While I am out in California this week, I was reminded of two key things. First, traffic here still makes the worst I-25/I-40 messes you’ve ever seen look like nothing. Second, they charge $14 for craft beer at Angels games. For one pour. Not like multiple pints or a pint plus a flight or anything.

At least the Angels won on a walkoff home run by C.J. Cron.

Anyway, for all of you back in New Mexico, it’s already Day Seven (!) of Beer Week. Time to get serious and really start crossing off all of those events that have caught your eye. Because soon, it will all be over, and then all you have to look forward to is me telling stories of the hideousness of taking the 15 to the 60 to the 57, while avoiding the 55 and the 91, and trying to discern if the 5 to the 101 is the best option instead of daring the 405 even on a weekday …

Damn, I’ve already been out here too long. Miss you all! I’ll raise a glass at The Bruery today in your honor, New Mexico!

Featured event

Every day we will pick what we consider the biggest, most interesting, most unique event. This does not mean you should go to only this event and ignore the rest. All of them deserve your attention, but realistically, you can probably only attend a few. So we will make our daily pick, and you can either jump on it, or declare the Crew is foolish (we kinda are) and pick your own.

What: Ask a Certified Cicerone and Bad Beer Tasting. Where: Tractor Wells Park. When: 6 p.m. Cost: Study session is free, bad beer tasting costs $5.

Details: Tractor president/co-owner Skye Devore is a certified Cicerone, and she wants to help you prepare to take the upcoming certification exam, or at least learn more about beer and the program. When the study books are closed, there will be an off-flavor kit to create some bad beers to help folks further identify just what should not be in their ales and lagers.

Why you should go: Furthering the education of your palate and mind is never a bad thing, is it?

All the other great events

What: Santa Fe Tapping. Where: Gecko’s Nob Hill. When: 11 a.m. Cost: No entry fee. Details: The excellent porch beer SF Gold will be available. Why you should go: It’s a drinkable way to start your day.

What: Green Flash and Alpine Tapping. Where: Uptown Sports Bar. When: 11 a.m. Cost: No entry fee. Details: It’s an awesome quadruple tapping, with Barleywine and Soul Style IPA from Green Flash, plus Hoppy Birthday and Nelson IPA from Alpine. Why you should go: Those are four amazing beers, certainly worth the trip to the Uptown area.

What: Marble Special Tapping. Where: Filling Philly’s, 6904 Menaul Blvd. NE. When: 11 a.m. Cost: No entry fee. Details: Marble continues to spread the Saison love all around town. Why you should go: At some point they have to run out of Saison, right? So get it before it’s gone!

What: Beer & Sausage Pairing Night. Where: Rio Bravo. When: Noon. Cost: $20. Details: Get five special sausages from Joe S. Sausage paired up with five Rio Bravo beers. Why you should go: Be like your German ancestors and enjoy beer and sausage. Lederhosen and yodeling not required.

What: Mother Road Sampling. Where: Total Wine (both locations). When: 1 p.m. (Cottonwood), 4 p.m. (Uptown) Cost: No entry fee. Details: Try some of Flagstaff’s finest creations. Why you should go: Free beer!

What: Beer Class Podcast. Where: Santa Fe ABQ Taproom. When: 2 p.m. Cost: No entry fee. Details: Hang out and listen to the SFBC command staff, including their top brewers, sales staff, general manager, and more discuss all you need to know about their beers with the guys from 10 Drink Minimum. Why you should go: This all comes with the chance to enjoy a sneak taste of Lemon Skynyrd, the newest entry in the Ever Changing Series.

What: Alaskan Tasting. Where: Jubilation. When: 4 p.m. Cost: No entry fee. Details: Meet the local rep and enjoy some of the best offerings from way up north. Why you should go: Free beer!

What: Canteen Special Tapping. Where: Two Fools Tavern. When: 4 p.m. Cost: No entry fee. Details: They are putting Coffee Dark & Lusty Stout on nitro. Why you should go: Coffee stout on nitro should be enough, but if it’s not, just think of the food menu. Mmm, fish and chips.

What: Beer, Cheese & More! Where: Marble Westside. When: 5 p.m. Cost: $25 per person. Details: For everyone that missed this annual event downtown, you get a second chance to try multiple special Marble beers paired up with delicious cheeses. Why you should go: Because there isn’t going to be another of these until 2017. Remember, buy your tickets at the taproom as far in advance as you can, because it will sell out!

What: Ska Special Tapping. Where: Nob Hill Bar & Grill. When: 5 p.m. Cost: No entry fee. Details: Oh, it’s just a wee double dip of Barrel-Aged Dementia and Bump & Grind Coffee Stout. Why you should go: Don’t let two of the best beers to ever come from Durango slip through your grasp!

What: Mother Road Tap Invasion and Special Firkin Tapping. Where: The Grain Station. When: 6 p.m. Cost: No entry fee. Details: We have no idea what’s going to be in the Firkin, but damn it, we’re betting it will be amazing. Why you should go: Solve the mystery! Enjoy the beer! Have dinner while you’re there!

What: Alaskan Tap Takeover. Where: Billy’s Long Bar. When: 6 p.m. Cost: No entry fee. Details: If you loved any of those Alaskan beers you tried at Jubilation so much you desperately need a pint, well, voila! Why you should go: Because sometimes it’s too hard to drive out of the Heights for a beer event, so here’s one in your backyard.

What: Ballast Point Tap Takeover and Special Tapping. Where: Rock & Brews. When: 6 p.m. Cost: No entry fee. Details: It’s going to include Heaven Hill Barrel-Aged Victory at Sea (13% ABV). BARREL-AGED VICTORY AT SEA. Why you should go: The previous sentence was all you need to know, but just in case, Thomas DeCaro called it the smoothest 13-percenter you will ever try.

What: Beer for Stage Fright Open Mic. Where: Albuquerque Brewing. When: 7 p.m. Cost: No entry fee. Details: Get over that fear of crowds and sing your heart out with the help of your good friend beer. Why you should go: They’re throwing in $5 cheeseburger combo specials.

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Got any questions, comments, complaints, send them to nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com, or leave them here on our site, on Facebook, or on Twitter (@nmdarksidebc).
Enjoy yourselves out there, but please, do it responsibly.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister