MAC, Brew Lab come together for hockey refreshments

RIO RANCHO — Hockey fans, your thirst has been quenched.

In partnership with the McDermott Athletic Center and University of New Mexico club hockey, Brew Lab 101 Beer & Cider Co. has set up its own pop-up concession stand at Ice Lobo games for the 2025-26 season.

“We had some folks who were coming to some of these hockey games who really wanted to have a beer or beverage,” Brew Lab owner Scott Salvas said. “We just did the last round of games, and that went great. A lot of people were very excited about that. We're also going to be out there again for the next set of games.”

Brew Lab served up drinks for Lobos fans during UNM’s series split with Metro State on Dec. 6-7, with the brewery set to return to concessions duty when the team returns to the MAC Jan. 30-31 for a weekend series with Wyoming.

While the ice-cold brews have been quite complementary to the ice-cold sport, this seasonal team-up between the brewer and athletic complex is just the beginning of even bigger collaborations to come.

“The reason why we started doing what we're doing with the UNM hockey games is that the MAC had reached out to us with the idea of potentially putting a tap room in the MAC,” Salvas said. “So it was through those discussions on doing a tap room, which I'm happy to say, is actually happening.”

Scheduled for around April or May of 2026, the Brew Lab taproom at the MAC will support adult leagues of beach volleyball and soccer in the outdoor area of the facility.

But with the spring opening still months away, Salvas and his crew got to thinking: how could we support the MAC right now?

Before they knew it, when the Lobos hit the ice, so did their kegs.

“We find it pretty fun. They're (the games) definitely a lot of work; you have to gather up all your equipment, set it up, make sure you have all your proper licensing in place,” Salvas said. “But we always have a good time at these events. It not only helps spread brand awareness, but it also really helps support somebody else in whatever they're trying to do. In this case, the MAC hosting hockey games.”

Salvas and Brew Lab can often be seen doing “celebration permits” in the city, a permit that allows the company to sell their beverages at temporary locations. This includes community events such as local Oktoberfest, seasonal outings and now, games at the MAC.

But unlike the one-off events, the recurring appearance of the beverage stand is quickly becoming a crowd favorite for local hockey fans.

“We had a lot of great excitement from folks who were there, I think we helped increase their enjoyment of the games,” Salvas said. “It's cool, it's fun. It gets us into a little bit of a different neighborhood. I think not only can the tap room there help support the MAC, but there's not a whole lot in that little neck of the woods there, just apartment complexes and houses. So it will be a nice little place for the neighborhood to come hang out.”

Giving back to neighborhoods and the community is a big part of the Brew Lab’s foundation, and with the Goatheads on the horizon and the Lobos enjoying their newfound home of the MAC, the brewery’s hockey endeavors may be just getting started.

“Community has always been a big part of why Brew Lab exists,” Salvas said. “I've always made the point that I still have a day job. We're not doing this to try to make a bunch of money. We're doing this because we want to do something great for the community.”