Albuquerque Part Deux

That’s right…we visited so many breweries in Albuquerque that we needed a “part 2”. Gabriel and I visited 7 breweries/brewpubs in one day. It was a TON of fun to meet all these folks but it IS hard work at the end of the day. Truly.

We met Jeff from Chama River Brewing Company who showed us around the location. Chama River is one of the more established breweries in Albuquerque and is also a fine dining establishment. The owner had an extensive collection of beautiful Eliot Porter nature photographs in the back room.  Gabriel enjoyed the Broken Spoke Honey Wheat Ale that is “light bodied and dry with a touch of honey sweetness and a floral bouquet.”

We heard that Nob Hill was a really cool district in Albuquerque so we had to check it out. What we found was an area on historic Route 66 that was full of hipsters right near the University. From retro signs to palm readers, the next to taproom and brewpub were sure to be cool. When we pulled up to Tractor Brewing Co, we noticed a handwritten sign that said “No more Growlers being served due to Nob Hill regulations.” We have found throughout our trip that so many regulations are being imposed on microbreweries that can impede their growth. Read more about successes and challenges in craft beer today.  Gabe went for the Haymaker Honey Wheat Ale and the Farmer’s Tan Red Ale.

Right nearby was a cool old filling station that had been remodeled into Kelly’s Brew Pub & Restaurant. Kelly’s also is a BYOB (BREW Your Own Beer)! You can actually make a date to learn about brewing beer, make a batch of your own and enjoy the experience with a group of your friends all for the price of the cost of one keg! We enjoyed talking with Tracy who served us a Brewnette and the IPA and learning more about the brewery from Zac. This was a perfect place to sit out on the large patio and enjoy a cold one.