USA, NM: Couple launches Resource Brewing in Albuquerque

Starting a business may not sound like the best idea right now, but for Shawn and Stephanie Wright, they think they�re onto something, KOB reported on November 29.

"In times like this, there's really no right answer. A lot of it is just, like, �Let's try it and see how it plays out,�� said Stephanie Wright.

Shawn and Stephanie Wright opened Resource Brewing Co. near Candelaria and Eubank a little more than a month ago.

"And we had a good, you know, four weeks, maybe five, of people inside and outside. And starting to kind of build some connections to this local neighborhood that we're in,� Shawn said.

The couples� decision to open their brewery in Albuquerque started more than two years ago. After finding a location, making renovations, and perfecting the brews�they forged ahead.

"Not knowing what the landscape was going to look like was kind of some tense conversations. We decided in October to open anyways,� Shawn said.

Even if COVID restrictions change, Resource Brewing Co. said they�ll be remaining to-go only until things improve.

"This is some peoples' pure livelihood, and it is, it's a really scary time,� said Leah Black, executive director of the New Mexico Brewers Guild.

All breweries in the state are currently limited to to-go only. As the state gets ready to move into a three-tiered reopening system, Black said even that may not bring immediate relief.

"If the new tier system begins and say a brewery is allowed to open in whatever county they're in, if it's the appropriate color they can open at 25%. Some breweries, that's only like 12-24 people, and then you have to bring on another staff member and it's almost operating at a loss,� she said.

Black said she�s aware of the four Albuquerque breweries that have permanently closed, but she also knows that four more have opened.

"We can look at it in two ways. We can say, �Oh that's really not what we wanted and that stinks,�� Shawn said.

At Resource Brewing Co., the Wrights have made their decision to look at the glass half full.

"Or we can look at it and say, �You know what, there's really nowhere else to go, but up from here.� And if we can get through at least the next four or five months then things will most likely start looking up,� Shawn said.