New Mexico Breweries Won Great American Beer Medals
Three local breweries earned top honors at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Beer
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Three New Mexico breweries secured medals at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival. Judges evaluated entries based on quality and style to determine the winners.
Why it matters
The festival recognizes excellence in brewing and highlights craft beers from across the country. Success at this long-running competition helps elevate the profile of local establishments.
Boxing Bear Brewing Co. earned bronze for its Black Mesa Dunkel, while Second Street Brewery won bronze for its Brown Ale, which now holds four total medals. Quarter Celtic Brewpub also secured a silver medal for its Step Drunkle.
The players
Boxing Bear Brewing Co.
This Albuquerque-based brewery creates a variety of craft beers and received a bronze medal for its dunkel.
Second Street Brewery
Based in Santa Fe, this brewery won a bronze medal for its brown ale, marking the fourth award for that specific beer.
Quarter Celtic Brewpub
This establishment received a silver medal for its Step Drunkle at the national festival.
The details
Boxing Bear Brewing Co.s winning entry, the Black Mesa Dunkel, is brewed with German malts and European hops. The competition has maintained its standards for twenty years, rewarding brewers for technical skill.
Timeline
The Great American Beer Festival took place in 2026.
Culture Shift
The success of New Mexico breweries follows a established precedent set by the twenty-year history of the Great American Beer Festival. These wins mark a continuation of the tradition where regional craft producers compete for national recognition.
Residents can visit these award-winning locations in Albuquerque and Santa Fe to sample the specific medal-winning beers. These achievements often lead to increased interest and taproom traffic for the breweries involved.
The takeaway
Supporting award-winning local breweries offers residents a chance to taste nationally recognized craft products. Seeking out medal-winning entries can provide a deeper appreciation for the brewing styles highlighted in regional competitions.
Further reading
Learn more about the local craft industry by exploring New Mexico Beer.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KRQE 13.
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