The centerpiece event of ABQ Beer Week has always been ABQ Blues & Brews, and that festival is back this Sunday at Sandia Casino.

Tickets are still available, ranging from general admission ($35 advance, $40 day of) to early access admission ($55/$60) to VIP admission ($70/$75). The latter two allow you to start sampling at 1:30 p.m., while general admission allows you in the doors at 3 p.m. The festival runs until 6. You can purchase tickets online, at the door, or at any Tractor Brewing taproom in Albuquerque.

Most of the rest remains the same. Sampling is unlimited, so it is best to either have a designated driver, use Lyft/Uber, or even consider getting a room at the casino hotel. Also, eat a good meal before you arrive (which you can also do at the casino restaurants, just in case you’re out of grub at home). There will be water stations to both rinse your commemorative sample glasses, and to keep yourself hydrated. Just because this is all indoors, it does not mean you should forsake water.

As for the blues component of this event, here is the live music schedule.

• Alaskan Brewing Main Stage: Silver Sky Blues Band, 1:30 p.m., The Rudy Boy Experiment, 4 p.m.
• Albertsons Market Beer Club Atrium Stage: Nathan Fox, 1 p.m., Levi Platero, 3:45 p.m.
• Taylor Garrett Spirits Outdoor Stage: Javier Ortega, 2 p.m., Casey Mraz, 4:15 p.m.
• Acoustic Stage: Silver Crow Asylum, 12:45 p.m.
• VIP Stage: Joe Daddy and Friends, 3 p.m.

The list of national breweries is fairly extensive, as it is most years: Alaskan, Avery, Bell’s, BJ’s, Boulevard, Elysian, Firestone Walker, Founders, Four Peaks, Karbach, Kona, Left Hand, Rogue, Sierra Nevada, Ska, Stone.

There are also quite a few cideries, distilleries, and other craft liquor producers. In terms of locals, you can sample from Hollow Spirits, Leaf & Hive, Nuevo/Bloody Maria, Safe House, Taylor Garrett, and Zia Beverage.

As far as local breweries, it is a mix of big and small, relatively new and fairly established. We reached out to as many as we had contact with for their beer lists, but only a few responded. The rest will just surprise us (and, as always, if any late email responses come in, we will add them).

• Bosque: Elephants on Parade, Pickle Down Economics, Riverwalker IPA
• Brew Lab 101: Sexi NuMexi Mexican Lager, Wicked Pissah Hazy IPA, The Bull IPA, Peachy Keen Cider
• Canteen: (cans only) Exodus IPA, Dougie-Style Amber, Laid Back Lager, Sundance Kolsch, Cabana Mexican Lager
• Enchanted Circle: TBA
• Ex Novo: TBA
• Kilt Check: TBA
• Lava Rock: Pinche Cerveza, NM TRU IPA, Lava Juice Hazy IPA, Barrel-aged Imperial Stout
• Little Toad Creek: TBA
• Marble: TBA
• Red Door: Vanilla Cream Ale, West Coast IPA, New England IPA, Mic Czech Bo Pils
• ReSource: Fugitive Dust Hazy IPA, Bert Lips Schwarzbier
• Rumor: Bella Vista (Czech Pilsner), Red Mountain, Blonde (Belgian Blonde), Desert Monk (Belgian Dubbel)
• Santa Fe: NMX Standard, Cholla Fizz, 7K IPA, Social Hour
• Toltec: TBA
• Tractor: Blood Orange Cider, Delicious Red Apple Cider, Milk Mustachio Stout

The Dukes of Ale will also be on hand showcasing their members’ creations, so that is always a fun place to stop and taste the creative recipes that they made. We would also note that while Ponderosa Brewing was listed on the website as attending, head brewer Antonio Fernandez let us know that they will not be present Sunday. And, along with that, we will always remind everyone that the brewery lists and even the music lineup are always subject to change now and before the doors open.

Got any questions about Blues & Brews? Message us on social media or at nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com. If we cannot answer your question, we will forward it to event organizer Marne Gaston.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister