The last four executive directors of the New Mexico Brewers Guild have been kind enough to allow the Crew to remain on the email lists for their informative newsletters, which means that from time to time, we are privy to advance knowledge of some cool upcoming events.

One that we were surprised to see earlier this year was the planned return of Blazin’ Brewfest, the once-annual Las Cruces craft beer festival. The last Blazin’ was back in 2019, and when it did not return with the reopening of the state following the COVID lockdown, we assumed it was lost to the annals of beer history.

Current NMBG executive director Ebbie Edmonston, however, was not about to let the only Guild festival in the state’s second-biggest city disappear into the night. But, intending to bring back an event is different than actually executing that comeback.

“I think it’s pretty difficult bringing back any event that hasn’t happened for so long,” Edmonston said. “There is really no guidebook. A lot of the stuff that we’re trying to do, we’re looking at how it was done in 2019 and before, but also realizing the post-COVID world is very different. There are going to have to be some changes.”

Those changes were numerous.

“Definitely which breweries are participating,” Edmonston said. “Traditionally this event is held in May. Obviously it’s not in May. This might be the hottest of all Blazin’ Brewfests that have happened. There’s a bunch of different players in the game now. You have Ex Novo coming for the first time. We have three or four (other) new ones. It’s always challenging dealing with the city (for permitting).”

The festival will be held once again in the Plaza de Las Cruces. I helped the Guild as a volunteer back in 2019, and perhaps the biggest issue of all was securing what is normally a wide-open area into a contained place for alcohol providers and paying customers only.

“The map is done, but you’re right, the fencing is a whole thing,” Edmonston said. “There have been struggles with this location, and those have cost us more than we were anticipating. Because of the heat, we’re having to put more money into tenting, and more money into misters. We don’t want people to be out in the sun, drinking and overheating.”

As much of a challenge as it can be to set up a large-scale event in a public space, at the very least, the enthusiasm of the beer lovers of the Borderlands area is palpable.

“Yeah, it is getting some positive feedback,” Edmonston said. “That was one of the goals that I personally set for myself this year. I didn’t want Las Cruces to feel like they were a forgotten city for the Guild. There’s a lot of breweries and a lot of people down there who enjoy craft beer.”

A total of 18 breweries signed up for the festival, though Downshift Brewing has since had to withdraw, as it was overextended having also committed to the Cloudcroft festival that Reid previewed here.

In fact, there are three fests on Saturday, but luckily they are spread out enough to not really divide potential customers. For Blazin’, here are the participating breweries, with beer lists, as provided.

• Bosque Brewing: TBA
• Boxing Bear Brewing: Uppercut IPA, Headlock Hazy IPA, Black and Blue Tart, Chocolate Milk Stout, Apple Bear Cider, New Mexikolsch, ChinHook Mountain IPA, Body Czech Bohemian Pilsner
• Capitol Bar and Brewery: Ladrones Lager, Green Chile Lager, Amos Brown Ale, Bastille Juicy IPA
• Ex Novo Brewing: Mass Ascension IPA, But it’s a Dry Heat (Mexican lager with lime), and either Perle Haggard German Pilsner or Most Interesting Lager in the World
• High Desert Brewing: TBA
• Icebox Brewing: Boneyard Mexican Lager, Raspberry Sour, Frostbite IPA, Pink Daze Cold IPA
• La Cumbre Brewing: TBA
• Little Toad Creek Brewery and Distillery: Lucky Toad Lager, Smarte Blonde Ale, Grumpy Old Troll IPA, Pendejo Porter
• Marble Brewery: Pilsner, IPA, Helles, Desert Fog
• Picacho Peak Brewing: TBA
• Public House 28: Sad Boi Pils, Bagsy Amber, La Carga WC IPA, Stratocaster IPA
• Red River Brewing: Lazy Bear Blonde, Alientown Prickly Bear (Imperial Blonde), Catskinner IPA, Cacao Fuego Green Chile Stout
• Santa Fe Brewing: NMX Standard, 7K IPA, Social Hour, Fhazy IPA, Cholla Fizz Hard Seltzer, Sky Island (Margarita-style beverage)
• Spotted Dog Brewing: TBA
• Steel Bender Brewyard: COMPA Blue Corn Lager, Skull Bucket IPA, Raspberry Dynamite, Hefe Lifting Hefeweizen
• Tractor Brewing: Acreage IPA, Haymaker Honey Wheat, Blood Orange Cider
• Unhinged Brewing: TBA

The festival runs from 5 to 9 p.m., with last call at 8:30. Tickets are still available here and there should be some at the door. There will be food trucks and live music.

Edmonston said there will also be some special commemorative hats for sale at the festival. Beyond that, she had a few other reminders to share.

“Be smart, be safe, you’re going to be in the sun in the last part of the day,” she said. “Drink your water, wear your sunscreen, the basics of that. For the most part, I think this isn’t anybody’s first beer fest, but if it is, err on the side of taking care of yourself.”

A big thanks to Ebbie for the phone interview right in the midst of all the final-stretch chaos. If you are not headed to the United game or either of the other two beer festivals this weekend, consider a trip down to Las Cruces. Oh, and it will only be 93 on Saturday, which for that end of the state is not too bad.

Keep supporting local statewide!

— Stoutmeister