Pandemic hits local brewing industry as hard as everything else

Never in our lives did we imagine that a story about a global pandemic’s impact on local craft breweries would ever appear on our site, but here we are. We will keep a constant listing of closings and event cancellations/postponements here, but please keep consulting individual breweries’ social media pages for updated information. We can…

Blue Grasshopper begins the difficult process of scaling back

A surprising post on Facebook changed our plans on Saturday, when we read that Blue Grasshopper Brewery was holding a “grand closing” of its location at Second Street and Summer in Wells Park. Taking a chance, I drove down and found co-owner Peter Apers was still around and willing to chat about everything that is…

Desert Valley taproom in Northeast Heights is now closed

After receiving a tip in the morning, the Crew has confirmed that the Desert Valley Brewing taproom located at Wyoming and Comanche has now closed. The popular Westside location is still open and is doing just fine, we have been assured. Per a direct message from Desert Valley on Facebook, the Heights taproom was subleased…

What’s in the box?! Rowley Farmhouse Ales has big news

Recently I was sitting at Rowley Farmhouse Ales, talking about barrel-aged goodies with the bartender as I sipped on their latest edition of Agent Scully IPA. Chef and co-owner Jeffrey Kaplan then sauntered down the steps, as he often does at the end of the day to greet his customers and check on the business…

Steel Bender gears up for another year of Balloons & Brews

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a big, wild event, and that can often include the task of getting in and out of the park, finding food to eat, something to drink, and so on. Two years ago, Steel Bender Brewyard provided a bit of an alternative, inviting everyone over early in the morning to…

Second Street heads into the Oktoberforest for a good cause

Second Street Brewery is celebrating Oktoberfest with a special event at the Railyard location today (Tuesday) from 5 to 8 p.m. It is not, however, just about the beer. The name of this special brew, which will be on tap and for sale in six-pack cans, is Oktoberforest, and is part of a wider campaign…