A toast to learning: CNM brewing students collaboration with Flock of Moons now on tap
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College students are responsible for one of the newest beers on tap at Nob Hill鈥檚 Flock of Moons Brewery Company.
A class of 10 students at Central New Mexico Community College collaborated to brew a saison beer called Citrinitas. It is described as a Belgian-style farmhouse ale with a mix of fruity and spicy flavor notes and a crisp finish.
Saison is French 鈥� the language spoken in Belgium鈥檚 southern Wallonia region 鈥� for season, and in brewing terms, it relates to beers made to fit the season in which they鈥檙e released. In this case, Citrinitas strives to be a fitting pour for the fading summer months and early days of fall.
鈥淚 think the biggest challenge was just learning the new equipment, because it was a little different than what we do at CNM,鈥� Elena Mattson, a brewing student, said. 鈥淲e kind of have all the toys, but it鈥檚 set up in a really learning environment type of way. Seeing it more in the real world was so cool, and I had to wrap my brain around that.鈥�
The beer is expected to be on draft until October, but Jeff Tomlinson, co-owner and head brewer for Flock of Moons, said it sold better than most IPAs the day the first keg was hooked up.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been well received, and I鈥檝e heard it鈥檚 a very good summer saison,鈥� Tomlinson said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 perfect for the current weather that we鈥檙e having here.鈥�
In the past, CNM brewing students have collaborated with other breweries in the metro area on beers, but the saison crafted with Flock of Moons marks the first project since the pandemic.
Following his experience working with the community college, Tomlinson said he would encourage more local breweries to embark on similar collaborations.
鈥淥ne thing I love about brewing and the community here in New Mexico is the sense of collaboration,鈥� Tomlinson said. 鈥淚 learned from the students, all this knowledge transfer goes both ways, and this is a great opportunity. And just working with CNM was so great. It鈥檚 a great marketing thing for your brewery, if nothing else.鈥�
CNM鈥檚 Beverage Production and Management program has become a destination for professional craft brewers across the state, with a brewing lab that has 16 stations for students.
鈥淭his is where a lot of the new generations of brewers are coming from,鈥� Ebbie Edmonston, executive director of the New Mexico Brewers Guild, said. 鈥淚 had no idea this even existed. And I鈥檓 so glad that now I do.鈥�
Heading the brewing program is instructor Antonio Fernandez, who came to CNM in 2022 after over seven years at Ponderosa Brewing Company, a microbrewery in the Sawmill District.
鈥淭here was a vacuum of qualified and trained workforce personnel to meet the need in the growing brewing industry in New Mexico,鈥� Fernandez said. 鈥淭o this point, since I鈥檝e been here, we鈥檝e been able to place 100% of our graduates in breweries. That just goes to show you know what the need was for training the workforce and kind of that vacuum that we鈥檝e been able to help fulfill here.鈥�
The decision to get CNM students hands-on experience in restaurants, breweries and distilleries has been intentional, according to Victoria Martinez, associate dean of the business, hospitality and technology school.
鈥溾�楤e connected,鈥� is one of our values here at CNM,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淲e want to make sure that not only is our leadership connected, but our faculty is connected to industry, and that extends to our students every day in the real world.鈥�
The real-world experience is helpful for students like Mattson, who hopes to open her own brewery someday.
鈥淲ith something so hands-on (like) brewing, you鈥檙e not really going to understand what it鈥檚 like until you鈥檙e out there working the job or making your own recipes, growing your own beer, things like that,鈥� Mattson said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 just super valuable.鈥�
A toast to learning: CNM brewing students collaboration with Flock of Moons now on tap
