by Rebecca Toy
locally owned breweries pour flawless pints
NEIGHBORHOOD BREWERIES EXEMPLIFY the best of New Mexico–innovation, fortitude and warm hospitality. These brewers transformed passion projects into thriving businesses through creative, sophisticated beers and committed service.
From Ireland to Albuquerque
The family-owned and operated Rio Bravo Brewing started in Ireland. Denise and Randy Baker were struck with the conviviality and connections in homey Irish pubs. An almost decade-long dream culminated in opening this brewery in their hometown, Albuquerque in August 2014.
Rio Bravo Brewing opened in a 1947 Firestone building. Fan favorites include the hazy New England IPA Freak Juice and the Rio Bravo Especial Mexican lager. The team also experiments with styles and tones of coffee, peach and ginger.
Denise Baker expresses amusement and pride in Rio Bravo Brewing’s evolution. “The thoughts of Randy being a bartender and chatting with customers finally came to fruition. However, the cute ‘Cheers’ bar was now 14,000 square feet with an outdoor biergarten that holds 400 people.”
Rio Bravo Brewing has plans for a second location in Albuquerque.
Not Just Another Brewpub
At the forefront of the microbrewing movement, Marble Brewery helped prove the region was eager for well-crafted beer. It launched in April 2008, with beer lovers lining up outside the flagship location, a renovated warehouse downtown. The brewing partners purposefully moved away from the traditional brewpub, ditching the kitchen and focusing on production and serving in one location.
Fifteen years later, beer still rules. The most popular styles include the Cerveza Mexican lager, Double White Belgian-style wheat and the Desert Fog hazy IPA. Each of its three taprooms allows outside food, hosts food trucks and allows pets on patios.
Marble Brewery launched two new rotating series this year: The Lighter Side with light, crisp lagers and Alpha Acid Trip with hoppy IPAs.
A Delicious Experiment
Opened in June 2019, the Brew Lab 101 Beer and Hard Cider Co. serves its creations in a playful space. An equation board, lab tables and samples served in beakers carry a message. “We celebrate the science and engineering of making craft beer as well as the scientific history of New Mexico,” says owner Scott Salvas, who started homebrewing 12 years ago.
Best sellers include the Sexi NuMexi Mexican lager, Wicked Pissah New England hazy IPA, and Peachy Keen cider. The brewery welcomes families and pets to bring food, try a food truck, and enjoy games in the 4000-square-foot beer garden.
Brew Lab 101’s formula is working. The team has plans to open a second location within the year and is securing a wholesaler license to expand to area restaurants and bars.
Sweet Success with Homebrewing Sours
This award-winning venture in Santa Fe started when co-owner John Rowley’s friend shared a brew kit. Rowley immersed himself in the local homebrewing scene, where he met chef Jeffrey Kaplan and brewer Tyler King. The three shared a goal: pair sour and funk-forward farmhouse-style ales with comfort foods and a rotating tap list.
Rowley Farmhouse Ales opened in 2016 with one beer in a one-barrel brewhouse. Today, the brewery offers a range of classic styles like stouts, IPAs and lagers. Craft specialties like the Great American Beer Festival silver medal Germophile sour and the Fields of Rye farmhouse ale are also on tap.
As the team plans a second location, Rowley stays focused on the purpose. “We love making people happy with both our beer and our food and giving back to our community.”
