Nexus aims for resilient year after some refinement and recommitment

We could have shared pics of beer and smiling people, but we know and you know that the food is what pulls you past the construction. (All photos courtesy of Nexus)

Sometimes the things that cause a brewery to struggle are subtle and mostly out of view of the public eye. Other times, they are right out in the open.

In the case of Nexus Brewery, the biggest obstacle of 2025 was not even in the building. It was out on the ripped-up, rebuilt, remade I-25 frontage road.

Owner Ken Carson and head brewer Randy King delved into that issue and all else that happened with their brewpub last year and early this year, as they sent us a very detailed email answering all three of our questions in this run of the Look Back/Look Ahead Series.

NMDSBC: What was your biggest challenge in 2025?

Carson: The biggest challenge was the freeway construction at our Pan Am location on I-25.
When it started in the fall of 2024, sales dropped immediately. At one point we were down close to 30 percent. Over time we fought our way back, but we’ve remained about 10- to 15-percent off prior levels while the work continues.

The contractors promised they would never completely shut down access, and they haven’t. It’s just been confusing. The most common thing we hear from customers is, “It was a little hard to figure out at first, but once we figured it out, it’s easy.”

What I’m most proud of during that stretch is our team. They showed up every day, stayed positive with guests, and kept delivering quality even when the parking lot looked like a maze. That kind of professionalism matters.

At the same time, beer consumption nationally continues to shift. Craft isn’t what it was in 2010. We also changed distributors earlier in the year, which meant resetting some outside beer sales while we rebuilt momentum.

It’s been a year that required patience and discipline — and our staff leaned into that.

King: Without question, the ongoing construction along I-25 has been our biggest challenge. While Nexus continues to serve exceptional beer and food, the traffic congestion has understandably made it difficult for some guests to visit us. To combat the construction, Nexus Brewery has expanded our reach with Admiral Beverage Corporation distributing Nexus kegs.

You can now find Nexus beer beyond our taproom. We’re proud to be pouring at the Sunport’s Teller Bar and the airport’s new Burque Brews Bar. You can also enjoy Nexus on tap at Village Pizza, Tomasita’s, and Horse & Angel in Albuquerque, as well as Farley’s in Roswell. Whether you’re headed to one of these local establishments or catching a flight, we invite you to grab a pint and enjoy a taste of Nexus beer.

Last food picture, we swear. Any more would be torture, right?

NMDSBC: What was your biggest accomplishment in 2025?

Carson: Honestly, stability. We tightened things up. Subtle improvements across the board. Better alignment. Stronger daily execution. Nothing flashy — just better.

And, that comes from people. Our managers, cooks, servers, brewers — they’ve bought into improving details. Execution is more consistent because they care.

Catering has been big for us in 2025 for both stores. That’s been a real bright spot. Our events team and kitchen have done an excellent job representing Nexus off-site, and that business has helped diversify us beyond just dining room traffic.

Our loyalty program continues to grow and deepen relationships with our guests. That connection between our staff and our regulars is something I’m especially proud of.

On the food side, we were honored to be recognized as Best BBQ in New Mexico this past fall. That meant a lot, because BBQ is hard work. Our pit team puts in long hours to make that happen. We still carry our red chile BBQ sauce — which has real heat — and our sweet sauce. If you mix the two, that’s my favorite.

At Blue, we’re planning to bring bands back to the stage and use our patio more aggressively. Nexus has always been about community, not just food. Music is part of that — and our team thrives when the building has that kind of energy.

On the beer side — Randy and Tim deserve credit. They grind every day. They’re constantly refining recipes, improving consistency, and protecting quality. Even in a tougher beer market, they take pride in every batch. That dedication shows.

King: Our greatest accomplishment has been consistent beers. Tim Sanchez and I have spent years building a reputation for brewing high-quality beer, and in 2025 we continued to deliver a product our guests can count on. We’re deeply grateful for our loyal and discerning patrons — their support pushes us to maintain the highest standards in everything we brew.

NMDSBC: What is your hope/goal/project for 2026?

Carson: 2026 is about building on discipline.

We’re looking to:

Continue strengthening BBQ and refining consistency.
Improve and expand our fried chicken options at Pan Am.
Launch a New Mexican hot link that really represents who we are. We previously had a custom hot link that worked well for us, and when that supplier stopped production, we didn’t lower our standards. We’ll figure out a way to make it even better.
Grow catering further.
Expand our membership program benefits.
Increase beer distribution under our new setup.
Bring back live music and activate our patio at Blue in the spring.

2026 also marks our 15th year in business. We’re planning a major anniversary celebration in May to recognize that milestone and the community — and team — that’s supported us through every season.

January started slower, but February has shown real momentum. Construction won’t last forever. When traffic normalizes, we intend to be sharper than we were before it ever started.

2025 forced us to fight.  Our team fought with us.  2026 is about capitalizing on that fight.

We’re proud of how far we’ve come — and we’re not done yet.

Ken told us to go ahead and reuse a picture of him and Randy, so we pulled this one from the archives.

King: In 2026, we’re focused on growth, excellence, and creativity.

We would like to recover production lost after Covid and construction despite the I-25 challenges.
Maintain a strong presence at premier competitions like the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival.
Brew more lagers! Orale Mexican Lager remains a fan favorite across the city, and we currently have a delicious seasonal Mexican dark lager on tap. We’re excited to continue exploring the depth and versatility of lagers and to see where our creativity takes us next.

A big thanks to Ken and Randy for providing all of that, including the photos that are probably making you as hungry as they made us when we first saw them. Now it’s time to start planning our next visits to both locations.

Keep supporting local!

— Stoutmeister