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Find out which New Mexico brewstillery is now called Calavida Cantina
Sometimes, the original vision takes a detour.
Such was the case for Vision City Brewstillery, which took over the spot formerly occupied by Boxing Bear Brewery in Corrales this past October. The business underwent a rebranding last month, when it officially became known as Calavida Cantina.
“We launched with a Day of the Dead party in June,” said co-owner Martin Ulloa. “It was a big success, a lot of folks came out and our sort of go-to hashtag is #PartyLikeTheDead … It came with the change of menu, drink offerings and different styles. I think it’s been well received.”
According to Ulloa, the transition came about after the business underwent a change in leadership. The nanobrewery inside the International Indoor Soccer Arena has also been rebranded from Vision City to Calavida Cantina.
“A couple of partners exited and a couple of new partners entered, and when that happened, we had thought about our identity as a brand altogether and didn’t really quite feel like Vision City was meeting our identity, so we made a change,” Ulloa said.
The name “Calavida” blends calavera (skull) with vida (life) and is, according to the cantina website, “a nod to the Día de los Muertos belief that joy and remembrance can — and should — coexist.”
The menu has undergone a significant overhaul. In addition to classic cocktails, the establishment offers its own creations using liquor from 505 Spirits, a Placitas-based distillery. The lineup includes a lot more “tequila-forward drinks,” Ulloa says.
“We do a variety of margaritas, and we do them in the big servings as well, which I think folks in New Mexico are more accustomed to,” he said.
Ulloa has earned national acclaim as a distiller, winning a competition on the Discovery show “Moonshiners: Master Distiller,” and he has designs on eventually producing his own spirits to serve at Calavida.
“Our distilling permit has been filed and we’re waiting for permitting approvals to begin manufacturing on-site,” he said.
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Calavida also features more than 20 beer taps that include five of its own creations: the Mexi (a lager), Hazy Vision (IPA), Dunkel Nico (dark lager), Kellerbier (pilsner) and of course, a Michelada.“A Mexican joint or a taco joint, you’ve got to have a michelada,” Ulloa said.
There are also selections from a variety of other local spots, including La Cumbre Brewing Company, Tractor Brewing Co., Boxing Bear Brewing Co., Second Street Brewery and Ex Novo Brewing Co. The plan is to eventually include more taps of Calavida originals.
“Part of our expansion into the facility is there’s going to be new equipment that we’ll be able to produce more beer, as well. So you’ll see a lot of those handles become Calavida handles,” Ulloa said. “In the meantime, while that’s permitting and processing, we do serve a lot of the local breweries in town.”
The menu, meanwhile, has shifted from bar food and sandwiches to cantina-style cuisine featuring tacos, burritos, quesadillas and a variety of small bites such as street fries, poppers, chips and salsa, wings and ceviche. The renovations to the interior are ongoing, and Ulloa says to expect more artwork and murals to accompany the new theme in the weeks to come.
Calavida also boasts a robust lineup of entertainment with trivia, karaoke and music on its outdoor patio.
“I think you can go to just about any place around town and get a drink and get a bite. But why come to us? Well, the cuisine, the aesthetic and the events,” Ulloa said. “Really just have a space where folks can come and hang out and interact and be entertained.”
