Beer Forum

What is the best brew pub in albuquerque, NM

I used to travel to NM a ton for work and I found this little place in Rio Ranco (or near there) called Turtle Mountain; that was years ago but I thought they had great beer.

It's the only place I've been to there, so I don't know about being the best, but I highly recommend Chama River.

+1 on Chama River.

I stopped by Chama River en route to NHC last year and my two dining companions ordered samplers. The guy brought out thirty sample glasses on two big round trays. Great beer! The food was awesome, too. A couple of years before on the way to NHC in Denver, I stopped at Kelly's over by the UNM campus. It's a great place with a college atmosphere, and the food was good, too. I recommend them both. Just don't stay at the hotel next door--it's a little on the scary side. Try Kelly's for lunch and Chama River for dinner.

I also had breakfast at Celcilia's on 6th street, I think. Saw the place on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Fantastic breakfast! Wish I could have stayed for lunch!

Dirk McLargeHuge wrote:+1 on Chama River.

I stopped by Chama River en route to NHC last year and my two dining companions ordered samplers. The guy brought out thirty sample glasses on two big round trays. Great beer! The food was awesome, too. A couple of years before on the way to NHC in Denver, I stopped at Kelly's over by the UNM campus. It's a great place with a college atmosphere, and the food was good, too. I recommend them both. Just don't stay at the hotel next door--it's a little on the scary side. Try Kelly's for lunch and Chama River for dinner.

I also had breakfast at Celcilia's on 6th street, I think. Saw the place on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Fantastic breakfast! Wish I could have stayed for lunch!

Kelly's beer really isn't that great. Most of it is extract. Frequently I get contaminated beers from there. Here's my recommendations:

Chama River (great food, not cheap though)
Marble (limited food)
Il Vicino (great pizza)
La Cumbre (opening soon)
Hallenbrick (no food)

herbaljoe wrote:Kelly's beer really isn't that great. Most of it is extract. Frequently I get contaminated beers from there. Here's my recommendations:

Yeah, nothing extraordinary was served when we were there, but there was nothing contaminated. Just the standard ales from any brew pub. After a 5 hour drive from Artesia, it was a welcome oasis, though. I like the atmosphere. It reminds me of the places I used to hang out at around UT Austin.

Dirk McLargeHuge wrote:

herbaljoe wrote:Kelly's beer really isn't that great. Most of it is extract. Frequently I get contaminated beers from there. Here's my recommendations:

Yeah, nothing extraordinary was served when we were there, but there was nothing contaminated. Just the standard ales from any brew pub. After a 5 hour drive from Artesia, it was a welcome oasis, though. I like the atmosphere. It reminds me of the places I used to hang out at around UT Austin.

Yeah the location & atmosphere of Kelly's is what keeps them going strong for sure. It's a great hangout and I do really like the way they do their beer menu.

Still, if I'm in that part of town I'll go across the street to Il Vicino.

herbaljoe wrote:

Dirk McLargeHuge wrote:

herbaljoe wrote:Kelly's beer really isn't that great. Most of it is extract. Frequently I get contaminated beers from there. Here's my recommendations:

Yeah, nothing extraordinary was served when we were there, but there was nothing contaminated. Just the standard ales from any brew pub. After a 5 hour drive from Artesia, it was a welcome oasis, though. I like the atmosphere. It reminds me of the places I used to hang out at around UT Austin.

Yeah the location & atmosphere of Kelly's is what keeps them going strong for sure. It's a great hangout and I do really like the way they do their beer menu.

Still, if I'm in that part of town I'll go across the street to Il Vicino.

Next time I go through Albuquerque, I will let you give me a tour. (Not The Tour, like Schuman, though. ) I didn't realize Il Vicino was across the street, and I want to try their beers.