The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is back in town, having started this past 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 rosters of seasonal offerings. 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 41 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 at 8900 San Mateo Blvd NE 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 at 8420 Firestone Ln NE on the east side of Jefferson, about halfway between Alameda and Paseo del Norte, this spot has a quality kitchen, featuring pizza, sandwiches, and more. 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.

One of the more unique setups in the area is Calavida Cantina (formerly known as Vision City Brewstillery), which is located inside the International Indoor Soccer arena at 1311 Cuesta Arriba Ct. Calavida Cantina is starting to move their production equipment into the former Boxing Bear space at Alameda and Corrales on the Westside (see below).

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 6110 Alameda Blvd NE, just east of 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 (Light Lager).

The other nearby taproom is Restoration Pizza at 5161 Lang Ave NE 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 is west of Balloon Fiesta park, and includes the Village of Los Ranchos, which features two breweries along its major north-south arteries. Over at 8305 Second Street NW, 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. They have a lot of Fiesta-themed events, so stay tuned for more info on those this Friday.

Over at 7222 Fourth Street NW 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 aforementioned Calavida Cantina in the old Boxing Bear location at 10200 Corrales Rd NW. It has a kitchen serving up New Mexican-style food, plus a mix of both beers and craft cocktails. The patio on the north side of the building is one of the best in town.

Turn right on Corrales Road to enter the Village of Corrales, where there are two breweries in operation. First up at 4541 Corrales Rd is Casa Vieja Brewery, a former 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, 4895 Corrales Rd to be specific, is the sizable Ex Novo Brewing. What was once just a small taproom and a cozy patio has been expanded. The Corral, a massive outdoor beer garden, should provide plenty of room for lots of Fiesta-centered activities. There are (almost) always food trucks parked outside, and Ex Novo 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, this spot at 905 36th Pl SE 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 at 7835 Enchanted Hills Blvd NE off 528. It has an even more extensive menu, and the brewery itself was moved into an adjacent space this year.

Just a block to the west of the original TMBC at 3301 Southern Blvd SE 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.

The original Flix Brewhouse in Albuquerque brews its own beers, so while the owners may be out of state, the beers are fully local. They have a full food menu and will bring you drinks and eats within the theaters, which show all the latest releases. It is located at 3236 La Orilla Rd NW, off Coors Boulevard.

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 breweries have a combined five offsite taprooms here. Marble Brewery (5740 Night Whisper Rd NW) and Tractor Brewing (5720 McMahon Blvd NW) both have spots near the intersection of McMahon and Unser. Both often have food trucks. Each usually has live music on the weekends.

Bosque Brewing’s first westside taproom is tucked away at 10250 Cottonwood Park NW, in the large shopping district near Cottonwood Mall. 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. Bosque then took over another former brewery’s space, in this case the old Lava Rock Brewing location at 2220 Unser Blvd NW.

La Cumbre Brewing‘s taproom is located at 5600 Coors Blvd NW near the major intersection with Montaño, 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.

If you want to go way out west, hop off I-40 at 98th Street and go south until you see Unhinged Brewing. 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 at 5700 San Antonio Dr NE 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 at 4730 Pan American Fwy NE. 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. Yes, you can still access it even with the construction along the freeway.

Brekki Brekki is one of the more unique brewpubs in town, located at 8338 Comanche Rd NE just west of Wyoming. Its menu is basically all-day breakfast dishes, as the name implies. Located in the former B2B Garden Brewery space, Brekki Brekki has a large outdoor area in the back, with covered and open-air seating available.

Marble has its Heights Taproom at 9904 Montgomery a block or so east of Eubank. This site does feature a separate brewing operation, the MavLab, 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.

Further south of those two taprooms is the Brew Lab 101 taproom, located in the Scottsdale Shopping Center at 3107 Eubank near Candelaria. It took over the space from ReSource Brewing, which closed in 2023.

Bosque Brewing has two taprooms in the Heights, with one located at 5210 Eubank near Spain, and the other on the corner of San Mateo and Academy (6220 San Mateo, to be specific). Both have a full kitchen, and the Eubank location has a lovely patio.

Quarter Celtic Brewpub has a taproom at 1930 Juan Tabo Blvd just north of Indian School. It has a full menu to match its parent location, and a good selection of beers on tap.

The Tatted Bee Brewhouse, is located in a shopping center at the corner of Juan Tabo and Menaul. If you are a sports fan, stop on by, as they have everything on TV ranging from the NFL to English soccer to boxing matches, with no cover charges. There is also frequently live music and sometimes food trucks outside.

