It was just last weekend that the Crew attended a 15th anniversary celebration at a local taproom, a remarkable achievement in this current economic climate for breweries. This coming weekend, however, another brewery will close their doors after 16-plus years serving locals and travelers in Northern New Mexico. Blue Heron Brewing is calling it a…
Putts N Pints hopes to finally, fully open after series of private events
This past Friday, I was one of a handful of people in the Brew Lab 101 orbit to be invited to a sneak preview of their newest offsite location, Putts N Pints. To say that this project in the former Putt Putt space at San Mateo and McLeod in the Northeast Heights has been highly…
Lagerhosen returns in new setting with another great lineup of breweries
A little over four years ago, a whole slew of beer lovers gathered in Corrales for the first New Mexico edition of Lagerhosen. The sun was shining, the lagers flowed, and Ex Novo Brewing and their fellow participating breweries basked in the glory of it all. It’s taken a little while, and a venue change,…
The Week Ahead in Beer: An old watering hole turns a festive 15 years old
A year before the Brew Crew came into existence, 2011 to be exact, a random gaggle of hockey-loving metalheads and burgeoning beer geeks found their way to a new taproom in the heart of Nob Hill. It quickly became a late-night refuge for us, and as it would turn out, for so many locals from…
Sidetrack rides to the top at the first New Mexico Craft Beer Awards
This past Friday, after the annual New Mexico Brewers Guild Technical Conference wrapped up at CNM, the attendees trekked over to nearby Flock of Moons for a special ceremony. For the first time, the Guild organized the New Mexico Craft Beer Awards, giving the local professionals and other certified judges a chance to vote and…
Beer Notes: Alien Brew Pub undergoes a surprise rebranding
Alien Brew Pub is no more. Alien Brew Pub still lives. These contradictory statements are brought to you by, arguably, the most unexpected beer-related local development of the week. The Alien Brew Pub, located next door to Uptown Sports Bar, has ended its affiliation with Sierra Blanca Brewery and will now become a new Santa…
The Week Ahead in Beer: Making the most of a Monday at Steel Bender
Most charity events at breweries fall during the weekend, but every now and again something unique might pop up a day after or a day before. The former will be the case at Steel Bender this Monday as they host Closest to the Pint. This little charitable competition will feature an on-site golf simulator, where…
The Week Ahead in Beer: Lagerpalooza rocks us like a hurricane
They’re here! Yes, it’s still summer and too hot and all that, but the German lagers are here, and they’re spectacular. We have already been blessed with Oktoberfiesta at Steel Bender, Oktoberfest at Santa Fe (in my opinion, their best batch in quite some time), Herr Fest at Turtle Mountain, Marblefest at Marble, and Flocktoberfest…
Boxing Bear honors the Mother Road with 2026 New Mexico State Fair beer
In case you have somehow missed it, Route 66 turned 100 years old this year, and just about everyone and anyone is finding ways to celebrate the centennial of the road that long ago connected the West to the Midwest. Over at Boxing Bear Brewing, that of course of means creating a special new beer,…
Santa Fe Brewing expands south with new Las Cruces taproom
Santa Fe Brewing Company has always had a solid presence in the southern New Mexico market, with their sales extending all the way into neighboring El Paso. But so far, that’s only been in package form. This fall, New Mexico’s oldest brewery will plant their flag in Las Cruces with a new taproom set in…
DARK SIDE BREW CREW 