Doors close at craft beer pioneer
Prospects for Chama River Brewing unclear
Chama River Brewing Co., one of the earliest players in the Albuquerque craft beer scene, has closed its doors.
Randy Ropek, president of parent company Santa Fe Dining, confirmed the closure Thursday but said he was not prepared to discuss the details, including why it closed or whether the closure is permanent.
“Unfortunately, we had to shutter the doors after 12 really wonderful years with our Albuquerque guests,” Ropek said, adding that he needed to confer with the company’s board before making any additional comments.
Santa Fe Dining earlier this year closed two of its other Albuquerque locations: the Draft Station taproom and 35 Degrees North coffee shop. Its lone existing Duke City establishment is Kellys Brew Pub, which it acquired last year. Ropek said that Nob Hill restaurant is not in any jeopardy.
“Absolutely no chance of Kellys closing whatsoever,” he said. “We’re fully committed to Kellys.”
Santa Fe Dining still has eight other restaurants in Santa Fe.
New Mexico Brewers Guild Executive Director John Gozigian, who once worked for Santa Fe Dining, called Chama River’s closing “sad,” citing its place in the local craft brewing landscape.
“It’s an institution, the training grounds for a lot of the great brewers in the state,” Gozigian said. “It’s really sad to see it go.”
Marble Brewery President Ted Rice, La Cumbre Brewing Co. President Jeff Erway, and Boxing Bear Brewing Co. coowner Justin Hamilton were among the brewers who worked at Chama before starting their own ventures.
“It’s been referred to as an incubator. It was definitely a place where you could brew a wide variety of styles, have a captive audience and stand on the shoulders of a lot of great brewers,” Rice said.