Nightlife

Five friends are making beer their way at up-and-coming Banger Brewing Company

Image
Banger Brewing Company hopes to sell its product on Fremont East next summer.

The Brew’s Best Spring Fest beer festival at Lake Las Vegas on November 12 was notable for many excellent beers. It was also the Weekly’s introduction to Banger Brewing Company, five Las Vegas guys whose friendship is as solid as the beer they create. They ended up winning “Best Brewery” at that festival, and they hope to sell their product on Fremont East next summer.

Nick Fischella, Eddie Quiogue, Marc Longwith, Roberto Mendoza and Michael “Banger” Beaman all met 12 years ago while working for restaurants at Bellagio. They’ve become inseparable, and while on vacation in Big Bear two years ago, they came up with the idea of forming their own company.

“Michael has been brewing the last seven years, and he’d always bring his beer over,” Quiogue says. The decision to brew beer was an easy one, recalls Longwith: “It’s a huge market, growing at 10 percent a year.”

Beaman’s nickname—and the company’s name—comes from a phrase the gang would use in restaurants whenever something needed to get done: “We’d always say, ‘Bang it out; bang it out,’” Beaman says. They already have a solid stable of pale ales, lagers and stouts, but they intend to keep fans on their toes—how about a green tea kölsch-style beer, a raspberry stout or even an orange mint blonde?

Until they find a space Downtown, Banger’s fans will have to be content to taste their product at Longwith’s house. Follow them on Twitter @bangerbrewing and on Facebook to hear about upcoming tastings.

Share
Photo of Ken Miller

Ken Miller

Ken Miller is the editor of Las Vegas Magazine, having previously served as associate editor at Las Vegas Weekly, assistant ...

Get more Ken Miller

Previous Discussion:

Top of Story