Stoutmeister here, trying to clear out the mental notebook of beer (sure, I could write stuff down, but instead I prefer using my hands to lift pints) before trekking down to Marble’s Septemberfest on Saturday.

Speaking of Septemberfest, this year’s edition kicks off at noon, features the added bonus of Red Light Cameras on stage, and of course has a strong New Mexico representation of breweries from around the state. The out-of-town list includes Abbey, Blue Corn, Blue Heron, Mimbres Valley, Santa Fe, Second Street, and Three Rivers. The metro area list includes Broken Bottle, Chama River, Il Vicino, La Cumbre, Nexus, Rio Grande/Sierra Blanca, Tractor, Turtle Mountain, and of course host Marble.

If the beer gods smile upon us, Blue Corn will bring some dark beers this year, Blue Heron will have its epic La Llorona Scottish Ale, Mimbres Valley will bring its Scottish (Shilling was a big fan), Santa Fe will have Oktoberfest, Second Street will have just about anything and everything (I have yet to have a bad, or even mediocre, beer there), and Three Rivers will unleash some styles that E-Rock and I did not have when we made a quick stop at Farmington in the summer. Sure, I could call all these breweries and ask what they’re bringing, but dang it, it’s Friday and I am lazy. Sorry. Besides, I like the mystery of not knowing what I’m in for. Sort of.

Enough with that rambling (oh, yeah, and don’t forget your sunscreen, like ABQ Beer Geek always seems to, unless you want to turn into a NASCAR fan with that ruby-colored neck). Enjoy the Septemberfest and I will see most of you there.

Anyway, in other tidbits of news and notes:

• Broken Bottle is unleashing the Irish Coffee Ale tonight, which is not a coffee stout but an ale made with coffee. It certainly sounds interesting and could be worth a trip to the west side (or they could save me some gas $$$ as prices rise and bring it to Septemberfest; HINT for Chris and Donovan).
• Brew Crew member Derek started brewing his annual batch of pumpkin ale on Thursday. Derek is our most experienced home brewer and I will twist his arm until he actually writes his first story for us. I realize he’s a film guy/graphic designer, so maybe we can just get him to record some stuff and put it up on YouTube. Not that I’m hinting at anything, Derek.
• On the interesting idea front, the Crew might very well make our own stout for the Super Bowl Beer Battle in 2013. That assumes we again pit the metro area’s best stouts against each other, we could go a different direction, but we will have to make up our minds pretty quickly. Most home-brewed stouts need about two months to age.

• 

  Shilling, Cryptogrind, and I stopped by La Cumbre on Thursday to sample the two new seasonals, the VMO #3 and the Pecos Porter. Personally, I highly recommend the porter. It has an initial burst of strong flavors from the chocolate, caramel, black, and British Pale malts, but it mellows out pretty quickly and it is not as thick as some winter porters tend to be. The Centennial hops add an extra bite, but don’t worry, it’s not like a black IPA or anything of that sort. It fits perfectly for the start of fall (or what is supposed to be the start of fall). The VMO #3 is not an Oktoberfest in the classic sense, instead it is a German-style lager with a slightly darker complexion than most lagers. It tends to be a little dry, but it grows on you as you drink it and ends up being rather smooth and refreshing in the end.

• I should not hog all the reviewing, so here is Cryptogrind’s take on the Pecos Porter: “Pecos was an ass-kicker, but one that high fives you after the ass kicking. A nice, subtle malty start with bold coffee flavors. Excellent for the cold weather that is approaching, with smooth drinkability.”

Oh, yeah, and the Crew will be unveiling its story on Bosque Brewing at some point in the near future (I have about 50 minutes of interview to transcribe off ye old digital recorder). If I can get it in today, I will, but fear not Fab Four of Bosque, it will get up there by Tuesday at the latest. They were gracious hosts to Shilling, E-Rock, and I on Thursday and we shall repay them.

So anyway, that is all from us for the time being. We are hoping Franz Solo survives the iPhone5 onslaught at the Apple Store today (he has already called for beers/dinner at Nexus tonight). Then we just have to hope that my paleness can avoid a sunburn at Septemberfest on Saturday. And that Blue Heron brings its Scottish. I needs it.

Until the Bosque preview or Septemberfest review …

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister