If you’re anything like us, sitting down to sip on a frothy, local beer is an essential part of any trip. And your visit to Lake Tahoe should be no different. Thankfully, there’s plenty of great beer in South Lake Tahoe, including a South Shore Brewery Trail and a handful of beer-centric bars and restaurants.
South Lake Tahoe Beer Trail
Beer-lovers should start with the South Shore Brewery Trail—a curated route featuring six craft beer hubs across South Lake Tahoe.
Follow it and you’ll get to sample local beer from four, unique Lake Tahoe breweries, plus one of the brewery’s second location and a can’t miss, lakefront restaurant with a great tap list. There’s even a free hop-on, hop-off brewery shuttle running on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to get you around safely.
So, who’s on the brewery trail?
The Grove
The shuttle starts and ends at Camp Richardson, which is great news for campers, since it’s their home base! Their on-site, lakefront restaurant, The Grove, is an ideal spot to kick things off, with live music on the weekends and happy hour from 7:00pm – close, Monday to Thursday. The Grove on Google Maps.
South Lake Brewing Company
Everyone loves South Lake Brewing Co. And with a long list of tasty brewed on-site beers, a spacious, cool location, great merch and a fun rotation of live music, events and food trucks, what’s not to love? You’ll find both locals and visitors here every day of the week, usually with their pups, since South Lake Brewing is mega pet-friendly, both indoors and outdoors. You really can’t leave SLT without visiting this one. South Lake Brewing Co. on Google Maps.
Cold Water Brewery and Grill
A real unsung hero on the South Lake Tahoe beer scene, Cold Water Brewery not only makes delicious craft beer, but they pair it with tasty American style food. Think burgers and fish tacos, alongside an ice cold Hazy IPA. They offer brunch on the weekends, happy hour on the weekdays (Monday to Friday, 2pm – 5pm) and all around good vibes. Cold Water Brewery on Google Maps.
Sidellis Lake Tahoe Brewery & Restaurant
Sidellis is so fun. A real local’s favorite, this place has an excellent taplist of brewed-in-Tahoe microbrews, rotating between mainstays and specialty beers like a mango habanero ale. More importantly, they make a can’t-miss beer cheese and offer several tasty things to dip in it, like soft pretzels, chips and bratwurst. Pets are welcomed, especially in the summer months when the outdoor patio is open. Sidellis Brewery on Google Maps.
South of North Brewing
We again have nothing bad to say when it comes to South of North Brewing over near Stateline & the casino hotels. Tucked into the lobby of Basecamp Hotel (which is awesome in it’s own right, but we’ll save that for another time), South of North Brewing serves up proper craft beer in the ultimate setting. A small, industrial interior opens up to a pet-friendly, kid-friendly, drankin’-friendly courtyard with fire pits, outdoor games and plenty of seating. South of North Brewing on Google Maps.
The Libation Lodge
Located near Stateline and the casino hotels, The Libation Lodge is South Lake Brewing Co.’s little sister; a kitchen and taproom featuring the same well-loved lagers, ales and IPAs of their main location. Except here, you get elevated pub food alongside the craft beer. The vibe here is casual, with plenty of seating, pet-friendly options and an order-at-the-counter model for quick, easy service. Libation Lodge on Google Maps.
Bonus: Grab a Brewery Trail Passport at any of the stops along the ale trail, and you’ll get a stamp for each place you visit. At the end, a full passport gets you a custom South Shore Beer Trail pint glass.
More Local Breweries & Craft Beer in South Lake Tahoe
The Hangar
Voted Best Beer in Lake Tahoe for the past five years, The Hangar is everyone’s favorite for a reason. Beer comes first here, with an expertly curated tap list filled with all the tastiest beers you probably haven’t tried (yet) in California. Taps rotate quickly, and they keep it stocked with everything from pilsners to IPA’s to sours. They have a massive, shaded, outdoor seating area for summer nights, heated igloos for winter, food trucks on-site and they host tons of fun, beer-centric events. The Hangar on Google Maps.
Tahoe Brew House
Microbrews? More like nanobrews! This itty, bitty, teeny tiny, mega cool and cozy is the one place in town you probably have never heard of. Not only is the beer fantastic, but you can sip your beer by the fireplace in the winter or out on the patio in the summer. Oh, and dogs are very much welcome. For serious beer lovers, this is a real can’t miss. Tahoe Brew House on Google Maps.
Himmel Haus
German beer lovers, listen closely. Himmel Haus has a beautiful tap list of German biers and beyond, plus an extensive menu of bottled beers, wine, seasonal gluhwein and beyond. You can (and should) get it in a boot, and pair it with some french fries or a pretzel the size of your face. Himmel Haus on Google Maps.
Stateline Brewery
Located in between the Heavenly Village and the casino hotels, Stateline Brewery scores major points for location. They have in-house brewed beer, over 500+ whiskeys to choose from, a full bar plus and a robust lunch and dinner menu. This is a great place to come with a group, as they have lots of seating. Stateline Brewery on Google Maps.
Tahoe AleworX
In addition to a few brews of their own, Tahoe AleworX has a large, self-serve craft beer offering to pair with their wood fired pizzas, sandwiches and salads. The delicious food could honestly stand on its own, but having a cold, local beer to enjoy with it makes Aleworx the perfect spot. Find them at Stateline or at the Y, and definitely bring your kids and dogs. Tahoe Aleworx at the Y on Google Maps.
Tipsy Putt
Beer and games go hand in hand, and our friends at Tipsy Putt know this. Grab a nice, frothy pint from their long, comprehensive tap list and then whack a couple of golf balls on their indoor, mini-golf course. Or, grab a drink at the bar and pair it with a couple of tacos. Kids are welcome until 7pm, when things roll over to 21+ and dogs are allowed on the patio. Tipsy Putt on Google Maps.
Brewery Tours In South Lake Tahoe
At the moment, there are no brewery tours running in South Lake Tahoe that we know of. (Know otherwise? Fill us in!)
If you’re looking for a Lake Tahoe brewery tour, you can head across the lake to Incline Village’s ever-loved Alibi Ale Works (you should probably just do that anyway. They’re awesome.) Or, venture down to Reno.
South Lake Tahoe Events for Beer Lovers
Heavenly Village Brewfest
Early June. This springtime beer fest welcomes in the warmer months with an all-you-can-drink sampling bonanza at the Heavenly Village in the heart of South Lake Tahoe. Tickets get you a tasting glass, bottomless samples from regional breweries and tons of entertainment in between.
The Hangar Beerfest
Early August. A mid-summer beerfest with The Hangar is a glorious thing. Grab a ticket for your commemorative tasting glass, then fill it with all-you-can-drink beer from all your favorite local breweries. Live music, we love. Plus, the venue is ideal with The Hangars shaded, grassy, spacious outdoor area.
Tahoe Brewfest
End of August. Toast to the end of summer at the Tahoe Brewfest, an annual beer festival held in South Lake Tahoe. Live music, local vendors, crafts, games and tons of local breweries. A 21+ ticket gets you unlimited beer samples from 1pm – 5pm, or you can grab a VIP for two extra hours in the morning.
South Lake Brewing Co. Oktoberfest
End of September. Grab your lederhosen for South Lake Brewing Co’s annual Oktoberfest. Free to attend, you can enjoy live music, festive games and seasonal Oktoberfest brews that you can only enjoy at this very special time of year. At the Libation Lodge, a special menu of Bavarian favorites are available to eat.
Himmel Haus Oktoberfest
End of September. The crew at Himmel Haus is exceptionally spirited and fun, so it only makes sense that their annual Oktoberfest celebration is the same. Festivities extend through the final weeks of September, with the pinnacle being the Miss Oktoberfest Pageant.
Camp Richardson Oktoberfest
Early October. Every year, Camp Richardson hosts a fun, family and pet-friendly Oktoberfest with free admission for all. It’s the best. Traditional games and musicians, artisan vendors, Bavarian food and of course, lots of beer make it an all-around great time.
Final Tips
- Be sure to check the hours, availability and current happy hours of local breweries before heading out, as they may vary.
- Don’t forget to drink responsibly and plan ahead for transportation, using the hop-on, hop-off brewery shuttle or other safe ride options.
- Craft beer and adventure are best buds. You can grab canned beer (and growlers) at almost any of South Lake Tahoe’s breweries or beer bars to take with you as you relax outdoors and soak in the natural beauty of the basin.
