Food & Drink

Great Basin Brewing Co.
846 Victorian Ave., Sparks
355-7711

The great basin is five-for-five as far as the RN&R’s Best Of contests have gone. Each and every year, the readers have voted this Sparks hotspot as the area’s best brew pub.Tom Young, a brewer and co-owner of the 7-year-old brewery, says there are several reasons for Great Basin’s popularity—but it all starts with the beer.

“We consider ourselves, first, a brewery,” says Young. “Making good beer is our passion.”

He says Great Basin’s beer has won numerous medals in national competitions, putting the brew pub in a class with other nationally recognized breweries.

“Beer is the common man’s drink,” Young says. “It’s a great thing to enjoy in moderation.”

Other factors in the Great Basin’s five-year winning streak, says Young, include the fact that the brewery gets involved in its community, both with charity benefits and participation in Victorian Avenue events. Great Basin often provides entertainment for such popular events as the Sparks Hometowne Farmers’ Market and Hot August Nights. The fact that Great Basin is located right on the revitalized Victorian Avenue certainly doesn’t hurt, either.

Young says those who work at the Great Basin have a good time.

“There’s a lot more to this business than profit and loss," Young says. "You have to have a passion for the industry. And you can have fun and make some money, too."