The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is back in town starting this Saturday and running through the following weekend. This is the biggest annual tourism draw in Albuquerque, and while we realize this means the restaurants will be packed and the roads will be clogged, we recognize the massive economic impact it provides to the metro area.

With all of those tourists coming into town, we figure many of them are fans of craft beer, and rather than forcing their local friends and relatives to try and help them find the best places for a pint, we are taking up that task once again.

Every Wednesday, we run a feature called The Week Ahead in Beer. It has the most recent beer releases, as well as links to the breweries’ websites that update their current roster of seasonals. Make sure to check that out as well if you are looking for a specific beer style. It also includes special events happening at or involving breweries, though we will have a separate preview focusing on those events tied to the Fiesta this Friday.

The easiest way to help people learn about the 47 craft breweries in the metro area, plus another 20 or so offsite taprooms, is to group them geographically. Every brewery listed here will include a link to their official website, where you can find important information on their exact addresses, phone numbers, email contacts, and days and hours of operation.

Also, please remember that most breweries have a three-beer limit, designed to protect everyone from the risk of over-consumption and drunk driving. If you live closer to sea level, remember, your tolerance at elevation will be lower. Lyft and Uber are both available here, or designate a driver in your traveling party.

Got any specific questions? You can contact us directly through our social media pages, or email us at nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com.

Breweries near the Fiesta grounds

The closest brewery to the Fiesta is La Reforma Brewery, located on San Mateo just north of Alameda. In addition to offering up some excellent ales and lagers, plus their own in-house spirits for cocktails, La Reforma has a full menu of Mexico City-style food that is among the best and most unique in town.

Also nearby is Boxing Bear Brewing‘s Firestone taproom, which is now home to their primary brewing operation, which moved over from the original spot near Corrales. Located on the east side of Jefferson about halfway between Alameda and Paseo del Norte, this spot does not have a kitchen, but there is usually a food truck parked out front. The most famous and most awarded beer on tap, and available in cans, year-round is the Chocolate Milk Stout, but Boxing Bear is perhaps best known for its many hop-forward beers, headlined by Uppercut IPA.

New to the area is Vision City Brewstillery, which is located inside the International Indoor Soccer arena at 1311 Cuesta Arriba Ct.

There are also two offsite taprooms near the grounds. For those not familiar, an offsite taproom is owned by the parent brewery, but no beer is produced there (with one exception that we will get to later). Santa Fe Brewing has a taproom located inside Tin Can Alley at Alameda and San Pedro. The complex, which features multiple eateries as well, is made out of recycled shipping containers, and opened in 2020. There are two rooftop patios, and the one on the west side will have a clear view of the balloons as they launch, with early morning watch parties now scheduled.

As for Santa Fe Brewing, it is the oldest (born in 1988) and largest craft brewery in the state, with multiple locations, including two in Albuquerque. SFBC cans are available just about everywhere that beer is sold, with popular styles including the 7K IPA, Java Stout, and NMX Standard.

The other nearby taproom is Restoration Pizza off Jefferson, which is owned and operated by Bosque Brewing. It features a full lineup of Bosque beers to go along with its menu of, well, you can probably guess.

North Valley breweries

The North Valley region of Albuquerque, which includes the Village of Los Ranchos, features two breweries along its major north-south arteries. Over on Second Street, just south of Paseo del Norte, is Steel Bender Brewyard. It features a cozy patio on the east side, a spacious interior, a full menu of outstanding food items, and a wide range of beer styles on tap, from Skull Bucket IPA to Compa Blue Corn Lager. There are cans of many popular styles available to go.

Over on Fourth Street is Hops Brewery, which features nice patios on both sides of the building, plus a full slate of beers and a small but flavorful food menu. You can purchase crowlers of beer to go.

Westside/Corrales/Rio Rancho breweries

After many years of being a sort of craft beer desert, with one exception, the part of Albuquerque and its suburbs west of the Rio Grande is now overflowing with options.

Driving across the Alameda bridge, one will find the original Boxing Bear location, which features food trucks in addition to the full beer lineup. The patio here is one of the biggest and best in town, and there is often live music.

