Last year at this time, we suggested it was still possible to support breweries during the slowest month of the year for business, even without drinking, by doing things like just buying food or merchandise. Dry January is and will continue to be a big thing for some folks, even those who spend much of…
The Thunder From Dortmunder Cup: Picking the best beer name of 2023
Many breweries love to come up with clever names for their seasonal and specialty beers. We love reading those names, and then drinking the beers. Over the course of the past year, we jotted down a list of our favorite beer names, and after double-checking that we didn’t miss any by going back through every…
The mostly complete guide to New Year’s hours at NM craft breweries
As we do for most significant holidays, as a public service we attempt to compile all the brewery hours of operation for whatever is up next. In this case, it is New Year’s Eve and Day, which leads to some odd hours and closings, as breweries debate staying open late, closing early, or closing entirely…
The Year in Beer: Breaking down a wildly inconsistent 2023 for breweries
It was a weird year. Yeah, we could probably say that a lot about past 12-month stretches in New Mexico, but for some reason, 2023 just felt strange. Only one new brewery opened in Albuquerque. Two closed, one with the intent of moving to Moriarty, and a fan-favorite taproom will bid adieu this weekend. Two…
The Week Ahead in Beer: Closing out 2023 with a farewell to a taproom
Just when we thought this would be a quiet week, an old rumor was proven true when Boxing Bear announced that this weekend will mark the final days of its West Downtown taproom. The location at 1710 Central Ave. SW will close its doors after a two-day farewell party this Friday and Saturday. The first…
The mostly complete guide to Christmas hours at New Mexico craft breweries
As we do for most significant holidays, as a public service we attempt to compile all the brewery hours of operation. It should come as little surprise that most places will be closed this Monday, as the Christmas holiday takes precedence. Many breweries are either closed or closing early on Christmas Eve, so make sure…
Canteen overcomes a challenging year and rolls toward its 30th anniversary
It was not just one of those years over at Canteen Brewhouse. It was, perhaps, the most fraught and difficult year of the 29-year existence of what was once Il Vicino Brewing. Back in the summer, the glycol chiller went down, and it left the brewery with a seven-week stretch of not actually brewing. With…
The Week Ahead in Beer: Darkness returns to the winter solstice
The longest night of the year is almost upon us, and to celebrate, La Cumbre is tapping quite a few of its darkest creations for all to enjoy. Darkest Day is set for Thursday at the brewery, with three different special flights available. Midnight Madness will feature Siberian Silk (Baltic Porter), Malpais Stout, Gilded Age…
Sunday Service Motor Company revs up after successful first year
The first year of any business, breweries included, tends to be more of a learning process than anything else. That has certainly been the case for Sunday Service Motor Company, the unique brewery/coffee shop located at 2701 Fourth St. NW, just a block north of Menaul. I caught up with co-owner Kevin Anderson recently for…
Notes from the North: Blü Dragonfly and Red River enter expansion mode
Over the past week, the Crew received a couple of emailed updates on two of the breweries in Northern New Mexico. These both followed up on our most recent articles on Blü Dragonfly Brewing outside Raton and on Red River Brewing. First up, Blü Dragonfly owner Colin Tawney wrote that while his brewery is still…
DARK SIDE BREW CREW 