Thursday 17th of March 2011 12:55:13 AM

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Not a brewery, but a recently opened tap room. I know it's recent because I was in Santa Fe exactly a year ago and this place wasn't there. I tried Marble for the first time on that trip and even visited their brewery. I wouldn't say this is the antithesis of that place, but it's certainly very different.
First, this is both a Marble tap room and a coffee/espresso bar. The latter brings in underage and uninterested (in beer) to occupy your bartender while he/she seconds as a barista. I guess it's a good way to make money, as there is no real coffee shop on the plaza in Santa Fe, but it was annoying for just wanting to drink the beer. I won't get too much into the beer, as it's exactly the same as what's available at Marble in Albuquerque.
They have a great patio, a warm and welcoming second room and a nice bar. This could be a great place. However, this group of annoying bar flies were there when we came in and still there when we left. Drunk and loud. This seems to be almost every bar in Santa Fe though. The bartender also seemed unhappy to be there and I don't know that we really ever felt welcome there. I had planned on two but left after one. He did offer samples of everything, but it just felt forced.
If you're visiting Santa Fe and not Albuquerque, it would be worth it to come here just to try Marble. You can find them on tap a lot in Santa Fe, but not at the quantity they have here. Their seasonals and specialty brews, like the double IPA I ended up with, are not available at other places. But, if you are going to Albuquerque also, just go to the Marble Brewery.