Shenanigans reigned on 505 Collaboration brew day

The band of merry brewers. From left, starting at bottom, Robbie from Canteen, Matt from Ponderosa. Middle row, Zach from Chama, Justin from Boxing Bear, Josh from Marble, Daniel from La Cumbre, Andrew from Marble, Kaylynn from Nexus. Back row, Tim from Turtle Mountain and David from Chama.

One of the perks of this job, if you can really call it a job, is to go behind the scenes at the breweries and hang out with the many characters who brew for a living. Well, imagine taking many of your favorite people from breweries all over town and then jamming them into a single space for one afternoon. That was what happened this Saturday at Chama River as reps from eight breweries gathered together to brew up the annual 505 Collaboration beer for the upcoming ABQ Beer Week. Well, 10 brewery employees plus one beer writer. Drinks were consumed, jokes were told, pranks were pulled, food was eaten, and most importantly beer was brewed.

The 505 this year was supposed to be a session IPA, but lord knows after that egregious amount of hops dropped in there it will probably scale up a bit higher than most sessions. Using Chama’s system, only 10 barrels were brewed, so be prepared to call this year’s batch the most exclusive one yet. If the flavor is even half as good as the amazing aroma was Saturday, then we are all in for a merry Beer Week indeed.

This one of those stories that is better seen than told, so here are a slew of pictures taken by myself and the participants. There was a lot more craziness than is shown here, but I am sworn to secrecy about a lot of it. Hey, I want to get invited back for next year, hopefully without missing any time due to late-starting high school baseball games that I had to cover.

Without further adieu, 505 Brew Day in pictures.

505BrewDay2 — Justin doing his best to have fun clearing out the mash tun after the first batch.

505BrewDay4 — Tim, left, and David, bottom, confer while Josh just keeps adding more hops.

505BrewDay5 — Everyone pauses to compare photos on their phones. Probably the photos we can’t show.

505BrewDay8 — Tim, Zach, and David in between batches.

505BrewDay9 — Justin, Daniel, Josh, and David take a quick break.

505BrewDay10 — Kaylynn versus Justin in cornhole. Hey, only so many brewers can be inside at the same time, it’s a small space.

505BrewDay11 — David’s skills go beyond the brewhouse.

505BrewDay12 — All the food a hungry brewer (and beer writer) needs.

So ... many ... hops ... — So … many … hops …

David keeps an eye on the clock while Josh is on the platform.

Oh, glorious IPA, thou art of such good color and aroma. — Oh, glorious IPA, thou art of such grand color and aroma.

Thanks to David and Zach for inviting me over, and for everyone else being OK with it, too. This was one of the more fun Saturdays I have been a part of in quite a while. I am definitely looking forward to drinking the 505 when it becomes available May 21 to kick off ABQ Beer Week 2015.

Until then …

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister