Why Able Baker Brewing Is a Must-Visit Las Vegas Brewery (Full Guide)
- Pour Decisions
- Nov 20, 2025
- 6 min read
If you’re brewery-hopping through the Las Vegas Arts District and you skip Able Baker Brewing… honestly, that’s a poor decision.
We sat down with Sarah, Able Baker’s brand ambassador (and longtime bartender), to talk about the history behind the Atomic Duck, what makes this spot such a community hub, and why this female-forward brewery deserves a permanent spot on your Vegas beer route.
A Quick Intro to Able Baker
Able Baker Brewing sits right in the heart of the Arts District at 1510 S Main Street, Las Vegas, surrounded by murals, bars, and other breweries—aka the perfect neighborhood for a day of “just one more.”
The name Able Baker comes from the first two atomic bombs detonated at the Nevada Test Site, and the brewery leans into that atomic history in a big way. Their flagship beer, Atomic Duck, is inspired by the local legend of a duck that supposedly survived one of the test blasts.
“Able and Baker were the first two atomic bombs that went off at the test site in Nevada,” Sarah explains. “There’s a legend about a duck surviving one of the explosions—that’s where Atomic Duck comes from.”
Add in their rubber duck branding, atomic-inspired names, and a taproom that feels like a hangout spot instead of a beer museum, and you’ve got a place that’s equal parts playful and dialed-in.
Meet Sarah: From Bartender to Brand Ambassador
Sarah has been with Able Baker for over five and a half years. She started behind the bar in February 2020 and recently stepped into the role of brand ambassador.
Her day-to-day?
Visiting bars and businesses that carry Able Baker and making sure they’re stocked and supported
Working with the distributor so staff actually understand the beer they’re selling
Pouring at beer festivals and events
Being the face of the brand out in the Vegas beer world
But her favorite part is simple: community.
Sarah came from North Carolina, where the beer scene is huge, and immediately sought out breweries when she moved to Vegas. What she’s watched here is growth: more breweries, more collaboration, and a tight-knit community where everyone wants everyone else to win.
“If one brewery does well, we all do well,” she says. “The more people go out to all the breweries, the better it is for the whole scene.”
A Female-Forward Beer Playground
Beer is still very much seen as a “guy thing,” but Able Baker is quietly (and not-so-quietly) rewriting that.
Inside the brewery you’ll find:
A female brewer, Ashley
A female director of brewery operations
Multiple women behind the bar who know their beer inside and out
Sarah admits that being a woman behind the bar in a historically male-dominated industry has had its challenges—mostly people assuming she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. But at Able Baker, the culture is intentionally inclusive and supportive.
It’s not “a girl brewery.” It’s a brewery where women are just… running things. As they should.
The Flight: Four Beers You Have to Try
During our Pour Decisions visit, Sarah put together a flight that perfectly shows off Able Baker’s range:
🦆 El Pato Loco – Mexican Lager (Gold Medal Winner)
Style: Mexican lager
Awards: Gold at World Beer Cup
Vibe: Light, crisp, ridiculously easy to drink
This is their go-to lighter option and the base of their in-house michelada mix. Even if you’re not usually a lager person, this one is a “sit-on-the-patio-all-day” beer.
Perfect with: their massive “garbage nachos” and Mexican food from Arts District Kitchen.
🐣 Just Hatched – XPA with Fresh Hops
Style: Extra Pale Ale (XPA)
ABV: ~5%
Fun fact: Sarah helped brew this one from start to finish
This beer uses fresh hops, which gives it a smooth, lighter body than you’d expect from how hoppy it tastes. There’s a subtle citrus note and a clean finish that lets you drink more than one without getting wrecked.
If you’ve ever wanted a “hoppy, but not punishing” beer, this is it.
🦆 Waddle – Hazy Session IPA
Style: Hazy session IPA
ABV: ~4.4%
Profile: Full-bodied, juicy, smells like a tropical hazy… but drinks light
This one is sneaky. Technically it’s a session, but it drinks like a 6% hazy: thick, juicy, and full of flavor, without the heavy hit. It’s the perfect “I wanna drink hazies but I still have responsibilities later” beer.
