Canteen Brewhouse

Canteen BrewhouseCanteen Brewhouse
Canteen BrewhouseCanteen Brewhouse
Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

2381 Aztec Rd NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87107-4207
United States

(505) 881-2737 | map
canteenbrewhouse.com

This brewery provides beer for all Il Vicino locations in NM.
BEER STATS
Average:
3.74
Beers:
73
Ratings:
312
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.11
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
34
pDev:
9.49%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Ernie_The_Dude:
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Reviewed by Ernie_The_Dude from California

4.39/5  rDev +6.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.25
I wish I would have been here in the evening. there is live music and a place to dance. The service was excellent and always offered to get you a round when you are empty. I do not think there is a cut off but, they ask you to respect a 3 beer limit. Unfortunately I didn't make the limit but next time I am in town, I am sure I will. a definite stop in location if you are visiting Albuquerque, if your a local beer fan, a good spot to throw back two,, or three.
Jul 30, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of WillieThreebiers
Reviewed by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

4.18/5  rDev +1.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4
Odd roadhouse-ish sort of place in an industrial section of town. Spacious interior, with equally large patio area along the side of the building. 16 or so beers on tap, the 2 I had were solid. I did not try the food. Knowledgeable bartender.
May 03, 2022
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Reviewed by slander from New York

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
Got in this morning, we’re heading up to Santa Fe tomorrow, and Colorado the day after that. One day in Albuquerque just isn’t enough time to take in this town. It’s been an eventful day, Christmas style chile and all. Winding down soon enough but we’ve got one more (place) in us. An easy hop, we walked up over from that other place and then turned down the block just there...

Enter alongside the outdoor space and in. It’s an old truck repair facility in a somewhat industrial area. Concrete floors, gray & yellowish walls, black rafter ceiling with exposed ductwork, drop pan lamps & track lighting. Pieced décor; a clock, malt sacks, old doors from a truck framed, & beer play signage. And a metric fuck ton of beer medals framed on the front wall, like, damn (To be fair, they are the oldest brewery in Albuquerque so they’ve had some time to win ‘em, but still, that’s a whole lot of medals won).

We’re going to go set up at the bar there because that’s what we do. Pieced slat wood topped ‘L’ shaped bar, brick base, and a railroad track foot rail; seating for nearly a dozen on swivel stools. 2 barbell towers with 6 non-descript handles each along the bar, and another 3 on a piece inside the bar. Barback is a triptych of windows offering brew room views, with food prep happening before your eyes counterside just below, and crowlers & stacked glassware aside. ½ spoked wheel pieces at ends of the bar. Drop single filament bulbs tracing overhead and a row of barrels lined atop the bar on what I hope is a very heavy-duty rack. Flats above to both sides of the windows, shirts in the corner, and draft selections listed on the wall to the front end (beer, style, ABV, & IBU); the mainstays printed nicey nice, and seasonals & one offs hanging on paper below. + soup & sandwich specials.

15 beers on now; 6 mainstays (Flashback IPA, 7.2%; High Plains Pils, 5.5%; Dougie Style Amber, 6.1%; Pecos Trail Brown Ale, 6.4%; Dark and Lusty Stout, 6.8%; La Luz Wheat, 4.6%) and 9 seasonals or one offs (Exodus IPA, 7.2%; Laid Back Lager, 4.8%; Sichler Chile Lager, 5.3%; Strawberry Basil Saison, 5.8%; Sundance Kolsch, 5.2%; Falconer’s Pale Ale, 6.2%; 25th Anniversary Citranova Juiced Lager, 6%; Tuttle IPA, 7.7%; Oktoberfest, 5.4%), + a house Root Beer. Strawberry Basil Saison was not, um, good. I’ve got the burpples now. It just was not what I wanted in that beer. Should have gone with Dark and Lusty Stout. High Plains Pils and Pecos Trail Brown Ale for the Wins (You know I’m a sucker for a good Brown Ale).

And yeah, we will grab a bite. Davo had a beef & bleu wrap, I had a bowl of Posole soup. What are these things? They look like teeth. They said it was hominy. What’s hominy? It’s corn. Why didn’t you just say ‘corn’? No matter, it was a solid soup. I followed it up with a goddamn pretzel that was just that. What? Why mustard, of course. Seriously, ranch dressing? What kind of monster do you think I am?

