This is one of those weeks where the number of events go through the roof, while the number of new beer releases is rather small. Hey, it happens, especially when it happens to be essentially Halloween weekend. The holiday won’t fall until Monday, and let’s face it, that will be for the children (as an aside, I pity all the teachers on Tuesday dealing with those sugar hangovers). Which means this Friday-Saturday-Sunday is for the adults, so many of the breweries are going all out. The biggest event in sheer size and spectacle remains the Stranger Things Arcade Carnival at Tractor Wells Park, and yeah, that will get a separate preview later this week. Trust us, it’s big. Real big.
New Draft:
Bosque tapped an old favorite, Humo Rojo, a smoked red ale, and added the new Church Slacks, a pale ale. High and Dry brought back Stoubtful. Rumor Brewing recently added a Dark Lager to its lineup. The trio of Canteen, High and Dry, and Steel Bender are bringing back SereniTEA Now!, a fundraiser for the Agora Crisis Center, this Tuesday at all three breweries. (UPDATE) Bow & Arrow added Dark Harvest, a dunkelweizen. Canteen tapped Vienna Lager. La Cumbre added an IPA named MO, as in Maris Otter hops. Marble brought back Eastbound and Brown. Sidetrack tapped Dunkel or Nothing. Tractor resurrected Jack the Sipper, a pumpkin ale.
Up in Santa Fe, Rowley Farmhouse Ales recently tapped Whelp, a pale ale. Second Street has some fresh Agua Fria Pilsner back on tap, and also added Mosaic Juicy IPA, which is available only at the Railyard Taproom for now. Over in Los Alamos, Bathtub Row tapped Los Luceros Apple Ale, brewed in collaboration with the Los Luceros historic site. Down south, Truth or Consequences Brewing will tap Starfruit IPA on Thursday.
New Package:
Canteen put its Strawberry Basil Gose in cans in addition to being on draft. Ex Novo went ahead and dropped a behemoth 11-percent ABV barrel-aged imperial stout, Pastry Supernova, and we highly, HIGHLY recommend you get a can or two and maybe some on draft. Marble will roll out White Out in cans and on draft again this Tuesday. Second Street has cans of Agua Fria Pilsner, Boneshaker Bitter, and Kolsch back in stock at Rufina. (UPDATES) Canteen also put Dark & Lusty Stout back in cans. Ex Novo has summoned the Spirits of the Dead, a hazy IPA, in cans and on draft. Gravity Bound rolled out cans and draft of Net Effect, a new hazy IPA with Citra, El Dorado, Mosaic, Simcoe, and Cascade hops.
Notable Events:
Thursday-Saturday — Beer Creek will host the eighth annual Theater of Death: Virus, a combination of live music and short plays, with nightly showings at 7 p.m., and matinees at 3 p.m. on Saturday and, as a bonus, Sunday.
Thursday — The weekly Tractor of Terror movie screening will naturally be showing the original Halloween at 7 p.m.
Lizard Tail Heights will host a karaoke and costume contest from 7:30 to 11:30.
JUNO has not announced every event, but their Halloween weekend kickoff party is timed with their weekly Latin Night from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m.
Friday — A rare non-Halloween-themed event is Gin & Jazz & Magic at Tractor Wells Park starting at 5 p.m.
ReSource will host a costume contest at from 6 to 8 p.m.
Both Canteen taprooms will have pumpkin carving ($20 per person) from 6 to 8 p.m. The proceeds will go to help the 11-year-old niece of staff member Moses, as she needs heart surgery.
If the weather made you miss one during the Balloon Fiesta, head out to Sierra Blanca for the Alien Balloon Glow at 6:30 p.m.
For everyone in Santa Fe who was not able to make one of the Night of the Living Cover Bands at Launchpad down here in Albuquerque, there is Nightmare on Rufina Street. Second Street welcomes multiple local bands playing covers of their favorites from 7 p.m. until closing.
Boos & Brews, a costume contest and open mic night, takes over Lizard Tail Nob Hill from 8 to 11 p.m.
Saturday — Adobe Disco will take over Sidetrack for Night of the Railyard Reaper from 6 to 11:30 p.m.
The aforementioned Stranger Things Arcade Carnival kicks off at Tractor Wells Park at 7 p.m.
The Rocky Horror Goth Night Halloween Party takes over Brew Lab 101 at 7 p.m.
Lizard Tail Industrial will host a costume contest at 7 p.m.
Bow & Arrow will host 90s Halloween starting at 8 p.m.
The Fright Night Costume & Dance Party takes over Marble downtown from 8 to 11 p.m.
Sunday — Kaktus is partying all day for its ninth anniversary, featuring live music and a performance by the Desert Darlings.
Sobremesa will host a costume contest and pumpkin-carving contest, though an exact time was not listed yet.
Tuesday — Adult Coloring Night returns to Steel Bender as part of its month-long fundraising for Agora Crisis Center. It’s just a $5 donation and starts at 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 3 — Normally we don’t list things this far out, but odds are it will sell out before next Wednesday, so let us highlight an upcoming beer dinner between Marble and M’tucci’s 25. It’s a five-course feast paired with seven Marble beers, and costs just $75. Call M’tucci’s 25 at 505-554-2660 to make a reservation.
Quick News Bits:
Ex Novo will be closing The Corral to everyone under 21 all week as landscaping for the winter takes precedence.
Don’t forget, Echoes Brewery opens Monday for Halloween. Check out their social media for more details.
Albuquerque metro area breweries
Bombs Away Beer Company — Featured seasonal: Hazy Chain DIPA v.15 (6.45% ABV, 100+ IBU), featuring a combo of Warrior, Mosaic, and Sabro hops.
Bosque Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Little Tipper IPA (6.2% ABV, 45 IBU), a sessionable version of the popular Scale Tipper.
Bow & Arrow Brewing — Featured seasonal: Oktoberfest (5.2% ABV) was the favorite of all the Oktoberfests sold at Marblefest, according to several friends of the Crew, and it’s still available in cans in addition to being on draft.
Boxing Bear Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Bear Knuckle IPA (7.7% ABV, 80 IBU), the four-time winner of the NM IPA Challenge is back on tap and in cans.
Brew Lab 101 Beer & Cider Company — Featured seasonal: Kiwi-Mango GoGo (5.7% ABV, 8 IBU), a fruited gose, as you might have guessed.
Canteen Brewhouse — Featured seasonal: Pink Warrior Raspberry Wheat (6% ABV, 22 IBU), with the proceeds for can and draft sales going to Pink Warrior House for the month of October, which ends Monday, so get some ASAP.
Casa Vieja Brewery — Featured seasonal: Sharpe Dressed Man Chocolate Vanilla Stout is like two desserts in one.
Cazuela’s Seafood & Mexican Grill
Differential Brewing — Featured seasonal: Red Corn Rye Lager (4.8% ABV, 16 IBU) is a summer lager with a nice rye bite to it.
Downshift Brewing at Outpost 1706 — Featured seasonal: Gratitude Session IPA (4.2% ABV, 40 IBU), brewed to support local charities, right now $1 from every pint sold goes to the Shelter Fund of the Community Foundation of Lincoln County.
Enchanted Circle Brewing Taproom
Ex Novo Brewing — Featured seasonal: Threat Level Turquoise (6.8% ABV), a 2021 medal winner at GABF, is on tap and in cans.
Flix Brewhouse — Featured seasonal: FlixBrühaus, their version of an Oktoberfest.
Gravity Bound Brewing — Featured seasonal: Your Place or Stein?, a very traditional Oktoberfest, drier and less sweet than most of its local counterparts.
Harmon Lane Brewing at Southwest Grape and Grain — Featured seasonal: R.I.P … A (6.1% ABV, 70 IBU), a red rye IPA brewed for the season.
High and Dry Brewing — Featured seasonal: Rayon Slacks (7.3% ABV, 60 IBU), a single-hop IPA with Mosaic, and one amusing name.
Hops Brewery — Featured seasonal: Killer Bee Pale Ale (6.3% ABV, 23 IBU), this beer is made with actual honey from killer bee hives in Southern New Mexico.
JUNO Brewery
Kaktus Brewing — Featured seasonal: Helles Lager, which is pretty much the closest beer they have to being a year-round offering, because the regulars in Bernalillo demand it all the time.
La Cumbre Brewing — Featured seasonal: Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Excellence (7% ABV, 70 IBU), a collaboration IPA between LC and Colorado’s Cannonball Creek and Comrade.
La Reforma Brewery — Featured seasonal: Miss Mari’s Snappy Pils, so named because it has a nice bite to it from the Citra, Lemon Drop, and Saphir hop bill.
Late Shift Lager House at The Craftroom — Featured seasonal: Hop Villain (6.8% ABV, 102 IBU), a beastly IPA that is a change of sorts from the lager-dominated lineup.
Lizard Tail Brewing — Featured seasonal: Long Nosed Tripel (9.2% ABV, 30 IBU), the biggest beer on the menu.
Marble Brewery — Featured seasonal: Westside Coast IPA (7% ABV), brewed for the 10th anniversary of the Westside Taproom, with a lovely hop bill of Citra, Galaxy, Mosaic, and Sabro. Click on the different taprooms in the menu for the updated beer lists for each location.
