It occurred to us the other day that we never did type up a Best Beers of WinterBrew type of story. In the end, though, we figured it would probably be best to just put that right here, while noting that everything we are about to list is actually available at breweries. Well, almost everything. The Matching Stoutfits cask that Sidetrack brought to Santa Fe was obviously a one-off, but if they ever want to do it again, we would highly encourage such a plan (and the still excellent CO2 version of Stoutfits is still available). As for a few of our favorites, you can find Ctrl-Alt-Repeat (Altbier) at Bathtub Row. Beer Creek recently brewed a second batch of Diablo Bock, which was even better than the first. We tried Canteen’s Barrel-Aged Wicked Raven Imperial Stout at the brewery before the event, and the good news is it’s still on tap. If you feel like a road trip south, make sure to stop at Downshift for their Brewers Brunch, a hearty breakfast stout that tastes like burly, liquid French toast. By now, most of you have probably enjoyed some Turkish Style Coffee Stout at Marble and Kill the Sun Classic at Ex Novo, but know that both are still there in cans and on draft. If you feel like a trip to the north, make sure to stop at Red River Brewing and try Cacao Fuego, their green chile stout that packs quite the heat into every sip. Rowley Farmhouse Ales does indeed still have their amazing Ned Ryerson barrel-aged barleywine, but be forewarned it is 14-percent ABV. Second Street now has Red & Yellow Armadillo, their imperial red IPA, on tap. Thirsty Eye has tapped RIGor Mortis, their delicious imperial coffee stout that drew rave reviews from people besides the Crew. If you need more spice, keep an eye out for bottles of Tumbleroot’s Molé Stout, which packs a bit of heat but overall is just an excellent stout.
For those who attended, what were your favorite beers at WinterBrew? Leave us some comments.
New Draft:
Brew Lab 101 brought back Jane’s Addiction Pomegranate Cider. Ex Novo tapped a new West Coast IPA, Misnakes Were Made (and no, that is not a typo). Flix will tap Bend & Snap, a lemon/lime/orange shandy. Flock of Moons says hello there to Jedha Double IPA. La Cumbre added Czech Engine Lite, a tasty little lager. Marble tapped West Coast Pilsner. Multiple breweries (Canteen, Marble, Quarter Celtic, Santa Fe, Sidetrack, Turtle Mountain) have tapped Starving Artist Dortmunder, a wonderful export-strength lager brewed in collaboration with Prairie Malt. (UPDATES) Canteen will tap a Raspberry Chocolate Milk Stout on Saturday. Late Shift tapped Cerveza Oscura, a dark Mexican lager. Marble released Cerveza Light. Rio Bravo added Barrel-ly Legal, a barrel-aged stout that checks in at a reasonable 7.5-percent ABV.
Up in Santa Fe, Beer Creek will release its collaboration with Rowley Farmhouse Ales, Thibadeux, a Kvass, on Friday. (UPDATE) Over in Los Alamos, Bathtub Row tapped Oz’s Oatmeal Stout.
New Package:
Canteen has released its award-winning chocolate milk stout, Work of Heart, in cans and on draft. Ex Novo has a triple release due out on Friday with cans of the aforementioned Misnakes Were Made, plus the return of cans of both A Star is Bjorn Baltic Porter and a new version of Mountains and Mountains Imperial Stout, made with mint and chocolate this time around (that last release appears to have been delayed). Gravity Bound brought back its hugely popular Quick Take Hazy IPA in cans and on draft. Steel Bender will bring back Pineapple Dynamite in cans and on draft this Thursday. Tumbleroot has, in addition to bottles and draft of Molé Stout, Honey Double IPA back in bottles and on draft. (UPDATES) Boxing Bear brought back Featherweight Session IPA in cans and on draft. La Cumbre will release the 2024 edition of Siren Song, a bourbon-barrel-aged imperial red, in bottles and on draft.
Notable Events:
Today (Wednesday) — Bosque Nob Hill will host Trivia for a Cause: Miyazaki starting at 6 p.m.
Thursday — Comedy Night returns to Brew Lab 101 in Rio Rancho at 7:30 p.m.
Friday — ABQ Artwalk is back from 5 to 9 p.m., so check in with Boese Brothers, Red Door, and Sidetrack to see what they have planned.
First Fridays Comedy Contest returns to Tractor Wells Park at 7 p.m.
Saturday — The Hearts & Hops Craft Market will help you find that perfect Valentine’s Day gift while you enjoy a pint or two at Canteen from noon to 4 p.m. (UPDATE) This event has been moved to Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. due to the expected inclement weather.
