In collaboration with Bear Mountain Lodge, we invite you to join us at Open Space Brewing for a special evening with archaeologist Harry J. Shafer, whose work at the NAN Ranch in the Mimbres Valley helped uncover fascinating evidence of fermentation and possible brewing practices dating back more than 1,000 years.
Harry will present findings connected to Room 74, where residue and corrosion evidence discovered in a fermentation vessel suggest the ancient Mimbres people may have been producing a fermented beverage centuries before European brewing traditions arrived in the Southwest.
The talk will explore the archaeology of the Mimbres culture, the excavation process at NAN Ranch, and what these discoveries reveal about ritual, agriculture, community gathering, and fermentation in the ancient Southwest.
As a brewery rooted in New Mexico and inspired by place, landscape, and history, we’re honored to host this conversation connecting ancient fermentation traditions with modern craft brewing culture.
Whether you’re passionate about archaeology, brewing science, local history, or the Mimbres Valley itself, this is a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of the researchers connected to this remarkable discovery.