It’s been a long time since there has been reason to write up a Beer Weekend post. Things have been fluctuating between busy, crazy busy, and FUBAR busy for the Crew for a while now, so it will be nice to take a step back and enjoy some good beer again.

I, Stoutmeister, have been gifted by the departure of the Isotopes for a quick weekend series, while E-Rock is largely music-free (save for his guest stint as the bassist for Vertigo Venus, Saturday night at Burt’s Tiki Lounge after 10 p.m. — be there!). Our resident techno wizard, Franz Solo, will have time to join us for one weekend event, while we hope that Cryptogrind is coming off the DL (Shilling is not so lucky yet, but we’re hopeful he will be healthy soon). For the first time the Crew is seriously talking about expanding, with more to come on that end soon.

Anyway, E-Rock, Franz Solo and I will be heading over to La Cumbre tonight (Friday) because, well, why not? We have not been by in a while, which is far too long, so in order to sample the summery beers on tap (BEER, Miles from Cologne, Pale 32, Zythos Pale Ale) we are heading over later in the evening. We would go earlier, but Franz Solo has the later shift at work, and a certain alma mater is playing in the College World Series (if you find me at La Cumbre, you will see which one I am referring to) at 7 p.m.

While La Cumbre beckons tonight, Il Vicino’s awesome Canteen Beer Festival is our destination Saturday. For the past year, the IVBC gang has been stashing one keg apiece of all the beer styles they have been serving at the Canteen. Every stout, red, porter, brown, marzen, IPA, pale ale, hefeweizen, and all the other wonderful IV beers will be there, over 30 total (at last count, we heard 37!). Now, this is not some event you can just walk into off the street. There were tickets for sale at $20 a pop ($15 for members) and they were closing to selling out at midweek. If you still do not have one, give the Canteen a call (881-2737) and see if any are still available. If you already have your ticket(s), be prepared for a big old awesome time. The festival kicks off at noon and runs until 8 p.m. There will be live music, plenty of food, and of course a bevy of beers to try (or retry). E-Rock and I will be there early, due to his need to be able to actually play bass later that night.

Between Saturday’s festivities and Sunday being Father’s Day and all (don’t worry, the Professor Emeritus will be taken care of — there is more beer in his house than you can shake a stick at), this is shaping up to be a great weekend.

Do not let the heat deter you, get out there and enjoy yourselves at any and all of the ABQ area’s breweries!

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister