Most breweries do not get to reopen for patio service under latest state rules change

Restaurant patios can reopen to customers this week, but most breweries cannot under the new regulations.

There was optimism this week that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham would announce a Phase 2 of reopening that would enable breweries and restaurants to start to have dine-in customers again. Well, restaurants get to have customers on their patios (should they have patios, of course), but most breweries will not be allowed.

New Mexico Brewers Guild executive director Leah Black shared this statement from Alcohol Beverage Control: “Under this ‘soft opening’ only restaurants with 50 percent food service annually can utilize patio service. For purposes of this particular order, breweries and distillers with majority sales of alcohol are not yet allowed to have patio service.”

We are in the process of finding out which breweries can reopen their patios and which of them actually plan to do that starting Wednesday. We will update this story as those answers arrive in our inbox.

(UPDATE) Please note that every one of these breweries with open patios will also be able to open up indoor seating, at 50-percent occupancy, on Monday. We would recommend calling ahead to make sure tables are available.

Ale Republic will reopen its patio Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
(UPDATE) Bosque North and Restoration Pizza’s patios are open as of Friday. Reservations are required due to high levels of demand.
(UPDATE) Desert Valley will reopen its patio Friday at noon. It will be limited to 65 guests, and all parties will be limited to 90-minute stays on the patio.
(UPDATE) Enchanted Circle’s taproom on San Mateo is now open from noon to 8 p.m.
(UPDATE) Kaktus has reopened its patio, with the same daily 3 to 8 p.m. hours.
La Reforma qualifies to open, but does not have a patio. There used to be temporary patio permits with the City of Albuquerque, but per co-owner John Gozigian, officials cannot find the paperwork so he can apply for one. (UPDATE) It looks like the City of Albuquerque may soon allow restaurants and breweries to expand their patios, even if they don’t currently have patios. Stay tuned for details.
Nexus is eligible to have both of its patios reopen. Owner Ken Carson said the plan is still to wait until the week of June 8 to reopen the Blue Smokehouse.
Ponderosa will reopen its patio Wednesday from noon to 8 p.m.
Quarter Celtic on San Mateo will be able to reopen its patio Friday from 1 to 7 p.m. The Juan Tabo taproom will only have takeout service.
(UPDATE) Rio Bravo has reopened both its front and back patios from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 to 10 on Friday and Saturday.
Starr Brothers will reopen its patio Wednesday from noon to 10 p.m.
Steel Bender does qualify, but will not reopen its patio for at least one week.
The 377 will reopen its patio Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
(UPDATE) Toltec has reopened its patio, following the same pattern of hours (4 to 8 p.m. Mon-Thurs, 1-8 p.m. Fri-Sat, noon-4 p.m. Sun).
Tractor is evaluating which, if any, of its five taproom patios are eligible.
Turtle Mountain is eligible to have its patio reopen, but will wait until June 1. First the front-of-house staff need to be rehired and additional food stock needs to be ordered.
Up in Santa Fe, Chili Line said its patio will be open Wednesday. Beer Creek and Second Street need more time to get ready for opening, likely by June 1. (UPDATE) Rowley Farmhouse Ales will open its patio Saturday, going back to its old daily hours of 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.