Greetings craft beer aficionados, this is E-Rock here to bring you another Monday installment of The Week Ahead in Beer. As always, this column is hand-crafted to keep you up to date on all of the seasonal beers, music, and events served up in and around the Albuquerque metro area.

It’s another slow week for new seasonals in the Duke City. I take this as a mixed blessing. So many great beers were released in January that this week gives us a chance to catch up on some of the beers that we haven’t had a chance to try. In addition, there are some great beers on cask right now including the Groping Gnome Belgian IPA at the Il Vicino Canteen, the Scottish Ale at Nexus, Hoptimus Prime at Turtle Mountain, and of course Marble always has something great on cask every Friday at the Downtown Pub. Even though it is a slow week for seasonals in general, several breweries and taprooms around town are still introducing new ones to taps this week. ABQ Brew Pub is now serving Monk’s Tripel Ale. Back Alley Draft House now has Goat Head Imperial Stout and Back Alley Red on tap. Bosque Brewing Company has a new Imperial Stout slated to be on tap later this week. Farside Brew Pub has new batches of Torn Kilt, Zombie IPA, and Double Headed Zombie. Il Vicino Canteen’s Odin’s Imperial Red is finally making it to taps this week alongside a new batch of Exodus IPA. Sandia Chile Grill is now serving their Smoked Porter, and they should have a new batch of their Milk Stout on tap by the end of the week. Tractor Brewing Company is now serving a seasonal Pilsner. Turtle Mountain is serving their Yardsale Amber, made with whatever leftover hops and malts that they have on hand.

That is just a small sample 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 Feb. 11.

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: Monk’s Tripel Ale, Pecan Ale. ABP is now carrying Monk’s Tripel Ale. This heavy-hitting ale was reviewed by our very own Cryptogrind back in early January.

Back Alley Draft House — 766-6973 (NYPD)

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

Beers: Goat Head Imperial Stout, Back Alley Red, Goat Head Java Stout, Back Alley Porter, Goat Head Barley Wine, Goat Head Imperial Red, Goat Head Raspberry Blonde. Several members of the Brew Crew had a chance to sample Goat Head’s Barley Wine and Java Stout at our one year anniversary party at BADH. Both beers had bold tastes that we have come to expect from Goat Head. If you are a fan of Marble beers, then you need to sample some of Goat Head’s beers, which have plenty of hops in the Imperial Red. The Java Stout compares favorably with Santa Fe’s version. If you love coffee flavor, this beer packs a ton of it.

Music: Thurs — Underground Etiquette featuring Beatnick and Delilah 9 p.m.

Bosque Brewing Company — 750-7596

(Mon–Thurs 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m., Fri–Sat 2 p.m.–midnight)

Beers: Imperial Stout, Boss PA, Scotia Scotch, California Commons, Ember IPA, Brewer’s Boot Amber Ale, Bitter Brit English IPA, Olde Bosky (Porter), Kindling (Golden), Mellow Brit (Brown), Cumulus IPA. California Commons is a Steam Beer, which is one of the few beer styles created in the United States. Stoutmeister joked “it’s so smooth it stole three of my future girlfriends.” According to BBC’s website, Kindling is “a smooth and crisp Golden Ale. Very drinkable.” Bitter Brit is “an English IPA, with subtle citrus notes.” Mellow Brit is “an English Brown with hints of honey.” And Olde Bosky is “a robust porter with roasted and coffee undertones.”

Broken Bottle Brewery — 890-8777

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

Beers: Glugg Porter, End of Days Tripel, Cracked Cork BarleyWine, Debacle Pumpkin Ale. According to B3’s website, their Cracked Cork BarleyWine is “a nice, slightly sweet barley wine fermented with raisins. Has a great caramel flavor and at 10% (ABV) it’s sure to put some hair on your chest!”

News: The Saul Rosenberg Ale, one of B3’s most beloved beers, will be making its way to tap in the near future. On Saturday, B3 will be at the New Mexico Cup.

Events: B3 has $3 beers every Tuesday from open to close. On Wednesday, B3 will be hosting their open mic from 8-10 p.m., with signups starting at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, B3 will be showing the new episode of The Walking Dead.

Music: Sat — Brian Gore 8-9 p.m.

Chama River Brewing Company — 342-1800

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

Beers: Big Head Imperial Ale, Cascade PA, Simcoe PA, Serenity Milk Stout. The Cascade and Simcoe Pale Ales take up where the Centennial and Chinook Pale Ales left off. For those who don’t know, Cascade, Simcoe, Centennial, and Chinook are hops varieties with different flavor profiles. Chama River often brews pale ales based on a single hop variety. Simcoe hops are best know for adding especially bitter aromas and flavors to pale ales, and Cascade hops are medium strength and add citrus and floral notes to an ale.

Farside Brew Pub — 918-2337

(Mon–Thurs 4 p.m.–10:30 p.m., Fri–Sat 3 p.m.–midnight, Sun 4–7 p.m.)

Beers: Torn Kilt, Zombie IPA, Double Headed Zombie, English Brown Smog, Feather Weight Ale, Dragon’s Blood. The folks at Farside Brew Pub have assured me that they will have either the Zombie or Double Headed Zombie IPA by Sunday, so one of these two signature beers will be on hand for The Walking Dead.

