Greetings beer lovers. My name is E-Rock, and I’m here to bring you news of what is new at Albuquerque-area breweries, including updated seasonal beer lists, musical guests, and assorted special events.

The 2012 IPA Challenge has come and gone, and now we are starting to see more breweries introducing new beers than we have seen in the last few weeks. A partial list includes ABQ Brew Pub’s Pomegranate Wheat, Bad Ass Brewery’s Irish Sunburn, Chama River’s Nobel Session, Il Vicino Canteen’s Short Spear, La Cumbre’s Gracias Por Fumar, Marble Brewery’s HBC-344 IPA, Tractor’s Maibock, and Turtle Mountain’s Challenge IPA a.k.a. Super Hybrid.

That is just a taste of what is going on in the 505. Continue reading for all the news that is fit to blog for the week of July 30.

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: Pomegranate Wheat. ABP’s new seasonal adds a twist to the wheat genre with the addition of pomegranate.

Back Alley Draft House — 766-6973 (NYPD)

(Hours 5 p.m.-11 p.m. daily)

Beers: Cherry Wheat, “The Streets” Saison, Goathead Pale Ale, Goathead IPA. “The Streets” Saison is a sweet Belgian style beer with a touch of hops, and Stoutmeister says the Goathead Pale Ale has a “nice bite with a smooth finish.” Either beer is great to beat the summer heat.

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: Naked Euphoria, Utter Insanity, Torn Kilt, Half Dressed Ale, Charlies Old Red, 3-Way IPA, Matts Smoked Ale, C-Squared, Hefe Rojo, Triple Chocolate, Irish Sunburn, English Brown Smog, 66 Pin Up Porter, Bitter Black. Naked Euphoria (Barley Wine), coming in at 13% ABV, is now on tap. This bad boy is $6 for a half pint and is limited to two per person.

News: Bad Ass is continuing its Sunday evening dart tournament at 4 p.m.

Broken Bottle Brewery — 890-8777

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

Beers: Fat Willy’s Smoke Stout. This delicious stout is heavy on the smoked flavor.

News: Geeks Who Drink are back at Broken Bottle this Wednesday, Broken Bottle plays host to a comedy show on Thursday, and B.B.B. will have their weekly Breaking Bad viewing party on Sunday at 8 p.m.

Chama River Brewing Company — 342-1800

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

Beers: Nobel Session, Cold Crush Kolsch, India White Elephant (60 IBU, 6.3% ABV), Cascade Pale Ale (47 IBU, 6.1% ABV). India White Elephant is an India white ale that blends the citrusy flavor of a Belgian white with the hoppy bite of an IPA.

Il Vicino Brewing Canteen — 881-2737

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

Beers: Short Spear, Boysenberry Wheat, Belgian Wit, Sasquatch Scotch, Exodus IPA, Saison d’Guil, Irish Red, Aztec (Mexican Lager). The Exodus IPA won New Mexico’s IPA Challenge for the fourth year in a row. If that doesn’t convince you to try this classic IPA, then I don’t know what will.

News: The Oaked Scottish Ale is on tap for Cask Wednesday and the Oaked Stout is on cask on Saturday.

Music: Tues — Kimo (Songwriter) 6-9 p.m., Sun — TBA 3-6 p.m.

La Cumbre Brewing — 872-0225

(Open every day at noon)

Beers: Gracias Por Fumar (Smoked Porter), Blanche Burque (Begian White), No, You’re a Dort! (Dortmunder ale), Pale 32 (low gravity ale), Miles from Cologne (Kolsch). Gracias Por Fumar, Spanish for “thank you for smoking” mixes British pale malts with the traditional Rauch Malt of Bamberg, Germany, and chocolate and black patent malts to create a palate of smoke, chocolate, caramel, and burnt toast. (30 IBU, 7.4% ABV)

Music: Weds — Bad Katz Blues Band 7-10 p.m., Sat — The Bill Hearne Trio 7-10 p.m.

News: Safari Street Grill will be at La Cumbre from 1-11 p.m. on Friday. Sadly, La Cumbre’s classic American pilsner, BEER, is now sold out. If you didn’t get a chance to try this amazingly crisp beer, you missed out. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Marble Brewery — 243-2739

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

Beers: HBC-344 IPA, Rye PA, Imperial Red, Double White Ale. I had a pint of HBC-344 IPA this past Wednesday. Hop Breeding Company experimental hop variety #344 is the dry hop in Marble India Pale Ale. Aged on whole flower cones for two weeks, this variety imparts woody, leafy, hop notes. (6.8% ABV)

Music: Weds — Daddy Long Loin 5-7 p.m., The Brew 8-11 p.m., Thurs — Felix Y Los Gatos 8-11 p.m., Fri — The Old Main 8-11 p.m., Sat — Spafford 8-11 p.m.

Nexus Brewery — 242-4100

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

Beers: Brown Ale, Imperial Cream Ale, Beam Me Up Scottish. When it comes to smooth beers, no one beats Nexus Brewery, and Brown Ale, Imperial Cream, and Scottish are perfect examples. Stoutmeister highly recommends the Brown: “It’s a little sweet and definitely full-bodied, with a crisp finish. It rivals Il Vicino’s Slow Down Brown as the best of its genre on tap in town.”

News: Nexus plays host to the Young, Dumb, and Full of Comedy open mic on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Sunroom.

Music: Thurs — Low Ink 6 p.m., Sat — Of the Essense 6 p.m., Sun — Smooth Jazz Sundays noon.

Tractor Brewing Company — 433-5654 (Nob Hill Tap Room)

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

Beers: Maibock, Chug Hole Double IPA, Otter IPA, “Nut” What You Think Brown Ale, Pilsner, Mustachio Milk Stout, Barnstorm. The Golden Belgian and Pilsner are of limited quantity, so get a pint of each while supplies last. The Otter IPA is made from unfiltered British otter malts. Stoutmeister visited Tractor last week and tried the “Nut” What You Think Brown Ale. He had this to say: “It is another unique offering from Tractor. Much like the holiday favorite, Turkey Drool, this beer wallops you with a dozen different flavors in every sip. Try it and let us know what you think!”

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: Challenge IPA (100 IBU), Rye IPA (over 100 IBU, 6.8% ABV), Nit Wit (Witbeir), Hybrid IPA, PNB Brown, Hop Duster IPA, Red Rye, Big Toe Barley Wine, 2009 Sierra Nevada Big Foot Barley Wine, Hop Duster on cask. The Challenge IPA, affectionately known as the Super Hybrid, made its rounds at the IPA Challenge and is now available at Turtle Mountain.

News: Following the 70/70, the next beer in this series, the 80/80 (1080 original gravity, 80 IBU) is coming out soon. The Arsenal Porter is currently sold out.

* * * *

That’s all for this week! If you have any questions or comments, leave them below or contact us on our Facebook page.

Cheers!

— E-Rock