What's going on in Santa Fe

[chefmegan]

I am in culinary school and will be doing an internship in Santa in the early spring and summer. I vacationed there with my parents when I was younger. I remember having lunch at the Blue Corn Café, which is also a brewery. I remember it being really good, but I don’t know much about the beer happenings in Santa Fe beyond this.

Can anyone fill me in on bars and breweries in Santa Fe?

I appreciate any suggestions.

Cheers!

[hops99]

My sister lives in Santa Fe, and I manage to get out there about once a year. There are two Blue Corns in town - one downtown and one out on Cerillos Rd. - and they're both ok, but nothing special.

Second Street brewery is a small, comfortable place close to downtown, and I recall them brewing a great IPA when I was there a few months ago.

Santa Fe Brewing Co. is still in a small place (looks like someone's house) at the extreme Southern end of town, although I heard they're moving into the old Wolf Canyon brewpub down the road sometime in the Spring. It's currently not a brewpub - just a tasting room - and their beer can be inconsistent. When good, their Pale Ale is quite unique (almost like chugging straight grapefruit juice), and the Chicken Killer Barleywine can be nice as well.

Il Vicino (just off the plaza downtown) is a good stop. I had a great Brown Ale and a tasty Bock back in October, and their pizza is above average too.

You could also search the pubcrawler and/or beeradvocate city guides for more detailed info on Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and the rest of Northern New Mexico. Have fun - Santa Fe is a GREAT town!

[chefmegan]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely check out Il Vicino. My internship is located just off the plaza and that might be a nice after work stop.

Thanks again.

[chazwicke]

Welcome to the board Chefmegan. We have another alumni of ACI on the boards. Give us your review of Hyde Park Brewing.

[chefmegan]

Well, I am a student at the Culinary Institute of America …CIA… and my school is right down the road from Hyde Park Brewing. I went there once, and that was enough. In my opinion, it is an average brewery. The beer is drinkable, but not extraordinary. When I went there in October, I got a sampler and a pint of their Rough Rider Red Ale. I liked this ale, it was refreshing but a bit thin on flavor. The bar itself is decorated like a TGI Fridays with stuff all over the walls etc. I think it might be a fun place to go when they have live music.

So you might wonder where we culinary students go for libations. For the overall student body, it is a mixed bag: the lame bar across the street…it will remain nameless, generic and generic lite, and some people only drink wine and mixed drinks. Most of the time, when my friends and I want to drink beer, we go to Halftime, a store that sells over 1,400 different types of beer. We make “mix-packs” and have fun talking about the qualities of each bottle. When we want to “go out,” we often go the bar next door to Halftime. It is called Crew, and both establishments are owned by the same people. They always have around 6 microbrews on tap. Each time I go there the selection is different. It is a really nice place, and they have pretty good food as well.

If I can make a general statement about beer at my school, it would be that the faculty and the program does not emphasize its importance enough anymore. In the mid 1990’s, Michael Jackson came to my school and hosted dinners where he paired beer with food. I would imagine that these events were spectacular. We even had a club called the Ales and Lagers Society. I may reactivate this club after I return from Santa Fe. As future chefs and restaurateurs, we need to be educated in the language and world of beer.

Cheers!

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by chazwicke
We have another alumni of ACI on the boards.

Reeeeeealy. Interesting.

http://www.doc.state.ri.us/divisions/institution_op.htm

Lemme know so I don't insult them :D

[threecb]

chefmegan, go ahead and get that ALS going again. I think it's important that quality craft brew gets as much attention as wine and mixed drinks, especially in the surroundings of the CIA. The students there have the ability to shape future culinary trends and contribute to lessening the stigmata the beer is not a worthy gourmet beverage.

Halftime is a cool place from what I've heard. They also have tasting sessions and growler fills there, which is something that I don't think is legal in NJ outside of brewpubs/breweries.

Also, give Hyde Park another chance. The lagers there are pretty solid. And you're not too far from Keegan Ales in Kingston. Not a pub, but there's a tasting room, they have live music events and they're very friendly.

Lastly, welcome to the board! (a little late, I know)

[newportstorm]

Beer and cuisine? Allagash has got you covered:

http://www.allagash.com/ce.html

Cheers!

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by newportstorm
Reeeeeealy. Interesting.

http://www.doc.state.ri.us/divisions/institution_op.htm

Lemme know so I don't insult them :D

CIA, CIA. My mistake. Chefasaur is the other.

[threecb]

Originally posted by newportstorm
Beer and cuisine? Allagash has got you covered:


Cool!

Now if we can only get the rest of the world to pay attention...;)

[chefmegan]

All this talk has made me think about the possibility of new board on this forum. It could be about food and beer pairings. I think most members of this community must be interested in this topic.

What do you guys think?

[fretlessman71]

I think that's a terrific idea! I never know what to eat with what beer, or vice versa. It's hard with a limited menu (no red meat, only fresh fish and turkey are okay), but I'm sure there are some great options for me that I had never considered.

[threecb]

I like that idea!

[chefmegan]

So if "beer and food" was going to be a new message board, where would it go, and who should talk to about starting it?

Any ideas?

[chazwicke]

I think you should start it. Go to the community page and post it under News and Opinion or possibly Tasting Notes. Just start a New thread asking for opinions of beer matched with food. I particularly enjoy cheeses with some of my beers but food go well with different beers. Even beer and chocolates have been paired for tastings. A good book on the subject is Garrett Oliver's "The Brewmasters Table"

[fretlessman71]

I'm drinking a Lakefront Fuel Cafe Coffee Stout with a bar of dark chocolate from a local confectioner, Sunny Jim's. Pretty good combo!

chefmegan, if the thread takes off, the admin. would be more than happy to create a "food pairings" forum and move the threads to that location - that's what happened to the Parallel tastings club. It's a very recent development which is going to rear its ugly head once again, after a hiatus for the holidays. Hope everyone is ready for Feb. 5th!