Turn right on Corrales Road to enter the Village of Corrales, where there are two breweries in operation. First up is Casa Vieja Brewery, an events center in a historic building with a large patio and a rustic interior. The beers rotate constantly, and there is almost always a food truck outside. They often have live music on the patio.

Just a little further up the road is the sizable Ex Novo Brewing. What was once just a small taproom and a cozy patio has now been expanded. The Corral, a massive outdoor beer garden, should provide plenty of room for lots of Fiesta-centered activities, which we will list in a separate story due out Friday. This brewery features one or two food trucks most days, plus you can order from nearby Village Pizza, and it has one of the strongest lineups of brews in the state, headlined by the appropriately named Mass Ascension IPA.

Up on the hill above Corrales and Albuquerque is Rio Rancho, the largest suburb and third largest community overall in the state. Nestled in the heart of town along Southern Boulevard, just west of Highway 528 (the major north-south road), is Turtle Mountain Brewing. Since 1999, it has been the most popular watering hole and restaurant in Rio Rancho, so take note that it gets very crowded at peak hours. Grab a pint of Wooden Teeth Lager or Hopshell IPA and one of many pizzas on the menu.

There is now a second Turtle Mountain location on the north side of Rio Rancho, located on Enchanted Hills off 528. It has an even more extensive menu, and plans are afoot to move the brewing operation to a space next to that taproom in the future.

Just a block to the west of the original TMBC is Brew Lab 101, a science-themed brewery with a wide array of beers and ciders on tap. There is almost always a food truck outside, large patios on the south and north sides of the building, and events like trivia contests and live music are often held at night.

Also in Rio Rancho is Cazuela’s Mexican Grill and Brewery, located east of 528 on Sara Road, near the huge Intel plant. It features a full menu of Mexican dishes and plenty of beers brewed on site.

The Flix Brewhouse in Albuquerque brews its own beers, but alas, its 2023 bronze medal winner at GABF, Tropical Mirage, is not not currently on tap. There are still plenty of other great beers available, along with a full food menu, if you need a movie break.

If you are staying on the west side and do not want to battle traffic to get to breweries across the river, fear not, because four have offsite taprooms here. Marble Brewery and Tractor Brewing both have spots near the intersection of McMahon and Unser. The former has a small onsite kitchen, and both often have food trucks. Each usually has live music on the weekends.

Bosque Brewing’s taproom is tucked away near Coors Boulevard and Old Airport Road. It has a full kitchen and beer lineup, with a small covered patio on the west side. It used to be the home of Toltec Brewing, but that brewery closed and Bosque took over the space.

La Cumbre Brewing‘s taproom is located over near Montano and Coors, featuring its award-winning beers on tap, with a comfy patio extending eastward. You can bring in food from the multiple restaurants located in the same shopping center.

Further south are Sobremesa Restaurant and Brewery and Lava Rock Brewing. Sobremesa is located near Coors and Sequoia, with a full kitchen offering a mix of New Mexican food and traditional pub grab, a wrap-around patio, and a solid beer lineup. Lava Rock is north of Unser and Ladera, also armed with a full kitchen, an east-side patio, and a varied lineup of beers. And, if you want to go way out west, hop off I-40 at 98th Street and go south until you see Unhinged Brewing. One of the newest places it town, it has a full beer lineup, lots of special events, and you can bring in food from neighboring restaurants.

Northeast Heights breweries

The Northeast Heights is the largest part of Albuquerque, both in size and population, and is roughly defined as everything east of I-25 and north of I-40. There are a few breweries and taprooms scattered throughout.

Starr Brothers Brewing is a sports-centric brewpub located on San Antonio just east of I-25, with a full kitchen, covered patio, and about a dozen beers on tap. Lampshade Porter won a silver medal at the 2023 World Beer Cup.

Nexus Brewery is located off I-25 near the Montgomery/Montano exit (same street, just different names on either side of the freeway), along the northbound frontage road. It features one of the most unique food menus in town, a fusion of Southern-style soul food like chicken and waffles, and spicy New Mexican-style food. The beer holds its own as well, and several styles are now available in four-pack cans, including past medal winners like the Imperial Cream Ale and Honey Chamomile Wheat.

