The end of every February is a fairly normal stretch of time for most people. No major holidays or events, spring break is still a way off, and so on and so forth.

For breweries and other businesses that are licensed by Alcohol and Beverage Control, a division of the Regulation and Licensing Department, the end of February marks the time for those licenses to be renewed. Or not, in some cases, should a brewery decide it is time to pull the plug.

With all of the economic uncertainty and turmoil in the industry, we have been quietly dreading this year’s deadline. While we hoped it would pass as quietly as it does most years, the news we received Wednesday night might suggest otherwise.

First, we spotted the social media post that Box Canyon Brewing in Socorro was going to close after February 28. This is what owner David Chavez wrote:

Box Canyon Brewing Company will be closing our doors on Friday February 28th, 2025.
While we are grateful for the support that we have received from the Socorro community, and proud of what we have been able to accomplish with your help, we have come to the realization that we cannot continue considering the rising costs of doing business.
Paula and I want to thank everyone who has stepped through our doors these past two years. Words cannot express how thankful we are to have been able to be a small part of your community.

Then a reader sent us a message that she had been at Bossfight Brewing when they told their customers that February 28 would also be their final day in business.

Bossfight brewer Kolton Huerta confirmed to us that it is true, the brewery’s time will end on or before the last day of February as they will not renew their license. We suspected as much after Bossfight had a classified ad in the New Mexico Brewers Guild newsletter with their brewing equipment being for sale.

Now, it could just end up being those two breweries that end up closing by not renewing their licenses. Or, it could be more. We will have to wait and see what happens in the coming weeks.

There was some good news, however, as we checked the RLD/ABC website and spotted 11 breweries (and counting) that have already renewed their licenses.

• 575 Brewing, Alamogordo
• Bandolero Brewery, Clovis
• Bathtub Row Brewing Co-op, Los Alamos
• Boese Brothers Brewing (all locations, including Desert Dogs and The Long Pour)
• Bombs Away Beer Comapny
• Cloudcroft Brewing
• Icebox Brewing, Las Cruces (all locations, including the Hatch taproom)
• Lauter Haus Brewing, Farmington
• Little Toad Creek, Silver City (all locations)
• Painted Lady Bed and Brew
• Santa Fe Brewing (all locations)

We expect far more to be renewed than not, so as always, please stay patient if your favorite place does not appear yet. Breweries still have a lot of time to send those in and ABC still has a lot of time to approve the licenses for 2025-26.

Keep supporting local!

— Stoutmeister