vegas brewery brouhaha: Ellis Island Casino and Brewery at 4178 Koval Ln. Las Vegas, NV 89109. We figured by now you might want to do a bit of gambling on the side, being a few beers deep, so why not go to a place that offers you both options. You can also check out any of the four different eateries here – Pizza on the mind? Or BBQ? You’ll be all set! And while you’re enjoying that slice or that spin of the roulette wheel, wash down your meal or your losses (OK, you might even win) with an O’Shaughnessy’s Red Irish Ale or even with a handcrafted traditional Root Beer. Yes, it’s a soda, but one that is truly brewed and tastes thicker and creamier than anything you’ll ever get out of a can!