The craft brewery scene has been growing rapidly all over the country, and New Mexico is definitely no exception. The big cities and small towns here are home to some incredible breweries that are making creative brews and providing fun gathering spots for locals and visitors to hang out. Often accompanied by food trucks, live music acts, and games to play, here are the top breweries in New Mexico for craft beer lovers.
La Cumbre Brewing Co., Albuquerque
With the slogan “get elevated,” La Cumbre Brewing Co. is an excellent New Mexico brewery that’s open every day. Stop by 3313 Girard NE in town from noon to close any day to try its gold metal masterpiece, Elevated IPA, and many other beers. La Cumbre means pinnacle, peak, or summit in Spanish and celebrates the stunning mountains that surround the city. The beer labels here are also really artistic and beautiful. Food trucks swing by to serve hungry guests every day, and there is also pool and foosball in the taproom. Weekends feature live music at this industrial, yet inviting brewery with year-round and special releases.
Santa Fe Brewing Company, Santa Fe
Santa Fe Brewing Company is the oldest brewery in New Mexico, founded in 1988, and one of the most popular ones. The brewery and tasting room at 35 Fire Place in Santa Fe. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available, and the outside tables are dog-friendly. There’s also the El Dorado Taphouse and Albuquerque Taproom you can stop by for SFBC beer. The Santa Fe Brewing Company is also a big event venue with exciting live music performances at The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing.
Sierra Blanca Brewing Company, Moriarty
Not too far away from Albuquerque is Moriarty’s Sierra Blanca Brewery Company and its awesome half-acre beer garden. This brewery was established in 1996 and brews about 14 beers and sodas. When you visit, you can take a free tour, enjoy the full-service tasting room, and snag some local grub at the food trucks on weekends. This brewery is located at 1016 Industrial Road in Moriarty. Favorite beers here include the Pancho Verde Chile Cerveza, Desert Pilsner, Imperial Stout, and Alien Wheat. Another great place to enjoy these beers is the Rio Grande Grill & Tap Room in Ruidoso.
Blue Heron Brewery, Embudo
The Blue Heron Brewery is a family-owned and operated business in Embudo that’s both a brewery and a winery. Everybody wins! The owners turned their passion for home brewing into a business in 2009, and they have a partner/vinter who produces the wine. Located at 2214 Highway 68 in Embudo, this brewery has a tasting room. There’s also a taproom in Espanola that opened up in 2014 as well. Favorite ales include the Embudo Gold Golden Ale and the Ladybug IPA, and the lagers include the Oro de Rio Grande Pilsner and the XXX Maibock. There are also seasonal ales released throughout the year. The winery here serves both red and white wines under the Blue Heron and La Chiripada labels. If you’re just traveling through, the brewery is about 50 minutes from Santa Fe and 20 minutes from Taos.
Three Rivers Brewery, Farmington
Three Rivers Brewery has an excellent food menu with daily and weekly specials that draw in locals and visitors. It’s located in the 100 block of East Main Street in Farmington and serves house cocktails and wine too. This is a great place to come with non-beer-drinkers too because there are so many other options to choose from. Definitely try the gourmet pizza…it’s delicious!
Roosevelt Brewing Company & Public House, Portales
The New Mexico town of Portales also has an awesome brewery that makes ales, lagers, pizzas, burgers, and wood-fired cuisine. Roosevelt Brewing has locally crafted beers that include the Clovis Point IPA and the Softly Spoken Stout.
Kaktus Brewing Company Inc., Bernalillo
There’s also an award-winning brewery in Bernalillo called Kaktus Brewing Co. that’s a must-visit spot for any craft beer lover. This is a small nano-brewery that has a two-barrel brewing system and has a kitchen that serves organic and local foods. On the menu, you’ll find gourmet appetizers, pizzas, and salads. You can take a self-guided tour of the brewery in Bernalillo or visit the taproom in the Nob Hill neighborhood of Albuquerque.
Spotted Dog Brewery, Mesilla
As the name suggests, Spotted Dog Brewery is a dog-friendly brewery in Mesilla with a casual vibe and great beer. The brewery was named after the family’s bluetick hound, and it’s the one and only brewery in town. House beers on tap include a hefeweizen, cream ale, IPA, amber, milk stout, and more. There are also rotating and seasonal brews here. Stop by 2920 Avenida de Mesilla to try them for yourself.
Turtle Mountain Brewing Company, Rio Rancho
Turtle Mountain Brewing Company is a brewpub that has been serving pizzas, grinders, and hand-crafted beers in Rio Rancho since 1999. There are places to sit and hang out both inside and outside, and the outside area is dog-friendly. This is a fun place to catch a comedy show, do yoga, and paint a portrait too.
Milton’s Brewing, Carlsbad
You can walk to Milton’s Brewing from downtown Carlsbad and sit outside or inside to enjoy some tasty beer. Live entertainment and local food trucks are often onsite, and sangria and cider on tap are also offered as beer alternatives. You can also get a flight of beer to taste several and decide which one you like best.
