The brewer who won it all last year has his new brewery out in front after Round One of the 2014 IPA Challenge. Bosque and John Bullard, who won with Blue Corn last year, took the lead with 34 of the impressive 204 votes cast at Second Street Brewery on Saturday afternoon.
Luke of the Brew Crew Bullpen will have a more detailed recap of Round One either Sunday or Monday, including interviews with some of the brewers and other folks attending the event. For now, this is just a quick summary of the voting totals. Without any further adieu …
- Bosque 34 votes
- Chama River 24 votes
- Il Vicino 21 votes
- Marble 15 votes
- Tractor 15 votes
- Turtle Mountain 14 votes
- Blue Corn 12 votes
- La Cumbre 12 votes
- Second Street 12 votes
- High Desert 8 votes
- Santa Fe 8 votes
- Taos Mesa 8 votes
- Cazuela’s 7 votes
- Kaktus 5 votes
- Roosevelt 5 votes
- Nexus 4 votes
We don’t have the exact records, but 204 total votes may very well be a record for a non-Albuquerque IPA Challenge round. Great job by everyone in Santa Fe and for those who trekked there for this event. Craft brewing is only getting bigger and better in New Mexico and it’s not just limited to the ABQ metro area.
Considering how spread out the votes were, this is hardly a done deal for Bosque. Remember, last year Turtle Mountain won the opening round at High Desert in Las Cruces. Blue Corn did not start to pull away until Round Three (there were four rounds last year) at Santa Fe Brewing.
Round Two is set for Wednesday at Roosevelt Brewing in Portales from 4 to 8 p.m., followed by Round Three next Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at Tractor Wells Park. Tickets for both rounds are still available at the breweries and online at nmbeer.org.
And again, if anyone out there attending Round Two at Roosevelt is interested in being a correspondent for the Brew Crew, please email us at nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com.
Otherwise, see many of you at Tractor Wells Park!
Cheers!
— Stoutmeister
DARK SIDE BREW CREW 