New Mexico Brew Fest returns to brighten all of our beer-loving lives

One of our longtime favorite festivals is making a comeback after a couple years off due to the COVID pandemic, and we could not be happier. The New Mexico Brew Fest, previously held every year at the state fairgrounds, will be back this Saturday afternoon at Villa Hispana.

The 2019 edition was the 10th anniversary of NMBF, and it was a huge hit. Bringing it back for the 11th time was not as easy, but founder Kevin Hopper said it had to be done.

“It was a little difficult,” he said. “We kind of forgot how we (organized) stuff. It seems like so much longer than it was (since 2019). Last time we did it, it was the 10th year. We agreed it was the best year. It was a really great festival.”

This time around it was harder than in the past to get breweries to sign up. While some had perfectly good reasons, like Steel Bender bringing back its Balloons and Brews and Santa Fe holding it

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