HAPPY HOUR ODYSSEY 2025
By John Kruxhammer
Audacious author of BEER AND EVERYTHING ELSE
Beer and a tune, life is good. That so damn much to ask?
Endless quest for best Happy Hours in Vegas—and beyond!
Been to a lot of Happy Hours. I know what I like.
Score based on four priorities:
Beer, 4.0
Music, 3.0
Other stuff, 2.0
Atmosphere, 1.0
Maximum total: 10.0
Would be a lot easier if those who liked my books just showed up at the library and told me who they are. But if I have to go to every Happy Hour in Vegas, and beyond, to find some of them, I suppose that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.
Evolve Brewing Aces and Ales
Odyssey number: 52
Date, time, place: 18 Apr, 3:45 pm, 8680 W Sunset Rd E100, LV, NV
Elapsed time for first beer: 4 minutes 25 seconds
3.5, Beer
3.0, Music
1.5, Other stuff
1.0, Atmosphere
9.0 Total
Fancy microbrewery, spacious, with lots of outdoor seating. Pleasant light rock music at good volume. Only a few video poker games at a long bar counter. Silver beer vats are displayed just beyond the bar behind shiny glass windows. Sure, there’s still pesky TVs, but not right in your face, while a long line of beer taps and booze bottles are easily visible in their rightful place as center of attention. The bartenders and staff dress predominantly in black. Only drawback, no seats for two at the bar. So we observed enviously from exile at a high top table.
Started with Russian River Mind Circus, while Sue chose Evolve Holy Water, a hazy Czech Pilsner. Pretty good IPA, first rate pilsner. We were there during Hoppy Hour, from 3-6 pm daily, $2 off beers. My second choice, Evolve Noon Juice Blood Orange Wheat, American Pale. Nice blend for a fresh new taste. I liked it. Before leaving, had a small 4-oz portion of Pliny the Elder. Out of many contenders, this beer is hard to beat.
Lapa Lounge at Rio Casino
Odyssey number: 51
Date, time, place: 14 Mar, 3:05 pm, 3700 W Flamingo Rd, LV, NV
Elapsed time for first beer: 3 minutes 8 seconds
3.5, Beer
3.0, Music
1.5, Other stuff
1.0, Atmosphere
9.0 Total
Plush environment by the main entrance lobby, with wide open views of casino gaming floor. Gold-gilded monkeys and leopards adorned the ceiling. From our comfortable stools at the bar, we could observe a long line of travelers waiting to check in at the counter. For some reason that gave me a guilty pleasure. Even better, that first sip of Big Dog’s Las Vegas Lager, while Hurricane Sue chose Kona Longboard from a bottle. Excellent rock and soft pop music played at a good volume. The ‘Blood Moon’ total lunar eclipse last night was a good omen—bartender named Tracy came through with a couple 2-for-1 drink coupons. First time we seen that!
The glass marble lighted bar counter was impressive. Only three beers on draft though, which led to my next selection of reliable Voodoo Ranger IPA, from a bottle. Just a few other patrons, so mood wasn’t quite dead, but very relaxed. No official Happy Hour, but good enough. Nearby Luckley’s Tavern & Grill had one, but mainly food specials. So, we made the right choice at Lapa Lounge. Bartenders friendly, had a great time.
College Street Brewhouse
Odyssey number: 50
Date, time, place: 17 Feb, 4:15 pm, 1940 College Dr, Lake Havasu City, AZ
Elapsed time for first beer: 9 minutes 8 seconds
3.5, Beer
1.5, Music
1.0, Other stuff
1.0, Atmosphere
7.0 Total
Large restaurant, including outdoor seating, with a U-shaped bar for about 25 patrons, completely full. Hurricane Sue and I had to wait a few minutes to be seated at a high top table. Prefer being at the bar, but remained vigilant to pounce at the first vacancies. After an hour, not a single stool became open. Impressive. We somehow carried on from our distant exile. Sundowner IPA for me, Street Light for Sue. Both had fantastic taste and quality, exactly as hoped for on my birthday, although did take longer than usual to receive them. And no coasters for the mugs, just plain black napkins.
