La Reforma


 

I think it goes without saying that most people that know me know that I am a huge fan of craft beer. Before living down here I was pretty exclusive to drinking beer, it was widely available in Colorado. Thankfully since living down here I have been able to expand on drinking local with wineries, but also distilleries. So how lucky was I to discover a place in the North Valley that not only makes their own beer, but is also a distillery making great agave spirits, rum, and vodka? To make things even better they also serve great tacos and Mexican dishes. One restaurant I was thrilled to find is La Reforma.

Tucked away in a strip mall this place is very easy to drive by and miss, but it is worth the stop. The inside is very spacious with tables to fit groups of all sizes. It is bright and vibrant, with colorful artwork all over the walls, including a gorgeous mural of their logo over the bar. The smells coming from the kitchen were amazing, and only made me more excited to try the offerings. Since the initial reason I visited was for the beer I opted for a flight and was surprised by the variety of beers they offered and the flavor that came with them. The best part of the flight was hands down the Maximilian and the Hi-Wit. Maximilian was a Mexican dark lager that was crisp, refreshing, and had a subtle roasted flavor making for a very complex lager. The Hi-Wit aside from the fact it is one of my favorite styles of beer was a unique take on a classic with the addition of hibiscus. It was tart, citrusy, subtly spicy all in one sip, and a beer I would order again and again. 

For cocktails the menu was very expansive, but I opted for a classic margarita or Reforma-Rita and I upgraded to the reposado agave spirit. The reposado is their classic agave spirit but bourbon barrel aged which added a rich oak flavor that I really enjoyed. The food menu here is also very nice with a lot of different protein options, and all the classic Mexican dishes featuring them. They have carnitas, al pastor, carne asada, chicken, tempura fish, and tempura avocados for vegetarians, and all types of dishes for your favorite protein. Typically, I would order a quesadilla which looked delicious, but I chose to have tacos on this trip so that I could try multiple protein options. I had the tempura fish, carne asada, and al pastor. All were cooked great, well-seasoned, and full of flavor on the house made tortillas, but my favorite was hands down the al pastor. One I would get time and time again. 

After visiting the only word I could use to describe my visit was impressed. In this small building to be able to make beer, spirits, and food is incredibly impressive. Even more impressive is that everything that came out of a tap line, bottle, or the kitchen was scratch made, flavorful, and something I would have again. This is a perfect place for a craft beer fan, spirit fan, or foodie. Even if I’m not in the area this would be a place I would drive out of my way for if I am craving tacos. I would absolutely go back and add this to my list of places to take out of town guests. 

To see photos of my adventures follow me on Instagram @the_nm_tx
To support my adventures and see exclusive content check out www.patreon.com/thenmtx 


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