For the first time in what seems like forever, a major out-of-state craft brewery has launched a new distribution deal in New Mexico, and two Albuquerque craft institutions are jumping on board with special events this Wednesday.

After Rowley Farmhouse Ales threw a party for Santa Fe on Tuesday, the Cinco de Mayo fun will be centered at Jubilation Fine Wine and Spirits and downtown at Sister Bar.

First up, Jubilation will have a ton of package ready to go. Actually, most of it is already out and ready for purchase, ranging from the likes Star Cloud Hazy IPA to Black House Coffee Stout. The staff there was quite excited to have a new brewery in the house.

“Well, obviously,” said resident beer guru and all-around wonderful human being Karl LaVine. “The idea that we’re actually kind of getting to the point where we can celebrate, and have a really awesome brewery enter our market again, it’s a sign of the times. We’re really happy about it. Not a lot of large regional breweries have the ability or the cult following to actually open up new markets right now. I feel Modern Times is really one of those that checks all the boxes for innovators, super stylish, sought after, and they make amazing beers through and through.”

While the package will be on sale all day, the real fun starts at 3 p.m. A very limited release of a special collaboration beer will be available then in four-packs, and there will be two beers available for growler fills — ICE Pilsner and a super-limited dark brew (there is only one keg). Yeah, we know the identities of both, but were kindly asked not to spoil the surprise. I can say that the dark beer at the growler station is one of the most delicious brews I have had from outside NM in quite some time. Trust me, if your tastes run close to mine, GET IT ASAP before it runs out.

Ahem, anyway, the full list of available beers in four-packs for sale at Jubilation are:

• Fortunate Islands Hoppy Pale Ale
• Black House Coffee Stout
• Fruitlands Passionfruit Gose
• Orderville Hazy IPA
• Dungeon Map West Coast IPA
• Star Cloud Hazy Citra IPA
• Electrojet Hazy Simcoe IPA
• Wizard Staff Fruitlands Strawberry Limeade (19.2-ounce cans only)

Once you have loaded up on beers to take home, then head down to Sister. They will have ICE Pilsner, Star Cloud Citra Hazy IPA, and Fruitlands Passionfruit Gose on draft. There will also be special giveaways (full details still TBA, but we will update if we hear back), and there will be Modern Times representatives around to chat with customers.

Plus, you can load up on Sister’s delicious tacos, play some pinball, and support a local bar that has been put through the ringer by the COVID restrictions over the past year.

While the mission of the Crew has always been to first and foremost support our local breweries, we all indulge in the occasional out-of-state beer, and in this case, it represents a great opportunity to support two of our favorite local businesses in Sister and Jubilation.

If anyone out there has any additional questions, DM us on social media, or contact us at nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com. If we can’t answer it, fear not, we can forward it to Premier Distributing craft ambassador Aubrey Cesarz (who we have to also thank for providing us with much of this information).

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister