You can’t beat the view.Sip a pint on the patio at Bosque Brewing’s latest venue and you’ll be awestruck by the spectacular sight of the Rio Grande Bosque and the Sandia Mountains. Bosque North Brewery and Taproom opened in July 2018 in the former Jackalope building on US 550 just west of the town of Bernalillo. It has bars on two levels and glass doors that open out to ample patio seating areas upstairs and downstairs.“The views are amazing out here. In summer, it was always packed,” says Justin De La Rosa, marketing coordinator for Bosque Brewing. The beer selection is pretty good too. Bosque North has eight staple beer offerings plus a variety of specialty brews that change each season. The regular beers on tap include the popular Elephants on Parade, a wheat ale with hints of raspberry and tart cherry, the Bosque IPA and the big and bold Scotia Scotch Ale, with 8.4 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). If you’re looking for something lighter, you can try the Pilsner-style Bosque Lager or Pistol Pete’s 1888 Ale, both 4.8 percent ABV. Prices for the regular beers range from $5 to $6 for a 16-ounce glass, the 20-ounce size runs a dollar more. Prices on specialty beers vary. Each bar area has a white board showing the beer selection for the day, indicating the alcohol level and IBU, or hop bitterness quotient. Bosque brews and cans all of the regular beers on-site—glass walls let you see into the brewing area with its forest of huge steel tanks—and it recently obtained a license so it can make its own ciders in-house as well.Bosque North has recently changed its approach to food service. Initially, the kitchen concept was like a proprietary food truck inside the building with a window where customers could place their orders. De La Rosa says they quickly found out that customers wanted table service. So the kitchen closed in early December while they revamped the concept. It reopened just before Christmas. The table service menu now includes a selection of appetizers between $5 and $5.50. For something slightly heartier, you can try the poutines. Bosque North’s version of this dish from Quebec includes a vegetarian option with green chile gravy and cheese curds atop French fries for $11, or a meat-eaters variant with pulled chicken at $13.For a light meal deal, try the street tacos offered at three for $8 or four for $10. You can choose from chicken, steak, chicharrones, pork or cauliflower fillings.Bar meal fare covers the usual categories of burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads. Burgers range from $10 for the no-frills plain burger to $14 for a vegan patty. I particularly liked the Bosque Burger which features BBQ sauce, crispy onions, bacon and white cheddar. (High on the yum factor, but not for the calorie conscious.) All the burgers come with fries or seasonal veggies. For an extra $2, you can substitute salad or a cup of soup.Comfort food fans may enjoy the grilled cheese ($8.75) which has Muenster and mozzarella cheeses, green chile and tomato on a pretzel bun. Fish lovers even have a couple of choices. The fish and chips ($12) offering comes with Bosque IPA-battered cod, fries and a jalapeño tartar sauce. Or, if you’re more adventurous, you can try Thai mussels in a coconut milk broth with ginger ($14). With the addition of Bosque North, Bosque Brewing now has five locations: two in Albuquerque, two in Las Cruces and now one in Bernalillo. The decor at Bosque North is contemporary, with gray walls, high top tables and chairs and a few TVs. The upstairs area has a separate space furnished with low-slung couches and chairs which offers a quieter, more laid-back hanging out zone. De La Rosa says Bosque Brewing is excited about the unique opportunities the location offers beyond the stunning views. There are walking trails nearby and the proximity to the river offers opportunities for rafting or kayaking, he says. There is parking space on three sides of the building, including spill-over space in a dirt lot on the west side. Bicycle racks at the front of the building offer cyclists a secure space to lock their rides while they come in to enjoy a brew and a bite.With the stunning mountain views and the proximity to hiking trails in Placitas or for kayakers enjoying the river, De La Rosa expects Bosque North to be a popular for lovers of the outdoors.
Bosque North Brewery and Taproom834 US 550361-3889bosquebrewing.comHours: Mon-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun noon-10pmHappy Hour: Sun-Thu 3-6pmVibe: Lots of natural light, great views and outdoor seating—a perfect summer hangout spot.Alibi Recommends: Elephants on Parade, the seasonal brew, and the Thai mussels in coconut milk
