A business that treats you like family
Working with family may be tricky but the success of award-winning Red River Brewing Company & Distillery leaves no doubt that, for the Calhouns, it’s an ideal business model.
Four generations in Red River; a vision that every family member shares; and a deep commitment to the future of Red River, its wilderness and the world beyond it, are factors that have melded into a drop-dead gorgeous venue offering housemade beer, imaginative libations and tasty American fare served in epic proportions.
“My parents, Ted and Linda Calhoun, owned the land that we built on; my brother, Brian, was our architect; our oldest son, Chris
– a biologist/chemical engineer – developed the brewing and distillation systems; and our son, Steven – an industrial and graphics designer – created our logo and menu layout,” Michael Calhoun said. “My wife, Sharon, manages the business and holds us all together,” perhaps the most important job of all, he laughed.
Established in 2018, RRBC is “New
Mexico’s highest elevation brewery and distillery at 8,750 feet, where we make all of our beer and spirits right here, from scratch, using only the best ingredients and clean, cold Red River mountain water,” Calhoun noted. That elevation also guarantees a more temperate day and evening; in other words, RRBC is where you should be heading this summer.
From their 13 taps you’ll choose between blonde and amber ales; wheat beers, hoppy IPAs and smooth, malty porters; a fruity kettle-soured ale or a hard red apple cider. (There’s an old-school, housemade root beer for the kids, or kids-at-heart.)
RRBC also distills its own vodka, rum, spiced rum, gin and agave spirit that serve as inspiration for a creative menu of specialty cocktails.
The tantalizing barbecue aroma from the smokehouse will whet your appetite as you struggle to decide between brisket, ribs, chicken or pork, all smoked using pecan wood from New Mexico’s Mesilla Valley.
A yummy array of starters will accompany your flight of beers or spirits while you weigh your choices. Burgers, sandwiches and salads round out the selections on a menu curated with big appetites in mind.
Perhaps, though, it’s the ambience of RRBC that will leave you feeling most satisfied. “We wanted to create a place that felt like home, and we hope we make you feel like you are at home, too,” said Calhoun.
Its sprawling footprint is surprisingly cozy with textural interest and stand-out wood accents.
“Our beautiful bar top, community table and benches around the brewery were made with love from a 480-yearold ponderosa pine we salvaged from a nearby forest fire,” Calhoun continued.
A bank of windows is in reality an enormous sliding door that opens the inside to breathtaking outdoor views and gentle breezes.
As staunch environmentalists, the Calhouns are members of Western Rivers Brewers’ Council supporting Audobon’s river protection programs in the Colorado River and Río Grande basins, and can be often found participating in river cleanups or clearing the trail they maintain via Enchanted Circle Trails “Adopt-a-Trail” program.
On a micro scale, “The spent grain from our brewing and distillation processes is delivered to a pig farmer in Questa,” Calhoun smiled.
The family’s dedication to its surroundings, its staff, its community and its clients is truly at the heart of RRBC. You will feel it the minute you step through the door.
“This business is unlike any other because we bring people together to celebrate, or just to catch up with each other: things we’ve missed during the last year,” Calhoun mused. “We offer happiness.”
“Whether this is your first visit to Red River or your family has been coming for generations, we hope you love it here as much as we do.”
Red River Brewing Company & Distillery, 217 W. Main St., Red River, NM 87558.
For further information visit
or call