News: Farside Brew Pub just finished remodeling the pub recently, including a new serving counter and new paint job.

Events: FBP is now hosting Monday Madness featuring all day happy hour pints and Thursday College Night (with a valid college ID) featuring a $7 Pizza and Pint Special, plus all night happy hour pints. FBP will be showing the new episode of The Walking Dead on Sunday.

Il Vicino Brewing Canteen — 881-2737

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

Beers: Exodus IPA, Odin’s Imperial Red, Cherry Belgian, Dark Matter Pilsner, London Calling ESB, Irish Red, Saint Bob’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, Sasquatch Scotch, Dark American Lager. A couple weeks ago I posted that Odin’s Imperial Red and the Donker were on tap at the Canteen. I was wrong. It turns out that they were only available as part of a Mug club member tasting. Luckily, Odin’s Imperial Red has finally made it to taps. Odin’s Imperial Red is a beer fit for the Norse god, made with five pounds of Simcoe hops per barrel. (10.25% ABV, 100+ IBU) The Brew Crew had a sample recently, and we can say that it was worth the wait. The Donker (10% ABV, 23 IBU) is a Belgian Strong Dark that was brewed with dark candy sugar, and it should be available within the next two weeks. Oh Il Vicino, why do you tease us so with such tasty concoctions?

Cask: The Groping Gnome Belgian IPA is on tap for Cask Wednesday and the Cascade Amber will be on cask Saturday.

Music: Tues — Alex Maryol (Acoustic Blues) 6-9 p.m., Sun — Wildewood (Indie/Americana) 3-6 p.m.

La Cumbre Brewing — 872-0225

(Open every day at noon)

Beers: BEER, Full Nelson (Double IPA), Whirlpool Pale Ale, Noche de Paz, Potter’s PA (Belgian-style pale ale), Hot Shots Rauch (Rauchbier). La Cumbre’s website had this to say about BEER, “This is by far the lightest beer that we have made, or ever will make. Utilizing 100% North American ingredients, including 25% corn, it is ‘lite,’ but it actually has flavor compared with what 95% of Americans are used to. Delicate hop nuances, and subtle esters, followed by a bone-dry finish, this is a great BEER to start the night off with.” (5.2 ABV, 25 IBU) LC’s website also described the Full Nelson Pale Ale, “If our Elevated IPA is on the hoppy side of the aisle for you, stay away. If you drink that beer and think to yourself in Homer Simpson’s voice, ‘That’s kinda hoppy… I guess …’ prepare to meet your match. This beer is gonna put the beat down. Will you tap out before you finish the pint?” (8.7% ABV, IBU: A lot!)

News: Hotel Andaluz will host a special La Cumbre Happy Hour on Friday where they will pair La Cumbre brews with some of their happy hour appetizers. Call 505-923-9013 for reservations.

Music: Wed — Chris Dracup 7-10 p.m., Sat — Odd Dog 7-10 p.m.

Marble Brewery — 243-2739

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

Beers: Double White, India Wheat Ale, Stout Americano (6.2% ABV), Saison (6.5% ABV), Abbey Darkness (8.8% ABV), Imperial Stout (10% ABV). The Stout Americano is a hybrid between an Oatmeal Stout and an Imperial Stout that was brewed with roasted coffee beans provided by R. B. Winnings Coffee (located across the street from UNM on Central). According to Marble’s website, the Imperial Stout was “aged for a full year in oak bourbon barrels, this high gravity stout is a quintessential winter warmer.” (10% ABV, $7.00/Goblet, limit 2 per customer) Both Stoutmeister and Brandon picked it as the best seasonal imperial for the month of January.

Cask: Check out Marble’s cask (a.k.a. “real” ale) selection on tap every Friday at the Downtown Pub.

Events: The Supper Truck parks at Marble’s Downtown Pub every Saturday.

Nexus Brewery — 242-4100

(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: Pilsner, Tupac California Red, Wild Wheat Belgian, Duchess Pale Ale, Tractor Hard Cider. Stoutmeister had the Tupac California Red at WinterBrew, and he had this to say about it, “Nice middle ground between an Irish red and the hoppier reds like Marble.” The Tractor Hard Cider is sweeter than their usual cider.

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: Yardsale Amber, Irish Coffee Stout, TMBC IPA, Triple Play PA, Oatmeal IPA, American Wheat, Ironman (Black IPA), Collateral Damage Barley Wine, Hybrid IPA, Cabo Lager, Red Rye. TMBC’s web site has this to say about the Irish Coffee Stout, “Anyone ready for a breakfast pint? Irish Coffee Stout is your answer! Beautifully roasty with the flaked barley and oats and nine pounds of coffee to give a little kick. Awesome finish, I think I’ll have another. Cheers!” (4.2% ABV, 25 IBU, 1.0544 OG) Stoutmeister, Shilling, Franz Solo, and Brandon all visited Turtle recently and gave positive reviews to the Ironman BIPA.

Cask: TMBC is currently featuring the Hoptimus Prime (Double IPA) on cask.

News: TMBC is also featuring the 2011 Sierra Nevada Big Foot Barley Wine on tap.

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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