The Glass Die

The Glass Die in Reno pairs craft beer with board games in a laid-back, welcoming space perfect for casual fun

After a dinner of artfully composed sushi at Hinoki Omakase, I wanted to visit one of Sonni’s other favorite spots that I’ve heard her rave about – The Glass Die. I love board games and meeting new people over beer. So, this was the perfect pairing.

The drive was short but somehow transported me into a whole different rhythm. One part taproom, one part board game paradise, The Glass Die has an effortlessly cool, community-first energy that hit me the moment I walked in. People were vibing over playing Magic: The Gathering decks, clustered around strategy games, and sipping beer.

What immediately stood out was the size of the space. It felt spacious enough to breathe, play and shop and yet cozy enough to connect at the bar. The game selection was stacked, with every shelf showcasing awesome game boxes,  with their components more than likely blessedly accounted for.

I got my beer – an imbib BOURBON BARRAL SNOW FLOUR SOUR – and settled at the bar. What started as a casual “just one drink” kind of night evolved the way all good nights do: slowly, socially, and a little bit vibe forward.

Before long, Sonni and I were in conversation with her local friends, who introduced me to a delightfully low-stakes card game called Golf.

Each player gets six cards in a grid, all face down and you peek at two. On your turn, you draw a card and swap it in to try to get the lowest score – just like the real thing. When someone flips all their cards, everyone gets one more go. It’s chill, competitive in the gentlest way, and ridiculously addictive.

As I sipped my second beer – TEMPLIN FAMILY BREWING COMPANY’S CORDUROY TDH HAZY IPA – as I tried (and failed) to win a single round. I kept getting high scores. But honestly, it was fine.  Between the playful energy of closing down the bar and being able to stay just a few more minutes after closing time and conversations that made me laugh so hard that I couldn’t breathe, I had a sense of relaxed joy that comes when I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

My time at The Glass Die with Sonni was a wonderful way to close out my time in Reno.

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