Background – Brasserie Saint James
Arthur Farley purchased a historic icehouse in 2010 and two years later, opened Brasserie Saint James, a restaurant and brewery using the water from the property’s celebrated artesian wells. In 1929, the owners of the icehouse dug a well and built the Crystal Springs Ice plant around it.
Arthur Farley was born in Los Angeles. He is a thirty year veteran of the restaurant business, having worked in food and beverage since childhood, first at his mother’s restaurant, and later running restaurants, bars, and concert venues in Los Angeles, Portland, and Dallas.
The Brasserie St. James brewer is Madison Gurries.
Experience
We happened upon Brasserie Saint James coming back from Lake Tahoe. Our server at the Silver Peak Brewery suggested we try it out. If we didn’t have to catch a plane, we would have loved to stay far longer. It appears they have a great brunch. We did have time to enjoy the pretzels that were uniquely presented and delicious.
The facility is housed in the historic Crystal Springs ice house building that was built over an artesian well. Is that why the beer is so good? It certainly must help. We enjoyed a flight of Kolsch, Wit, Tripel, a Farmhouse ale, Farmhouse Saison and their Passage to India IPA. All were fantastic but the IPA was certainly the best I had on our trip to Reno and Lake Tahoe area and had a great pine nose!
We did not stay overnight in the area. I do not find any hotel within walking distance to St. James. I suggest you take a cab, you will want to drink a lot of this beer!
When in the Reno area check out Tahoe Mountain Brewery in Tahoe City, CA.
https://www.brasseriesaintjames.com/
