It was fun to get back to ABQ Beer Week on Wednesday and meet some new beer lovers at the Left Hand tasting at O’Niell’s Nob Hill. With all that done, it’s time to move on to a busy Day Eight on Thursday. Yours truly will be at Tractor Nob Hill, plus maybe some other events.

Featured event

What: Casks & Cupcakes. Where: Tractor Nob Hill. When: 4 to 6 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Get your sweet tooth satiated with this little pairing of two cask beers with six different styles of cupcakes from Caked by Bittersweets. It’s $5 for a combo, where you get three cupcakes and one cask beer. If you just want the beer, it’s $4 for a 12-ounce pour. Or if you are the designated driver, it’s $4 for a cupcake trio. The beers on cask are Milk Mustachio Stout and and the Saison. The Stout will be paired with Caramel Macchiato, Dark Chocolate Chile Decadence, and Cinnamon Toast with Bacon. The Saison will be paired with Fresh Lemon with local grown honey, Cherry Limeade, and Nacho Libre. Come grab dessert before dinner! Hey, you’re an adult, you’re allowed to do that now. Why you should go: A little sugary goodness never hurt anyone. Besides, you can walk it off going to all of the other great events around Nob Hill tonight.

All the other great events

What: Lagunitas Tap Takeover. Where: The Stumbling Steer. When: 4 p.m. to close. Cost: No cover charge. Details: There will be beers aplenty once again at The Steer. Undercover Shutdown, Nighttime Cascade (Black) IPA, Maximus IPA, Hop Stupid Ale, Lil Summpin’ Summpin’, and Day Time: A Fractional IPA will all be on tap. The Shutdown is a big, burly strong ale, while the rest should satisfy any and all hopheads. Why you should go: If you’re on the west side and already hungry and thirsty, there’s no better place to visit.

What: Santa Fe Brewing Tasting. Where: Total Wine Uptown. When: 4 to 7 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: We assume all (or most) of Santa Fe’s bottled and/or canned beers will be available for sampling. Why you should go: Remind yourself of your favorite(s) and then take some home for the weekend.

What: Pyramid Tasting. Where: Total Wine Cottonwood. When: 4 to 7 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: We don’t know what Pyramid beers will be available for sampling. Why you should go: Come on, you’re curious as to what they’ll have.

What: Stone Brewing Tasting. Where: Jubilation. When: 4 to 6 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: We just got the list of Stone beers that will be available for sampling. They will include the Collective Distortion IPA, which is brewed with elderberries and coriander, plus the Saison, Smoked Porter with Chipotle, Cali-Belgique IPA, Arrogant Bastard, and the newest entry in the Stochasticity Project, the Quadro Triticale, a Belgian-style quad. Why you should go: Always support local, and Jubilation is just that. Plus that Quadro just sounds like a beast that must be tamed.

What: New Belgium Special Tapping. Where: Two Fools Tavern. When: 4 to 7 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: The rather uniquely named I Believe I Wood! will be available for purchase. It’s listed as a blackberry whiskey barrel beer. That, plus the usual Two Fools food excellence, should compel you to visit. Why you should go: Oh, come on, like you really need an excuse to visit Two Fools.

What: Marble Beer & Cheese Pairing. Where: Marble Downtown Pub. When: 4 to 7 p.m. Cost: $20. Details: One of the favorite annual events of many folks around town, Marble will again pair up some of its finest beers with some distinct styles of cheese. We did not get the lineup, but we will update this if we can. Why you should go: Nothing says serious beer drinker more than attending beer and cheese pairing.

What: Boulder Beer Tasting. Where: O’Niell’s Juan Tabo. When: 5 to 7 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Some of Boulder’s top beers will be available for sampling. We did not get a list, sadly. Why you should go: If you’re in the Heights and curious as to what they’ve got, stop on by.

What: Sierra Nevada Tap Takeover. Where: O’Niell’s Nob Hill. When: 5 to 7 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: We did get the list for this one! (Hallelujah) Collective Distortion Double IPA, Summerfest, Hoptimum, and the ubiquitous Pale Ale will all be available. The Pale Ale was a gateway craft beer for many, myself included. So see what else Sierra Nevada has to offer nowadays. Why you should go: Grab a pint, grab some grub, and enjoy the patio before the weather heats up anymore than it already has.

What: Nexus Beer Dinner. Where: Prairie Star. When: 6 to 9 p.m. Cost: $39. Details: This late addition to Beer Week will feature four Nexus beers paired up with some of Prairie Star’s dishes. The Cream Ale, IPA, Chocolate Porter, and Beam Me Up Scottish will all be on hand. Why you should go: Food plus beer. Plus you can meet Nexus owner Ken Carson and brewer Kaylynn McKnight.

What: Big Sky Sampling. Where: Gecko’s on Academy. When: 6:30 to 9 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: They will have Moose Drool (brown ale) on draft, plus samples of their IPA, Scape Goat Pale Ale, and Bobo’s Robust Porter. Why you should go: If you’re in the Heights and don’t feel like going too far, enjoy the craft beer experience close to home.

What: New Belgium Mini Tap Takeover and Rolle Bolle Game Night. Where: Adieux Cafe. When: 7 p.m. to midnight. Cost: Unknown. Details: Rolle Bolle is apparently a game like bocce ball (we think). You can play it and win some prizes, plus there will be a selection of New Belgium beers on tap. Adieux Cafe is located on the southeast corner of Central and 5th Street downtown. Why you should go: Admit it, you want to know what Rolle Bolle is and see if you can dominate the game and rule the world. Or at least the cafe.

Got any updates or additional info for the Crew? Email us at nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com or contact us via Facebook or Twitter (@nmdarksidebc).

Enjoy Day Eight! Just remember to pace yourselves and be responsible.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister