Stoutmeister and E-Rock continue their quick trek through the breweries of the Four Corners area with a stop at Durango Brewing Co.

After an hour or so break following our time at Ska on Wednesday afternoon, E-Rock and I headed up Main Ave. to the north end of Durango, where at the intersection of 30th Street we found ourselves at the Durango Brewing Co. From the outside, it sure seemed like an unassuming place, located in an older building without much in the way of bells and whistles.

Thankfully, it was the inside that counted, where we found a strong menu of some tasty brews. There was also some food (beer bloggers gotta eat sometimes, right?) on hand, including burgers, sandwiches, and more. Manned by a friendly, knowledgeable staff, our late afternoon turned out to be a pleasant one. The DBC did have some tourists from the many nearby hotels that line Main, but at the same time it had that “neighborhood bar” feel that you also get in ABQ at places like Tractor and Broken Bottle. This is the place to come chill out, eat a burger, drink a beer, and see some old friends. It was a perfect setting for happy hour.

With some impressive-looking slabs that served as sampler trays, we were each treated to eight samples out of the 11 on the board (five in common, three different for each of us). The theme was definitely summer beers, but in the end we embraced the darkest of the lot as our favorite.

Golden Ale: Light, refreshing summer beer, with more flavor than most macrobrews. Definitely a good starter beer on this menu. — Stoutmeister

Wheat Ale: Again, we have a standard wheat. It was tasty and refreshing. — E-Rock

Amber Ale: Sweet, smooth style very similar to the Rio Chama Amber. Perfectly drinkable with more body than the Golden Ale. — Stoutmeister

Amber on cask: One of two slight variations on the regular amber, this one, like most casks, brings out different flavors, creating a slightly hoppier, less sweet flavor. — Stoutmeister

Sour Amber: The name says it all. The Sour Amber is mighty sour, but still drinkable. — E-Rock

Hop Hugger (IPA): This is an IPA that would make a Burqueño proud. It’s heavy on the hops and heavy on flavor. This reminds me of the IPA from Marble.— E-Rock

Derail Ale: Described as a “high gravity ale,” that should not chase away the timid. It is a strong, flavorful beer, but not overpowering. Think of it as a relaxing summer beer for hopheads. — Stoutmeister

Purgatory Ale: DBC is going heavy on the ales right now. There are subtle differences between their ales. Purgatory is a little hoppier than the others. This beer is specifically brewed for the ski area at Purgatory. It was also my favorite of the ales on tap. — E-Rock

Pale Ale: This one greets you with a strong aroma and plenty of hops for a pale ale. The hops are there at the start and finish, but the beer remains smooth and relatively calm throughout. — Stoutmeister

Blueberry Wheat: This is one of those beers that tastes more like a cider. The blueberry really comes through. This is a good beer for that friend of yours that doesn’t drink beer. It tastes good, but it doesn’t taste like beer. — E-Rock

Dark Lager: We saved the best for last and will both offer our thoughts. For me, this is a delicious beer and the style I found in bottles at Quarters on Wyoming, thus drawing me to the DBC in the first place. There are just enough hops here to offset the chocolate malt sweetness. A robust, yet still very drinkable beer. If you can find it anywhere in ABQ, pick up a six-pack. — Stoutmeister; Mmm … Dark Lager (said with a Homer Simpson drool). This was my favorite beer in Durango. We had great beer all day, but the Dark Lager still stood out for its flavor. This is a must-drink. — E-Rock

The DBC may not be as big as Steamworks or have the name recognition of Ska, but it is more than worth the trip to the north side of the Animas River to check out this gem of a brewery.

Until next time, when we return to Carver to complete the Durango portion of our journey north (3 Rivers in Farmington finished the trip), stay out of the heat and make sure to enjoy a cool pint or two responsibly this weekend!

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister