The River Dog Grill
Odyssey number: 71
Date, time, place: 27 April, 2:05 pm, 2046-AZ 95, Bullhead City, AZ
Elapsed time for first beer: 2 minutes 10 seconds
3.0, Beer
0.5, Music
2.0, Other stuff
1.0, Atmosphere
6.5 Total
On this Monday after a huge weekend biker festival in Bullhead City, didn’t know what to expect. But I was due for some beer. First choice, Kona Big Wave. Tasted really good—crisp, fresh, and tasty, just the way I like it. However, what about the music? Just intermittent songs at low volume, separated by irksome silence, easily drowned out by lively conversation, including complaining about constant noise from pickle ball courts. That’s not what I came here for. Okay, on my second beer, Cali Squeeze Blood Orange, I tried playing a favorite song from my Touchtunes app. No luck. Still too low, and the beer tasted plain, especially with lack of proper tunes!
I was here months ago, music playing nice and loud. And I witnessed one of the most incredible bartenders I ever seen, named Nicky, even with a full bar managing to banter with customers, refill drinks, wash out glasses, and deliver food to patrons over at high top tables or outdoor seating. No idea how she kept it all straight, just a marvel to behold. This place just not the same without her, probably a 10-score every time. Nicky even helped sell a couple beer books. I also had met some bikers, talking about wild stories from Sturgis. Don’t let the rough image fool you. The ones I met were actually very nice people.
This afternoon though, mainly just a few retirees passing a few hours by hanging out with nothing better do to—like me. Anyway, I consoled myself with an excellent beef taco, and scenic mountain views off in the distance through big wide windows. You just never know. Timing is everything. Got to go.
HAPPY HOUR ODYSSEY 2026
Scores based on four priorities:
Beer, 4.0
Music, 3.0
Other stuff, 2.0
Atmosphere, 1.0
Maximum total, 10
Endless quest for best Happy Hours in Vegas—and beyond!
Beer and a tune, life is good. That so damn much to ask?
John Kruxhammer, author of Beer and Everything Else
Know of any great Happy Hours? Let me know immediately!
Bad Beat Brewing
Odyssey number: 70
Date, time, place: 7 April, 1:55 pm, 1421 S. Main St.
Elapsed time for first beer: 2 minutes 33 seconds
3.5, Beer
1.0, Music
2.0, Other stuff
0.5, Atmosphere
7.0 Total
What I liked about this place: the beer, two lighted fake olive trees, comfortable bar stools, big shiny silver beer vats on full display, and further away, towards dart boards and rest rooms, an amazing floor to ceiling giant skeleton.
What I did not like about this place: the vibe (a little too subdued), annoying hip hop music (with obscenities), and BYOC (bring your own coasters). C’mon. Plain black napkins? On National Beer Day?
Hurricane Sue and I brought our drinks over to comfortable armchairs by the entrance. I started with All the Kolsch Kids Are Doing It, while Sue had Dreamy Life Japanese Lager. We probably just caught them at a slow time, with music not to our liking. After one last Dead Man’s Hand Red Ale, I led Sue over to another place nearby. In this area of town, plenty to choose from.
Eureka!
Discover American Craft
Odyssey number: 68+1 (For those who think ‘69’ is a bad thing)
Date, time, place: 9 March, 2:30 pm, 520 Fremont Street
Elapsed time for first beer: 4 minutes 7 seconds
4.0, Beer
3.0, Music
1.0, Other stuff
1.0, Atmosphere
9.0 Total
Great place, nicely decorated, especially with nearly 40 gleaming beer taps just screaming to be poured. The friendly assistant manager, Mitchell, soon greeted us, and proudly pointed to a section of beers that he personally, ‘curated.’ I liked the sound of that, and his recommendations were first-rate, starting with Bad Beat Rice Lager for Sue, while I totally enjoyed a Russian River Damnation Belgian Golden Strong. Now that’s what it’s all about. Get up, get dressed, flee society, and find all the best beers around!
I marveled at the solid polished marble countertop, without video poker machines—even though this was Fremont Street with all the downtown casinos. Well done. And I especially admired two colorful handwritten chalkboards describing ‘The Whiskey Club’ and ‘Rotation Beers,’ easily and preferably distracting my attention from the obligatory TVs. Doesn’t hurt that it was a sunny day, in the mid-70s, with windows wide open for a refreshing breeze. I’ll drink to that! Second choice, Russian River Happy Hops IPA. Perfect.
Well almost. Sorry Mitchell, but if you’re going to ‘curate’ beer like the fine art it is, don’t forget a proper coaster. A delicious mug of cold beer without one, is like a masterpiece painting without its frame. Good thing Sue and I always bring our own! Well, not always a frame, but definitely coasters, which are way easier to carry. Also, I was glad to hear about Happy Hour from 3-6 pm, Monday to Friday. However, some bars put all of their beers on special, not just some. I just wish this place was one of them. But we still had a wonderful, incredible, fantastic time, and look forward to coming back!