Stone floors and walls magnified conversations, usually drowning out the music. Scenic views west towards Colorado River and a desert mountain range on a sensational warm sunny day. Also liked seeing huge gleaming beer vats through floor to ceiling windows inside. Mood was bustling and chatty. My second choice, Animal House Amber, pretty good, but needed help from better music. More than a dozen people were waiting for seating by the time we left. They have Happy Hours here daily from 3 to 6 pm.
595 Craft and Kitchen
Odyssey number: 49
Date, time, place: 7 February, 2:30 pm, 4950 S. Rainbow #100
Elapsed time for first beer: 4 minutes 17 seconds
4.0, Beer
3.0, Music
2.0, Other stuff
1.0, Atmosphere
10 Total
Pleasurably consumed a Beechwood Infinity Isle IPA from New Zealand. Hurricane Sue’s Smog City Little Bo Pils American Pilsner was also excellent. For further enjoyment, later tried ISM Beach Boys blonde ale, another fine recommendation from the bartender, Matt. Who not only has strong connections to the regional brewery scene, but also described how they regularly clean the tap lines, rotate selections for freshness, and painstakingly do all they can to provide outstanding beer quality. Sure tasted like it to me.
The bar had seating for about 15 beer lovers, with large beer placard paraphernalia up on the walls. Amazing tap selections for every taste, including iconic Pliny the Elder, which I tasted a sample of before leaving. This well-worn bar counter has character, no damn video poker, and only one smaller-size TV up in each corner, not distracting from the colorful beer menu. In other words, perfectly how I like it. A mangy friendly dog kept popping his head up over the counter from the far corner, the business mascot named Conrad. That’s a new one.
I liked the music, which could have been louder, but conversation with other patrons made easier that way. When I asked Matt what ‘595’ stood for, it’s simply the highway name for Rainbow Boulevard. See? You can learn a lot by going to bars! They have a Happy Hour here Monday to Friday, 3 to 6 pm. We’ll definitely be back.
Neon Desert Brewing
Odyssey number: 48
Date, time, place: 25 Jan, 3:30 pm, 7380 Eastgate Rd., Henderson, NV
Elapsed time for first beer: 2 minutes 12 seconds
4.0, Beer
2.0, Music
2.0, Other stuff
0.5, Atmosphere
8.5 Total
I tried two beers, Czech Mate in 3, a fresh tasty pilsner, and Heaven in Helles, a Munich style lager. Both were excellent. Bartender Cassandra was very friendly, along with a nearby patron named Chris. Music was too low at first, but better later. No slots, no TVs that I noticed. In other words, perfect. Decorated with some Chinese letters around the small bar area, with plentiful basic seating in this warehouse district location. Jimmy the owner brewer chatted with us for a while as well. Had a good time. Limited Happy Hour from Monday to Wednesday, 4-6 pm.
Brewskes Bar & Grill
Odyssey number: 47
Date, time, place: 10 January, 3 pm, 3645 S. Durango Dr.
Elapsed time for first beer: 2 minutes 20 seconds
3.5, Beer
3.0, Music
1.0, Other stuff
0.5, Atmosphere
8.0 Total
A long spacious bar counter mostly had standard video poker machines, but I found one without. The Elysian Space Dust IPA was excellent, although served with no coaster. Rock music to my liking played at a satisfying volume. Lots of dark wood décor, mindful of an Irish bar. Not much interaction with Amanda the bartender. Too many TVs, as usual, but they were mounted high enough to be easily ignored. Good idea.
Second beer, Stella Artois, tasted good. Just a few other patrons, mood not quite dead, so let’s just call it ‘relaxed.’ On the way out, I confirmed with Amanda there is a Happy Hour, but not today on Friday, of course. It goes from Monday to Thursday with a discount for selected beers and glasses of wine.