Oh, what to do with a day off?

First, take a moment to be thankful for every member of the military, be it recent or years ago, who gave their lives for all of us.

Then, if you do not have a gathering to attend at the house of a friend or family member, or aren’t hosting one yourself, then get thee to the breweries today. Just be extra careful getting home afterwards.

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: Memorial Day Bender Smoke-Out. Where: Steel Bender Brewyard. When: 11 a.m. until the food runs out. Cost: No cover charge.

Details: It is time to feast! The smokers will be churning out heaping amounts of spare ribs, brisket, and pulled pork, served with all of your favorite side dishes. Throw in all the great beers on tap, and this should satiate you for, oh, about a week or so. Just remember, get there early, because the food supply is not without limits.

Why you should go: Smoked meats. Beer. Someone else will clean up afterwards. Go. Win. Woots!

All the other great events

What: Memorial Day Fest. Where: Marble Brewery Downtown. When: 3-8:30 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: If you are more about the music than the meats, head to Marble for this annual bit of fun featuring four local bands, Gershom Brothers, Stan Kee and Step In, Sol De La Noche, and The Dirty Shades. Plus, if you ride your bicycle, then you get Mug Club discounts, and the team from Bike Works will be on hand to help make your ride even better. Why you should go: Support local music, drink local beer, get some exercise. Triple win.

What: Food Pairing. Where: Red Door Heights. When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Cost: $10. Details: We looked for but could not find any details. Fear not, we will keep chasing this one right up until the time it’s supposed to start. Why you should go: We’re working on this.

What: Paint Your Own Stein. Where: Tractor Four Hills. When: 6-9 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Kiln It! is hosting this fun event where patrons get to, well, paint a stain and then take it home. It costs $35 and to RSVP call (505) 433-8969. Your first pint is on the house. Your second pint can be served to you in your stein when you’re done. Why you should go: Not everybody can go to Germany and buy an official stein, so why not make your own?

What: Brain Gang Trivia Beer Edition. Where: Canteen Taproom. When: 7-9 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: The weekly trivia event goes with a full beer theme (of course). You can win anywhere from $10 to $25 in Canteen house cash, and it’s free to join. Why you should go: Win beer trivia to get beer money. What a brilliant concept.

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Got any questions, comments, complaints? Send them to nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com, or leave them here on our site, on Facebook, on Twitter (@nmdarksidebc), or on Instagram.

Enjoy yourselves out there, but please, do it responsibly.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister