There has always been a general sense of optimism that permeates just about every aspect of Kaktus Brewing in Bernalillo. Even amidst all the challenges of 2021, the staff there was still happy to report it was a positive year, as we learned in our latest Look Back/Look Ahead Series entry. I sat down with…
Month: January 2022
Sidetrack Brewing finds being small can be big in advance of its 6th anniversary
The general belief that the smaller breweries were taking the brunt of the pandemic has not quite proven to be the case, as we have learned for this go-around of the Look Back/Look Ahead Series. Take Sidetrack Brewing, for example, where things seem to be thriving rather than struggling as they prepare for their sixth…
The Week Ahead in Beer: New canned releases surge in grand January finale
There are quite a few canned releases to close out this month, which is just fine since our beer fridges haven’t been overflowing at all lately. (Insert sarcastic and/or maniacal laughter here.) The hop-forward beers are surprisingly the dominant style being released in package this week, but in New Mexico, it’s always hoppy season. There…
Tractor Brewing plows through a blur of a year with higher hopes for 2022
The global pandemic has left no business unscathed, but for breweries with a big focus on hosting events, it was particularly rough over the past year-plus. Perhaps no brewery in New Mexico endured the ups and downs quite as much as Tractor Brewing. I sat down with marketing director Jeremy Kinter and co-owner/brewmaster David Hargis…
Marble Brewery refocuses its efforts on planning ahead amid ongoing pandemic
The bigger the brewery, the harder it can be sometimes to pivot and adjust to the constantly shifting currents of the world at large these days. For the biggest brewery in Albuquerque, it has certainly been a challenge for Marble, but with a little extra advance planning, the staff has been able to keep things…
A return to business as usual welcomed at all four Boese Brothers locations
With four locations (plus a new cocktail bar) throughout the state, the nearly seven-year-old Boese Brothers Brewery has certainly made its mark in the New Mexico brewing industry. Luckily for co-owner George Boese, the brewery has built a dependable management and brewing staff to keep things running smoothly, even during a pandemic “I’m happy that…
WinterBrew returns in 2022 with plenty of beers to keep everyone warm and cozy
Sadly, I had missed my first WinterBrew in 2020 because I was on the road. How could I know I wouldn’t get a chance to return to my favorite festival the following year in 2021? I have to admit, I was pretty bummed about the whole thing. I saw all the great pictures. Late last…
The Week Ahead in Beer: Sometimes it is all in the name of the brew
We gotta admit, some breweries are really, really good at coming up with clever beer names. It’s gotten to the point where we think, but have not confirmed, that there is a game of one-upmanship among all the places around Albuquerque. If that is truly the case, then Steel Bender just raised the bar with…
Thirsty Eye Brewing finds efficiency is the key to survival in the pandemic
Sometimes, the smallest things can make a big difference, even for breweries. Such was the case in 2021 for Thirsty Eye Brewing, where one small improvement in the brewing process helped them endure the many ups and downs of the pandemic. I sat down with co-owner Kim Arthun, his wife and general manager Jo Sloan,…
Send it to the Women: How Ali Cattin climbed her way to the top of the Red Door scratching post
The New Mexico brewing scene is full of incredibly talented women, and Ali Cattin, the operations manager at Red Door Brewing Company, has steadily become one of the main players over the last few years. Ali sat down with me in their (relatively) new brewery and office space in the Sawmill District to share the…
DARK SIDE BREW CREW 