When you think of Tahoe your mind probably goes to scenes of snowcapped mountains, bright blue water, and epic ski days. But did you know that South Lake Tahoe also has a blossoming craft beer scene? It honestly makes sense, after a day out adventuring in nature, whether on the lake or on the mountain, coming in to a nice cold beer is the perfect way to end the day.

South Lake’s first brewery opened in 1992 and craft beer establishments have been popping up ever since.

There are currently eight craft beer establishments in town, six of which are breweries, meaning they brew all their own beer on-site, and the other two are beer bars with a great selection of craft beers from all around California and the US.

For the beer tour of South Lake Tahoe, we’ll start at one end of town and work our way to the other end. Most of the breweries are on, or right off highway 50/Lake Tahoe Blvd which runs right through town making it pretty easy to hop from one brewery to the next (just remember to be responsible and have a sober driver or take Ubers).

South Lake Brewing Co.

1920 Lake Tahoe Blvd

South Lake Brewing opened in 2017 and in just three short years, has become a powerhouse of beer making. The taproom has 16 unique beers to try and is the largest tasting room on the south shore. If you like IPA’s this is the spot for you, they specialize in California style IPAs. They are family and dog-friendly making it a lively space to hang out in, and even though they don’t have a kitchen they have food trucks and vendors on the weekends just in case you need a snack while trying all that beer.

Aleworx

2050 Lake Tahoe Blvd

Aleworx has a choose your own adventure kind of attitude, they have over 30 self-pour taps, so you can give everything a try. While they are not a brewery, they have their own specialty beers brewed for them by Alibi Brewing in North Lake, as well as a rotating selection of craft beers from all around California and the US. Their outdoor patio is a great spot to hang out in the summer and the wood-fired pizzas are delicious!

Side-note, they have two locations, one at the Y (listed above), and the other at Stateline near the casinos.

Tahoe Mountain Brews

963 3rd St

Tahoe Mountain Brews is owned and operated by the Tahoe Mountain News, a local community paper. The brewery is only open on Friday and Saturday nights but it’s worth the wait. Inside feels like you are hanging out in your friend’s living room, it’s cozy and cabin-y and very chill. Their selection of beers rotates periodically and they tend to have a good array of beers types on tap, but they specialize in Belgian style beers.

The Hangar

2401 Lake Tahoe Blvd

The Hangar is the newest craft beer bar in South Lake. They have an impressive tap list of 30 beers from all around the US, as well as an additional 50 types beers in cans or bottles. In the summertime, their huge yard is great for lounging around and in the winter the fire pits will keep you toasty. The interior of the bar is small but has a modern funky vibe and all their branded merch is super cute!

Cold Water Brewery

2544 Lake Tahoe Blvd

Cold Water Brewery has eight craft beers made right on-site as well as ‘California comfort food’ being served up for brunch, lunch, and dinner. The main restaurant has a full food menu and bar, as well as five TVs so you can catch a game. The tasting room is just off the main restaurant, where you can give all the beers a try a relaxed environment.

Sidellis Brewery

3350 Sandy Way

Sidellis is brewing up small-batch beers with big taste.  They have five standard beers on tap as well as a number of rotating seasonal beers but where they shine are with their stouts, porters, and sours, talk about big taste! The tap room has a classic Tahoe feel with wood paneling and pine picnic benches. There is a shelf of board games to play while you sample the beers or a few TVs to keep you entertained. They also serve food and the pulled pork is awesome!

The Brewery at Lake Tahoe

3542 Lake Tahoe Blvd

The Brewery at Lake Tahoe was the first brewery to open in South Lake back in 1992, and they’ve been brewing up specialty ales ever since. They now have a full menu of food as well to go with the beers. They have seven standard beers on tap with a selection of rotating seasonal brews.

South of North Brewing

932 Stateline Ave

South of North Brewing is located at Basecamp hotel with an awesome yard and fire pits for hanging out around as well as an upstairs deck for a view of the surrounding pines. They are serving up 15 unique beers and excellent bar food. Their beers tend to have unique flavors and ingredients like coffee and lactose making them all very interesting. They also have live music and trivia to keep you having fun!

READ MORE:
A Hipster’s Guide to South Lake Tahoe (winter)
The Best Restaurants in South Lake Tahoe
The Best Happy Hour in South Lake Tahoe
Packing for Tahoe
5 Outdoor Adventures to have in Tahoe in Winter

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