Tramway Boulevard, the easternmost major north-south road in town, now features three offsite taprooms. Boese Brothers Brewpub is at 7849 Tramway 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 at 12501 Candelaria Rd off Tramway, with a large patio and several restaurants next door. Canteen Taproom is at 417 Tramway 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, though they have declined in number since last year.

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 at 3313 Girard Blvd NE 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, at 2318 Aztec Rd 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.

Just beyond the district boundaries, at 3600 Cutler Ave near 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.

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 Pit, Isotopes Park, UNM Football Stadium), the Albuquerque International Sunport, and Kirtland Air Force Base.

Far to the east along Central Boulevard, old Route 66, is Bombs Away Beer Company at 9801 Acoma Rd SE. 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. QC might just be the most awarded local brewery in national and international competitions in the past few years, especially for their lagers.

High and Dry Brewing is nearby, located west 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. They recently underwent a renovation and hired a new head brewer.

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 118 Tulane Dr just south of Central. The taproom usually has a food truck parked out front, and a cozy patio.

Bosque Brewing has its Nob Hill Public House located off Central at 116 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 one of the newer breweries 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 features a wide variety of styles including Retrograde Rebel Hazy IPA, Bandada de Lunas New Mexican Lager, and Flocktoberfest.

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 at 500 Yale SE 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 located at 2027 Yale 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 at 1511 Broadway Blvd just south of Cesar Chavez.

Closer to downtown is Thirsty Eye Brewing, at 206 Broadway Blvd SE. 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 at 413 Second Street SW, 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. They also can some of their beers, so you can always take some to go.

Echoes is a live music venue with a small brewery tucked in the back. It is located at 313 Gold Ave SW, a block south of Central, in between Third and Fourth Streets.

The former Boese Brothers space at the corner of Gold Ave and Sixth Street is undergoing a transition. Though Boese still brews in the production space in the back, it now shares that space with Gravity Bound. The latter is remodeling the taproom space out front into a new concept, Lasso Brewing, that will focus on coffee during the day and lagers in the afternoon/evening. We are still waiting on an official opening date, but do not expect it to be during the Fiesta week.

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.

Downtown is also home to the Ex Novo taproom and restaurant at 701 Central Ave NW. There is a full kitchen downstairs, a speakeasy-style bar upstairs that is only open on weekends, and a big patio.

To the west of downtown is Old Town itself, which one nearby offsite taproom. The El Vado Motel, on Central near the Rio Grande, has a small taproom on site operated by nearby Ponderosa Brewing.

The Sawmill District, just north of Old Town, includes the main Ponderosa Brewing location at 1761 Bellamah Ave NW. The brewpub, which has a full kitchen and patio, has won two gold medals for its Italian Pilsner.

Over off 12th Street at 1100 Bellamah Ave NW is one of the most unique places in town, the Painted Lady Bed and Brew. Their slogan is breakfast is overrated, and now they serve their beers in an old trolley car parked on site. Oh, and did we mention this onetime bordello is haunted? If you like spooky, with a side of craft beer, this is your kind of spot.

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

JUNO is at 1501 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, plus it has a small kitchen.

Gravity Bound Brewing opened in 2020 at 816 Third St NW just west of Marble, and has quickly become a trendy spot among the hip beer geeks. There is a lineup of rotating hazy IPAs, malty lagers, and fruited sours, a spacious patio, and a food truck is almost always parked on site. GBB has won two of the last three New Mexico IPA Challenges, if you need further incentive.

The official newest brewery in town is Dripline Brewery, located at 1320 Second St NW. They have a nifty little kitchen serving up tasty and affordable smashburgers, some solid beers on tap, and a large outdoor space that includes areas for kids and kids of all ages.

Rio Bravo Brewing is a large production brewery at 1912 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. If you like watching sports with your beer, this is another great spot for football on the weekends.

Tractor Brewing has its main location at 1800 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 at 608 McKnight Ave NW 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 brewery, the very unique Sunday Service Motor Company. It is also a coffee shop with a motorcycle friendly theme.

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 amid some beautiful mountain views and hiking trails. Further east along I-40 in the town of Moriarty 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. More recently, JUNO opened a taproom at 1913 U.S. Rt 66 in the town of Edgewood, and Turquoise Trail Brewing relocated from Albuquerque to 1009 U.S. Rt 66 in Moriarty.

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 three 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. 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, Second Street has a taproom at the Railyard, which is also home to a second Restoration Pizza by Bosque, and the fancy-yet-quaint 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