Smarch! Yeah, it’s that false spring in New Mexico that begins around Mardi Gras and goes right up until late April or some important holiday around then. We will have some prime patio days coming right up, starting this week, so take full advantage and get out to enjoy some fresh brews and fresh air…
Nexus Brewery prepares for internal expansion at both taprooms in 2022
Nexus Brewery weathered the toughest parts of the pandemic, and is now almost back to its prior sales numbers. It has not been easy to get there, but owner Ken Carson and head brewer Randy King are feeling upbeat as 2022 rolls along. I sat down with both of them for our Look Back/Look Ahead…
Quarter Celtic Brewpub slowly but surely getting back to having fun again
There has always been a sense of fun when it comes to Quarter Celtic. Long ago, in the before (COVID) times, the brewpub would post funny videos, come up with clever beer names, and just keep everything light and cheerful. Then came the pandemic, which got so rough that at one point, the Quarter Celtic…
Lizard Tail tries to stay optimistic while facing ‘brutal’ reality of growing pains
The last time we checked in with Lizard Tail Brewing, things were looking up after the brewery purchased and revamped the former Cantero Brewing, had plans to open multiple taprooms from Nob Hill to Four Hills to Mesa Del Sol, and was even ready to start canning and distributing beers. When I caught up with…
The Week Ahead in Beer: Mardi Gras blows up even before Tuesday
There are a few new brews this week, but the big happening is the return of Mardi Gras celebrations to the breweries. It has been a long time since they have been able to celebrate this annual carnival, so quite a few places are going all out this Saturday and Sunday. In a way, this…
Brew Lab 101 survives and thrives as it expands its footprint inside and out
There is growth afoot over at Brew Lab 101 in Rio Rancho, even if most folks cannot see it yet. The brewery has expanded one suite over to help alleviate storage concerns, there are plans to expand the back patio, and a possible increase in distribution is on deck for the rest of 2022. I…
Bathtub Row Brewing survives and thrives during the pandemic
Well, 2021 is gone, and many would say good riddance. The COVID vaccines arrived and brought us a bit of a return to normality, but even still, COVID continued to affect businesses and consumers. But, for Bathtub Row Brewing Co-op, 2021 wasn’t that bad, and 2022 is shaping up to be even bigger and better….
Flix Brewhouse hits accelerator as it finally gets the opportunity to reopen
Will Moorman is a patient man. At least, that is what we figured after the head brewer at Flix Brewhouse had to wait a very, very long time to resume doing what he loves compared to others whose breweries were shut down for only a few months or weeks during the pandemic. Flix, in contrast,…
The Week Ahead In Beer: Stout Month Rolls On
Another Super Bowl and Stout Challenge have come and gone. Now we make the long march to St Patrick’s Day, and await all of the delicious Irish red ales and stouts which come with the holiday (there are a few on tap now, so we can get a head start!). As for the present, there…
New Brewers Guild executive director stoked to return to her home state
If the new executive director of the New Mexico Brewers Guild looks familiar to anyone, it would probably to the former loyal customers of one of our state’s classic brewpubs, Chama River, that is sadly no more. That alone is the first sign that a lot has changed since Tess Vidalis left New Mexico, and…
DARK SIDE BREW CREW 