B2B Garden Brewery is located on Comanche just west of Wyoming. Its menu is dominated by all sorts of tacos, and like the name implies, it has a large outdoor area, with covered and open-air seating available.

Further east is ReSource Brewing, located in the Scottsdale Shopping Center on Eubank near Candelaria. It will be your last chance to visit as the owners plan to close up shop at the end of the month. However, it will not stay empty for long, as it will transition into the first Brew Lab 101 offsite taproom.

The original Lizard Tail Brewing is in a shopping center at Montgomery and Eubank. It is a small neighborhood pub that no longer houses the company’s brewing operation, but it has a very loyal customer base.

Marble has its Heights Taproom on Montgomery just east of Eubank. This site does feature a small brewing operation, which produces Marble’s seasonal and experimental brews. There is usually a food truck outside and Slice Parlor, a popular pizza joint, is right next door.

Bosque Brewing has a new taproom in the Heights located at Eubank and Spain. It has a full kitchen and a lovely patio.

Quarter Celtic Brewpub has a taproom on Juan Tabo just north of Indian School. It has a full menu to match its parent location, and a good selection of beers on tap.

Tramway Boulevard, the easternmost major north-south road in town, now features three offsite taprooms. Boese Brothers Brewpub is near the eastern terminus of Paseo del Norte, featuring a small sandwich menu and a full beer lineup. Boxing Bear Brewing has a taproom at the Bridges on Tramway on Candelaria, with a large patio and several restaurants next door. Canteen Taproom is close to I-40, with a small kitchen and a nice covered patio.

Brewery District

This is the area officially designated by the state legislature (no, really), just east of I-25 in a mainly industrial zone. The breweries are mostly between the east-west streets, Candelaria and Comanche. La Cumbre Brewing is the third largest in the state in terms of annual production, with a lineup ranging from hop-forward offerings like Elevated IPA and Project Dank IPA, to more malty beverages like Slice of Hefen and Malpais Stout. Many are available in four-pack cans statewide. The brewery is located on Girard just north of Candelaria.

Canteen Brewhouse is the oldest Albuquerque brewery, established in 1994 as Il Vicino Brewing. The brewery still works in partnership with the various Il Vicino pizza restaurants around town. The main location, on Aztec, just south of Comanche, has an expansive patio, a small kitchen, and has live music every Thursday evening and Sunday afternoon. Canned beers are available, ranging from current seasonals like Oktoberfest to year-round brews like Dougie-Style Amber and Exodus IPA.

Lizard Tail Industrial is the name of the brewery’s production facility, on Columbia south of Aztec. This spot features a full kitchen, and a small patio outside.

Palmer Brewery shares a taproom with Left Turn Distilling, on Girard south of Candelaria. Beers, ciders, and cocktails are available at the bar, there is a small patio outside, and a small kitchen is on site as well.

Harmon Lane Brewing is just to the east on Candelaria, in a shopping center near Carlisle. Located inside Southwest Grape and Grain, a homebrewing shop, it features an array of beers on tap, with cans available to go. There is often a food truck outside on Fridays and Saturdays.

Just beyond the district boundaries, at Carlisle and I-40, is the second Santa Fe Brewing taproom, located at Green Jeans Farmery. Another recycled shipping container complex, the taproom is the anchor surrounded by eateries and other small businesses.

Also in close proximity is The Craftroom, which started as the home of Sandia Hard Cider at 2809 Broadbent Parkway NE, off the southbound I-25 frontage road between Candelaria and Menaul. It is also now the home of Late Shift Lager House, with beer and cider sales running about 50-50. There is a pizza kitchen on site, but beware, during the weekends a raucous group of Scousers, er, Liverpool soccer fans takes over the joint during game days.

Southeast breweries

The Southeast part of town is roughly everything south of I-40 and east of I-25, featuring the University of New Mexico, the major sports facilities, the Albuquerque International Sunport, and Kirtland Air Force Base.

Far to the east along Central Boulevard, old Route 66, is Bombs Away Beer Company near Eubank. It is owned by Air Force veterans, with an obvious military theme, both in appearance and in the names of its beers, like Proximity Pilsner and Stockpile Stout. There is a small kitchen and a big patio.

