ReSource Brewing closes down

New Mexico’s craft brewery ReSource Brewing has closed down its business and taproom after just three years in the industry.

The brewery, based in the Northeast Heights of Albuquerque, has sold its equipment and space to Brew Lab 101 which will take over the venue and reopen as an offsite taproom.

Speaking to Dark Side Brew Crew during an interview revealing reasons for exiting the sector, ReSource Brewery co-owner Shawn Wright said that plans for the brewery had been to differentiate and create a livelihood that was charitable, but admitted that the business needed more attention than was possible to give at this time.

Wright explained: “We were going to promote different charities, shine a light on different nonprofits. We wanted to do things, not necessarily, like everyone else.”

He stated that he and his wife Stefanie who shared co-ownership “made the decision in the very beginning that if we ever had to deviate from that plan to make this a success, we’d have to exit”.

According to Wright, the local community were advocates of the venture, but the business would have needed to expand and grow as a logical next step – a move he said was not one he was willing to make.

Wright revealed: “What we saw over the last year as things had opened up, the traction we were gaining was literally 100% local, walk-in, (from the) community. But, in order to kind of take that next step from a business standpoint, you’ve got to grow, you’ve got to expand, you can’t retract. We had the conversation that this was something that we couldn’t be along the ride for.”

He observed: “The option was do we shut it down, close the doors, ride out the lease, try to sell the equipment, or do we put it out there and see if we could find someone to take over the spot? There’s a lot that goes into starting something like this. It’s not something you can simply shut down.”

Speaking about the sale, Wright assured: “The equipment is going to be used. The staff all keeps their jobs. And the place, even though it will look different and have a different name, it will still be here for the regulars.”

Despite the decision to close and sell the space, Wright pointed out that the craft brewing sector is “a great industry” but highlighted that the business “just needs constant feeding” and “constant attention”.

He concluded that his decision to shut should not affect the way people follow their dreams. But hinted that smaller scale brewing that was not commercial was his recommendation.

Wright added: “I am absolutely encouraging anyone who wants to get into brewing to brew as much as they want, invite the neighbors over to drink beer, and just enjoy a taproom in their garage.”