Nearly a dozen and a half tables, mostly square hightops angled across the floor and some of them sharing a bench along the far wall, where there’s a collection of pieces shelved above; the Pilsbury dough boy, toy truck, gas tank, bowling pin, gumball machine, yellow submarine, blue meanies, the dreadful flying glove, Homer Simpson wind-up toy, magic eight ball, lunch boxes, etc.

On walkabout again, through the garage door roll ups to the outdoor space. A small step up raised space holds 2 tables that I suspect are moved for band play, fronting a half dozen picnic table/bench combos laid out horizontally & vertically (battleship style) under an overhang. A half dozen squared table/bench combos under red umbrellas alongside, and a pair of long shared hightop tables seating a dozen each on stools looking over the cornhole courts under tarps strung for the get under. Shorty tables along the perimeter. Benches, wooden recliners, & barrel planters on the end out there.

Good tunes, chill house, some nice beers. Would like to see this place kickin’ it in the warmer weather during daylight hours. Really should have had that Stout.
Jul 31, 2020
 
Rated: 3.85 by SierraFlight from Virginia

Dec 22, 2018
 
Rated: 3.82 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Mar 27, 2018
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Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.11/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4
i had heard good things about this place and enjoyed both beers i had from them before i made the trip to check them out. its well worth a visit, even if that means traveling, this was one of my favorite stops on my albuquerque brewery jaunt, and definitely an amazing atmosphere despite it being in sort of a weird industrial neighborhood. they have an old western sort of saloon vibe in here, lots of wood and tin, dim light inside, a view to a sizeable brew house behind the bar, and an impressive selection of beers in the works across all styles, including sours and adjunct stouts among more foundational stuff. the place was mellow and relaxed when i was in, and posted up on their covered patio, which unlike the inside bar area is flush with natural light, picnic tables, good tunes, and an elevated area that looks like it doubles as a stage in the evenings. i had a cool stout called panama jose that featured coffee and spices, as well as a cherry sour, both of which were very good, and it made me wish i had more time to explore the rest of their beers, several intriguing ones on the list and apparently quite a lot of innovation happening in their brewery! the vibe was awesome, taking in the sun in a comfortable space that just feels right. really quality beer overall too, some of the best i had in town! mixed on service, female bartender couldnt care less, the guy in there was great. there are a ton of breweries here, but this is one to put at the top of your list! id love to go back and catch some live music here!
Jan 10, 2018
 
Rated: 2.75 by Edie from Oklahoma

Aug 15, 2017
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Rated by mkyer from Connecticut

4.41/5  rDev +7.3%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
Some of the nicest servers I've ever met at a brewery!
Aug 02, 2017
 
Rated: 4.04 by Zonian1 from Ohio

Jun 30, 2017
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Reviewed by Radome from Florida

3.64/5  rDev -11.4%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.25
Visited in the evening on a recent trip to Albuquerque. Non-descript industrial park exterior, but a warm, welcoming interior. Staff was friendly and seemed knowledgable about the house beers. They had about 5 regular house beers and about the same number of house seasonals. I found the beers to be mostly pretty standard and uninteresting, but there were some high spots. I give them props for having a sour on tap (Social Capital Sour), and I enjoyed the Piedra Red Ale, The food menu was limited to a few sandwiches that were definitely not fancy, but were pretty tasty. They reminded me of something off a food truck, but hit the spot when I was hungry.

Overall, a decent place to stop in and try some beers.
May 09, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by teamwiggum from Wisconsin

Jul 02, 2016
 
Rated: 3.54 by denver10 from New Mexico

Feb 20, 2016
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Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.55/5  rDev -13.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.5
After getting a good recommendation from the staff at La Cumbre on this place, I had high expectations. Nice atmosphere, and yet another brewery located in an industrial area. Everything was nice about this place, but I found the beer a let down. I had higher hopes, but it was just average at best.
Jan 30, 2016
 
Rated: 4.7 by Boostie from New Mexico

Aug 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by Determined_021 from New Mexico

May 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.17 by Stevedore from Oregon

Apr 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.04 by Lagerquestrian from Texas

Feb 21, 2015
 
Rated: 4.23 by bmaxtothemax from New Mexico

Feb 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by kingpin1010 from California

Oct 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.2 by taospowder from New Mexico

Sep 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by bradleyjay34 from Pennsylvania

Aug 15, 2014
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Reviewed by ONovoMexicano from New Mexico

4.15/5  rDev +1%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Il Vicino is a gem of a place in Albuquerque.

