Good lord, it’s December as of this Thursday? Where has this year gone? Well, let us focus on the present, and this time of year, it’s all about presents. Yup, time to buy stuff for your friends and family, and the good news is some breweries are revving up the holiday markets. You get to shop for them, and enjoy a beer or two for yourself. It’s the ultimate win-win. The other good thing is that they are fairly spread out around town and beyond, so hopefully you will not have to drive too far. Check out the Holiday Market at Bosque North starting at noon, the Winter Market at Santa Fe Brewing headquarters also at noon, and the Holly Joylly Market at Brew Lab 101 at 2 p.m. Check their respective social media pages for more details.
New Draft:
Bosque has more Olde Bosky Porter available, this time on draft as well as more cans. Boxing Bear recently brought back Iron Lung Smoked Porter. Quarter Celtic tapped Klaatu Barbara Nectaron, a hazy IPA, and no, that’s not a typo, Ash. ReSource has Blueberry Coconut Oatmeal Stout for a limited time. Rio Bravo rolled out Honey Ginger Blonde Ale and Canadian Pilsner. Sobremesa tapped Harper’s Oatmeal Stout and Lager Verga. Steel Bender brought back old favorite Sparkfitter Amber. Tractor gets in the season with Cranberry Ginger Cider on Friday. (UPDATES) Bombs Away dropped three new beers, Anniversary IPA, Harvest Apple Beer, and S.A.F. Black Currant. Canteen brought back Wee Bit Loco Scotch Ale. JUNO tapped Juicebox Hazy IPA. Steel Bender will tap You’ll Shoot Your IPA Out! on Thursday.
Up in Santa Fe, Second Street brought back old favorite Pecos Porter. Down south, Truth or Consequences Brewing will tap Berliner Weisse on Thursday, with the sour available straight, red (raspberry-flavored), or green (woodruff-flavored) to give new meaning to the red-or-green question. (UPDATE) Over in Los Alamos, Bathtub Row tapped New Mexico Red Chile Stout.
New Package:
Bow & Arrow has another candidate for name of the year, the decadent-looking Midnight With a Chance of Coyotes, an imperial stout made with peanut blossoms, cacao nibs, vanilla, and lactose that will be available in cans and on draft. Boxing Bear recently brought back Standing 8 Stout in cans and on draft. Ex Novo added Core Sample, an American IPA, in cans and on draft. Gravity Bound got Mechanical by Nature with its new American IPA in cans and on draft. Steel Bender tapped Brickie American Stout earlier this week, with the cans arriving Friday. (UPDATE) Rio Bravo rolled out cans and draft of Gingerbread Brown Ale on Friday.
Notable Events:
Thursday — Shop & Stroll is back in Nob Hill, so make sure to check the social media pages for Bosque, Lizard Tail, Tractor, and Public House (High and Dry) to see what they might have planned. We know that Public House has a holiday market of its own going on that night. Things kick off at 5 p.m., and head down early if you want to park within a reasonable walking distance.
Friday — Seeing as how it’s a new month, of course there is an ABQ Artwalk going on downtown. Boese Brothers, Red Door, and Sidetrack all figure to have something going on, so check with each of them to see what’s in the works.
This also means it’s time for the monthly First Fridays Comedy Contest at 8 p.m. at Tractor Wells Park.
Saturday — In addition to all of those holiday markets listed above, Sunday Service Motor Company is having its grand opening from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Here is our preview story for this unique new brewery.
Canteen is hosting another fundraiser for Mike Thrall and family, and this time around it’s an UNO Tournament. It costs $10, sign ups start at noon, and the fun gets underway at 1 p.m.
Beer Choir is back with a Christmas Edition performance at Tractor Wells Park at 7 p.m.
(UPDATE) Marble will open at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday at all three taprooms to show the USA-Netherlands World Cup match. There will be food trucks, $5 pints, and $8 mimosas and Bloody Marys.
Quick News Bits:
Bosque North will be accepting new, unopened toys for the Sandoval County Annual Toy Drive through December 20.
Both Canteen locations will be accepting new, unwrapped gifts, books, and stocking stuffers for the Make Merry Project for APS Title 1 homeless students ages 0 to 18. This drive runs through December 8.
