“The beer farm” which is Ribs Restaurant and the Tractor brewery located in Los Lunas, New Mexico, is by definition a brew pub. A restaurant with a brewery attached. Established in 1998 by Herb Plumer with the restaurant a good place in Los Lunas to get barbeque ribs, chicken and almost anything else including good craft beers brewed on the premises.
More than willing to give a tour of the brewery to promote and educate the surrounding area and the rest of the country about their craft beer you can call ahead to set up the tour which is what I did and dragged a friend along. We met Angelo Orona the brewery's new marketing director. The décor of the place is a country store front design with wood floors, wood paneling and small replicas of tractors on the walls. The outside is made of stone and of course a variety of large tractors in the front and to the side. “Herb has liked tractors since he was a child.” explains Angelo. “Hence the name.” he added. “We even take a large tractor with us when we go to a beer festival and any community function we are involved in, to serve up our samples.” Angelo said.
Working with and giving back to the community is one priority this local brewery would like to be known for aside from their craft beers, if fact two of their beers the Haymaker Honey Wheat Ale (winner of the People's Choice Award at Albuquerque Beer fest in 2000 and 2001 Rio Rancho's October fest.) is made with honey purchased from a bee farm in Bosque Farms, NM and the Double Plow Oatmeal Stout (Winner of the best dark beer contest at the Launch Pad Albq.) has oats grown in Valencia county, NM. “We're always trying to support our community and our state as much as we can.” Angelo said. With five beers on the market, either on tap at local restaurants or on the shelves through out the state and five seasonal beers, what else could they possibly aim for? “Well we currently have sales in New Jersey, and Long Island and hope to cover the rest of the east coast and the rest of the country.” Angelo said.
James Walton the tractor's new brewer joined us as we went through the tour of the brewery, James's parent own a winery in Colorado so that's where his experience comes from “I wanted to brew beer instead of wine, and my parents we fine with that” James said. Brewing is creativity, skill and science. With the change of brewers the quality and the willingness to try new recipes has again become an adventure for example a new product that they want to hit the market is Cider Number 5 which they decided to bring out in 4 different flavors. James gave both my friend and myself a glass of it, “It's like apple wine, we hope the women will like this flavor.” James said. “ Got some apple wine yeast from my parents' winery the last time I visited them and came up with this idea..” he added.
