If your interests run to the ace of hops rather than the ace ofhearts, to the king of malt rather than the king of clubs, thenpull up a bar stool. Las Vegas' craft beer scene is ready to cashyour chips for some tasty brews.

The Sin City area boasts a dozen breweries and brewpubs designedto do more than help unlucky gamblers drown their sorrows. There issome serious brewing going on in Las Vegas, and it's worth yourwhile to take time away from the gaming tables for a taste of somewell-balanced and inventive beers.

Whether you decide to hold 'em or fold 'em, here is a six-packof area picks that are sure to deal you a winning hand (and maybe athrobbing head).

Triple 7 Restaurant and Microbrewery

200 N. Main St., Las Vegas (702) 387-1896

Located in the Main Street Station complex, Triple 7 scores highwith beer geeks for its creative spin on familiar flavors.Brewmaster Guy Bartmess brews beers that are sessionable like BlackChip Porter at 4.3% ABV, to whoppers like Monique 2.0 at 11% ABVand its famous Triple IPA at 11.3% ABV.

Triple 7's summer specialty, Hopped to High Heavens, is anAmerican wheat beer brewed with Crystal and Amarillo hops. Itoffers a quick kick of grapefruit and citrus on the nose andpalate, and at 6.2% ABV, is a safe bet for even seasoned beerlovers.

Banger Brewing

450 Fremont St., Las Vegas, (702) 456-2739

When four friends got tired of waiting tables and slingingsalads at Las Vegas' famed Bellagio Hotel and Resort they embracedtheir inner hopheads and, along with home brewer Michael “Banger”Beaman, combined forces and resources to start Banger Brewing withBeaman as its brewmaster.

What's on tap? How about some Sandia Watermelon Wheat Beer, aneasy-drinking explosion of its namesake ingredients that iseminently quaffable at 4.3% alcohol by volume. For those who needmore spark, try El Jeffe Jalapeno Hefeweizen, a 5.2% ABV blend ofwheat and freshly roasted jalapeno and serrano peppers thatdelivers a vibrant aroma and subtle spice on the palate.

Fans of heartier brews can get their Vegas on with Knight“Rye”der Imperial Stout, a 7.8% ABV power-hitter that benefits fromthe spiciness of its rye base. Or sink a drink of More Cal-BelBelgian IPA, a 7.3% ABV Belgian golden infused with Centennial andCascade hops for a fruity profile with the much-coveted bubble gumaroma.

Tenaya Creek Brewery

3101 N. Tenaya Way, Las Vegas (702) 362-7335

Located some 20 miles from the bustle of the Las Vegas strip,Tenaya Creek Brewery is light on tourists and long on serioushopheads. A former fine dining restaurant that in 2010 remodeledand repositioned itself as a serious craft brewery, Tenaya Creek ismaking its mark on the craft beer scene and distributes its brandsin 22-ounce bombers in four U.S. states and British Columbia.

Head brewer Anthony Gibson creates a line of whimsically namedand occasionally potent brews as distinctive for their flavors asthey are for their identities.

Hauling Oats Oatmeal Stout has all the character of an oatmealchocolate chip cookie in a bottle and at 5.7% ABV is eminentlyapproachable. Hop Ride IPA combines Magnum and Summit hops for aspicy kick and Cascade for its floral qualities in a light-bodiedyet potent dry-hopped brew at 7.2% ABV. Seasonal favorite God ofThunder Baltic Porter pours dark and clean, and with 9% ABV, willmost certainly rattle your rafters.

Big Dog's Brewing Co.

4543 N. Rancho, Las Vegas (702) 645-1404

Holy Cow!, the city's first brewpub located where the Las Vegasstrip meets Sahara Ave., was founded in 1993 by Tom Wiesner, aco-captain of the 1960 Rose Bowl-winning University of Wisconsinfootball team.

Wiesner, known as “Big Dog,” died in 2002 and Holy Cow!shuttered its doors. But the seeds were planted and a newer, largerbrewery reopened on the city's northwest side named Big Dog inhonor of Wiesner, who was also a prominent business owner, ClarkCounty commissioner and member of the University of Nevada-LasVegas Board of Regents.

Current award-winning brewmaster Dave Otto holds court over aWisconsin-themed brewpub lined with UW football and Green BayPacker memorabilia. The beers range from Leglifter Light at 4% ABVto the NCBA Phool Me 2x Triple IPA at a scary 10.6% ABV. One of themost popular brews and the late founder's favorite is Big Dog's 38Special, a blend of Holy Cow! Original Pale Ale and Red Hydrant Alethat boasts a manageable 5.6% ABV.

The award-winning beers can also be found at Big Dog's Bar &Grill, 1511 N. Nellis Blvd., and Big Dog's Café & Casino, 5390W. Sahara Ave., both in Las Vegas.

Boulder Dam BrewingCo.

453 Nevada Highway, Boulder City, (702) 243 -2739

Day-trippers to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead can stop for a tallcool one at Boulder Dam Brewing Co. In addition to having a finelineup of interesting beers, the brewpub serves food and, for thosein need of an educational excuse, functions as an unofficial museumof the dam's construction.

Todd Cook, head brewer for the family-owned operation, producesa number of interesting beers, including Dam Brewtal IPA, a beer of7.2% ABV and 60 International Bittering Units with a grain billmatched only by its seven-hop lineup, and E Clampus Vitus FermentumRitulis, a red ale with toasted malt, earthy hops and a hint offruit.

But it's the blended drinks that set the brewery apart,including beer/cider blends Rattlesnake Bite and Irish Rattler, andGolden Cream, a mug of Oaked Black Canyon Stout topped with a scoopof vanilla ice cream. Yum!

Joseph James BrewingCo.

155 N. Gibson Road, Henderson (702) 454-2739

Head brewer Matt Marino creates a half-dozen interesting beers,including Fox Tail Pale Ale, one of a growing number of gluten-freebeers. Brewed with a base of organic rice and solid hops infusion,Fox Tail at 5% ABV delivers on flavor for those who suffer fromgluten intolerance.

The brewery does not have a public taproom, but its beer isavailable throughout the Las Vegas area. Watch for Citra Rye PaleAle, a gold medal-winning blend of unique ingredients that deliversa powerful hops assault with 5.4% ABV and 55 IBUs.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the bar, Marinocranks up the odds with Hop Box Imperial IPA, an almost pungent,citrus-heavy beer with 9.3% ABV and 88 IBUs. Be careful if you playinto this hand.

Also on tap in the Sin City area:

• Barley's Casino & Brewing Co., 4500 E. Sunset Road,Henderson, (702) 458-2739

• Camo Brewing Co., 3300 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, (702)877-9812

• Chicago Brewing Co., 2201 S. Fort Apache Road, Las Vegas, (702)254-3333Ellis Island Casino & Brewery, 4178 Koval Lane, LasVegas, (702) 733-8901

• Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant,with locations at 3987 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, (702) 312-5247,and 750 S. Rampart Blvd., Las Vegas-Boca Park, (702) 487-6263

• Sin City Brewing Co., 7935 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, (702)809-4939