Piñon Bottle Co – Midtown

Piñon Bottle Midtown in Reno is a dog-friendly craft beer bar with 36 taps, a wide bottle selection, expert staff, and a relaxed vibe

After a stop at the stylish Centro Bar & Kitchen, Sonni was eager to share one of her other favorite local spots with me: Piñon Bottle Co. Tucked into the heart of Reno, this laid-back craft beer bar offered the kind of warm, communal ambiance that immediately made me want to get to the business at hand: enjoying beers.

After sampling a few standouts, I settled on a glass of SON OF A BAPTIST on Nitro. A smooth and velvety imperial stout from Epic Brewing Company in Salt Lake City (8% ABV, 60 IBU). With its notes of coffee and dark chocolate, it was a bold, satisfying start.

As the evening unfolded, so did conversations – with Sonni and her local friends. It was the kind of organic social atmosphere where you can definitely learn more  become storytellers, and every glass leads to a new perspective.

I also had the pleasure of Sonni ordering me to do a Underberg shot. It’s a digestive shot and was – um – a right of passage. To me, it just tasted like a shot of Jägermeister – fitting. After I was done, I did the customary twirl of my empty bottle on its side on the bar. I didn’t hate it. In fact, I actually liked it a lot.

Curiosity led me next to THE WALDOS’ SPECIAL ALE from Lagunitas Brewing Company. a triple IPA hailing from Petaluma, CA (11.7% ABV, 100 IBU). Potent and piney, it was unapologetically hoppy and unabashedly Californian.

To close out the night, I returned to the familiar comfort of the SON OF A BAPTIST stout, once again. It was that good.

The real takeaway? Sometimes, the best part of an evening isn’t the drink in your glass, but the stories shared across the bar. Listening — really listening — is an underrated art. And in a place like Piñon Bottle Co., surrounded by good beer and even better company, you’re reminded just how much people are willing to share if you simply give them the space.

People will tell you a lot of things about themselves if you ask the right questions and just listen.

A. Lot. Of. Things.

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