SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
Socorro: Where History, Science, and Culture Converge
Socorro sits right where history, science, and culture meet. Founded in 1598, it’s one of the oldest towns in the state, with deep roots in Spanish, Indigenous, and ranching traditions that still shape daily life. In 1889, the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology was established, putting the city on the map for cutting-edge scientific research.
Just outside town, mountains, canyons, bosques, and wide-open landscapes draw visitors from around the world to hike, bird-watch, stargaze, and even conduct paranormal investigations. Yet despite its reach, Socorro remains unmistakably human-scale—a place where neighbors know each other, local breweries double as gathering spots, and the historic plaza anchors it all.
Box Canyon Brewing Company
Small System, Big Ideas
Box Canyon Brewing Company reopened last April when local resident Robert Rincones stepped in to purchase the business rather than see it disappear. Since then, the brewery has leaned into what has always set it apart: a tiny brewing system that produces remarkably creative beer.
Head brewer David Kinder, who has been brewing since his teenage years and collaborated with prior owner David Chavez during the brewery’s early days, now drives the tap list with curiosity and experimentation. Box Canyon’s one-barrel system—just 31 gallons per batch—allows Kinder to brew frequently and take risks. Producing at least two batches per week in a space so tight that two people can barely pass, he manages to create an impressive range of styles.
The rotating lineup rewards adventurous drinkers. Past offerings have included a pre-Prohibition porter made with date syrup and a lemon meringue pie ale that tasted strikingly like its dessert inspiration. Seasonal and experimental styles are central to the brewery’s identity, from California Commons brewed for Socorro’s 49ers celebration to lesser-known pale ale variations described as “kind of up to interpretation.”
A current favorite is Maiden Voyage IPA, the first beer Rincones ever brewed and designed for Box Canyon. Hoppy without overwhelming bitterness, it joins an American wheat, an extra pale ale, and a vanilla cream ale called Ice, Ice, Baby on a surprisingly extensive tap list for such a compact operation.
With large north-facing windows, an open café layout, and communal board games lining the shelves, the brewery offers sandwiches, snacks, Thursday open mic nights, live music, and other community events—reinforcing its role as a neighborhood hub.
110 Manzanares Ave
Capitol Bar & Brewery
History in Every Pour
A few doors away stands Capitol Bar & Brewery, housed inside the area’s oldest watering hole. The original Capitol Bar dates back to 1896, when it opened as a saloon founded by Italian brothers who also maintained a vineyard outside town. Over more than a century, ownership passed through judges and local families before the DeBrine family took over—continuing its legacy for decades.
The brewery component, however, is recent. Installed during the long COVID closure and launched in 2021, it introduced locally brewed beer into a setting already steeped in history. Brewer Forrest Utz oversees a lineup blending classic styles with regional character.
Among the first beers Utz created were Amos and Jailbreak. Amos honors Judge Amos Green, a former owner who once held court inside the bar. Jailbreak references the literal jail cell that once stood where the brewery now operates—complete with the original cell door still on display.
The standout is the Green Chile Lager, brewed with chile grown on the DeBrine family farm. The result is a genuine farm-to-brewery beer with a spicy aroma and gentle heat. While hops may come from outside the state, much of the grain is sourced from a New Mexico malting operation, reinforcing its local foundation.
Other popular pours include Hoppenheimer IPA, a bold, hop-forward beer named after J. Robert Oppenheimer, who spent time in Socorro and famously drank at the Capitol. A photograph of Oppenheimer at the bar hangs inside, tying history directly to the present. A crisp kölsch-style beer, hazy and classic American IPAs, and other rotating selections round out the tap list.
Guests can pair their pint with pizza, panini, and live music on Friday nights. On pleasant days, the dog-friendly patio fills with locals and visitors alike.
110 Plaza St
RJ’s at the Baca House
Freshness and Precision
After a brief closure, the historic Baca House reopened in September 2025 when new owner Mark Martin relocated his restaurant, RJ’s, into the stately 150-year-old building. Partnering with Baca House Brewing’s David Chambellan, the northeast corner of the plaza now offers comfort food alongside beer brewed onsite.
Martin focuses on perfecting fried chicken and signature dipping sauces, while Chambellan applies a meticulous attention to quality and freshness. A graduate of Central New Mexico Community College’s brewing program, Chambellan has brewed at Baca House since its launch in 2023. Working on a larger commercial system than his neighbors, he delivers greater volume and consistency.
The tap list includes Sunrise IPA, Sunset Ale, El Fuego West Coast IPA, Minor Mountain Amber Ale, Hefe Can’t Wait, an Irish ale, and a dark beer rounding out the selection. Several recipes incorporate New Mexico–grown grain, strengthening the brewery’s regional ties.
Precision defines the operation. According to Martin, Chambellan would rather discard an entire batch than serve beer he considers flawed. The result is a lineup of clean, balanced beers that appeal to casual drinkers and craft beer enthusiasts alike.
115 Abeyta Ave
Did You Miss It?
“The road to Guadalajara is a long one, about eighteen hours from Las Cruces by car. But if you take a slight detour on NM State Road 28, you’ll discover a Guadalajaran oasis called Casa El Camino Restaurant & Cantina in La Mesa.” Leah Romero speaks with the chef about childhood influences, blending flavors, and finding inspiration in the landscape of New Mexico’s borderland.
