Motley Brews’ Hopped Taco Throwdown will return for its third year on Saturday, June 8, bringing together craft beer and tacos for a culinary competition showcasing the talents of some of Las Vegas’ top chefs. The event will be held at Zappos Headquarters’ backyard in Downtown Las Vegas, a venue typically closed to the public, from 8 to 11 p.m., with early entry tickets beginning at 7 p.m.
The Hopped Taco Throwdown will gather some of the best and most innovative breweries and chefs spanning the Las Vegas Valley. Twelve chefs will step out of their culinary comfort zones and strive to earn the title of “Hopped Taco Champion” in one of three categories: Hopped Taco, for best-beer-infused taco; Taco Loco, for most creative taco; and Taco Dulce, for best dessert taco. This year’s competitors include Chef James Trees from Esther’s Kitchen, Chef Adam Pusateri from Cut and Taste, Chef Chris Bulen from Andiron Steak & Sea and more. Motley Brews will bring together top-notch breweries to complement the tacos with endless samples of craft brews, including local favorites Joseph James Brewing Company, Lovelady Brewing Company, CraftHaus Brewery and more.
This year, Beer Alien co-founder Terry Bunch will be one of the guest taco judges rating each taco to help determine the winners. Be sure to say hi if you see Terry or the Beer Alien reporter for Las Vegas, Chris. (clue: Look for the Beer Alien shirts, haha)
Last year’s winners included Chef John Simmons from Firefly Tapas and Kitchen Bar for best Hopped Taco, Chef Josh Clark from The Goodwich for best Taco Loco and Chefs Kevin Lopez and Chris Bulen from Andre’s Bistro & Bar for best Taco Dulce.
Both general admission and VIP tickets are available for the 21+ event, which includes endless tacos and craft beer samples. General admission tickets are available with prices starting at $60 and VIP starting at $85. VIP tickets include one-hour early entry at 7 p.m. and upgraded glassware for sampling brews (note: as of this publication, only 4 VIP tickets remained). More information about Hopped Taco Throwdown is on Facebook, Instagram or online.
About Motley Brews:
Founded in 2010, Motley Brews was created for locals, breweries and brew fans alike to share great libations in a true local setting. Motley Brews develops beer-centric festivals and events throughout the Southwest, including San Diego, Las Vegas and Pasadena, Calif. Motley Brews’ annual Great Vegas Festival of Beer, founded in 2011, is Nevada’s largest craft beer festival. Motley Brews supports local non-profits with every event, raising more than $125,000 to date. More information about Motley Brews is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or on their website at http://motleybrews.com/.
Terry Bunch
