As Balloon Fiesta zips toward its conclusion this weekend, spooky season will continue with a few more fun events, including one for the four-legged friends who frequent our brewery patios. Sidetrack is hosting a Dog Costume Contest this Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. The registration fee is $10 per dog, and all dogs must be on leash. Costume creativity is unlimited and encouraged. There are prizes for first, second, and third place. Proceeds will support S.A.F.E. House.

For just humans, Flock of Moons will host Moonlit Movie Madness tonight at 6:30 p.m. Flix Brewhouse and Steel Bender are teaming up for their annual pre-Halloween collaboration beer release for a special screening of Fright Night (1985 version) at the theater (tickets may still be available here) that’s going down tonight (Wednesday) at 7 p.m. For the beer, see below. Meanwhile, Painted Lady is stacked with their usual array of awesome spooky events. First up, Cody Polston will host Ghost Stories of Old Town Albuquerque on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. Hank Estrada will host Ghost Sightings, Investigations and Encounters on Friday from 7 to 9. Finally, Scary Movie Bingo is back on Saturday from 7 to 9, this time featuring Teen Witch, which will also come with a special beer release (see below). Not to be outdone, Goth Night & Dark Market will return to Tractor Wells Park on Friday at 8 p.m. for the annual Halloween Edition.

New Draft:

Brekki Brekki released their first seasonal, Vanilla Pumpkin Stout. Canteen brought back North 14 Pale Ale. Ex Novo tapped Autumnal Lager, a spiced Oktoberfest that’s also gluten reduced, and Massive Ascension DIPA. Flix and Steel Bender’s collaboration (see above) is called Vampyre Boost Imperial Lager, and it will be available at the latter on Thursday. Flock of Moons and the Brew Crew also did a collaboration recently, Dark Side of the Moons Black IPA, and it will be available this Friday (and we’ll have more on that soon in a separate article). La Cumbre tapped 5-0-Fav Brown Ale and Bitter Sons. Marble added Autumn Roast Lager. Painted Lady’s special Saturday beer release is Top That! Witches Brew, a spiced amber ale. Thirsty Eye tapped The Wild Gourdberries, a pumpkin and cranberry ale, plus they will have a new batch of the tea-infused Odin’s Monocle this Friday. Tractor is bringing back an old favorite, Double Plow Oatmeal Stout, this Friday. (UPDATE) La Reforma tapped Sam I Am IPA.

Up in Los Alamos, Bathtub Row tapped a new batch of Prometheus Pilsner. (UPDATE) Beer Creek added Jami Goes Gose, a tribute to their founding head brewer, who has left to pursue new opportunities.

New Package:

Steel Bender will re-release a limited number of cans of the barrel-aged Freddy’s Got Twenty imperial stout (UPDATE OF SADNESS) next Thursday. Tractor is down to their last ever four-packs of Berry Cider, so get them while you can. (UPDATE) Ex Novo released Reasonable Reasons for Seasonable Seasons, a new West Coast IPA, in cans and on draft.

Notable Events:

Thursday — The aforementioned Ghost Stories of Old Town Albuquerque presentation is set for Painted Lady from 7 to 9 p.m.

Thursday-Saturday — Canteen will host their annual Bikes, Balloons and Beer event, where you can park at the brewery at 5:30 a.m., ride your bikes up to the Balloon Fiesta, and then bike back for some breakfast burritos starting at 9 a.m. each day.

Friday — The aforementioned Ghost Sightings, Investigations and Encounters presentation is set for Painted Lady from 7 to 9 p.m.

The aforementioned Goth Night & Dark Market: Halloween Edition is at Tractor Wells Park at 8 p.m.

Saturday — The Ponderosa Market will be held from noon to 5 p.m.

Marble is part of the Musaic Fest, with live music on the downtown stage from noon to 11 p.m. Check their social media for the full list of bands and other participating venues.

The aforementioned Dog Costume Contest is set for Sidetrack from 1 to 4 p.m.

