A local affair: New Mexico Brew Fest features 13 breweries at Villa Hispana

After watching balloons ascend into the sky, head over to Expo New Mexico for a celebration of local brews.

The New Mexico Brew Fest returns with 13 local breweries serving up their best craft beers for tastes are purchase inside Villa Hispana at the Fairgrounds, 300 San Pedro Dr. NE.

“The festival is set at the right time of the year in a really beautiful space,” said Kevin Hopper, founder of the New Mexico Brew Fest.

The festival will take place from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct 14. Early entry tickets are $45 and ticket holders may enter the event at noon. General admission lets in at 1 p.m. and GA tickets are $30. Ticketholders will receive a commemorative pint glass for tasting and purchased pints. Early entry attendees also will receive an additional taster glass courtesy of All the Things Craft Cocktails & Mixers. Military attendees will receive a $5 discount with ID, and designated driver tickets are $10. Tickets and information can be found at nmbrewfest.com.

Participating breweries include Gravity Bound Brewing, Sunday Service Motor Company, Tractor Brewing Company, Rio Bravo Brewing, Marble Brewery, Downshift Brewing Company, Ex Novo Brewing Company, Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery, Boxing Bear Brewing Company, La Cumbre Brewing Company, Thirsty Eye Brewing Company, Brew Lab 101 Beer & Cider Company, and Turtle Mountain Brewing Company. All The Things Craft Cocktails & Mixers will also be part of the fun.

“I like to spotlight some of the newer breweries that a lot of people might not ever hear about,” Hopper said. “Particularly ones like Sunday Service, which is in a weird location or facilitation where you don’t see many breweries. Another one would be Thirsty Eye on Broadway and Gold. What I like about these newer breweries (is they are) the ones that find the right spot in a neighborhood that’s not really known for having breweries. It’s kind of expanding the whole beer industry, all over the city, in these quiet little pockets.”

Food trucks will be onsite to help curb your hunger.

“(We have) four really good food trucks like Umami Moto; NewMex-A-Que, that’s barbecue; the (Gourmet) Doner Kebab and Phat Stax Burgers,” Hopper said.

A number of vendors selling everything from jewelry to kombucha to art will be at the festival. NM Sticker Co. will be selling the official festival T-shirt. Some dispensaries and cannabis growers will be on hand to answer questions and disperse information regarding their operations.

Guests looking for shade and relaxation can head to the tent provided by the Launchpad bar and music venue.

“It will be a tent with couches and places to really kick it and get out of the sun if you need to do that,” Hopper said. “Alongside or right next to them, we’ve got some national brand liquor: Bulleit Bourbon and Aviation Gin.”

Live entertainment will also be part of the festivities. Hooks and the Huckleberries will perform a blend of country rock and soul music. Hello Darlin’ will crank out some Americana music with influences of blues, bluegrass, rock and country.

“Both of the bands are local,” Hopper said. “The headliners, Hooks and the Huckleberries, are making a pretty big splash touring wise. They’re a country band made up of guys in their 30s, early 40s. They’re really good. They even wrote a song about the Sandia Mountains. They’re very much hometown boys, but they’re getting big.”