This is E-Rock, back for another weekly installment of the Week Ahead in Beer. As most Albuquerque-area beer aficionados have noticed, we are smack dab in the middle of Beer Week, with tastings occurring all over town at establishments such as Imbibe, O’Neill’s, and Two Fools.  What you might not know is that Albuquerque-area breweries are still releasing new beers such as Hop Slap at Chama, PNB Brown at Turtle Mountain, Albuquerque Hops-pitality at Il Vicino, and Pale 32 at La Cumbre. Also, Il Vicino is planning a beer festival of its own on June 16 featuring about 30 different styles of beer that they have been saving for this occasion. Without further ado, here is all the news that is fit to blog for the week of May 21.

To break down each “capsule,” I listed the brewery (with Web page linked), its phone number (all are area code 505, for out-of-state readers) and hours of operation. Under “Beers” are the new or seasonal beers on tap for this week. And for those breweries that play host to musicians, I made sure to list who’s on the week’s set list.

ABQ Brew Pub — 884-1116

(Mon–Thurs 11 a.m.–midnight, Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–2 a.m., Sunday 10 a.m.–midnight)

Beers: Ben Miller’s Dark and Strong. Homebrewer Ben Miller created this Belgian Dark Strong currently featured at ABQ Brew Pub. Check this one out and look for other Ben Miller brews under the Herbal Joe label.

Bad Ass Brewery — 918-2337

(Mon–Thurs 4 p.m.–10:30 p.m., Fri–Sat 3 p.m.–midnight, Sun noon–8 p.m.)

Beers: Heferojo, Torn Kilt Scotch Ale, European Whore Dark Belgian. Dark Belgians seem to be in fashion in the Duke City this week, and it’s the season for Scottish ales as well. You can get both at B.A.B. and sample the return of the Heferojo (Red Wheat) as well.

Broken Bottle Brewery — 890-8777

(Mon–Fri 4 p.m.–midnight, Sat noon–midnight, Sun noon–10 p.m.)

News: Check out Broken Bottle’s new Happy Hour, featuring one-dollar-off pints from 4-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Chama River Brewing Company — 342-1800

(Sun–Thurs 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–midnight)

Beers: Hop Slap, 505 Five, Double Chama, 3 Dog Night. In between Isotopes/Lobos/high school baseball games, Stoutmeister found the time to go enjoy a 3 Dog Night. Here is his take: “It’s a burly Baltic porter, thick and flavorful. It checks in over 8-percent ABV but feels even stronger. The smoked flavors are powerful at first, but eventually settle into a soothing rhythm on the palate. Make sure to start with another beer on the menu and then the 3 Dog Night, rather than the other way around.”

Il Vicino Brewing Canteen — 881-2737

(Sun–Thurs noon–10 p.m., Fri–Sat noon–midnight)

Beers: 505 Five Collaboration

Beers: Albuquerque Hops-pitality, 505 Five

News: Raspberry Ginger Wheat for Cask Wednesday as well as Albuquerque Hops-pitality on cask on Friday. There’s a lot to talk about when it comes to Il Vicino, from new beers to added cask nights.  The big news that piqued my interest is that they will be playing host to their own beer festival on June 16. Il Vicino has been stockpiling a keg of all of their creations for the past years and will unleash about 30 different styles of beer in the upcoming festival.  The festival will be from noon to 8 p.m. and includes bands, vendors, and food carts. Due to capacity limitations, only about 650 tickets will be sold, so be sure to get yours as soon as possible.

La Cumbre Brewing — 872-0225

(Open every day at noon)

Beers: Pale 32 (low gravity ale), Miles from Cologne (Kolsch), 505 Five. Miles from Cologne was created in the traditional German Kolsch style, and it will be served in the traditional fashion in 7 oz. glasses. A new beer will be brought to you when your current one is half empty. Place a coaster on your beer when you have had your last beer. Limit 12 beers.

News: Beer dinner on Wednesday at The Fat Squirrel Pub in Rio Rancho. $45 per person, get your reservations in ASAP.

Music: Weds — Wilde Wood 6-9 p.m., Sat — Group Therapy 7-10 p.m.

Marble Brewery — 243-2739

(Mon–Sat 1 p.m.–midnight, Sun 1 p.m.–10:30 p.m.)

Beers: 505 Five

News: Wednesday night is Real Ale Night. Check out samples of real ale (aged in casks for a secondary fermentation process) at Marble starting at 4 p.m.

Music: Weds — The Fabulous Martini Tones 5-7 p.m., Thurs — The Goatheads 8-11 p.m., Fri — Three String Bale 8-11 p.m., Sat — Johnny Bones 8-11 p.m.

Nexus Brewery — 242-4100

(Mon–Thurs 2 p.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sun 11 a.m.–midnight)

Beers: Beam Me Up Scottish, 505 Five

News: Look for the return of the award-winning Imperial Cream Stout in coming weeks. The ICS claimed a silver medal at the World Beer Cup in San Diego back in early May.

Tractor Brewing Company — 433-5654 (Nob Hill Taproom)

(The Taproom opens most days around 3 p.m. and stays open as late as 2 a.m.; it opens earlier on weekends)

Beers: Witty (Belgian Wit).

News: The Taproom in Nob Hill is playing host to the Tractor Trivia Tournament on Tuesday night. The event was originally scheduled for Tricklock Theater Company’s space downtown, but now it will be where the beer is. Let us all just hope that Lauren still shows up in character, as promised, as co-host of the event.

Turtle Mountain Brewing Company — 994-9497

(Kitchen hours: Mon–Thurs 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m.)

Beers: PNB Brown, Hefeweizen. PNB Brown returns by popular demand. Original brewed for release during last year’s Pork ‘N Brew festival, PNB is back on the menu so catch it before it sells out once again.

News: Look for Turtle Mountain at Summer Fest in Pajarito (near Los Alamos) on June 2.  Turtle Mountain will be closed on Monday to observe Memorial Day.

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That should wrap up things for this week! If you have any questions or comments, leave them below or contact us on our Facebook page.

Cheers!

— E-Rock