When the 2022 edition of ABQ Beer Week was formally announced, it came as no surprise that Tractor Brewing would again be hosting a significant number of events. It was the same thing in the years before the pandemic postponed the annual celebration of craft beer, and Tractor marketing director Jeremy Kinter said it was a no-brainer to do it all again.

“We’re happy to have it back,” he said. “We’ve been working with Marne (Gaston), of course. We’re selling Blues & Brews tickets at all of our Albuquerque locations. We brought back some of our regular (events), and some new ones.”

Thursday

Rowley Farmhouse Ales is coming back down for another edition of Sour Hour, which will run from 5 to 10 p.m. at Wells Park.

“It’s going to be a flight of four (sours) for $15,” Kinter said. “It’s going to be three of theirs — Supernatant (Fruited Berliner Weisse), Elder Millennial (Brett Pale Ale), and we’re really excited for the (Germophile) Prickly Pear Sour. Our sour that will be there is the Blueberry Berliner Weisse, as well. And then, you can buy a flight or of course a 12-ounce (pour).”

RFA brewmaster/co-owner John Rowley will give a talk about the beers and the souring process at 6 p.m.

Friday

Another out-of-town brewery returns to Wells Park for a tap takeover, this time Truth or Consequences Brewing, which had made its Albuquerque debut in 2019.

“Then, the next day we’re doing Beer & Jazz, a variation of our Gin & Jazz, with a tap takeover from TorC Brewing,” Kinter said. “I like to feature them, they’re old friends of ours. There are going to be three beers — Cosmic Blonde, Fiesta Gold, and the Organica IPA. We’ll have those three here. You can do a flight, and then of course full pints. We’re going to have them and they’ll be around as well. (Co-owners) Marianne (Blaue) and John (Masterson) will be coming down. This is the second time we’ve featured them for Beer Week. We like to feature out-of-town breweries to give people a taste of what’s out there.”

The TorC team told us that Fiesta Gold might be the finest beer that they have ever made.

Starlight Trio will start the jazz at 5 p.m., followed by Pupfish.

Saturday

There are two events scheduled at different taprooms. First up, Ciderday Night Fever returns to Nob Hill.

“We have our all-day, in Nob Hill, our Ciderday Night Fever,” Kinter said. “That will have a limited run of our Watermelon Cider, our Cranberry Ginger Cider, we had a sixtel left of that, (and) of course our Blood Orange, Berry, our regular (Red Apple), and our dry (Golden Apple), and then we’re going to have Steel Bender’s cider featured as well, and then a Palmer cider as well. It will be sushi style, so people can order and check what they want. That should be a fun one.”

DJ Wae Fonkey will provide the tunes starting at 8 p.m. for the late-arriving crowd.

Meanwhile, down at Wells Park is Drag Queen Bingo: Pride Edition, starting at 7 p.m.

Monday

A new event this year is ABQ Battle Decks, which will be held at Wells Park at 6 p.m.

“It’s a kind of a mix of improv and comedy,” Kinter said. “It’s like a TED Talks for comedians. They’re given random slides and they have to do a talk on the slide. Sign-ups are at 6 p.m., show is at 7 p.m. It’s free.”

Wednesday, June 1

Poetry & Beer is back at Wells Park at 7 p.m. Kinter said it would have been held that day even if it was not Beer Week.

Thursday, June 2

One of the most popular Tractor-hosted events of 2019 is back, and this time it’s expanding to all four taprooms.

“We’re doing our Rebel Donut and beer pairing,” Kinter said. “That one is going to be at all four locations. We’re blowing that up, big time.”

Four different donuts will be paired with beers (all TBA), and it all kicks off at 5 p.m. Get there early, because this sold out quickly last time.

Saturday, June 4

Another double-event night goes down, with Beer & Jazz shifting from Wells Park to Nob Hill at 5 p.m. Mumbo Jumbo Jazz will open, followed by Brasilaris Trio.

Wells Park will host Beer Trivia at 7 p.m.

“It’s going to be hosted by Dan Pennington,” Kinter said. “He’s the one that hosts our Tractor Trivia League, so he’s going to do an all-beer trivia, which should be fun. He’s really good. And then, I’ve got some special beer prizes, as well.”

It may not be as many events as years past, but one could say that for all of Beer Week. But, at least it is back up and running again.

“Marne told us that by far we’re doing the most events because people are still short staffed, and there was a short timeline,” Kinter said. “I would like to, like next year, bring back some other ones that require a lot more logistics. It’s a strain on our brewery staff to do the Battle of the Beer Geeks. … If I had more time, I would add some new things that I’ve been thinking of. We used to do our beer and cheese with Cheesy Street, but she’s selling the truck. I’m looking to team up with someone else to do a food pairing, in addition to the (donut) pairing.”

A big thanks to Jeremy for all the additional info.

Keep supporting local!

— Stoutmeister