The main Quarter Celtic location is located on the northeast corner of San Mateo and Lomas, in a “sunken” shopping center. There is a full Celtic-themed menu, a covered patio outside, and plenty of delicious beers on tap.

High and Dry Brewing is nearby, located south of QC, off Lomas at 529 Adams St NE. There is typically a food truck out front, and oftentimes there is live music, all going along with a rotating lineup of beers and a very chill vibe.

Nob Hill is a popular neighborhood just east of UNM along Central. Tractor Brewing has its first Albuquerque location (the brewery was originally founded south of town in Los Lunas in 1999) at Central and Tulane. The taproom usually has a food truck parked out front, and a cozy patio.

Over on the north side of Central is the Lizard Tail taproom. Entry is gained by walking north on Amherst, then turning west on an alleyway. You will spy the patio and the beer drinkers straight ahead.

Bosque Brewing has its Nob Hill Public House located at Central and Girard. This spot has a full kitchen, a nice patio, and plenty of beer on tap and available to go, including cans of Riverwalker IPA and Scotia Scotch Ale.

Head west on Central to Harvard and you will find the Bricklight District and the newest brewery in town, Flock of Moons Brewing. They took over the former Winning Coffee space at 111 Harvard Dr SE. There is no kitchen, but you can order directly from multiple neighboring restaurants, and there is often a food truck outside. The back patio is spacious, and the beer lineup is off to a terrific start with offerings like Retrograde Rebel Hazy IPA, Bandada de Lunas New Mexican Lager, and Tropical Guru Stout.

Located closer to the Sunport and the sports stadiums and arenas are Differential Brewing and The 377 Brewery. Both are on Yale Boulevard, with Differential close to Avenida Cesar Chavez (the street on which the stadiums/arena are located). The small brewery is a traditional neighborhood pub, featuring food trucks out front, a big patio on the east side, and plenty of local art on the walls.

The 377 is just north of Gibson. It is named after the air wing at Kirtland, and has a military theme throughout. There is a sizable patio and a small kitchen. The beers are a mix of traditional American styles and some unique Belgian-style seasonals.

Downtown/Wells Park/Sawmill breweries

There is a good mix of breweries and taprooms in and around the oldest neighborhoods in Albuquerque, which includes Old Town, numerous museums, and the Albuquerque BioPark.

The Nexus Blue Smokehouse is the second location for the brewpub, with a different menu built around barbecue dishes. It is located on Broadway just south of Cesar Chavez.

Closer to downtown is Thirsty Eye Brewing, at Broadway and Gold. It is both a small brewery and an art gallery, with live music on the weekends, and a nice patio on the east side.

Sidetrack Brewing is another neighborhood pub on Second Street, between Lead and Coal. It features a mix of beer styles, a laid-back vibe, and a big patio. There is usually a food truck out front.

Echoes is a live music venue with a small brewery tucked in the back. It is located on Gold Ave, a block south of Central, in between Third and Fourth Streets. We highly recommend ordering food from the neighboring Wing It Up and enjoying the best wings in town during a local band’s performance.

Boese Brothers Brewing has its main location at Gold and Sixth Street. There is a patio on the west side with a permanently parked food truck. The brewery distills its own spirits as well.

Red Door Brewing has its primary taproom on Central between Sixth and Fifth. There is a patio on the north side, and a full food menu. Red Door also has a full liquor license, with plenty of cocktails on the menu.

Moonwalk Bev is the bar/taproom located inside the 505 Central Food Hall. It usually keeps one or two of its own beers on tap, with a full menu of beers and cocktails from around the area also available.

To the west of downtown is Old Town itself, which now has three nearby offsite taprooms. Boxing Bear has a taproom on Central near 12th Street. The El Vado Motel, on Central near the Rio Grande, has a small taproom on site operated by nearby Ponderosa Brewing. The aptly named Taproom at Old Town is operated by Palmer Brewery and Left Turn Distilling, located near Mountain and Rio Grande Boulevard. It features a full kitchen.

The Sawmill District, just north of Old Town, includes the main Ponderosa Brewing location. The brewpub, which has a full kitchen and patio, has won two gold medals for its Italian Pilsner. It is located on Bellamah, east of Rio Grande.

