Socorro sits right where history, science, and culture meet. Founded in 1598, it’s one of the oldest towns in the state, with deep roots in Spanish, Indigenous, and ranching traditions that still shape daily life. In 1889, the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology was established, putting the city on the map for cutting-edge scientific research. Meanwhile, just outside town, mountains, canyons, bosques, and open landscapes attract people from around the world to hike, bird-watch, stargaze, and even perform paranormal investigations. At the same time, Socorro feels unmistakably human-scale: a place where neighbors know each other, local breweries double as community hubs, and the historic plaza anchors it all.

Box Canyon Brewing Company
Small System, Big Ideas​

Box Canyon Brewing Company reopened last April when local resident Robert Rincones stepped in to buy the business rather than see it disappear. Since then, Box Canyon has leaned hard into what has made it distinctive since its inception: a tiny brewing system that produces highly creative beer.

Since the reopen, David Kinder has been Box Canyon’s head brewer. He’s been brewing in one form or another since his teenage years, and collaborated with prior owner David Chavez for the brewery’s first two years; now, Kinder’s curiosity drives the tap list. Box Canyon’s one-barrel system—just thirty-one gallons per batch—means Kinder can brew frequently and take risks. He does at least two batches a week, squeezing an impressive variety of beers out of a space so tight that two people can barely pass each other.

The result is a rotating lineup that rewards adventurous drinkers. Past offerings have included a pre-Prohibition porter made with date syrup, a nod to historical brewing methods heavy on flavored ingredients, and a lemon meringue pie ale that tasted uncannily like its dessert inspiration. Seasonal and experimental styles are central to the brewery’s identity, from the California Commons, brewed for Socorro’s 49ers celebration, to lesser-known pale ale variations that Kinder describes as “kind of up to interpretation.”

Among the current favorites among patrons is Maiden Voyage IPA, a beer with both symbolic and literal weight. It was the first beer Rincones ever brewed and designed for Box Canyon, earning its name as his introduction to hands-on brewing. Hoppy without being overwhelming, it sits alongside an American wheat, an extra pale ale, and a vanilla cream ale called Ice, Ice, Baby on a surprisingly long tap list for such a small operation.

While Box Canyon sources most of its hops from the Pacific Northwest, the focus is less on territory than on creativity. “I always like to keep as many novel beers on as possible,” Kinder says, emphasizing variety and originality over strict adherence to style.

Boasting large north-facing windows and an open café design with a shelf of communal board games, the brewery also offers a variety of sandwiches and snacks, and hosts a Thursday open mic, live music, and other community events.

📍110 Manzanares Ave

Capitol Bar & Brewery
History in Every Pour

A few doors away, Capitol Bar & Brewery is housed within the oldest watering hole in the area. The Capitol Bar itself dates back to 1896, when it opened as a saloon founded by Italian brothers who also kept a vineyard outside town. Over the past 130 or so years, the bar has passed through the hands of judges, local families, and eventually the DeBrine family, who have now operated it for decades.

The brewery, however, is relatively new. Installed during the long COVID closure and launched in 2021, it allowed the Capitol to add local beer to a place already steeped in local history. Brewer Forrest Utz oversees a lineup that blends classic styles with local character.

The first beers Utz brewed were Amos and Jailbreak, names drawn directly from the bar’s past. Amos honors Judge Amos Green, a former owner who once held court inside the bar. Jailbreak references the literal jail cell that was where the brewery now stands, complete with the original cell door. 

Capitol Bar & Brewery’s standout is its Green Chile Lager, brewed with chile grown locally at the DeBrine family farm. A genuine farm-to-brewery beer, the chile gives it a spicy aroma and gentle heat. The hops may come from out of state, but much of the grain now comes from a New Mexico malting operation, helping anchor the beer firmly in place.

Other popular offerings include the Hoppenheimer IPA, a high-octane, hop-forward beer named after J. Robert Oppenheimer, who spent time in Socorro and famously drank at the Capitol. A photograph of Oppenheimer sitting at the bar hangs inside, tying history directly to the glass. There’s also a crisp kölsch-style beer favored for its drinkability in the New Mexico heat, along with both hazy and classic American IPAs that appeal to a wide range of palates.

To accompany a cold pint, guests can enjoy a menu of pizza, panini, and, on Friday nights, live music. On fair-weather days, the Capitol opens its dog-friendly patio.

📍110 Plaza St

RJ’s at the Baca House
Freshness and Precision

After a brief closure, the historic Baca House reopened in September 2025 when new owner Mark Martin moved his restaurant, RJ’s, into the stately building. Under Martin’s ownership, RJ’s and Baca House Brewing’s David Chambellan have teamed up. The 150-year-old building on the northeast side of the plaza now serves comfort food alongside beer brewed onsite. Martin fixates on creating the perfect fried chicken and signature dipping sauces, while Chambellan treats his beer with a near-obsessive focus on quality and freshness. 

Chambellan, a graduate of Central New Mexico Community College’s brewing program who has been producing beer at Baca House since it first opened as Baca House Brewery in 2023, operates on a larger commercial system than his neighbors, allowing for greater volume and consistency. The tap list includes familiar styles executed with care: Sunrise IPA, Sunset Ale, El Fuego West Coast IPA, Minor Mountain Amber Ale, Hefe Can’t Wait, an Irish ale, and a dark beer rounding out the selection.

Baca House Brewery’s emphasis is on precision. According to Martin, Chambellan will dump an entire batch if it doesn’t meet his standards rather than serve beer he considers flawed. That philosophy shows in the final product—clean, well-balanced beers that appeal to casual drinkers as well as craft beer aficionados.

Several of the beers incorporate New Mexico–grown grain, strengthening the brewery’s regional ties. The West Coast IPA delivers a sharp hop bite, while the amber ale leans malt-forward and smooth. And according to Chambellan, Hefe Can’t Wait, a hefeweizen-style beer, has earned praise even from people who claim not to like beer at all.

📍115 Abeyta Ave