Heatwave Respite

HEATWAVE RESPITE

The heat has ratcheted up and the monsoons are nowhere in sight to tamp it down, which means we’ve been forced to seek other sources of respite. Though not quite as effective at alleviating drought as a summer storm, a cold drink can at least make things seem a little less dire—so we’ve rounded up a few stories that can point you the way to an excellent frosty bev, whether it’s a glass of kombucha, a gin martini, or a locally crafted pint.

If this newsletter has pointed you in some good directions, why not forward it to a friend? And if you’re that friend, you can subscribe right here.

PINTS WITH A PAST

Socorro is one of the oldest towns in the state. From fall into spring, the surrounding area is a way station for birds; on a summer morning, you can hike into one of the nearby canyons. Far as we know, paranormal investigations can be conducted any time of year, and the same goes for drinking beer.

The historic downtown area counts three independent breweries. In “Pints with a Past,” Ungelbah Dávila gets to know them all.

THREE HOTEL BARS IN ALBUQUERQUE

Hotel bars fell out of fashion for a while, and not for nothing—during that same while, they mostly served the purpose of providing expensive drinks to out-of-town conference-goers.

But with the revival and renovation of some Route 66 establishments in Albuquerque in recent years, a few hotel bars have gotten concomitant glow-ups. Robin Babb gives the rundown on the ones worth visiting in “Three Hotel Bars in Albuquerque.”

PUT ME ON THE GUEST LIST

In “Put Me on the Guest List,” Nodiah Brent gets the love story behind one of Santa Fe’s favorite third spaces.

As she tells it, Remix Audio Bar serves 100 percent booze-free elixirs, from mushroom lattes to kombucha, in a music-forward atmosphere. And you can pair those elixirs with some cool Japanese-inspired fare.

GINESIS: A TALE OF TWO GINS

There are people, we’re told, who will drink a martini only if it’s made with Los Poblanos gin. But should that be “Gin Made with Lavender” or Western Dry?

In “Ginesis: A Tale of Two Gins,” former Campo event chef Tom Hudgens dives into the history and the making of these young but already award-winning spirits. The secret ingredient: hiring the house botanical distiller to mastermind the recipes.

WILD CERVEZA AT A WILD LOCATION

If you find yourself getting thirsty on a trek in the Gila National Forest, you’ll be happy to know there’s a pit stop perfect for weary travelers and Continental Divide hikers just outside Silver City: Ravenswing Farm.

In “Wild Cerveza at a Wild Location,” Jennifer C. Olson gets the full scoop on the beer garden and nanobrewery that makes small-batch wild ales, all brewed with New Mexico hops grown on-site.