Great Basin Brewing Co. -- Sparks, NV (Brewery)

Considered a "mini" chain, the four locations around Nevada don't seem to be enough considering the hustle and bustle of the two locations I visited (Reno: 5525 S. Virginia St., and Sparks: 846 Victorian Ave). The main menu is almost the same at every location, but there's just enough variation with certain items or specials to make a good case for each spot.

The service is easy going but still accommodating, and I didn't worry about showing up in my sweatpants. But relaxed culture aside, these folks are serious about sustainability and serving food made from local, good quality ingredients. The beef is grass fed, but finished on the spent grain used in their beer making, preventing waste, and supporting the circle of life (of beer). This is a place that makes me feel good in my stomach and my heart.

https://www.greatbasinbrewingco.com/

Here some of the things I've enjoyed.


Albondigas. This was the special soup of the day at the Sparks location. This small cup was still hearty enough, with beef meatballs, fresh onion, carrot, celery and parsley. The broth was savory with a bit of canned tomato and the rice in the meatballs helped soak up the broth. A nice option for a light lunch.

Chicken Wings. The options of house-smoked bone-in or crispy boneless wings was something I don't normally see. I opted for the bone-in, coated half with lemon pepper and half with bbq, then opted for buttermilk ranch as the dipping sauce. The customization process of the wings order made this a fun choice. The wings themselves were delicious, as wings normally are. Crisp on the outside with juicy meat on the inside.

Onion Rings. These were stellar rings. Coated in their Wild Horse Ale batter, these were crunchy to the last bite, with sweet onions on the inside and not a drop of extra greasiness. The buttermilk ranch dipping sauce served in a shallow, wide bowl was also a nice touch.

Brewery Platter. If there's a way to customize my meal, I will probably choose that option. My choices were pork belly with hot honey, smoked ribs with BBQ Sauce, pig wings with sweet chili, icky beer brat, and jalapeño cheddar sausage. My favorites were the tender and succulent pork ribs, juicy brat and flavor-packed sausage. The horseradish on the side was properly nose stinging. The house pickled onions, which got a bit lost in the image, were also tangy and had a great crisp to them. I used the other meats to make a soup the next day, which was also very delicious.

Crispy Fish Tacos. These wild Alaskan cod pieces were dipped in their Wild Horse Ale batter, then deep fried. The name said it all: "crispy". The fish inside was moist and flavorful, and the cabbage slaw, chipotle dressing, and soft flour tortillas were all house made. A numerous selection of sides were also available. I opted for a light side salad on this day, as three tacos were very filling. 

BBQ Chicken pizza. This 8-inch x 10-inch Detroit-style pizza was pretty tasty. The crispy cheese around the edges were a little extra crispy, but the pile of toppings will give any cheese lover a run for their money. The bbq sauce was a little sweet, but mostly savory, the melted mozzarella dripped through the edges of each cut piece, and the grilled chicken, red onion, and cilantro brought everything together very nicely. All of this was atop a chewy, thick crust. 

Most folks would visit one of these locations for the award-winning beer, but I am more than happy to partake in their excellent food options and will continue to try different items, as I feel I cannot go wrong with anything at any of these locations.