One of the elements that separates Henderson’s Water Street district from and other walkable areas stacked with bars, shops and restaurants is its neighborly character. You feel like a regular even if it’s your first time visiting one of these welcoming businesses, and that’s especially true at Mojave Brewing Company.
This place had me at hello, mostly because of its tasty and creative brews, some of which are named after my favorite pop-culture nostalgia. How could I not enjoy the toasty Almost Famous Porter or the hoppy Point Break West Coast IPA?
“One of the wild cards I thought would be seasonal but I can’t take off the tap, because too many people would complain, is the Shotgun Wedding blonde ale with raspberry and peppers,” says c0-owner and brewer John “Griff” Griffith. “It really trips the switches for a number of our regulars.”
Griffith and business partner Nate Carney, both former CCSD educators, opened Mojave on February 2, 2020, operating for six weeks before COVID struck. As locals have returned to their favorite watering holes more consistently this year, many have discovered this one-of-a-kind brewery and taproom in a former Bank of America building that fits into the Water Street renaissance hand-in-glove.
“I’m a Michigan kid and have sort of a small-town mentality. Even though Henderson isn’t a small town, you still wave at your neighbor here and see what we can do to help each other out,” says Griffith. “Nobody is cutthroat on Water Street. There’s that tide rises, all the bloats float higher attitude.”
As for the brews, they’re all over the place, and that’s intentional. Right now, you’ll find holiday seasonal specialties alongside top sellers like the Skrogzilla Blonde Ale, and then there’s wild creativity at play with Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Fruity Pebbles beers—because what beer drinker doesn’t want to reminisce about Saturday morning cartoons with a big bowl of cereal?
“We’re careful to adhere to traditional styles when we do a traditional style,” Griffith says. “But when we do an experimental beer, there’s no holds barred.”
Mojave is going all out on big beers for the cold-weather season, aging some brews in bourbon barrels for after the New Year’s clock strikes. The upcoming Russian Imperial stout will be its first to exceed 11% ABV. And the brewery’s One More series continues from the Mexican lager Uno Mas and the Oktoberfest Kölsch Einer Noch with an upcoming Japanese-style lager. Yes, it’ll be called Mohitotsu, or something like that.
I’ll be back to try that one out, and to see if Griffith names a third beer after a Patrick Swayze movie. I’ve had the Point Break and the Red Dawn red IPA.
“At the very least, it’s a talking point,” Griffith says. “Maybe you feel comfortable, if you know that movie, to try a new beer.”
MOJAVE BREWING COMPANY 107 S. Water St. #100, 725-204-1387. Monday-Thursday, 2-9 p.m.; Friday, 2-10 p.m.; Saturday, noon-10 p.m.; Sunday, noon-7 p.m.
