As any Albuquerque resident knows, the first week of October belongs to the Balloon Fiesta. The morning skyline is dotted with those familiar (and some not-so-familiar) floating shapes, balloon-themed merchandise dominates the shelves of every corner store and coffee shop in town, and the tourists, well, they are everywhere.

Whether you choose to take part in the celebrations or hunker down in your house just to avoid the traffic, Fiesta is one of our claims to fame, and there is never a shortage of things to do during that 10-day stretch.

Stoutmeister sat down with co-owner/marketing director Shelby Chant from Steel Bender Brewyard, which is back to hosting Balloons & Brews after a hiatus during the pandemic. 

“When we opened at this location, we knew we wanted to do something unique, and community-driven, around Balloon Fiesta,” Chant said. “We were able to do it for our first three years — obviously not during shutdown — and then we questioned (holding) it last year. People were starting to gather again, (but) honestly we didn’t know if we felt that it was being responsible by bringing together what’s always a huge crowd.

“To be able to come back during Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s 50th anniversary is really great. Now it’s really obvious that (people) are ready to get out, which is going to be fantastic.”

The fun kicks off this Saturday.

“Every single day of Balloon Fiesta, October 1-9, we will be open at 7 a.m.,” Chant said. “The line begins at the north gate of our patio. We do ask that there’s no fence hopping (or) trying to save tables. This is an event where you’re going to want to stand and watch the views anyway, beer in hand. Since it’s counter service anyway, maybe consider sharing a table with others if you decide to sit. It’s a big community event, and we finally get to gather.”

“There will be directions to help you weave through both then patio and inside the taproom to place an order for handheld breakfast burritos (vegetarian and meat). All the burritos will be made daily, so once we’re out we’re out. 

“We’ll have a selection of pastries, locally made, from Pastian’s Bakery. We will have all the important stuff, all the beer, all the wine, (and) anything they want to mix into a bloody beer or beermosa is totally up to them.”

If you are not quite ready for beer that early, there will be “Wake the Dead” coffee from Pour Vida Roasters, and hot cocoa as well, plus juice for the kids.

“We’ll be doing the pin/patch swap again that we’ve been doing every single year,” Chant said. “All the great things that people get from pilots and chase crews, if they bring a pin, or a trading card, or anything that says they’re a pilot or part of a chase crew, we’ll give them a Steel Bender patch.”

Of course, there will also be some new beer releases.

“On October 1, this Saturday, we are kicking it all off with Bill (Heimann’s) beer, ‘Hey Man, Nice Shorts.’ It’s a pale ale. That will be draft only,” Chant said. “On Tuesday, we will have draft and package of Alewitch Pumpkin Ale. On Tuesday night, we couldn’t think of anyone better for the tourists … we’re got Kyle Martin playing. And, next Friday, for Old & Peculiar (cask series), we’re doing Blue Bullet with orange zest.”

The only slight change to the format will come at the end of each morning.

“One thing we’re doing a little differently this time is we are closing the doors to new guests at 10 a.m., that way our staff can reset for service at 11 a.m.,” Chant said. “Anyone that’s inside is welcome to hang out, they can have another beer, we just won’t be doing food service at that time.”

Here is a rundown of what you can expect from other members of our brewing community as this year, more breweries than ever are getting in on the action and hosting events for locals and visitors alike.

Saturday

Boxing Bear

Corrales Taproom

• Food trucks

Firestone Taproom

• Food trucks

West Downtown Taproom

• Food trucks

Canteen

• Open at 5 a.m., beers at 9 a.m.
• Breakfast burritos until they run out. 
• Park your car, use the restroom, and then bike 6 miles to the park.
• Silver Sky Blues Duo perform at 11 a.m.
• Free-to-roam E-bikes for the Glow Ride. 

Ex Novo 

• Open at 8 a.m.
• Mighty Mike’s Meats food truck starting at 8 a.m.
• Rio Tacos and Tikka Spice food trucks starting at noon.

Santa Fe Brewing at Tin Can Alley

• Open at 7 a.m.
• Live nusic 12-2 p.m.

Steel Bender

• Open at 7 a.m., closed 10-11 a.m.
• Breakfast burritos and pastries until they run out.
• Draft release of ‘Hey Man, Nice Shorts’ pale ale.
• Pin/patch swap.

Sunday

Boxing Bear

Corrales Taproom

• Food trucks

Firestone Taproom

• Food trucks

West Downtown Taproom

• Food trucks

Canteen

• Open at 5 a.m., beers at 9 a.m.
• Breakfast burritos until they run out. 
• Park your car, use the restroom, and then bike 6 miles to the park.
• Dos Gatos (blues) at 11 a.m.
• Free-to-roam E-bikes for the Glow Ride. 

Ex Novo 

• Open at 8 a.m.
• Mighty Mike’s Meats food truck starting at 8 a.m.

Santa Fe Brewing at Tin Can Alley

• Open at 7 a.m.
• Live Music 12-2 p.m.

Steel Bender

• Open at 7 a.m., closed 10-11 a.m.
• Breakfast burritos and pastries until they run out.
• Pin/patch swap.

Monday

Boxing Bear

Corrales Taproom

• Food trucks

Firestone Taproom

• Artisan Market 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
• Food trucks

West Downtown Taproom

• Food trucks

Santa Fe Brewing at Tin Can Alley

• Geeks Who Drink pub quiz at 7 p.m.

Steel Bender

• Open at 7 a.m., closed 10-11 a.m.
• Breakfast burritos and pastries until they run out.
• Pin/patch swap.

