Prod-O Brewery and Distillery brings craft beer, family atmosphere to Reserve

With its modern, family-friendly vibe, Prod-O Brewery and Distillery, located in Reserve, has quickly become a gathering place for the folks of Catron County.

Owner Rainey Paulk and her husband, Jed Paulk, opened the county’s only brewery a year ago, fulfilling Jed’s longtime dream of making beer and creating a place for the community to gather, eat, play pool and enjoy music. 

The 7,000 sq ft building located along Main Street encompasses the bar and restaurant, the brewhouse where the beer is made, and an Airbnb suite. The Paulks also operate a nearby log cabin rental and plan to add six trailer pull-ins behind the brewery this year.

Prod-O operates as a lager house, reflecting local tastes. Its flagship beers include El Fuego, a Mexican-style lager, Eagle Peak, a Czech-style lager and a citrusy Vienna-style lager, yet to be named. Through its New Mexico craft brewer’s license, Prod-O also carries rotating seasonal guest taps from Boxing Bear in Albuquerque and Brew Lab 101 in Rio Rancho.

Behind the bar, patrons can also find New Mexico-made spirits from Dry Point Distillers in Las Cruces and Red River Distillery. Popular cocktails include lemon drops and smoked old-fashioneds, infused tableside with cherrywood smoke.

The kitchen has proven just as popular as the bar. Led by chef Jody Hinton, Prod-O serves handcrafted pizzas, air-fried wings from its “greaseless kitchen,” fresh wraps, and what has surprisingly become one of its biggest sellers: salads.

“I never thought we’d sell a salad in Reserve,” Rainey said with a laugh. “But it’s one of our top sellers.”

The name “Prod-O” carries deep meaning for the Paulk family. Jed, a native of Deming, comes from a long line of farmers and ranchers who homesteaded there 132 years ago. Prod-O is the family’s registered cattle brand, passed down through generations and inherited by Jed after his father’s passing.

“When Jed retired, it felt right to build something around that legacy,” said Rainey.

The couple met while attending New Mexico State University and has been together for 34 years. Jed spent 26 years working at Intel before retiring to pursue his passion for brewing. He took brewing classes from Kevin Davis, owner of Boxing Bear, who has since become a mentor and supporter of the couple’s venture.

Prod-O is family- and pet-friendly, offering free pool, karaoke, shuffleboard, bingo on Sundays and monthly live music events. Customers regularly travel from Datil, Magdalena, Glenwood, Alma, Springerville and Socorro to visit, said Rainey.

“We are so shocked by the support,” she said. “It’s all locals, and it’s become this cozy, easy place for everyone to come together.”