Craft pass offers a chance to explore NM breweries at a discount

Dec. 21—Anyone who enjoys local brews will love the 2023 New Mexico Reel Craft Pass.

The booklet allows patrons of participating breweries to receive 49% off the price of two beers. It is a one-time use at each location.

"Every single location has a page in the booklet," said Clint Nievinski, Reel Craft Pass founder. "And basically on that page, it's got their name, their address, phone number, website, and then a short description of any either cool information or just any information that they want people to know about them."

"We've been doing this for five years," Nievinski said. "We started originally in the Midwest. We started with Wisconsin and then hopped over to Montana and kind of have bounced around a little bit. This will be our second year with the New Mexico booklet."

There is a good number of New Mexico brewery participants and Nievinski hopes to increase that each year.

"We try to get every location in the state to participate," he said. "... We really want to try and target the entire state and encourage people to visit breweries in particular that they normally wouldn't. That's really why the passport came about."

The name behind the booklet stems from Nievinski's passion for fly fishing. A portion of the booklet proceeds benefit Trout Unlimited. The nonprofit is dedicated to the conservation of freshwater streams, rivers and associated upland habitats for trout, salmon, other aquatic species, and people, according to its website.

"There's only certain states that our theme works well for and New Mexico definitely fits that criteria," Nievinski said. "... You guys actually do have some pretty good trout streams. They might not be as well known as other parts of the country, but there's some hidden gems there."

Each 2023 New Mexico Reel Craft Pass costs $15 and can be purchased at reelcraftpass.com. A free booklet is included with the purchase of three.

"The hope is that people will buy a booklet," Nievinski said. "They'll venture out to new locations that they've never been to. They'll find beers or they'll find breweries that they like and then they'll either continue to visit those locations or they might buy a growler or a six pack. And that might be a new favorite beer for them ... And hey, now they've got a new beer that they really enjoy."

2023 New Mexico Reel Craft Pass

Participants include all four Boxing Bear Brewing Co. locations, Canteen Brewhouse, Canteen Taproom, Juno Brewery, Palmer Brewery and Cider House, ReSource Brewing Co., Rio Bravo Brewing Co., Thirsty Eye Brewing Co., and all Tractor Brewing Co. locations in Albuquerque and Los Lunas.

Participants sprinkled around the state are Alamogordo's 575 Brewing Co. and Tall Pines Beer & Wine Garden; Alto's Downshift Brewing Co. BrewSki Beer Garden; Bernalillo's Kaktus Brewing Co.; Corrales' Casa Vieja Brewery; Eagle Nest's Comanche Creek Brewing Co.; Lincoln's Bonito Valley Brewing Co.; Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery locations in Las Cruces and Silver City; Moriarty's Sierra Blanca Brewing Co., Raton's Colfax Ale Cellar; Red River Brewing Company & Distillery in Red River; Rio Rancho's Brew Lab 101 Beer & Cider Co. and both Turtle Mountain Brewing Co. locations; Ruidoso's Downshift Brewing Co. Hidden Tap, Lost Hiker Brewing Co. and Tall Pines Beer & Wine Garden; Santa Fe's Hidden Mountain Brewing Co., Santa Fe Spirits, all Second Street Brewery locations, and Tumble Root Brewery & Distillery.