NM TRAILS & ALES
SUMMER TREASURE HUNT By: Dave Gordon
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ummer road trips! 2 hours, 2 weeks. Road trips expand to fill the time we have to squeeze in fun, excitement, learning, adventure, and BEER. Because we like craft beer, we seek out new breweries, explore strange new beers, and drink beer where we have not consumed before. Variation on the Star Trek prime directive but why should beer treasure travel be any less exciting? But first, we must earn those exceptional crafties we crave! Without further adieu, here are suggested ‘Treasure Hunts’ of varying duration of Mother Nature’s finest, history, art, and beyond. And craft beer all along the way... (The main hub is ABQ). No space to list long descriptions. Look up these real places and discover your own treasures. Treasure Hunt #1. Day trip to overnight. I-40 to NM 14. The Turquoise Trail. Sandia Crest Road Tinkertown. Sulphur Canyn Trail to ABQ overlook. Shady trail through pines and oaks and altitude. Cool air! Explore Madrid - Craft beer can be found at Mine Shaft Tavern. Stop in Cerillos. Then, Santa Fe Tap room on site at Brewery where 14 meets I-25. Discover MEOW WOLF in Santa Fe. Need a high alpine adventure? Head to trails up toward Santa Fe Ski Basin. In town - Museums, art galleries - then, Blue Corn, Second Street, Duel, Chile Line Brewing, Rowley’s. Need lodging? Try the Sage Inn. Four iron (as in golf shot) from Second Street at the Railyard. Treasure Hunt #2. Overnight or longer. Enchanted Circle Tour. 7
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Blue Heron Brewing in Embudo. Rio Grande rafting. Remnants of Chile Line Railroad. Highway 64 to Angel Fire. Mountain bike the ski area. Enchanted Circle brewing - good food and beer. Comanche Creek brewing remote and fun! Fish on the Cimarron River. Red River - a town for Texas refuges and soon to have Red River Brewing. Return to Taos - Taos Mesa Brewing (environmentally friendly brewing) - 2 locations. Music, beer and food. Eske’s is worth the stop for food and beer. Trail? Divisadero. Sights and education? Gorge Bridge - 660 feet above Rio Grande! Taos Pueblo. Earthships. Take backroads through Carson to 285. Ojo Caliente Hot Springs. Trail? Posi - 700 year old pot shards everywhere! Soak in healthy water. Drink healthy craft beer in their restaurant. Treasure Hunt # 3. 550 Tour. 2-4 nights. Kaktus Brewing in Bernalillo. Chaco Canyon. 550 Brewing. Three Rivers Brewing. Wow wee on food and beer! Durango - hmmm - so many choices! Do not skip the Brew House or Animas. Gluten reduced beers and wonderful food at Carver Brothers. Do the brewery tour at SKA and get a free beer directly off the canning line! Trails? Horse Gulch for mountain biking, hiking, running. Great views of Animas River valley and Durango. Work up a thirst. Head west on 160 to Mancos. Mancos Brewing. Beer fest there is August 19th. A new brewery and a true treasure. Treasure Hunt #4. Outer limits. 2-5 days. 285 north. Square Peg Brewerks in Alamosa. Tap room - bring
in your own food. Games and unique beers! Crestone Brewing. Excellent beers. Gluten reduced and healthy food! Pair with North Crestone Trail. Head north to Joyful Journey Hot springs or Valley View Hot springs. (Birthday suits okay at VV). BYOB if camping. Ties to NM? 200,000 bats from Carlsbad Cavern colony take up residence in old mine for summer months to eat millions of insects that want to consume our barley! Go bats! Do the evening outflight guided tour to experience just one of Mother Nature’s wonders. (Orient Land Trust - olt.org). Return via US 160 west to Del Norte CO for a beer and a pizza at Three Barrel Brewing, stay at a restored hotel a block away - The Windsor, and rent mountain bikes at Kristy Sports for a wild ride in Penitente Canyon or, ride directly from town to the Pronghorn Trail system south of town. Thirst will come quickly. Head over Wolf Creek Pass to Pagosa Springs - Riff Raff Brewing. Food, beer and a ghost! Kyle is brewing extremely good bevvies as he perfects his crafts! Soak at the Hot Springs and stay at Motel SOCO (beer on draft there). Tube and raft the San Juan River before it gets turned into beer. Wolfe Brewing and Pagosa Springs Brewing up the hill to the west completes the Pagosa circuit. Bottom Shelf Brewing is another nice stop in Bayfield on way to Durango. Off the beaten path but not undiscovered for good reason! This is a small sample platter of treasures available on the Craft Beer circuit. Find more trips on the brewerscrew.biz website. Cheers and good treasure hunting!