FLOCK OF MOONS BREWING COMPANY
Albuquerque

When Flock of Moons owners Stefanie Luna and Jeff Tomlinson first saw a 3,000-square-foot space in Albuquerque’s Bricklight District, they actually worried it would be too small. Luna and Tomlinson were seeking something double the size, but after realizing they could convert the parking lot into a patio, things began looking up. After several years of planning and renovations, the whimsical and stylish brewery opened in summer 2023. The renovated 1940s building near the University of New Mexico campus features an antique tin ceiling in deep blue (to evoke the night sky), hardwood floors, and plenty of windows that let guests observe the beer-making process. The back patio is “an oasis in the middle of the city,” says Tomlinson. “It’s huge and has plants, picnic tables, a stage, a firepit, and heaters.” Flock of Moons has hosted crafts markets featuring LGBTQ+ makers and hopes to honor the legacy of Winning Coffee, the previous tenant of the building, with live music and community events. “We want to tap into the good energy and carry it forward,” says Tomlinson. Summer pour: Bandada de Lunas, a New Mexican lager, smells like freshly zested limes thanks to the variety of hops used in the brewing process. 

Ex Novo Brewing makes it easy to relax (or work). Photograph courtesy of Ex Novo Brewing.

EX NOVO BREWING COMPANY
Corrales

“Can we call it a campus?” wonders Ex Novo Brewing Company general manager Stevo Jeter. The seven-acre Corrales property, which expanded in 2021, boasts two full bars, an acre of lawn, a community garden, a food truck, and multiple summer cornhole leagues. “We all have kids,” Jeter says. “As parents, sometimes you’ll go places and get shunned. We wanted this to be a place with something for everybody.” That includes dogs and nonparents, too. In addition to the family-friendly spaces, a 21-and-over area features bocce and horseshoes. Summer programming includes live music every Tuesday night, and while not everyone can get into the “professional” cornhole league, plenty of spectators come to see the more serious players. “It’s wild,” Jeter laughs. “The lawn is packed with people drinking beer and just having the best time.” Summer pour: While the Mexican lager is their most popular, Jeter’s personal favorite is the Honey, I Lav You Kölsch, with honey and lavender. “It’s not overly sweet,” he promises.

Nuckolls Brewing’s outdoor games keep kids occupied. Photograph courtesy of Nuckoll's Brewing.

NUCKOLLS BREWING COMPANY
Santa Fe

The people watching at Nuckolls, which opened last summer in the Santa Fe Railyard at the former corporate headquarters for the Santa Fe Southern Railway, is unparalleled on the weekends, especially during the Saturday Farmers’ Market. With a life-size chess set on the spacious patio and picnic tables stocked with games like Connect Four and Jenga, the message to families is clear: You (and your kids) are welcome. Inside, a downstairs speakeasy called the Low Bar provides an elevated adults-only cocktail experience, while 20 taps upstairs provide locavore hopheads with plenty of conversation fodder. “We get to create our own identity,” says brewer and general manager Jen Treu. “We have freedom to create our own environment.” Summer pour: Treu, who hasn’t decided on a summer menu, enjoys using seasonal fruits and herbs in her saisons. “Dried lavender might be nice to use this summer,” she says. “It’s such a part of the landscape.”

Read more: The Las Cruces bar provides guests with a spirited good time.