New Mexico's oldest craft brewery, serving iconic high-desert beers from its Turquoise Trail headquarters and historic downtown taprooms.
Santa Fe Brewing Company stands as New Mexico's oldest craft brewery, established in 1988 by Mike Levis in a barn on his Galisteo horse ranch. Seeking to offer an alternative to mass-produced domestic lagers, Levis began brewing the flagship Santa Fe Pale Ale using custom square vessels and open-top fermenters sourced from the defunct Boulder Brewing Company. In 1996, a new partnership took over, including Brian Lock, who became the sole owner in 2003. The brewery relocated its production in 2005 to its current headquarters at 35 Fire Place, a facility off the historic Turquoise Trail that formerly housed Wolf Canyon Brewery. Under Lock's leadership, the company made history in 2010 as the first brewery in New Mexico to package craft beer in cans, a move spearheaded by their flagship Happy Camper IPA.
The main campus south of the city center is anchored by the Beer Hall at HQ, a multi-level taproom featuring 27 taps of beer, cider, and wine. The taproom opens onto sun-baked patios and a spacious, dog-friendly beer garden. Directly adjacent is The Bridge, a premier open-air music venue and multi-purpose event space that hosts local festivals, community gatherings, and national touring acts against a backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The Bridge accommodates up to 1,500 guests in its outdoor lawn and indoor hall, serving fresh drafts imported directly from the packaging hall across the parking lot. On-site food trucks, including Fusion Tacos, supply a steady rotation of birria tacos, quesadillas, and green chile cheeseburgers to accompany the pints.
For those staying closer to the historic plaza, The Brakeroom at 510 Galisteo Street offers a cozy, intimate alternative. Housed in a small, historic cabin where Santa Fe Railway brakemen once slept, the taproom features 18 taps, rotating food trucks like Bang Bite, and a secluded backyard patio. The brewery's extensive tap list spans from the piney, citrus-forward Happy Camper IPA (6.6% ABV) to the malt-forward Santa Fe Nut Brown Ale and the potent Chicken Killer Barley Wine, a high-gravity British-style ale named in memory of a founder's dachshund, Petey, who infamously raided a chicken coop in 1991. Through its diverse taprooms and deep local roots, the brewery remains a vital hub of New Mexico's craft culture.
Pair a pint of the piney, citrus-forward Happy Camper IPA with birria tacos from the Fusion Tacos truck at the Beer Hall at HQ, or catch a live show under the stars at The Bridge.
Coffee & Craft — Roadside fuel stops curated by Basecamp West. The best coffee shops, craft breweries, diners, and eateries worth the detour on your next Western road trip.