Greetings, everyone! Only a few days remain before the epic madness of ABQ Beer Week 2015 descends upon us. All the participating members of the NMDSBC have worked out what events we can attend and provide coverage of, but needless to say with 160-plus this year, we cannot get to all of them. So we are looking for a few good correspondents, as the title of this post says, to help us out this year. Want to apply? Email us at nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com. Still unsure if you are up for it? Then keep reading and learn a little more about what we are looking for this year.

The relevant info, FAQ style:

Does this pay? No, sadly, we are poor and all do this out of a love of beer and supporting local events and establishments.

Can you get us into certain events that require money for admission? Probably not, but we can always ask for maybe a discount or some other bonus. It would depend on the event host.

What would you need from a correspondent after the fact? Basically a short story, anywhere from 200 to 500 words (or whatever you think is the right size), recapping the event itself. Some important things we would always ask for might include your general thoughts on the venue, thus encouraging people to visit at a later time, or offering up constructive criticism if the event did not turn out as the organizers had hoped. No attacks, please. You know how we write, we try to be fair and balanced (unlike a certain cable channel) but also open and honest. We are not here to slam anyone or anything.

OK, but what about the beer? Well, first off, please do not overindulge. We are calling for responsible drinkers who love craft beer. So for the beer itself the most important thing you can tell readers is this — was it good and is it available locally? Folks might love to hear you loved the beer you tried, but if they can’t try it themselves, it doesn’t do them a lot of good.

What about during the event? We do love social media, so if you have a Twitter account just share the name with us and we will re-tweet you from the NMDSBC account. You can also email us (or direct-message us) photos and quick explanations of the pics to our email or our Facebook page, and we can post the pictures on the latter for all to see.

So take lots of pictures? Take as many as possible. Remember when taking pics involving people to get their full names and titles, if they are employees working there. Just make sure they spell their names for you. There are a thousand ways to spell a name like Caitlin, so be sure you get it right. And never assume anything. For every Chris there is a Kris or Khris or Cris or … you get the point.

The most important things are what? What, actually is one of them. The others are easy — who, when, where, why. The facts are the most important thing. Your opinion, no matter how well you back it up, is always secondary.

So how does one apply to be a correspondent? Easy, after you read the list of events we need to be covered below, you can email us at nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com. Or contact us through Facebook or Twitter (@nmdarksidebc).

When are reviews due to the site? As soon as possible. Preferably the next day, but we understand life often gets in the way.

Will Stoutmeister be kind to my lack of formal training as a writer? He promises to be nice. The only editing we do is for grammar and then checking your facts. Otherwise the stories should always remain in your voice. If you are still skeptical, go back and read every Franz Solo story. Now that is a unique voice. “Viking poetry,” as Dr. Brews Banner once called it.

If I have fun doing this and you like my work, would it be possible for me to join the Crew in the future? As it so happens, with Porter Pounder and E-Rock out of the state for most of the remainder of 2015, plus Mrs. Solo heading into Physicians Assistant school and Shilling having disappeared down the rabbit hole, we are lacking a bit in writers. As we have done in the recent past, if things work out, you can join the Brew Crew Bullpen. From there, if you excel in terms of the quality and quantity of your writing, you can be like Luke and attain full Crew membership. So think of this as your audition. No pressure, though.

The list of events available to cover

Thursday, May 21

Beer, Cheese, & More at Marble downtown, 4 to 7 p.m.

Somerset Wild Sour Ale Release at Sister Bar, 4 to 7 p.m.

Second Annual Sierra Nevada Sausage & Cheese Tasting at O’Niell’s Juan Tabo, 6 to 8 p.m.

ABQ Beer Week Dinner at Chama River, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Friday, May 22

New Belgium Pint Night at Gecko’s North, 4 to 6 p.m., and at Gecko’s Nob Hill, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

La Cumbre Tap Takeover at Rock & Brews, 5 to 9 p.m.

Stouts & Stogies at Imbibe Cigar Bar, 6 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 23

7th Annual NM Brewers Guild Golf Tournament at Santa Ana Golf Club, 7 a.m.

The Harwood’s Annual Fundraiser at Marble downtown, noon

Beer and Boards at Tractor Wells Park, 1 p.m.

Belgian Beer Dinner at Heimat House, 5 p.m.

Bosque Tap Takeover at Rock & Brews, 5 p.m.

Sunday, May 24

Old World/New World Beer Paired Lunch & a Movie at Shade Tree, noon

Monday, May 25

Brews and Food Truck Battle at Red Door, 2 p.m.

Tuesday, May 26

Tractor’s Tupac Tuesday at The Grain Station, 3 p.m.

Marble/Farm & Table Beer and Food Pairings, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, May 27

Beer, Cheese, & More at Marble Westside, 4 p.m.

Tractor Specialty Beer Release at M’Tucci’s Kitchina Italian Restaurant, 5 p.m.

Monks’ Ale Beer Dinner at The Crown Room at The Downs Casino, 7 p.m.

Thursday, May 28

Tractor Tap Takeover and Special Release at Rock & Brews, 3 p.m.

Boulder Beer Special Tapping at Sister Bar, 5 p.m.

Marble Beer Dinner at Los Poblanos, 5:30 p.m.

Second Annual New Belgium Frozen T-Shirt Contest at Monte Vista Fire Station, 6 p.m.

Tractor Beer Dinner at First Turn Lounge at The Downs Casino, 6:30 p.m.

Beer on the Patio featuring Monks’ Ale at Torino’s, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, May 29

Kellys Special Beer Release, 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 30

Cider Day/Night Fever at Tractor Nob Hill, 8 p.m.

Secret Beer Mixes at Tractor Wells Park, 8 p.m.

Sunday, May 31

Second Annual Belgian Beer & Cheese Pairing at Shade Tree, noon

Joe S. Sausage Super Sunday Sausage Fest Sampler at Marble downtown, 2 p.m.

Special screening of the movie “Blood, Sweat and Beer” at Tractor Wells Park, 5 p.m.

* * * * *

So that is the list. If you have any independent story ideas or see an event you plan to be at not listed here, you can always send us your experience on that event as well. We can add it to our reviews or just eventually compile a bunch of short reviews into a single story from all of our readers.

We in the Crew want ABQ Beer Week 2015 to be our most interactive week yet with all of you, our dear readers. So come and join us in the madness. We promise it will be fun, since after all, it is all about the beer in the end.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister