Hello, this is E-Rock with my weekly blog bringing you the most current information on music, events, and seasonal beers served up in Albuquerque and the surrounding area.

ABQ Brew Pub and Nexus both have new beers in the works that should be on tap sometime during the next week. This blog will have more on those beers for next week’s installment. Bad Ass Brewery brought back their Bitter Black, Chama River is introducing their new Chama Red this week, Il Vicino discovered Dark Matter (their new black pilsner), Marble has more India White on tap, and Turtle Mountain has a fresh new batch of their PNB Brown.

That is just a taste of what is going on in and around the Duke City. Continue reading for all the news that is fit to blog for the week of August 27.

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: TBA. Rick’s Scottish Ale and Ben Miller’s Pomegranate Wheat are out this week, but I was assured by ABP that Ben Miller is putting the finishing touches on a new beer that should be on tap later in the week.

Back Alley Draft House — 766-6973 (NYPD)

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

Beers: “Cali Girl” Cherry Wheat, “The Streets” Saison, Goathead Stout, Goathead IPA. The Goathead Stout is Goathead’s first new offering at Back Alley since they opened, and “The Streets” Saison is a sweet Belgian-style beer with a touch of hops.

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: Zombie IPA, Torn Kilt, English Brown Smog, C Squared, Naked Euphoria, Utter Insanity, Dragon Blood, Half Dressed Ale, Charlies Old Red, 3 Way IPA, Matt’s Smoked Ale, Hefe Rojo, Eat Your Oatmeal, 66 Pin Up Porter, Triple Chocolate Stout, Bitter Black. The Dragons Blood IPA is full-bodied with a malty profile and is aggressively hopped with Warrior hops (5.4% ABV, 100+ IBU).

Events: Bad Ass is continuing their 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: “The Incident” Black IPA, Black Star Stout, Fat Willy’s Smoke Stout. The Black Star Stout is brewed with star anise and is described as having “dark, roasty flavors of the stout mixed with a nice shot of licoricey goodness. It’s not overpowering, but a nice complementary flavor.” Stoutmeister said the Black IPA “was a delicious entry into this popular category. It opens with a hoppy bite, but not too much of one. Like most BIPAs, the dark malts combine to mellow out the bite pretty quickly. It does not have the burly strength of a regular stout, but instead a smoothness that makes this one of the easiest-drinking, yet flavorful, IPAs that you can have.” If you were at Hopfest, “The Incident” was the black IPA you may have sampled from B.B.B.

Events: Geeks Who Drink are back at Broken Bottle this Wednesday, and B.B.B. will have their weekly Breaking Bad viewing party on Sunday at 8 p.m. The viewing party is very popular, so arrive early for the good seats!

News: Broken Bottle is launching their own Fantasy Football League. Visit their Facebook page for more info. Also, barring any last-minute, unexpected protests, B.B.B. will begin selling growlers for the first time on Labor Day at 5 p.m. Stay tuned for more on this.

Chama River Brewing Company — 342-1800

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

Beers: Chama Red, Liquid Schwarz (5.4% ABV), Hopricot Pale Ale (6.5%), Big LaBrewski (8.9%). The Hopricot PA is brewed with apricot, peach purée and American hops. I had the Hopricot at Back Alley Draft House a couple of weeks ago. It was sweet with a hoppy bite that one normally finds in an IPA. The Big LaBrewski is a beer fit for The Dude. This bad boy has a tropical aroma with a bitter punch.

Il Vicino Brewing Canteen — 881-2737

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

Beers: Dark Matter (Black) Pilsner, Sasquach Scotch, Hefe, Saison D’Gaul, Raspberry Wheat, Irish Red. The Dark Matter Pilsner is an intriguing new beer from IV. The brewers at Il Vicino are known for pushing the limits of brewing. As far as I know, they are the first in the 505 to pioneer the frontiers of the black pilsner.

News: The Aztec Stout is on tap for Cask Wednesday and the Cascade Pale Ale is on cask on Saturday. I had a pint of the Cask Galaxy IPA two weeks ago and it was excellent.

Music: Tues — Knife City (Honky Tonk) 6-9 p.m., Sun — Keith Sanchez (Songwriter) 3-6 p.m.

La Cumbre Brewing — 872-0225

(Open every day at noon)

Beers: 1/2 Nelson Pale Ale, Fievre D’Abricot (apricot saison), Gracias Por Fumar (smoked porter), Blanche Burque (Begian white), 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. Stoutmeister and I both tried and enjoyed this variation on the standard smoked porter. (30 IBU, 7.4% ABV)

Music: Weds — The Saltine Ramblers 7-10 p.m., Sat — Floozie 7-10 p.m.

Marble Brewery — 243-2739

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

Beers: India White, Double White, Imperial Red (9.0% ABV), Abbey Darkness (8.8% ABV), The Other Red (7.4% ABV). The Other Red is something of a red and brown hybrid. The Abbey Darkness is a Belgian-inspired strong, dark ale with fruity aromatics and a dried fruit and caramelized sugar palate.

Music: Weds — Gregg Daigle Acoustic 5-7 p.m., Trevor 7-10 p.m., Thurs — Todd and the Fox 8-11 p.m., Fri —Mar Ata 8-11 p.m., Sat — Encuentro, Baracutanga 5-11 p.m.

Nexus Brewery — 242-4100

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

Beers: Imperial Cream Ale. When it comes to smooth beers, no one beats Nexus Brewery. The Imperial Cream Ale is a perfect example.

News: A couple of new specialty beers are in the works at Nexus. Expect to see them on tap in the coming weeks.

Events: 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 — Black Turquoise 6 p.m., Sat — Low Ink 6 p.m., Sun — Smooth Jazz 12 p.m.

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: Dry Cider, Chug Hole Double IPA, Otter IPA, “Nut” What You Think Brown Ale, Pilsner, Mustachio Milk Stout. The Otter IPA is made from unfiltered British otter malts. Stoutmeister visited Tractorrecently 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!”

News: Traktoberfest, Black IPA, Black Lager, and Beer Noir Month are coming soon. Also, barring any last-minute, unexpected protests, Tractor will begin selling growlers again on Labor Day at 5 p.m. Stay tuned for more on this.

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, Yardsale Amber, Cherry Wheat, 80/80, Milkshake Stout, Rye IPA (over 100 IBU, 6.8% ABV), Hybrid IPA, Hop Duster IPA, Red Rye, Big Toe Barley Wine, Hybrid IPA on cask. The Yardsale Amber is TMBC’s semi-annual brew of all the remaining ingredients from their storage room. Shilling said of the Yardsale Amber, “The combination of various different malts and grains give the beer a bit of an English taste similar to a Newcastle, but more on the dry side.” Look for an in-depth review of the Yardsale Amber elsewhere on our blog.

News: TMBC’s End of Summer Smoke Out will be at 3 p.m. on Wednesday. Drop by their patio for smoked pulled pork and beer brats straight off the grill.

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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