Nexus Brewery — Featured seasonal: New Mexico Snow Storm IPA (7.2% ABV, 36 IBU), the runner-up at the 2021 New Mexico IPA Challenge had another strong finish at the 2022 NMIPAC, coming in fourth.
Palmer Brewery and Cider House — Featured seasonal: 2 Robs Make a Rita, an annual collaboration with Starr Brothers Brewing.
Ponderosa Brewing Co. — Featured seasonal: Italian Pilsner, the winner of back-to-back gold medals at the 2021 Great American Beer Festival and the 2022 World Beer Cup, is available on draft and in cans.
Quarter Celtic Brewpub— Featured seasonal: Becca’s Blend, a spunky little red rye IPA.
Red Door Brewing — Featured seasonal: Hibiscus White IPA is still available on draft for a limited time.
ReSource Brewing — Featured seasonal: Summer of Equality Stout, a lower ABV version of their popular house stout.
Rio Bravo Brewing — Featured seasonal: Vienna Waits (5.5% ABV, 20 IBU), a delightful amber lager.
Rumor Brewing (formerly Ale Republic) — Featured seasonal: Love (4.4% ABV, 12 IBU), a smoothie sour with sweet and tart cherries.
Sidetrack Brewing — Featured seasonal: Railyard Reaper Oatmeal Stout (5.2% ABV, 28 IBU), when the brewer tells you it’s his homage to Sleeping Dog Stout of the late Chama River, you instantly order a pint.
Sobremesa — Featured seasonal: Under the Mango Tree, a mango American-style ale, which you can also get as “Mangon,” a beer cocktail.
Starr Brothers Brewing — Featured seasonal: Herban Cowboy Hazy IPA, a collaboration with Boxing Bear that is just a wee bit dank.
Steel Bender Brewyard — Featured seasonal: Who’s Brett? IPA (5.65% ABV, 50 IBU), a traditional IPA spiked with Brettanomyces to enhance the hoppy flavor.
Thirsty Eye Brewing — Featured seasonal: There’s Something About That Blonde, a tart-cherry blonde ale made for people who just can’t let go of summer.
Tractor Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Javi Pre-Prohibition Lager (4.9% ABV, 23 IBU), a special beer brewed in the memory of Javier “Javi” Garcia, a friend of the brewery who tragically lost his life in a bicycle accident.
Turquoise Trail Brewing — The brewery is closed at its original location, but is looking for a new home elsewhere in Albuquerque, as we covered here.
Turtle Mountain Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Por Mi Vida, a key lime Mexican lager, will keep summer going even longer.
Santa Fe breweries
Beer Creek Brewing — Featured seasonal: Get to Da Hoppa is an IPA brewed entirely with New Mexico-grown hops and barley. Available in cans and on draft. If you buy the cans and go home, you must immediately watch Predator.
Chile Line Brewing — Featured seasonal: A Huevo (5% ABV, 20 IBU) is a Yerba Matte-inspired beer.
Hidden Mountain Brewing (formerly Blue Corn Brewery) — Featured seasonal: Pepino Lager, made with cucumber and lime, is a perfect pairing with the food menu.
Rowley Farmhouse Ales — Featured seasonal: Chantal (8.5% ABV, 30 IBU), this French-style saison was brewed in honor of a friend of the brewery who passed away after a battle with cancer. Available in cans and on draft.
Santa Fe Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Oktoberfest is back in cans and on draft, and we have no problem with this having arrived in July. If Samuel Adams can do it, so can SFBC.
Second Street Brewery — Featured seasonal: Boondock Skye (4.8% ABV, 35 IBU) is a crushable session IPA that everyone needs to drink up to make room for new seasonals.
Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery — Featured seasonal: White Rabbit Wit, the first in a series of new witbiers.
Other breweries you need to visit
Bathtub Row Brewing — Featured seasonal: Owl Peak Blue Corn Lager (5.4% ABV, 14 IBU), a collaboration lager with Owl Peak Farm in La Madera.
Little Toad Creek Brewing and Distilling
Red River Brewing and Distilling — Featured seasonal: Cacao Fuego, a chocolate-and-green-chile stout, will keep you warm even as the mountain nights grow colder.
Sierra Blanca Brewing — Featured seasonal: Peanut Butter Porter, because let’s face it, there aren’t many NM breweries using peanut butter in their beers, but it’s still a very popular adjunct.
Truth or Consequences Brewing — Featured seasonal: Oktoberfest, brewed with all-German malts and Tettnang hops.
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That’s all for this week! If you have any questions or comments, leave them below or contact us on our Facebook page.
Keep supporting local!
— Stoutmeister
DARK SIDE BREW CREW 