Brewing in New Mexico began in the 1850s when small breweries serviced short-lived boomtowns teeming with early settlers thirsty for brew. By the time Prohibition came in 1918, New Mexico breweries were completely tapped out. It wasn't until 1988, when the Santa Fe Brewing Company began slaking local thirsts, that beer was again brewed in New Mexico. By the late 1990s, New Mexico was experiencing a resurgence in local brewing. Today, the state boasts a craft brewing renaissance. New Mexican breweries receive national attention, including eight medals at the 2013 Great American Beer Festival in Denver. Join author Jon C. Stott as he recounts New Mexico's brewing history, collects hops heritage and samples local brewpubs from across the state.
Jon C. Stott has been studying beer in a very non-academic, non-scientific way for over half a century and is the author of "Beer Quest West: The Craft Brewers of Alberta and British Columbia." His blog www.beerquestwest.com includes essays about breweries and brewers and tasting notes. After wintering in Albuquerque, avoiding the cold Canadian weather, he moved there permanently in 2013. He is the author of more than a dozen books.