It's got one of the best atmospheres of any brewery in Albuquerque thanks to a good deal of spaciousness and a nice outdoor patio/biergarten setup. Add to this that the brew crew here are a bunch of goofs with silly streaks and the place sheds all pretentiousness and snobbery. And the parties. This place knows how to throw a good party, like their most recent anniversary party that involved pulling out kegs of 50 beers from years past. Getting to try their St. Bob's Imperial Stout from 2007 from a keg was some shit. It tasted as good as any whale your best buddy is chasing.

The service here is always friendly and accommodating. Samples are given eagerly and everyone here seems to enjoy their job. The staff all seem to have been here for as long as I've been visiting.

The food is solid, particularly the paninis, which do a good job of incorporating a good mix of tasty ingredients. The frito pie makes for good bar food too.

Beer-wise, these guys don't nearly get the credit they deserve. Many people like their regular lineup, and I think beers like the Wet Mountain IPA are great. But the best thing about Il Vicino is the way they pump out specialty and seasonal beers of exceptional taste and quality. They take risks and brew beers from across the spectrum, all with superb results.

Finally, the prices here are always reasonable. There's rarely a beer over $5 and food only will cost you a buck or two more. I love this place.
Aug 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by SouthwestBreweries from Arizona

Aug 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by kingjohnh from New Mexico

Jul 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by M_chav from New Mexico

Jul 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by ThomasAllen from New Mexico

Jun 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by LXIXME from New Mexico

Mar 15, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by nobullbob from New Mexico

Feb 25, 2014
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Reviewed by JonesArtGlass from New Mexico

4.01/5  rDev -2.4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75
It's definitely worth finding. There's actually a few other breweries near here but il Vicino has the best patio in the neighborhood. It's a bright sunshiney spot to have a daytime beer and is quiet and out of the way so it's a perfect 2nd date spot, when you want somewhere fun but still intimate enough to talk. They have a good selection of rotating beers and all the regulars are super nice and helpful.

I'm a wheat beer fan but I really like their Wet Mountain IPA. It's really smooth and not as intimidating as some of the other local options. It goes great with their sandwiches.
Jan 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by nickfl from Florida

Dec 25, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by hophead505 from New Mexico

Nov 05, 2013
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Reviewed by elNopalero from Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Taking it to the source here… This is the brewery for all Il Vicino locations in New Mexico, from what I understand. While the chain is known for their pizzas this location, ironically enough, only has a sandwich bar. A meat-centric sandwich bar, which is fine if that’s your thing. I didn’t eat here, tho, so I can’t comment on the food. The service, however, was excellent. I went around dinnertime and found a seat at the bar. I had a wonderful time talking with the servers about some of the beers they had on tap and found the price a surprise. These were both constants during my Albuquerque visit, by the way—great service and low prices. Really enjoyed the vibe here. Missed out on the cask conditioned beers (I think they’re just Wednesdays and Fridays) but found their house beers to be solid.
Jul 19, 2012
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Reviewed by QuesQueCe from New Mexico

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 2
This is our favorite brewery in town! The Beer is "to-die-for!" Hubby likes IPA and this is his favorite (and he has had lots of them from all over the country). I am a Brown drinker in the cold weather and Hefeweizen in the summer - Il Vicinos' is SO refreshing!!

This location just re-opened recently after building a new joint a mile south of the old place. We always sit on the patio and our kids love it too. Love the Beer Sponge, but the rest of the Deli stuff is a bit pricey and not all the spectacular.
Jul 11, 2011
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Reviewed by taxguyjase from New Mexico

4.44/5  rDev +8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
This is the taproom over on Vassar and Comanche - I really enjoyed coming here. The atmosphere is coozy - only room for about 5 or 6 at the bar, with some more standing area. Plus, there is a nice outdoor patio that can hold probably another 15-20 folks. The bartender that was working there when I went was really awesome - she offered tastings on the beers before I got my pint and got some snacks for me (pretzels, chips, etc...). Some other folks came in afterward and they were regulars and she knew exactly what they wanted, which was pretty cool

Beer selection was pretty good - about 8 beers on tap (5 regulars and 3 seasonals). Pint price is $4, which I think is nicely priced (and that was with tax, so a $5 will cover a beer and tip). They sold kegs and growlers too, and have a large "brew club" membership (so personal 22 oz glasses for folks).

I heard that the lease is up, so likely to move. I hope where they end up, they can maintain the same quality atmosphere that they have at the existing location.
Oct 20, 2009
Canteen Brewhouse in Albuquerque, NM
Brewery rating: 3.74 out of 5 with 312 ratings