Archive for February 6, 2019

Kilt Check fights to stay relevant in a crowded craft brewing scene

Posted: February 6, 2019 by cjax33 in Look Back/Look Ahead Series 2018-19
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The name had to change, but everything else about Kilt Check is the same quality neighborhood pub as before.

The name change still trips up some customers every now and again. They walk into Kilt Check Brewing and ask if it is a new brewery, only to see owner/brewer Mike Campbell is still behind the bar, the throwback decor still adorns the same walls, the Groundskeeper Willie Cream Ale is still on tap, and so on.

“It was like starting new again, people poking in (and asking) new brewery? We still are (seeing that) almost every day somebody comes in and (asks),” Mike said with a laugh.

The former Drafty Kilt Brewing had to change its name due to a trademark dispute with an Atlanta brewery. It was another bump in the road for the small Northeast Heights brewery, tucked away at 4814 Hardware Drive, nestled just west of San Mateo and south of McLeod near the dollar theater. I sat down with Mike over a pint of Black Sunshine Robust Porter last week for our annual Look Back/Look Ahead Series.

Mike said the one thing he learned over the course of 2018, besides being thankful that the name change stress is behind him, is that any brewery, big or small, has to find a way to stand out.

“It was a pretty good year,” he said. “We do have to provide entertainment, we have found. We’ve got to try to stay relevant with 40-plus breweries in town.”

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The Week Ahead in Beer: High and Dry needs 2 days to celebrate its 1st anniversary

Posted: February 6, 2019 by cjax33 in The Week Ahead in Beer
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Greetings, New Mexico craft beer lovers. Stoutmeister here with The Week Ahead in Beer. This column covers all the breweries in Bernalillo and Sandoval counties, with Santa Fe’s eight breweries, one in Los Alamos, one in Moriarty, and one in Red River also joining the party.

Stoutmeister puts on his serious face to handle The Week Ahead in Beer.

Stoutmeister puts on his serious face to handle The Week Ahead in Beer.

Well, we have a big chunk of good news this week, and one bit of bad news. First, the good, as High and Dry is throwing a two-day anniversary celebration this Saturday and Sunday. Two new beers will be released, one each day, in the Desert Mosaic Pale Ale and Desert Perle. There will be a Polaroid Selfie Station on Saturday, plus the Porter Draw will perform from 2 to 4 p.m. Shane Wallin will take the stage for the same times on Sunday. Market vendors participating from 2 to 5 on Sunday will include Kimshe Kimche, Blue Fly Farms, Thunderhead Farms, Farm Shark, and Eldora Cholcates. There will also be a birthday cake for everyone to share at 2:30. Make sure to join the fun whenever you can.

The sad news this week is that Duel Brewing has apparently closed for good in Santa Fe. We heard rumblings a while back that even closing the Albuquerque Taproom was not enough to save the brewery. Then on Monday, word spread quickly through the community of musicians and artists, as many were informed that their upcoming sessions at the brewery were canceled. All that, coupled with the disappearance of all of Duel’s social media pages, confirmed it as much as it can be confirmed. Farewell, Duel, and thank you for the memories of some brutally tough Belgian brews.

On the new beer front this week, there are a few options to check out of the non-stout/porter variety. Bombs Away lands with some fresh Dunkelweizen. Bosque managed to sneak in A Fistful of Churros. Bow & Arrow added some coffee to a saison and voila, Saison Buzz debuts Friday. Boxing Bear went hop crazy again with Citra Double-Dry-Hopped Albu-Murky Hazy IPA. Canteen rolls out Hop Baller IPA, North 14 Pale Ale, Dixie Dean ESB, and Barrel-Aged Wee Bit Loco, plus the charity beer Vienna de Valle debuts Saturday. Cantero strikes a tune with Kenny Weisse. Flix Brewhouse celebrates The LEGO Movie 2 with Pale Full of Brix. La Cumbre gets a wee bit English with Bitter Sons. Marble recently added Amber Lager and Berry White, which is Double White with a whole lotta berries added to the mix. Sidetrack keeps things fresh with Oldschool IPA and Ringwood English Ale. Starr Brothers reminds everyone Don’t Fear the RIPA. Steel Bender unveils two of its National IPA Challenge entrants, Mañana Tropical IPA and Hole in the Bucket IPA, on Thursday. Tractor introduces the first of its Beer for a Better Burque charity brews, Field Beer.

Up in Santa Fe, Blue Corn discovers Messages From Nowhere ESB.

Continue reading for all the news that is fit to blog for the week of February 4.

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