Modest Brewing Company
Odyssey number: 68
Date, time, place: 6 February, 1:30 pm, 918 S. Main St., #150
Elapsed time for first beer: 3 minutes 19 seconds
4.0, Beer
3.0, Music
2.0, Other stuff
1.0, Atmosphere
10.0 Total
I don’t care how many marching bands, torch jugglers, parade floats, and fizzling fireworks can be found elsewhere, for me nothing matches the energy and excitement of a newly opened microbrewery! This special place did not disappoint, with a long brown wooden bar, plus high top tables and comfortable sofa seating spaced out to enjoy a warm breeze on a sunny day in the 70s. I started with their Get Reddy, while Sue had Dreamy Life Rice Lager. We met the friendly female bartender named Mac, along with recent co-founders Scott and Casey, practically celebrities if you ask me.
Good music selection, volume a little low, but it’s early yet. According to Scott, this place used to be, among other things, an auto shop. And they’ve got the double garage doors to prove it. They opened on 12 January, less than a month ago, and have the expertise, location, and quality to become a leading choice for beer lovers everywhere. Their Circuit Breaker Hoppy Blonde was a unique, fantastic combination, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It felt great being here at this early phase, and we look forward to many more visits, especially during Happy Hours, 3 to 6 pm, Monday to Friday. Only thing missing was an Elvis impersonator! Although I did come away with three branded stickers, a lapel pin, and $25 T-shirt.
Hangar 24
Odyssey number: 67
Date, time, place: 28 January, 4:15 pm, 5600 AZ-95, Lake Havasu City, AZ
Elapsed time for first beer: 1 minute 35 seconds
3.5, Beer
2.0, Music
1.5, Other stuff
0.5, Atmosphere
7.5 Total
This spacious taproom had floor to ceiling windows on two sides with scenic desert views of high rocky ridges, from adjacent the Lake Havasu City airport. I noticed several bulletin boards filled with colorful patches of mostly regional fire department and law enforcement agencies. Large chalkboard drawings behind the counter included a list of two dozen beers. I started with Into the Helles, a first-rate Munich-style light lager, much to my delight.
One drawback, however, no actual bar to sit at. So, I picked nearest spot facing the counter at a bench-style table with polished light-brown wooden boards. Second beer, Pacific Coast Hazy, good enough to wash down some delicious fish tacos, but that’s about it. After meeting some nearby patrons and returning with my final choice, Winging-it Hazy Pale, everything changed. It was bingo night! Which explains why the place was suddenly packed, even though Happy Hour from 2 to 5 pm ended thirty minutes prior.
Which meant I couldn’t hear the music, and no more friendly discussions. I don’t need to play some game to know when I’m beat. So, I retreated to a long high top table outside for fresh air and a pleasant view of desert ridges, with a half-moon hovering in the waning blue sky. Later on, still within legal driving limits, I sped west through incredible landscape on Interstate-40, as a magnificent sunset with flaming red clouds stretching far above the horizon lit up my windshield. Plus, complete satisfaction with this micro-brewpub visit finally occurred when, good classic rock tunes played on the radio—as loud as I wanted!
The Lodge at Shelbourne
Odyssey number: 66
Date, time, place: 21 January, 1:30 pm, 8350 S. Rainbow Blvd
Elapsed time for first beer: 2 minutes 28 seconds
3.5, Beer
2.5, Music
1.0, Other stuff
0.5, Atmosphere
7.5 Total
This ample venue included a bookcase, stained-glass windows, one wall composed of stone and dark wood logs, pool tables, additional sofa seating, plus a large deer head mounted above a fireplace. Light fixtures in the form of interlocking antlers hung down from the high ceiling. Kona Big Wave on draft was our first choice, and we used our own coasters. Music was subdued and not to my liking. But after ordering a second beer, reliable Stone IPA, I was able to play a few favorite selections using TouchTunes app on my phone.
As Sue and I suffered through another Las Vegas winter, down in the low 60s, I noticed on one of the inescapable large-screen TVs perched over the bar that Sean McDermott just got fired as head coach for the Buffalo Bills, after losing to the Denver Broncos. That’s what you get for leading only team in the NFL to make it to playoffs for last seven years in row. Unemployed!
Combined with only a few people around, and a bartender with not much to say, the mood was overly subdued. Sure, it’s early afternoon on a Wednesday. But this is Vegas—no excuses! I found out Happy Hour is from 3 to 6 pm, Monday to Thursday, although not for the beers we had. Nice try. Sue and I have seen better.