Tuesday

Boxing Bear

Corrales Taproom

• Balloon Themed Paint Night 6:30-8:30 p.m. $35 per person.
• Food Trucks

Firestone Taproom

• Artisan Market 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
• Dave Mensch (country/rock) 6-9 p.m.
• Food trucks

West Downtown Taproom

• Brain Gang Trivia 7-9 p.m.
• Food trucks

Ex Novo

• Mini Beerloon Glow in the Corral 6:30-9 p.m.

Santa Fe Brewing at Tin Can Alley

• Pint Night

Steel Bender

• Open at 7 a.m., closed 10-11 a.m.
• Breakfast burritos and pastries until they run out.
• Pin/patch swap.
• Kyle Martin (country/rock) at 6 p.m.

Wednesday

Boxing Bear 

Corrales Taproom

• Food trucks

Firestone Taproom

• Artisan Market 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
• Food trucks

West Downtown Taproom

• Food trucks

Santa Fe Brewing at Tin Can Alley

• Open at 7 a.m.
• Live Music 7-9 p.m.

Steel Bender

• Open at 7 a.m., closed 10-11 a.m.
• Breakfast burritos and pastries until they run out.
• Pin/patch swap.

Thursday

Boxing Bear

Corrales Taproom

• Artisan Market 3-8 p.m. 
• Food Trucks 

Firestone Taproom

• Open 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
• Artisan Market 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
• Food trucks

West Downtown Taproom

• Food trucks

Canteen

• Open at 5 a.m., beers at 9 a.m.
• Breakfast burritos until they run out. 
• Park your car, use the restroom, and then bike 6 miles to the park.
• Grand Rising (blues) at 11 a.m.
• Free-to-roam E-bikes for the Glow Ride. 

Santa Fe Brewing at Tin Can Alley

• Open at 7 a.m.
• Live Music 12-2 p.m.

Steel Bender

• Open at 7 a.m., closed 10-11 a.m.
• Breakfast burritos and pastries until they run out.
• Pin/patch swap.

Friday, October 7

Boxing Bear

Corrales Taproom

• Artisan Market 3-8 p.m. 
• Food Trucks

Firestone Taproom

• Open 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
• Artisan Market 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
• Food trucks

West Downtown Taproom

• Food trucks

Canteen

• Open at 5 a.m., beers at 9 a.m.
• Breakfast burritos until they run out. 
• Park your car, use the restroom, and then bike 6 miles to the park.
• Alex Maryol (blues) at 11 a.m.
• Free-to-roam E-bikes for the Glow Ride. 

Ex Novo 

• Open at 8 a.m.
• Food trucks starting at 8 a.m. (Stuffed Lust)
• CREME

Santa Fe Brewing at Tin Can Alley

• Open at 7 a.m.
• Live Music 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Steel Bender

• Open at 7 a.m., closed 10-11 a.m.
• Breakfast burritos and pastries until they run out.
• Old and Peculiar Cask Series- Blue Bullet with orange zest.
• Pin/patch swap.

Saturday, October 8

Boxing Bear 

Corrales Taproom

• Food trucks

Firestone Taproom

• Open 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
• Artisan Market 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
• Food trucks

West Downtown Taproom

• Food trucks

Canteen

• Open at 5 a.m., beers at 9 a.m.
• Breakfast burritos until they run out. 
• Park your car, use the restroom, and then bike 6 miles to the park.
• Silvercrow Asylum (blues) at 11 a.m.
• Free-to-roam E-bikes for the Glow Ride. 

Ex Novo 

• Open at 8 a.m.
• Mighty Mike’s Meats food truck starting at 8 a.m.
• Rio Tacos and Tikka Spice food trucks starting at 12 p.m.

Santa Fe Brewing at Tin Can Alley

• Open at 7 a.m.
• Live Music 12-2 p.m.

Steel Bender

• Open at 7 a.m., closed 10-11 a.m.
• Breakfast burritos and pastries until they run out.
• Pin/patch swap.

Sunday, October 9

Boxing Bear 

Firestone Taproom

• CLOSED

West Downtown Taproom

• Brunch Bros Sunday Funday 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Canteen-

• Open at 5 a.m., beers at 9 a.m.
• Breakfast burritos until they run out. 
• Park your car, use the restroom, and then bike 6 miles to the park.
• Chris Dracup (blues) at 11 a.m.

Ex Novo 

• Open at 8 a.m.
• Umami Moto food truck starting at 8 a.m.

Santa Fe Brewing at Tin Can Alley

• Open at 7 a.m.
• Live Music 12-2 p.m.
• New Mexico United watch party at 4 p.m.

Steel Bender

• Open at 7 a.m., closed 10-11 a.m.
• Breakfast burritos and pastries until they run out.
• Pin/patch swap.

If you’re in town for the Fiesta, be sure to check out the bonus beer events happening in the area this Saturday.

• New Mexico Brew Fest at Villa Hispana at the State Faigrounds: Beer tasting, live music and local food trucks. $30 in advance. Early entry $45 in advance. Check out the full preview here.
• ABQ Uncorked and On Tap at the Historic Albuquerque Rail Yards: Breweries, spirits, wineries, musical talents and food trucks. $25 per person. 21+ event.
• Oktoberfiesta at Santa Fe Brewing Headquarters in Santa Fe: Live music, art walk, farmers market and food. Admission fee is a suggested donation to local communityorganizations. 

For those of you wanting to venture down to the park for some in-person Balloon Fiesta events between brewery visits, click HERE to head to the official website for the full schedule.

May the beer be with you, always. 

— Erin