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The world is full of misconceptions like \u201cDeserts are only barren wastelands,\u201d or \u201cwomen don\u2019t brew beer,\u201d or even \u201cNative Americans no longer exist on the land that was once wholly theirs.\u201d But after six years in business, Missy Begay and Shyla Sheppard of Bow & Arrow Brewing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, are used to defying these kinds of falsehoods and mistaken expectations. As the first and only Native-woman-owned brewery in the United States, Bow & Arrow is a pioneering steward of the land, drawing inspiration from and using ingredients that pay homage to Indigenous traditions, ancestral influence, and the rich cultural abundance of the pair\u2019s Native heritage. Partners in both business and life, Shyla and Missy share a commitment to increasing access to craft beer, as well as increasing visibility of Native culture through each brew. That includes the collaborative initiative called \u201cNative Land,\u201d which aims to acknowledge the contributions and history of Native American people in the United States.

Today, you\u2019ll hear from Missy and Shyla about when they decided to open a brewery, how their local community supported them before and during the pandemic, how Albuquerque\u2019s unique location allows for a diverse mix of locals and travelers, how New Mexico is shaping the craft beer culture at large, and what success means to them as part of this family-run business that they call a labor of love. Of course, we\u2019ll also talk about the beers themselves\u2014how sustainability in water and foraged ingredients shapes their recipes, how seasonality determines which ingredients are used, and how they balance delicate flavors with the wild beauty and bounty the land provides.