Howard Samber of Tuscany’s new Pub 365: Craft beers and in search of the perfect brew
The explosion of craft beers and gastropubs in our dining and drinking world has been nothing short of remarkable. It seems that there are now as many brews and places to drink them as there are bubbles in my daily glass of champagne! (Although I will confess that I did switch to some tasty craft ciders this summer.)
Howard Samber, food and beverage manager of Tuscany Suites & Casino, is a home brewer in his spare time. Passionate about beer, he is able to mix business with pleasure by creating and maintaining the beer list for Tuscany’s new restaurant, Pub 365. He talked to us about what goes into the perfect brew:
“For me, the beer experience enlivens all of the senses,” he says. “I developed my palate and eventually became a finished beer specialist at a local brewpub where I oversaw the quality control of beverages coming into the restaurant.
“My interest in beer kept growing, and I began developing homemade recipes as a hobby. Over the years, I perfected my own recipes for an IPA, double IPA, imperial stout and saison.
“I really enjoy the science and creativity behind producing the perfect brew — this is what excites me so much about Pub 365. If you haven’t stopped in yet, there are myriad reasons why I hope you’ll visit us soon. Here are just a few:”
Rare beers you’ve probably never tried before
One of the things I’m most excited about is what we call the “Unicorn List.” It’s a collection of as many as 250 rare beers that evolve with time and trends. This allows us to highlight specialty brews with limited availability, such as Founders Brewing Co.’s Kentucky Breakfast Stout, one of my favorites.
An endless amount of options throughout the year
One of the most challenging, yet rewarding, aspects of maintaining our beer program is continuously changing our offerings. There’s always something new and exciting to try. As much as 20 percent of the menu is seasonal, and at least one-quarter is comprised of favorites from Nevada’s breweries. To keep you enticed, I also pick beers to highlight on a chalkboard list each week.
The chance to join the Tap Wall of Fame
For those of you who love beer, we have a beer loyalty program that gives you the opportunity to win prizes. To join, download the Mug Club app and track your progress as you try brews. Just for joining, you can unlock invites to attend exclusive tap parties and beer-pairing dinners.
As you keep trying new selections, we’ll give you prizes along the way. For those who hit 99 beers, you’ll receive a customized tap handle on our Tap Wall of Fame.
The ability to know when your favorite brew is on its way out
Ordering a beer only to find it’s tapped out is a terrible disappointment. While this is sometimes unavoidable, we’re doing everything we can to make sure that it doesn’t happen at Pub 365.
We’ve implemented a Digital Pour System so that you can get real-time updates on how much of your favorite beer is left in our kegs. The kegs are equipped with sensors that link to the digital system. All you have to do is check out our Facebook page or one of the televisions in Pub 365 for updates.
Not your average pub grub
Beer tastes even better when it’s paired with great food. The menu items at Pub 365 are not your ordinary bar food, from our Mac ’N’ Cheesy burger to Gaucho Skirt Steak. There’s something for everyone at Pub 365, and our cicerone-certified beer servers will make sure that you have the perfect pairing.
There’s not much left to say except, “Pour me a pint, please. Cheers!”
