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…
The Crew’s mostly complete guide to WinterBrew 2025
Well, that was short-lived. And no, I’m not talking about the record-breakingly short government ban on TikTok. I’m talking about my dreams of attempting Dry January, as soon as I realized that my favorite New Mexico Brewers Guild event, WinterBrew, is just around the corner. This Friday, WinterBrew returns to the Santa Fe Farmers’ market…
The Week Ahead in Beer: A very fine nine years for Sidetrack
The beginning of 2016 might have seen the greatest number of brewery openings ever concentrated into a three-month stretch. Five breweries would debut in Albuquerque between January and March, giving us all a bit of whiplash. One that has stood the test of time and become a favorite among beer geeks and the general public…
Boxing Bear bounces back from pair of bittersweet taproom closures
Whenever we set out to do a Look Back/Look Ahead Series article, at some of the larger breweries it can simply be about availability when it comes to which person or persons we interview. Of late, our Boxing Bear interviews have typically been with co-owner/director of brewing operations Justin Hamilton and/or events coordinator Astrid Galarza….
Rumor Brewing doubles down on family friendly in more ways than one
If the public has already declared that you are a family-friendly place, even if you are a brewery, your choices are simple — defy it, or go along with it. Rumor Brewing has gone along with it, and now they are starting a project to provide a dedicated area for all those rambunctious youngsters to…
JUNO doubles production thanks to Edgewood taproom and more
In a year where breweries around the country pulled back, Albuquerque’s JUNO Brewery expanded and more than doubled production, finding success even in a difficult environment. Co-owner Jason Marks sat down with us for the annual Look Back/Look Ahead Series last week to discuss all of the positive developments for his brewery. “The big news…
The Week Ahead in Beer: Saving the breweries from the slow season
The Brew Crew quietly turned 13 a few days ago, which means we have been doing editions of Week Ahead for a very long time now. That also means we repeat some of these lead-ins from year to year, based on seasons, events, releases, and so on and so forth. Once again in January, we…
Ex Novo Brewing looks to settle back into a groove now that downtown is open
It would be quite all right if Ex Novo Brewing founder Joel Gregory and his team were to take some time off, rest on their laurels, and bask in the glow of opening their downtown location before jumping back into things. That is not, however, how things tend to work in business, so everyone at…
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,…
Quarter Celtic aims to replicate a strong 2024 with an even better 2025
The skies overhead might have been gray and cold this morning, but maybe it was appropriate to have a rather Irish winter day when heading over to Quarter Celtic Brewpub and Meadery for their entry in our annual Look Back/Look Ahead Series. Co-owner Ror McKeown was there, being that guy wearing shorts in the wintertime,…
DARK SIDE BREW CREW 