Local Gastropub Goes Rogue

Mellow Fellow in Reno, a gastropub that exclusively serves craft brews, will be hosting a tasting event featuring 27 beers by the Oregon based brewery, Rogue, on April 23.

The cost will be $30 all-you-can-drink in five-ounce pours. Designated drivers can have all the soda they can drink for $5.

Tap takeovers — when a bar has most of its taps taken up by a single brewery — have become increasingly popular at local bars. Mellow Fellow, which also has locations in Truckee and Kings Beach, hosts a tasting event that showcases a different brewery every month.

Beers on tap will include two new releases by Rogue: 4 Hop IPA, an India Pale Ale made with four hops grown at Rogue Farms, and Cold Brew IPA, which is Stumptown Coffee Roasters’ Cold Brew Coffee blended with Rogue Farm hops, as described on the Rogue website.

On tap will also be Rogue’s yearly releases, such as Hazelnut and XS Dead Guy Vintage. Vintage beers are “beers that have been aged for anywhere from three to upwards of 20 years,” as described by an article on Esquire.com.

Ryan Eller, owner of Mellow Fellow, praised Rogue’s selection.

“Rogue makes a lot of different styles,” Eller said. “Rogue does a lot of things well.”

Eller goes on to say how these monthly events fit in with his goal for Mellow Fellow.

“Our goal, Eller said, “is to promote a brewery, make people try things they normally wouldn’t, and not take everyone’s money.”

March’s takeover by Stone Brewing and Pizza Port Brewing, both based in Southern California, had a bigger turnout than previous events. Eller estimates that it doubled previous takeovers.

Niki Barouch, a cook and bar-back at Mellow Fellow, is predicting an even higher turnout for the Rogue takeover. She is expecting around 150 guests, and estimates the Stone and Pizza Port event brought in around 100.

The Reno Aces, whose ballpark is located across the street from Mellow Fellow, will be having a game that day. Eller and Barouch both expect an increase in business before and after the game.

Mellow Fellow will have its taps taken over by Epic Brewing, Utah’s first brewery specializing in “strong beers” since prohibition, according to its website.

Eller is pleased with Mellow Fellow’s success with Tap Takeovers.

“It’s nice to see it taking off,” Eller said.