The large neighborhood to the north of downtown is known as Wells Park, and it is loaded with breweries. Marble Brewery is largest in town in terms of annual barrels produced. Located at First Street and Marble (hence the name), it sports a large patio with an outdoor stage, a rooftop deck, and a full beer lineup. Cans of popular beers like Double White, IPA, Red Ale, Cerveza Lager, and more are available. Food trucks are always outside, but beware, this spot gets very crowded at peak hours.

JUNO is on First Street north of Marble. It is identifiable by its unique metal “trees” on its patio. It often hosts live music and other events on the weekends. It has a small kitchen.

Gravity Bound Brewing opened in 2020, and has quickly become a trendy spot among the hip beer geeks. There is a lineup of rotating hazy IPAs and fruited sours, a spacious patio, and a food truck is almost always out front along Third Street, just west of Marble.

Rio Bravo Brewing is a large production brewery on Second Street right near I-40. Its outdoor beer garden is among the largest in town, and the interior is spacious, too. There is a full kitchen, and plenty of beer on tap and ready to go in cans.

Tractor Brewing has its main location on Fourth Street, and this spot is well known for being a major hub for local music, artists, and other creatives. Tractor also has its own line of spirits called Troubled Minds, and sports a lineup of beers and ciders in cans.

Bow & Arrow Brewing sits along Sixth Street, just south of I-40, and has become a major destination brewery. It is one of the only breweries in the country owned by Native American women, and everything from its general motif to its beers are a tribute to the Southwest. Grab some cans of Denim Tux Pilsner or Savage Times Sour IPA to go, or enjoy the vast interior or cozy patio. There is usually a food truck on hand.

Just north of Wells Park, at 2701 Fourth St NW, is another newer brewery, the very unique Sunday Service Motor Company. It is also a coffee shop and a motorcycle repair shop. Like we said, it’s unique.

Breweries just beyond Albuquerque

The rest of New Mexico features another 50-plus breweries, and a few are within a short drive of Albuquerque.

Just to the north of the city is the town of Bernalillo, which has two breweries on either side of the Rio Grande. Kaktus Brewing is a small, quirky (in a good way) brewpub located off South Hill Road, with live music, a pizza-focused food menu, and a rotating beer lineup. Bosque Brewing’s production facility is located west of the river along Highway 550. It features a taproom with a kitchen and a large patio, including a second-story deck with some of the best views in the state.

Over on the east side of the Sandias, one can hit up Rumor Brewing on Highway 14 in Cedar Crest. It boasts a lovely patio, some tasty pizzas, and rotating beers. Further east along I-40 is Sierra Blanca Brewing, which boasts a huge beer garden outside, and plenty of beer to-go inside. You can find Sierra Blanca’s beers, which include the popular Alien IPA and Alien Amber, in bottles statewide.

Further north on Highway 14, past the town of Madrid, is Beer Creek Brewing, which also sports a big patio, great pizza, and plenty of beers, many of which are now available in cans. Some of their beers are even made entirely with ingredients grown in New Mexico.

Santa Fe is home to multiple breweries. The headquarters of Santa Fe Brewing is located just south of town along I-25, with a sizable outdoor beer garden and spacious interior. Meow Wolf, which has fast become one of the biggest tourist attractions in the state capital, has four nearby breweries. Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery has its main taproom on Agua Fria, with a huge patio and indoor and outdoor music stages. Second Street Brewery‘s Rufina production facility is right near Meow Wolf, featuring a covered patio, a full kitchen, and plenty of beer in six-packs to go. Hidden Mountain Brewing has a new New Mexican-style food menu and some great beers on tap. Rowley Farmhouse Ales, the 2019 GABF Small Brewpub of the Year, is also near Meow Wolf, with a full kitchen and a covered patio, plus plenty of beer to go in bottles and cans.

Deeper into Santa Fe are Chile Line Brewery, located near the Plaza, with plenty of patio space and a full kitchen. Second Street has a taproom at the Railyard, which is also home to a second Restoration Pizza by Bosque, and the brand-new Nuckolls Brewing.

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We hope everyone attending the Balloon Fiesta has a wonderful time over the next week, that the weather is cooperative, and that no one gets lost driving around town (always remember, the Sandia Mountains are to the east).

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister