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SIERRA BLANCA BREWING COMPANY NEW MEXICO’S LARGEST BEER PRODUCER
Sierra Blanca Brewing Company is named for Sierra Blanca, a 12,000-foot peak in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico. This snowcapped landmark is easily visible from the nearby alpine resort and village of Ruidoso.
Richard and Suzanne Weber moved from New Jersey to Ruidoso New Mexico and started the brewery in 1996. While on vacation in southern New Mexico, Rich and his wife lay out one night on a golf course watching satellites cross a shimmering sky. “Why do we live in Jersey?” Suzanne asked. “There are no stars there”. That was if for them. They packed their bags and headed west. Years earlier, Rich had taken a trip to England that still resonated with him. “I fell in love with what I call real beer,” he says, and the notion that he could create such a thing soon became a reality. So, with the help of former partners, who have since been bought out, the Weber’s found a suitable building to launch the brewery in the sleepy little town of Carrizozo, NM.
With a background in electrical/mechanical engineering and job experience designing airplane power systems, Rich may seem ill-suited for the job of combining barley and hops to come up with a savory beer. In fact, few skills would serve him better. Ironically, this delicate business of steeping and fermenting is intensely mechanical. The Weber’s had the foresight to hire a top brewer and a chemical engineer to come in and coach Rich for two years on his own machinery. “The professional help was invaluable”, said Weber. “They taught me every aspect of brewing from the water analysis to the bottling”. Tenacity, strict adherence to the processes and formulas for making his beer, and commitment to keep his brew pure and never, ever cut corners, have added up to a recipe for success for this engineer turned micorbrewer.
In September of 2006, Sierra Blanca Brewing Company expanded its operation and relocated to Moriarty, New Mexico. Rich recalls, “Our long-term business plan called for moving into a larger facility 10 years after start-up, so we’re on track with those projections”. Come visit the new brewery for a free tour and Tasting. 1016 Industrial Road. Moriarty, NM.
CHEERS!
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