What’s Brewin’?
Vegas Light—An Easy-Drinking Beer for Your Favorite Pastime
As the only female head brewer in Nevada and part of the only all-women brew team in the state, Amanda Koeller has made a name for herself and Las Vegas Brewing Company, where she took over brewing operations a little over a year ago. The owners of Las Vegas Brewing sought out the UC Davis Master Brewers Certificate Program graduate for her extensive knowledge and brewing experience and to help grow the brand.
Since joining Las Vegas Brewing, Amanda has been embracing her love of working with raw ingredients and recipes. “We have three different styles that we brew quarterly on a rotating basis—a Set List Sour, IFYKYK IPA series and the Brewers Batch Pilsner,” she says. “The recipes change with every batch, and it gives us the opportunity to try out new and experimental ingredients.”
We caught up with Amanda at the 2024 Craft Brewers Conference where she introduced us to Vegas Light, an American light lager, which also happens to be the only local craft beer sold in the general seating area of T-Mobile Arena, home of the NHL team the Vegas Golden Knights.
Brewed with 2-Row malted barley, flaked maize and Liberty hops, and fermented at 50 degrees Fahrenheit, Vegas Light is lagered for a minimum of six weeks, resulting in what Amanda calls “an easy-drinking beer perfect for Las Vegas’ dry, hot summers or our favorite pastime, Vegas Golden Knights hockey games.”
Vegas Light was born out of a desire to brew something that was approachable to both locals and tourists. “We wanted to brew something that could be enjoyed by everyone, no matter where in the world they are visiting from,” says Amanda. “This is perfect for backyard parties, walking down the strip or trips out to Lake Mead.” At 4.2% ABV, Amanda likes to think of this session beer with its low alcohol content and high drinkability as a way to “convert the macro drinker to craft beer.” Vegas Light is also the first beer Las Vegas Brewing canned in the large format 19.2 oz can. “We want people to have a good drinking experience without the risk of over intoxication,” she says, which is what she believes helped get Vegas Light into T-Mobile Arena.
Beer Name: Vegas Light
What is a session beer?
In short, session beers are big in flavor, low in alcohol (ABV below 5%) and high in drinkability. They’re refreshing, easy to drink and meant to be enjoyed over a longer period of time without over intoxication. (Source: Homebrewers Association)
Style: American Light Lager
Specs: 4.2% ABV, 9 IBU, 2.4 SRM clear appearance, pale straw in color, light mouthfeel with a dry finish
Notes: Clean, crisp, refreshing and easy drinking
According to Amanda, the beautiful thing about this beer is that it pairs well with just about anything. “I will gravitate toward light foods like sushi or fish tacos, but it also pairs well with grilled steak and vegetables” she says. “Or why not go for a pizza, where it will cut the fat from a cheesy slice!”
Vegas Light is available at Las Vegas Brewing Company, their Downtown Taproom, T-Mobile Arena, all the Las Vegas Nacho Daddy restaurants and various bars and restaurants throughout the Las Vegas valley. Currently, they only distribute locally, but Amanda says they have plans to eventually expand into other markets.
Learn more about the UC Davis Master Brewers Certificate Program.