Beer review: Santa Fe Brewing Company in Tin Can Alley Albuquerque
You know the beer is good when you get home and have to find room in your RV’s refrigerator for what you bought but that’s just what happened recently in Albuquerque on my visit to Santa Fe Brewing inside Tin Can Alley. This whole experience was so exceptional I went back. Four times during a week’s stay at the Balloon Fiesta for today’s brewery review by the Beer Voyeur.
Santa Fe brewing
Let’s start with the beer, of course. In short, the beers I had at Santa Fe Brewing’s Tin Can Alley location were some of the better beers I’ve had, period. And I have had a lot of beer!
Since I’m writing this in October I had to start with their Oktoberfest which is a Marzen-style beer that’s typical of a German pilsner. It’s got 6.0% Alcohol By Volume (ABV) with only 38 International Bitterness Units (IBU). This means it’s a relatively light, drinkable beer but with a wonderfully malty flavor that’s relatively mellow.
I can see this being a generally popular beer overall but it’s a seasonal so you have to come around near October to get it. Some how two six packs ended-up in my RV’s refrigerator. I don’t know how that happened.
The next thing I tried was their Social Hour which was absolutely delightful with just a hint of tropical fruit. At only 13IBU it’s a great, light beer but one that absolutely has a wonderful flavor to it.
It’s also got a kick with 7% ABV. This, too, ended up having two Sixers come home with us and Peggy liked it as much as I did.
Of course being RVers we had to try Happy Camper which is very strong on the hops with ain IBU of 82. This is definitely only for the hop heads but I still found it quite drinkable (I like hops) with a 6.6% ABV.
If beers that have a bit of a fruit flavor are your thing you might flip for Sorta Fhazy which is also an IPA but with a bit of a berry chaser on the finish. It’s only got an IBU of 40 with 6.2% ABV.
My favorite might have been the 7K IPA which almost has a grapefruit finish to it but is definitely hoppy with an IBU of 79. It’s also got 7% ABV. Again, two six packs. I wish I had had room for more.
Tin Can Alley
The whole experience at the brewery inside Tin Can Alley was outstanding with friendly bartenders but also really pleasant staff at all levels. The people who were busing dishes were as delightful as the bartenders.
The atmosphere is sort of industrial but very modern with tables of all sorts all over the place. Santa Fe Brewing opens up into Tin Can Alley with a downstairs space that’s sort of a casual restaurant look but then it opens into Tin Can Alley in general which has all sorts of tables of different styles in an industrial setting.
There are a wide number of choices in Tin Can Alley - literally something for everyone. The ordering system is ingenious where there are plastic cards at each of the numbered tables with QR codes on them. You scan the code and can place your order right from your table on your phone.
The food arrives and you’ve already paid with your phone as well. It’s simple and effective - one of the more enjoyable experiences I’ve had in a restaurant recently.
And what food choices! Over the four times I visited I had pizza from Amore which was a really, really good pie with a wonderful sourdough crust.
I also had a plate of brisket nachos from SA Barbecue. The meat was great and the nachos were pretty terrific with perfectly salted chips along with beans and nacho cheese plus pico de gallo. I do not recommend eating this shortly before bedtime, though. Just trust me.
The last main course I had was a Cuban sandwich from Guava Tree Cafe. This was good but not really stand out.
If you have one choice, go with the pizza.
But do not, under any circumstances, skip the ice cream. Nitro Fog Creamery is the real deal. Their ice creams are incredible creamy, rich, and delicious. Even just a scoop, you owe it to yourself to have one. Or two.
They also have things other than just the absolute perfect ice cream but I was so stuck on the ice cream, that’s what I had. Every. Single. Time.
