First off, if you did not get a ticket to this year’s edition of WinterBrew, you might not want to keep reading. It might just make you mad or sad that you failed to get a chance to try some of these rather amazing brews.

WinterBrew tickets sold out this week, both general admission and VIP, but the lucky few (hundred) who got theirs in time will get to indulge in quite the smorgasbord of delights. The breweries, as they typically do for this Santa Fe festival sponsored by the New Mexico Brewers Guild, did not hold back on making sure to have at least one specialty ale/lager in their lineups.

For any first-time attendees, here is a quick reminder about the event. VIP hour kicks off at 5 p.m., followed by general admission at 6. Last call is 8:30 and all pouring stops by 9. If you took the Rail Runner up, that will leave at 9, so be aware, lest you have to scramble for a hotel room in Santa Fe.

There will be food on site at the Farmers Market building from Railyard neighbors Second Street and Restoration Pizza.

In terms of the beers, you get 16 sample tickets and one ticket for a full pour. There are 16 breweries, so be mindful when utilizing those sample tickets, and either go one per, or accept that if you double up at one booth you will miss out on another spot.

Just remember, after 6, it gets crowded inside. Be patient and pace yourself going from booth to booth.

Here are the 16 participating breweries. We reached out this week to get their beer lists in advance, and so far 13 have responded. If we hear from the others before Friday afternoon, we will update these lists, which of course are always subject to change depending on availability (Ex Novo already had to change out one beer after the last keg of a seasonal was wiped out this week).

• Bathtub Row Brewing: Holiday Cheer Barleywine, Belgian Cherry Dark, Hoppenheimer IPA, Ctrl-Alt-Repeat (Altbier)
• Beer Creek Brewing: Lone Butte Lager, Get to da Hoppa IPA, Diablo Bock, Snail Trail Coffee Cream Ale (pouring 6-7:30 p.m.), Right Foot Milk Stout (pouring 7:30-8:30ish)
• Bosque Brewing: TBA
• Canteen Brewhouse: High Plains Pils, Work of Heart (Chocolate Milk Stout), Goofy Foot (Hazy IPA), Wicked Raven (Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stout)
• Downshift Brewing: Barley Pop (Lager), Brewers Brunch (Stout), Dunkel, Citrus Snowday Hazy IPA, plus Jell-O shots
• Ex Novo Brewing: Mass Ascension IPA, Perle Haggard German Pilsner, Walk the Bine Hazy IPA, Penguin Tuxedo Stout, Kill the Sun Classic (VIP hour)
• La Cumbre Brewing: TBA
• Marble Brewery: TBA
• Red River Brewing: Lazy Bear Blonde, Bad Medicine DIPA, Copper Chair Amber, Cacao Fuego Green Chile Stout
• Rowley Farmhouse Ales: IPA, Mountain of Light – Passionfruit (VIP hour, new release), Frambozen, Thibadeaux – Kvass (new release), Ned Ryerson (Barleywine) – 10-Year Henry McKenna Barrel
• Santa Fe Brewing: Aged Imperial Porter, Adobe Igloo, SocialER Hour, NMX Standard
• Second Street Brewery: Kolsch, Brohemia (Amber Mexican Lager), Agua Fria Pilsner, Rod’s Best Bitter, Superior Porter, Low Winter Sun (Sour Cherry Brown), 2920 IPA, Styrian Sloth Hazy IPA, Red & Yellow Armadillo Imperial Red IPA, Mylodon Hazy DIPA
• Sidetrack Brewing: 413 Steam, Turntable IPA, Pub Ale, Matching Stoutfits (on cask with vanilla beans and maple/bourbon chips)
• Sunday Service Motor Co.: IRA Irish Red Ale, Winter Rye IPA, Red Velvet Cake Stout, Gingerbread Stout, Honey Hop Tea (NA)
• Thirsty Eye Brewing: Odin’s Eye (Rye Ale with Juniper), Biscochito Liquido, Batch 100 (DIPA), RIGor Mortis (Imperial Coffee Stout collab with Rust is Gold Coffee)
• Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery: Golden Bear IPA, Sunrise Lager, Molé Stout, Honey Double IPA

There are so many stouts and other big beers. Not to say that this will be my personal list, but I would target Ctrl-Alt-Repeat, Snail Trail Coffee Cream Ale, Wicked Raven, Brewers Brunch, Kill the Sun, Cacao Fuego Green Chile Stout, Ned Ryerson, Aged Imperial Porter, Red & Yellow Armadillo, Matching Stoutfits, Red Velvet Cake Stout (or Gingerbread Stout), RIGor Mortis, and Molé Stout. And, it goes without saying that Bosque, La Cumbre, and Marble will probably each have something epic, as well.

So take note, all those who did not get a ticket but wanted to go this year. In 2025, do not hesitate and get your ticket(s) early. This is the best fest in the state when it comes to trying new and unique seasonal beers and special one-offs.

We will see some of you up there this Friday. It shall be an epic adventure, this time with less snowstorm (we hope).

Keep supporting local!

— Stoutmeister