The New Mexico Brewers Guild is looking for a new executive director. Tess Vidalis is resigning at the end of the year, ending her term two years early. If you are interested in applying, visit the Guild website.
Albuquerque metro area breweries
Boese Brothers Brewery — Featured seasonal: Double Dead Red (7.5% ABV), a hop-forward red ale that has long been a fan-favorite specialty at BBB.
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: Dark Harvest Dunkelweizen (6.9% ABV, 14 IBU), available on draft for a limited time, this German-style wheat beer has a new recipe since the last time it was brewed as a collab.
Boxing Bear Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Scotch Rocket (8.1% ABV), a delicious wee heavy to keep you warm this winter, available on draft and in cans.
Brew Lab 101 Beer & Cider Company — Featured seasonal: Bitter Chill, a cold IPA, on tap for a limited time.
Canteen Brewhouse — Featured seasonal: Pond Hopper (6.3% ABV, 24 IBU), an English ale made in collaboration with Malteurop Malting.
Casa Vieja Brewery — Featured seasonal: Tripel Threat, a hefty Belgian-style brew.
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.
Echoes Brewery — Featured seasonal: Echoes IPA, their first beer is a hoppy, but not too hoppy, introduction to the new brewery on Gold in the old Burt’s Tiki Lounge space.
Enchanted Circle Brewing Taproom
Ex Novo Brewing — Featured seasonal: Nevermore (12.1% ABV), a black barleywine aged in whiskey barrels with smoked figs and cacao nibs.
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: Pumpkin Porter (6.9% ABV, 21 IBU), a darker take on a traditional pumpkin ale.
High and Dry Brewing — Featured seasonal: How Do You Spell Kolsch?, a sweet, delicious treat of a beer whose supply has nearly run out.
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: La Negra (13% ABV, 60 IBU), a mammoth Russian imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels, available in bottles and on draft for a limited time.
La Reforma Brewery — Featured seasonal: Copper Canyon Pale Ale (6.9% ABV), which benefits two children’s orphanages in the Copper Canyon region of Northern Mexico. It is also available at Santa Fe and Tractor.
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: Turkish Coffee Stout (7.5% ABV), a spiced coffee stout that will keep you warm inside. 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: TBA, check with the brewery to see what is on tap at the moment.
Rio Bravo Brewing — Featured seasonal: Black Sparrow (13% ABV, 60 IBU), a rum-barrel-aged imperial stout.
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: Dos Años, a barrel-aged Baltic porter brewed for the brewpub’s recent second anniversary.
Starr Brothers Brewing — Featured seasonal: Therewolf, the annual Oktoberfest release, is running low on draft.
Steel Bender Brewyard — Featured seasonal: SereniTEA Now! (6.5% ABV, 10 IBU), the annual collaboration with Canteen and High and Dry benefits Agora Crisis Center.
Thirsty Eye Brewing — Featured seasonal: Good Gourd, a pumpkin and cranberry brown ale that just seems perfect for holiday parties, plus you can get it on nitro in the taproom.
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: The Zeus Effect (4.3% ABV, 50 IBU), a session wet-hop IPA, will have $1 donated to Special Olympics from every pint sold.
Unhinged Brewing — Welcome to the listings to this new brewery at 98th Street and Central! We will have a full preview soon, but in the meantime, check out the opening lineup, which includes Non-Linear IPA, Jest-a-Lager, Foolin’ Around Brown, ScRew lOose StOuT, and Off the Rails (Red IPA).
Vision City Brewstillery — Featured seasonal: Double Vision (7.1% ABV), a strong Belgian wheat, is one of several beers on tap at this new brewery/distillery, which we already previewed.
Santa Fe breweries
Beer Creek Brewing — Featured seasonal: Black Wedding, a black IPA, if you could not guess, is available for the winter months.
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: Adobe Igloo is back in cans and on draft for the winter months.
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: Steam Coffee Porter (6.5% ABV, 30 IBU), from the brewery: “Smooth and malty with a solid creamy head. Roasted grains are well balanced with base malts and just enough hops to offset any residual sweetness. Add in some coffee from Steam and it’s winter in a glass.”
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: Mastadon (12.6% ABV), a Belgian-style quad with flavors of banana, dried fruit, and caramel, then aged in whiskey barrels to add hints of toasted oak and rich honey, available in bottles and on draft.
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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 