Up in the sky: Steel Bender Brewyard to host its 'Balloons & Brews' during Balloon Fiesta
Oct. 6—Shelby Chant grew up in the North Valley.
During the month of October, dozens of hot air balloons would adorn the sky, and she would be captivated.
That feeling has never left Chant.
This is why, as a co-owner of Steel Bender Brewyard, she and her team have put on "Balloons & Brews" for five years during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
The premise is simple.
Guests arrive at Steel Bender Brewyard in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque and can get a bite to eat and something to drink and watch one of the balloon mass ascensions.
"We're marking our fifth year doing this event," Chant says. "When we bought the property, we knew we wanted to incorporate some kind of balloon-related event. We're born and raised here, and we still enjoy seeing the balloons go up each year. It's really cool to watch from different venues outside of Balloon Fiesta Park."
The capacity is just over 400 and Chant says the brewyard has yet to have that many people out on any given day.
"Most people want to be out on the patio," she says. "We do counter service both outside and inside. People just grab their breakfast burrito and head back out to the patio. When the balloons come our way, it's fantastic. Even if the balloons don't go up, people are still here having fun."
Of course, it wouldn't be an event without a new brew from Steel Bender, which released its Ale Witch Pumpkin Ale and is available on tap and cans. The Oktober Fiesta Lager was released in September will also be available.
Chant says guests will also get to order other beers on tap, as well as Beermosas, Bloody beers, mimosas and wine.
"We will also have 'Wake the Dead' coffee from Pour Vida Coffee Roasters, and we make our own hot cocoa," she says.
Chant says the kitchen will close at 10 a.m. daily to get ready for 11 a.m. service.
"This is a fun event that brings out the child in all of us," she says. "Sometimes we get balloons landing in our area. It's fantastic."
