Brews and views

Craving a cold one? After all the heavenly outdoor activities, be sure to plan a day trip to craft libationers. You’ll find exactly what you’re looking for. From specialty breweries to distilleries and wineries — all born and brewed right here in El Norté.

Taos County

RED RIVER BREWING COMPANY & DISTILLERY

217 West Main Street, Red River; 575-770-2519, redriverbrewing.com; Sundays through Thursdays 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Situated in the heart of the town, RBBC’s Silver King Vodka is a three-time winner of 2021’s Best of Class, Double Gold Medal, and Best of Category for American Neutral Vodka. An innovator in New Mexico’s thriving craft brewing and cocktail movements, this family-owned business yields a wealth of craft spirits and brews of superior artisanal ingredients. Both kiddos and adults love the house root beer too!

TAOS MESA BREWING TAOS TAP ROOM

201 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Taos; 575-758-1900, taosmesabrewing.com

“A conspiracy is brewing” is a twisted meme-theme of Taos Mesa Brewing Tap Room, located a half-block south of Taos Plaza. With over 24 taps of local brewed beer, ciders and wines, TMB is a brew pub fave of both locals and visitors.

THE LOUNGE BY ROLLING STILL DISTILLERY

110 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos; 575-613-0326 rollingstill.com. Monday through Thursday 4-9 p.m.; Friday 4-10 p.m.; Saturday 3-10 p.m.

A stone’s throw north of Taos Plaza is Rolling Still Distillery’s boutique “tasting room” – The Lounge. Women-owned, the historic people-watching patio is as unmatched as their luscious liquors. A few notables are Lavender Honey Drop (lavender vodka, butterfly pea blossom honey and lemon), or High Tea Gypsy (classic vodka, tea.o.graphy ginger spice tea, ginger liqueur, lemon and a special elevation-support herbal tincture) You can’t go wrong with anything they offer.

Enchanting Hills and Stills

BLACK MESA WINERY

1502 State Hwy 68, Velarde; 505-852-2820 blackmesawinery.com Every day 11 a.m.-6 p.m. except Christmas

Black Mesa Winery makes award-winning wine and hard cider using only New Mexico grapes for wine and New Mexico apples for hard cider. The white gets fermented with minimal oxygen so they’re nice and crisp. The reds’ grapes are delicately handpunched to extract color and flavor, a rare technique in winemaking today. Make a Black Mesa visit and enjoy!

VIVÁC WINERY

2075 State Highway 68, Dixon; 505-579-4441, vivacwinery.com Daily Sundays through Fridays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

New Mexico actually had wine grapes before California, as international wine judge and Certified Advanced Sommelier and co-owner Michelle Padberg of Vivác Winery reminds us, beginning with the Franciscan monks. Step up to the flagstone topped bar and begin your tasting. Knowledgeable staff will answer all of your questions and dazzle you with fun trivia, but they are dedicated to making sure you have a fabulous time!

BLUE HERON BREWING

2214 State Highway 68, Embudo; 505-579-9188, blueheronbrews.com Sunday through Tuesday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

New Mexico’s oldest female-owned and -operated brewery is a total go-to on the bank of the Río Grande along the road to Taos. Growlers and pints available at curbside. Try Tarantula Trek Red Ale or the Peñasco Porter. Pair your brewskies with Ken’z Cuisine menu of palate pleasers.

Circle North

Angel Fire, Eagle Nest and Colfax County

ENCHANTED CIRCLE BREWING COMPANY

20 Sage Lane, Angel Fire 575-507-8687, Facebook

Angel Fire’s awardwinning spot has a 75-seat tasting room that is a winter beer drinker’s fave. Tucked in high altitude Moreno Valley, they “seek out the best ingredients to make the best possible recipes to satisfy the most discerning craft brew drinker. Established in 2015, this production brewery distributes to restaurants, bars and other New Mexico breweries.

COMANCHE CREEK BREWING COMPANY

5 Comanche Creek Road, Eagle Nest, 575- 377-2337, comanchecreekbrewingco.com Wednesdays through Sundays noon-8 p.m.

Hidden in a Sangre de Cristo mountain meadow, this multi award winning microbrewery is just a hint of their taste of the good life.

COLFAX ALE CELLAR

215 S 2nd Street, Ratón; 575-4451111, colfaxale cellar.com Tuesdays -Wednesdays 5-8 p.m.; Thursdays 5-9 p.m.; Fridays 5-10 p.m.; Saturdays noon-10 p.m.; Sundays noon6 p.m. Kitchen closes 8 p.m. daily. Closed Mondays.

The seat of Colfax County has a brewery to match. One Wednesday special was freshly shaved black forest Hot Ham piled high, creamy Swiss, and kettle chips. Pair with their Van Houten No.4 stout, all brewed locally.