Meet the geologist who brought craft beer to Carlsbad

Lucas Middleton is standing at the end of a glossy, wooden bar, dressed in a plain T-shirt and worn ball cap resting atop a cloud of tightly curled brown hair.  

He steps behind the counter and reaches for one of the taps, unleashing an amber fluid and his creativity into a waiting pint glass.

Middleton opened Milton’s Brewing in Carlsbad in September 2016, but it began as a hobby behind closed doors.

Lucas Middleton pours a beer, Sept. 24, 2024 at Milton's Brewing.

He was studying geology at New Mexico State University, brewing beer in his apartment and later taking classes to study “the science of beer.” He graduated in 2014, came back to his hometown with a degree in geology and passion for libations.

“I was brewing all the time,” Middleton said. “There’s different (beers). I like them for different reasons.”

His father Danny Middleton quickly joined in, helping his son brew in the early days.

“He said there’s nothing like a brewery here,” Danny Middleton said. “That’s why we started it. I was a little surprised.”

The science of brewing

While working in environmental services at Atkins Engineering Associates, Middleton said he was drawn to brewing because it is “science-y” like his field of study.

“I loved all the different equipment and how you have to do measurements and certain ingredients, the research, it’s a lot of reading,” he said. “I loved it.”

He also said running the business side of Milton’s is like the environmental rigs and staff he manages at work, drilling deep into the earth for soil samples and other data that can be provided to industries like oil and gas.

“I’m doing a lot of the same things there as I am at Milton’s. I’ve gotten a lot of experience from both, in different sectors,” Middleton said.

He likes to “keep it simple,” focusing on crisp lagers or smooth pale ales. Karlsbad Kolsh is a refreshing, lightly hopped beer popular to casual drinkers and new customers.

The 62/180 India Pale Ale, named after a nearby highway, is made with more hops, giving it a more bitter flavor while retaining the refreshing, citrus taste. On the menu since Milton’s opened, the beer capitalized on the style’s popularity, which beer journalist John Holl at Wine Enthusiast ranked the most popular craft beer style in the U.S., followed by stouts and wheat ales.

Middleton’s wife Danelle Middleton said her favorite was the Peabody Porter, named for a pelican on display at the Desert Willow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in town. It’s made with macadamia nuts, for a rich, heavier swallow.

“I’m not an artist, but part of brewing is creative,” Middleton said.

Craft breweries like Milton’s produce in small batches, distributed to local stores or consumed exclusively on location.

Since 2011, New Mexico’s craft breweries quadrupled, according to data from the Brewers Association, from about 25 statewide in 2011 to 109 last year.

New Mexico saw a $361 million economic impact from breweries last year, the data showed, producing 159,807 barrels of craft beer.

‘A different vibe’

The success of the business was followed by the Middletons’ wedding day last year, the culmination of what started as a school-age infatuation, Danelle Middleton said.

(left to right) Danelle, Paige and Lucas Middleton, Sept. 24 at Milton's Brewing.

They were married Oct. 7, 2023, and on May 3, 2024, welcomed their first child: a girl named Paige.

“I had a crush on him, but it didn’t work because I was a nerd and didn’t know how to flirt,” Danelle Middleton said.

Both graduated from Carlsbad High School in 2009 but met again and started dating in 2018. Danelle soon started working events the business hosted in the community.

“I don’t know if it’s just the way she started out at Milton’s, but it’s been fine,” Middleton said of the working dynamic between him and wife. “We’re usually on the same page about most things.”

Danelle Middleton is a teacher and volleyball coach at the high school, where she said she honed her management skills.

“They’ve got it slightly more together than the students,” she said of Milton’s staff.

As the business grew so did the Middletons’ ambitions. They’re putting the final touches on a second business, the Valley Venue in the Happy Valley neighborhood of Carlsbad, available for weddings and other events.

“Most of the events we host are happy times in people’s lives,” she said.

But just a serene afternoon at the taproom can also be reason to celebrate.

“I think it’s because we try to keep a clean house,” Danny Middleton said. “Basically, people can have a beer or two and relax. We’ve got a different vibe.”