Sunday — Love is in the Air Mercado takes over Bosque North from 1 to 5 p.m.
Monday — The Hook Your Single Friends Up Powerpoint Edition returns to Tractor Wells Park at 7 p.m.
Quick News Bits:
Gravity Bound is expanding their patio, with construction projected to continue throughout February, so please mind their dust.
Lizard Tail Industrial will only have kitchen hours on trivia nights (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday) from 5 to 9 p.m. On other days, you are welcome to bring in your own food.
Just in case anyone missed it — but judging by the page views, you haven’t — B2B Garden Brewery has permanently closed. The brewery opened during the lockdown in 2020 near Comanche and Wyoming, but apparently never got going to the point where it was sustainable.
On the flip side of the B2B news, Bosque has announced three new taprooms. They are taking over the former Lava Rock space on Unser, an old Applebee’s at San Mateo and Academy, and Duke City Beaches on Menaul.
Albuquerque metro area breweries
Boese Brothers Brewery — Featured seasonal: Imperial Porter (7.2% ABV), this big boy has been on tap for a while, so help drink it up so a new beer can appear.
Bombs Away Beer Company — Featured seasonal: SNAFU Stout (5.2% ABV, 30 IBU), a chewy oatmeal stout.
Bosque Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Fresh Start (7.5% ABV, 15 IBU), a maple coffee stout, now available in cans and on draft.
Bow & Arrow Brewing — Featured seasonal: Coyote Waits (8% ABV), an imperial stout aged in Heaven Hill barrels, on draft only.
Boxing Bear Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Standing 8 Stout (7.3% ABV), the classic oatmeal stout is back on tap and in cans.
Brew Lab 101 Beer & Cider Company — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.
Canteen Brewhouse — Featured seasonal: Panama Joe Coffee Stout (8% ABV, 33 IBU), this longtime Crew favorite is back for a limited run, in cans and on draft.
Casa Vieja Brewery — Featured seasonal: Cry of the Blackbirds Imperial Stout (8.6% ABV, 55 IBU), a very metal behemoth of a beer.
Cazuela’s Seafood & Mexican Grill — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.
Differential Brewing — Featured seasonal: Negroni Ale (5.2% ABV, 30 IBU), a beer designed to mimic the popular cocktail.
Echoes Brewery — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery to see what’s currently on tap.
Ex Novo Brewing — Featured seasonal: Nevermore (12.1% ABV), a burly beast of a barrel-aged black barleywine, now available in cans and on draft.
Flix Brewhouse — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery to see what’s currently on tap.
Flock of Moons Brewing — Featured seasonal: Shadowmere Weizen Doppelbock (10.4% ABV, 24 IBU), described by the brewery as “Bananas Foster over a malty backbone with hints of spice. Warm alcohol for cold winter days and nights.”
Gravity Bound Brewing — Featured seasonal: Strawberry Shortcake (6.2% ABV), a flavorful sour made with … well, you can guess.
Harmon Lane Brewing at Southwest Grape and Grain — Featured seasonal: Stennes Blonde Stout, a collaboration with Quarter Celtic.
High and Dry Brewing — Featured seasonal: Casual Car Fire, a grapefruit sour with an epic name.
Hops Brewery — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.
JUNO Brewery — Featured seasonal: Vienna Lager, a smooth amber lager with a touch of sweetness.
Kaktus Brewing — Featured seasonal: Winter Scotch Ale, described by the brewery as being”with notes of molasses, toffee and banana bread this beer is designed to keep you warm and happy through the long winter nights. Medium bodied with a gentle sweetness.”
Kilt Check Brewing — We are getting an update on the of Kilt Check later this week, so stay tuned early next week for the story.
La Cumbre Brewing — Featured seasonal: La Negra Reserve (13% ABV, 70 IBU), a beautiful beast of a barrel-aged imperial stout, now available in bottles and on tap.
La Reforma Brewery — Featured seasonal: Bomba de Malta (8.3% ABV), another big old malt bomb of a Scotch ale.
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.
Lava Rock Brewing — The brewery is relocating to Moriarty.
Lizard Tail Brewing — Featured seasonal: Biscochito Brown (6.4% ABV, 25 IBU), a beer whose name is pretty self-explanatory.
Marble Brewery — Featured seasonal: Dark Lager (5% ABV), a beer that is exactly as described, but packed with flavor and available in cans and on draft.
