On a particularly warm January evening, I met up with brewer John Kofonow, general manager/co-owner Jo Sloan, and co-owner Kim Arthun at the ever-cozy Thirsty Eye Brewing at 206 Broadway Blvd. SE in the historic Huning Highland neighborhood in Albuquerque. For a random Wednesday, it was comfortably busy inside. We sat inside, though it was…
Author: amyotravel
Speak the good word after 2 years at Sunday Service Motor Company
With all the pessimism and angst going around these days, it’s refreshing to talk to someone who has good things to say about the craft brewing scene. Although they have done some pivoting of late, Sunday Service Motor Company, located at 2701 4th St. NW in Albuquerque, is “motoring” along nicely. Owner/brewer Kevin Anderson said,…
A quick note about a new option at Quarter Celtic
Sometimes we report on things that are not strictly beer-related, but are more beer-adjacent. Quarter Celtic shared some news with the Crew and invited us to the brewery at 1100 San Mateo NE to join in a tasting of their latest offering: mead. I asked co-owner/head brewer Brady McKeown just what made him venture into…
Catching up with old friends and new at the old house we call Casa Vieja
In a rare event where two Crew members could get together, Stoutmeister and AmyO met up at Casa Vieja at 4541 Corrales Road in Corrales for the annual Look Back/Look Ahead Series interview. Lucky for us, we were able to meet with brewer Michael Sharpe, assistant brewer Will Robertson, and the previous owner Gary Socha…
La Reforma and a whole lot more keep one brewer a very busy man
A full-time job as a brewer and distiller, a growing family, and the pursuit of a higher degree all at the same time is a lot for any one person. Yet it is exactly the situation that La Reforma head brewer James Warren finds himself in these days. I caught up with James for our…
Shifting over some operations is running a little late for Late Shift Lager House
Hello, all. Happy spring, or what most of us call severe allergy season. It’s time for another Look Back/Look Ahead Series update. This time, I spoke with Patrick Bowling of Late Shift Lager House, the craft beer side of The Craftroom. The popular taproom is primarily the home of Sandia Hard Cider, located at 2809 Broadbent…
New owners bring some changes to Casa Vieja including more beer on tap
It seems that Danny and Molly O’Brien, the new owners who purchased Casa Vieja last year, are really starting to put their own stamp on the beautiful property located at 4541 Corrales Road in the heart of the village. For this year’s Look Back/Look Ahead Series feature, I met with head brewer Michael Sharpe to…
Rumor Brewing Company embraces new identity in scenic East Mountains
Those who read last year’s Look Back/Look Ahead story will remember that 2021 was a big year of change for Rumor Brewing Company in Cedar Crest, down to a full name change from the previous moniker of Ale Republic. They also doubled their brewing capacity, going from a 3.5-barrel brewhouse to a 7-barrel. This year, I…
Rejoice, for a new brewery has finally opened in Southwest Albuquerque
A supremely underserved part of metro Albuquerque just got a much-needed new brewery. Unhinged Brewing is located at 251 98th St NW, Suite F. It is the first brewery located west of the Rio Grande and south of Interstate 40. Unhinged is a welcoming space with very friendly staff and a nice patio. Although they…
Echoes Brewery is open… is open… is open… is open… (get it?)
Old dive bars never die, they just get remade into small breweries. Long-time Burqueños will remember the old Burt’s Tiki Lounge, a dive of a live music venue, on Gold between Third and Fourth Streets in downtown. It has now been remade and rebranded into Echoes Brewery. Stoutmeister and I headed over last weekend to…
DARK SIDE BREW CREW 