Spring is right around the corner (honest!), and with it comes the return of beer festival season. One of the early annual fests is Skiesta, which is held at the Pajarito Mountain ski area above Los Alamos. This year’s edition will be happening this Saturday.

In preparing for this article, I re-read last year’s post, which talked about how dry the winter had been. Well, this year we’ve experienced the complete opposite, as you all know. As I type this just a few days before the festival, yet another snowstorm/hurricane just blasted through the area. That storm should be long gone by the time Skiesta starts, but the extra snow will no doubt guarantee some fine skiing.  (The image below has more details about the skiing events, if that’s your thing.)

In addition to a costume contest, the band Escape on a Horse playing alt-country and Americana styles, and good food from the lodge’s cafe, there will be plenty of fine craft beers. Stoutmeister was able to get the beer lists from the breweries that will be in attendance:

• Bathtub Row: Mexican Lager, Hoppenheimer IPA, Cherry Wheat, Irish Red
• Blue Corn: Gatekeeper IPA, Round Midnight Imperial Stout, Roadrunner IPA, Messages from Nowhere ESB, Atomic Blonde
• Rowley Farmhouse Ales: Greyscale (Merlot Barrel), Cote d’Or (Pinot Noir Barrel), Sonora Weisse
• Second Street: 2920 IPA, Agua Fria Pils, Cranberry Stout, Black Canyon Porter, Low Winter Sun (Kettle Sour with Cherries), Rod’s Best Bitter, 2019 Imperial Stout (maybe)
• Tumbleroot: Orange Chocolate Stout, Belgian Pale, American Light Lager, IPA

That’s a nice variety of styles, so you’re sure to find something you like. On a personal note, I visited Blue Corn last weekend and can speak highly of Gatekeeper (the winner of the 2018 NM IPA Challenge) and their Imperial Stout.

Be sure to avail yourself of the complimentary bus service that will be running to and from Sullivan Field next to Los Alamos High School every 30 minutes between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Cheers!

— Reid