If you're in New Mexico and you're a beer fan, Santa Fe Brewing is for you. I hit two of their locations in Albuquerque, both of which are in cool settings. The first one, they call Green Jeans Farmery, which has an open-air area with multiple levels. It was about 28 degrees, so I did go inside to the bar, but after ordering I walked all around and checked it out. There were people sitting outside, so don't call the people of New Mexico wusses. The elevation was about 5,000 feet, so they know what cold is. The brewery has been around since 1988. Like every craft beer story, it started out with a guy with passion for beer and an idea. He partnered up with some dudes and ran it for awhile, but others saw opportunity and bought the original owners out. Then one of those guys bought all his partners out in 2003 and really expanded things. His name is Brian Lock. He has opened several new and impressive locations and has done what all smart breweries do and become a community-based business. They brew around 40,000 barrels a year and have a big presence in New Mexico. You don't survive for 35 years without making good beer.
I had two of their offerings and both were excellent. The first one was something you would predict I'd try if you read the blog at all. Their English Brown Ale, called aptly, Santa Fe Nut Brown Ale. It was a perfect choice for a cool December evening. Malty with sweetness and after a couple of sips I was taken. I was guessing it had an IBU of 20, but after looking it up, it's 35. Now, that surprised me because I didn't taste the bitterness you'd expect at 35. It was really easy to drink. The dark brown color was excellent and I would drink this beer all night. Damn good.
I also tried their Java Stout, which is an Imperial Stout. As you can tell by the name, it is coffee inspired and made with local coffee beans. An IBU of 50 with a heavy ABV of 8%. I liked it, it was exactly what they said it was, a solid beer. They have a good stable of beers, including their flagship, Santa Fe Pale Ale and Happy Camper IPA. They have a couple of Hazy IPA's, a West Coast IPA as well as a Barley Wine called Chicken Killer and some seasonals, one of which I need to try called, Adobe Igloo. I also went to their location in Tin Can Alley. It is an open, multi-story food court with the brewery connected to it. All the food appeared to be local fare, making it an original. I did buy a t-shirt, so my stamp of approval is on Santa Fe Brewing Company. Outside of New Mexico and Colorado, I'm not sure you can get their beer anywhere else, but it is a must-try when in New Mexico.
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