Back on tap: Beer is back at Guadalupe Mountain Brewing Company
Guadalupe Mountain Brewing Company was the brewery without beer for four long months.
On April 9, Carlsbad City Councilors voted unanimously to approve the brewery’s liquor licenses to serve beer and wine at the gastropub on National Parks Highway. The brewery's owners planned a relaunch to serve the suds to customers on the south side of town and beyond.
Guadalupe Mountain first opened its doors in 2018, the second-ever brewery to open in the Cavern City. It was sold to new owners who took over on Jan. 3, but for the past four months the business served only as an eatery during a lengthy licensing process.
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While the pizzas and sandwiches continued to enjoy their delectable reputation around town, there was something missing at Guadalupe Mountain in the variety of locally-brewed craft beer Carlsbad’s drinkers came to expect since it first opened.
Here’s what to know now as beer returns to Guadalupe Mountains Brewing Company.
Where Is it?
Guadalupe Mountain Brewing Company is at 3324 National Parks Highway just past the South Y junction heading southwest toward the edge of town.
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What kind of beer is there to drink?
The brewery planned offer 10 beers and two guest ciders upon relaunching.
Beers include an imperial cream ale, imperial stout, coconut porter, blonde, red ale, dark lager, pilsner, two India pale ales (IPA) and a new Mexican-style lager known as “El Capitan.” Owner David Vasquez said El Capitan will be like a Dos Equis, “light and refreshing.”
What about the wine?
All four wines are from Deming-based St. Clair Wines and include a cabernet sauvignon, pinot grigio, chardonnay and sweet red.
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What if I get hungry?
Guadalupe Mountain Brewing Company sports a full kitchen, including a brick oven to cook thin crust pizza in several styles with red or white sauces. Along with classic toppings like pepperoni, sausage or mushrooms the brewery also offers unique creations like jalapeno popper or New Mexico green chile chicken pizzas.
Chicken wings were added to menu upon relaunching in either a six- or 12-piece order with six sauce choices: Korean BBQ, BBQ, mango habanero, garlic parmesan, buffalo, mango habanero and a lemon pepper dry rub.
The brewery also added cheese curds and fried pickles to its appetizer offerings, and maintained the subs, paninis and salads previously on the menu.
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Is there anything to do besides eat and drink?
The owners plan to add weekend live music performances on Friday or Saturday, or both. They intend to rebuild the sign on the front of the building to include a marquee to preview the shows for customers during the week.
The dining area has several wide-screen TVs on the walls playing sports and other shows for customers to watch while they gulp down beers or sweat through a pile of hot wings.
Who are the new owners?
Vasquez, who also owns local gym Body Evolution and the EVO Brazilian Jujitsu, bought the brewery with long-time friend Jason Maley who also runs oilfield service company Vision Resources.
The two decided to buy the place while having lunch after Vasquez’s wife who works in real-estate mentioned Guadalupe Mountain was for sale.
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Both owners said they plan to keep the brewery “family friendly” as a place to enjoy a beer or take the family for dinner.
“We try to keep it family friendly. It’s not people getting drunk, but bringing their family and having a beer,” Maley said.
Vasquez said they hope to capture business from tourists coming to town from Carlsbad Caverns or Guadalupe Mountains national parks or who are visiting from El Paso or Las Cruces. He said a strong customer base of local families and residents will support the brewery more than the oilfield workers flooding into town but leaving on weekends.
“It’s got a good following,” he said of the business. “A lot of tourists come through here. We have a good local crowd. Oil and gas disappears on weekends. I believe this has a lot of potential.”
Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Here's what to know as beer returns to Guadalupe Mountain Brewing Co.