☢️ Atomic Duck – Flagship West Coast IPA
Style: West Coast IPA
ABV: ~7%
Status: The beer that started it all
If Able Baker had a main character, it would be Atomic Duck. It’s the one you see around town on tap and in stores, and for a lot of people, it’s the gateway into the brand.
It’s approachable for an IPA—hoppy without being aggressive, bright without being bitter-burn-your-tongue-off. It’s the beer you can accidentally have three of and then go, “Ohhh. There it is.”
One of our favorite stories? Someone pregaming EDC with Atomic Duck. 10/10, would repeat—once you’re not the one driving.
Inside the Brewery: 34 Taps, Patio Vibes & Family-Friendly
Able Baker isn’t just a quick-stop taproom; it’s a place you can actually hang out.
Taproom Highlights:
34 taps pouring a mix of:
Core beers
Rotating seasonals
Specialty styles
A house-made root beer
A guest cider
Cold brew coffee from Dark Moon
Covered patio with lights and misters (a must in windy, scorching Vegas summers)
Dog-friendly patio
Family-friendly – bring the kids, grab some food, enjoy a flight
Food is handled by Arts District Kitchen, a separate business inside the space, and the pairing options are dangerouslygood.
Some of Sarah’s go-tos:
Bánh mì (a favorite among regulars)
Shrimp tacos
Garbage nachos with El Pato Loco
Rotating desserts like pumpkin tiramisu or bread pudding made with their stout or other beers
Every now and then they’ll create beer-infused desserts or dishes that practically demand you get the matching beer with it. We fully support this behavior.
Hidden Gems on the Board
Beyond the flight, there are some fun, underrated choices worth hunting down:
A Belgian IPA that leans into Belgian yeast character plus hop bite
A dark spiced ale with cinnamon, nutmeg, and jalapeño—finishing with a gentle spice kick
Barrel-aged beers, including:
A barrel-aged barleywine around 12%
A special anniversary barrel-aged stout hitting around 15%
A past pastry stout that hit 17.1% and tasted like Rocky Road
Translation: if you like big, bold, “this is my whole personality now” beers, keep an eye on their anniversary and specialty releases.
Collabs, Community & Where to Find Their Beers
Able Baker keeps things very Nevada-focused. You’ll find:
Their beers all over Las Vegas
Distribution up to Reno
Core beers like El Pato Loco and Atomic Duck available in stores and on draft
Seasonal sours, hazies, and lagers in the market throughout the year
Spots like Cory’s (a beloved liquor store in Henderson) are known to snag some of the harder-to-find releases. Some local bottle shops also carry fun one-offs and seasonals, so if you’re a beer hunter, odds are good you’ll find a gem.
They also collaborate with other local breweries and businesses—including a cream ale collab with a local partner—because the Vegas beer scene is all about collaboration, not competition.
What’s Next for Able Baker?
Sarah shared that Able Baker is already working on a second location: a taproom + restaurant slated to open early next year. Brewing will stay at the original Arts District location, but the expansion means even more places to get your Atomic Duck fix.
Inside the brewery, there are usually 10–15 beers fermenting at any given time, so the lineup is always changing, always evolving, and always worth a revisit.
Plan Your Visit
If you’re coming to Vegas and want more than just casino cocktails and yard-long frozen drinks, put Able Baker at the top of your list.
Able Baker Brewing
📍 1510 S Main Street, Las Vegas, NV
📲 Instagram: @ablebakerbrewing
🍺 Must-tries: El Pato Loco, Just Hatched, Waddle, Atomic Duck
🦆 Pro tip: Order a flight and enjoy the little duck that comes with it
Start at Able Baker, grab a flight, some food from Arts District Kitchen, and then brewery-hop your way down Main Street. You’ll find something you love here—probably several somethings.
And if you want to hear the full conversation (plus all our chaotic reactions as we try each beer), watch to the Pour Decisions episode featuring Sarah from Able Baker wherever you get your podcasts.
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