Last local pint before takeoff at Main Terminal RNO
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company sits past security in the Main terminal, near the central gates, and it’s where people grab one more Reno/Tahoe beer before boarding. Drafts of Sierra Nevada runs around airport pricing, often $10+ per pint, with a lineup that usually includes Pale Ale plus a rotating IPA. If you want something that actually feels “Nevada” compared to the chains, this bar does the job.
Food is straight pub fare: burgers, wings, and fries are the main orders, with portions sized solid enough for a pre-flight meal on a 3–4 hour leg back east. Expect typical airport bar pricing in the $$ tier, so a burger and a beer can easily hit $25–$30 after tax and tip. Several reviews call the food “fine, nothing special,” so treat it as fuel, not a destination.
The bar has multiple TVs tuned to ESPN or whatever game is on, and on NFL Sundays or big playoff nights it basically turns into the airport sports bar. Seating is a mix of bar stools and a small number of tables; during the evening departure bank around 6–8 p.m., it can get tight. When three or four flights leave close together, reviewers mention slow service and understaffing, so don’t cut it close to boarding time.
Regulars on Reddit say they head straight here after clearing security for a single draft before heading to gates B1–B9. A lot of them skip food entirely and just nurse one pint while watching sports, then grab something cheaper in town next time. Complaint patterns also highlight the sticker shock on those $10+ pours compared with the same beer outside the airport.
Tip: If your flight starts boarding in under 30 minutes, sit at the bar instead of a table and tell the bartender you’re on the clock; drinks usually land faster that way.