Come in! Juno Brewery in Albuquerque, New Mexico
¹û½´ÊÓƵie business profile with Jason Marks ’84.
“We thought it would be fun to own a bar,” says Jason Marks ’84. If you stop by Juno Brewery in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the fun part will be evident. You might come in for a hopping happy hour or be lured in by the sound of live Latin music and join a salsa lesson. You’ll almost certainly spot the owners, Jason and his wife, Maxine, who are frequently pouring pints or serving food themselves. Jason says this retirement project has been fun—but it’s also “a huge amount of work.” When he decided to open a brewery in 2021, he imagined himself sitting in the corner with his friends, watching customers come and go. The “retirement” endeavor has been much more hands-on. The work is hard, but as a result, Juno Brewery has become a local favorite.
Jason studied sociology at ¹û½´ÊÓƵ before getting his law degree at the University of New Mexico. He practiced law for nearly two decades. When it came time to retire, he struggled with the idea of not working. He says the brewery has made it possible to “retire,” because he gets to keep working, but on a hobby he really loves.
He partnered with experienced brewers to devise the recipes that come together in large fermentation tanks, visible from the bar. “We do the basics well,” he says. But to fully appreciate Juno’s beer, you really need to be in their space.
“We have a family-run vibe,” says Jason of the high-ceilinged, airy brewpub. Their focus on fostering community here has brought in local artists to feature work on the walls and gallery, and meetups for various groups, including ¹û½´ÊÓƵies and the Sierra Club. Outside there’s a large patio, a popular destination in the summer months.
Jason and his wife enjoyed dancing prior to opening Juno. But in opening their space to Latin dance nights, they’ve embraced the art form. It’s an activity that customers are really excited about, and the owners love it, too.
At Juno, Jason’s interests in beer and building community have blossomed into a space where people—including the owners—can explore something unexpected. “There’s a very ¹û½´ÊÓƵ spirit in forging ahead into new, completely different things,” he says