Bruce O.
Yelp
June 10, 2023 - Taos Mesa Brewery and Tap Room (Taos, NM)
You can blow your TAOS-ian flute to your heart's delight and be assured nobody will be MESA-ing with you, as you enjoy TAP-ing your toes in the ROOM-y Taos Mesa Brewery and Tap Room.
We arrived at about 1:15 after spending a couple hours over at the Taos Pueblo. What can I say, we were feeling the spirit of this ancient town, which has been inhabited with Native Americans for over 1,000 years (longest in the U.S.), and we were ready for some cool fire water and delicious local flavors.
You know you're in a special place as you walk through the ornate pinkish purple front doors with a black crow in front of a decorative sun symbol. We sat at the outdoor patio, which has a three-foot-tall puebloan-style wall enclosure that allows you to look out over the town under well placed umbrellas to protect you from the warmer-than-you-might-imagine Taosian sun. You are truly on a Mesa (ok, maybe more of a plateau) looking out.
We were given water and food and drink menus right away, and were greeted by our server Night almost as soon as we sat down. My wife and I both decided to order beer and cider flights. We made our drink choices, gave them to Night, and then pondered our food choices. I landed on the Italian sandwich with a garden salad and my wife chose the avocado and beet salad with vinaigrette.
When Night returned with our drinks, which were well labeled, we gave him our food orders. We then began attacking our drinks with the vigor of a thirsty Puebloan bowman fresh back from a successful hunt. No disappointments. All the IPAs were true to their hoppy character, and my wife let me sit down beside her as she drank her ciders. The stout made me want to stand up and shout!
Our food arrived promptly, and we dug in. I haven't had many Italian sandwiches in my lifetime. Italian sausage sandwiches, sure, but this sandwich was like none other. Delicious capicola pork cold cut, salami, smoked bacon, marinated red bell pepper, smoked mozzarella, fresh greens, and Italian vinaigrette on a oven baked ciabatta roll. Heaven in my mouth! My wife's beet and avocado salad included shaved fennel, arugula, and feta cheese served with a balsamic vinaigrette. Delightful!
The indoor seating area is darker in nature but roomy and they have a good-sized bar area and taproom. They have some nice brewery swag if you're into that kind of thing - hats, shirts, and brewery stickers. Overall, fun experience!