Nexus Brewery — Featured seasonal: Lush Imperial Stout (10.9% ABV, 77 IBU), the beautiful behemoth returns with this description from the brewery, “2023 Lush Imperial Stout is rich and full. It has notes of simcoe pine, bitter dark chocolate and roasted coffee. Made with Imperial’s “Darkness” Yeast, this beer is LARGE at 10.9% ABV. Lush is sure to warm you on chilly nights!”
Palmer Brewery and Cider House — Featured seasonal: Cockness Monster (13% ABV), a monstrous Scotch ale aged in whiskey barrels.
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: Capri-derhosen (5.3% ABV, 23 IBU), a past gold medal winner at the World Beer Cup, this tasty German-style red lager is back on tap.
Red Door Brewing — Featured seasonal: Wagoner’s Porter (7.2% ABV, 36 IBU), a tasty American-style porter that recently joined the draft lineup.
Rio Bravo Brewing — Featured seasonal: Welcome to the Show (6.7% ABV, 34 IBU), a no-frills American stout that packs a tasty punch.
Rumor Brewing (formerly Ale Republic) — Featured seasonal: Desert Monk (6.8% ABV, 21 IBU), a Belgian-style dubbel.
Sidetrack Brewing — Featured seasonal: Matching Stoutfits (6.6% ABV, 30 IBU), a delightful oatmeal stout with an epic name now available in cans and on draft.
Sobremesa — Featured seasonal: Dominator, a German-style doppelbock.
Starr Brothers Brewing — Featured seasonal: Foggy Monocle (6.1% ABV, 17 IBU), an excellent oatmeal stout that has twice won the Crew’s Stout Challenge.
Steel Bender Brewyard — Featured seasonal: Event Horizon Black IPA (6.6% ABV, 72 IBU), a rare black IPA sighting at a New Mexico brewery (we miss the old days) demands to be highlighted.
Sunday Service Motor Company — Featured seasonal: Double Black IPA (8.5% ABV), a perfect winter ale.
Thirsty Eye Brewing — Featured seasonal: Ton Up or Shut Up, an American lager infused with Rust is Gold cold brew.
The 377 Brewery — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.
Tractor Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Turkey Drool (8.4% ABV), which is our favorite annual seasonal release from the brewery, and yes, we will declare that publicly.
Turtle Mountain Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Old Oku Barleywine (9.2% ABV, 25 IBU), part of the 25 Years of Beers throwback line, this is an old recipe re-imagined.
Unhinged Brewing — Featured seasonal: Los Muertos Porter, a robust porter.
Vision City Brewstillery — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated seasonal list.
Santa Fe breweries
Beer Creek Brewing — Featured seasonal: Diablo Bock (7.7% ABV, 25 IBU), a hybrid of a dunkel bock and a doppelbock, it’s devilishly delicious.
Chile Line Brewing — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.
Hidden Mountain Brewing — Featured seasonal: De Péche Mood, a peach wheat ale with a tremendous name.
Rowley Farmhouse Ales — Featured seasonal: Ned Ryerson (14% ABV, 44 IBU), a bold, beautiful, barrel-aged barleywine.
Santa Fe Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Adobe Igloo, the winter seasonal is back in cans and on draft.
Second Street Brewery — Featured seasonal: Breaking Plaid (9.1% ABV, 28 IBU), a Scottish wee heavy with an excellent name, available in cans and on draft.
Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery — Featured seasonal: Totality American Stout, because stout, what else needs to be said?
Other breweries you need to visit
Bathtub Row Brewing — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.
Downshift Brewing — Featured seasonal: Gratitude Pale Ale (5.4% ABV, 40 IBU), brewed to support local charities, right now $1 from every pint sold goes to Gratitud(ENMU), the local college in the Ruidoso area.
Little Toad Creek Brewing and Distilling — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.
Red River Brewing and Distilling — Featured seasonal: Cacao Fuego Chocolate Green Chile Stout. (6.5% ABV, 30 IBU), described by the brewery thusly, “Our oatmeal stout with a kick! Made with Hatch green chile and organic cacao nibs, it has an earthy start and a chocolate finish, It’s sure to warm you up on these cool evenings.”
Sierra Blanca Brewing — Featured seasonal: Whiskey Stout is back for another seasonal run in bottles and on draft.
Truth or Consequences Brewing — Featured seasonal: Star Eater Black IPA (7.2% ABV, 56 IBU), a hop-forward dark ale that we would love to get our hands on one of these days.
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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 
What’s the rumor about a new owner to reopen at B2B Garden’s location?
Tom
The owner of Poki Poki is taking over the spot and rebranding it as Brekki Brekki, an all-day breakfast place. But they will be firing up the brewery under the brand name Cantina Craftworks. ABQ Business First has the story if you can get past the paywall.