We await more details, but Santa Fe Metal is hosting Rock for Ukraine on the indoor and outdoor stages at Tumbleroot Agua Fria starting at 2 p.m.

The aforementioned Scary Movie Bingo: Teen Witch is set for Painted Lady from 7 to 9 p.m.

Tractor Wells Park will host ABQ NDN Jam from 7 to 11 p.m.

Sunday — Canteen brings back the Six-Pack Running Series at 11 a.m.

Monday — Bow & Arrow will go all-out with the Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration starting at 2 p.m. There will be an artisan market and food trucks, plus live music from Native American artists Jacob Shije at 4 p.m. and Stanlie Kee & Step-In at 6 p.m.

Quick News Bits:

Yes, we have heard the big rumor going around, but we weren’t going to report on it until there was some official confirmation. A few other media outlets got some response from the brewery in question, and we will aim to follow up as soon as possible to get more details, if there are any at this time.

It appears that Boese Brothers did not finish the renovation of the downtown taproom, as it remains closed, per their website. Nobody panic, the other locations on Tramway, in Santa Fe (Desert Dogs), and in Los Alamos are still open.

Another new brewery? It appears so, but not in a place that has any others nearby. Prod-O Brewery and Distillery has an active small brewer license, and it will be located in the town of Reserve in Western New Mexico. Guess we’ve got a road trip coming up!

Steel Bender is teaming up with a local radio station, The Peak, for Monday Night Football games all season. There will be drink and food specials, and one of the hosts of the station will be there every game from 6 p.m. until halftime. Check their social media for more details.

Albuquerque metro area breweries

Boese Brothers Brewery  — Featured seasonal: Oktoberfest (5.3% ABV), the popular seasonal lager is back for another run.

Bombs Away Beer Company — Featured seasonal: Tropi Kolsch (5.6% ABV, 20 IBU), a kolsch with lots of tropical-flavored hops.

Bosque Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Resto Hazy Pale (5.8% ABV, 40 IBU), now available in cans and on draft at all taprooms, including its namesake, Restoration Pizza.

Bossfight Brewing (formerly Kilt Check Brewing) — Featured seasonal: Way of the Samurai, a Japanese rice lager that has become a staple at the brewery.

Bow & Arrow Brewing — Featured seasonal: Sunup, Sunburn, Sundown, Repeat (5% ABV), a fruited gose-style sour made with pomegranate, raspberries, and Cara Cara oranges, now available in cans and on draft.

Boxing Bear Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: OktoBEARfest (5.3% ABV), the annual favorite is back in cans and on draft at both taprooms.

Brekki Brekki — Featured seasonal: Vanilla Pumpkin Stout, the first specialty beer from the new all-day breakfast restaurant and brewery in the old B2B Garden Brewery space in the Heights.

Brew Lab 101 Beer & Cider Company — Featured seasonal: Labtoberfest is now available for all to enjoy.

Canteen Brewhouse — Featured seasonal: Citranova (6% ABV, 26 IBU), the popular tangerine oat lager is available in cans and on draft.

Casa Vieja Brewery — Featured seasonal: Festbier (5.8%, 19 IBU), a proper German lager to enjoy on the patio as the nights turn cooler.

Cazuela’s Seafood & Mexican Grill — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.

Differential Brewing — Featured seasonal: Weiss Beer (4.8% ABV), a perfect patio beer for the lingering days of summer that just won’t go away.

Echoes Brewery — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery to see what’s currently on tap.

Ex Novo Brewing — Featured seasonal: Fresh Hop Light Through the Trees (5.2% ABV), a pale ale available in cans and on draft.

Flix Brewhouse  — Featured seasonal: Vampyre Boost Imperial Lager, this year’s collaboration with Steel Bender.

Flock of Moons Brewing — Featured seasonal: Bonfires of Ganymede (7.1% ABV, 29 IBU), a smoked maibock with just the right amount of charring, balanced out by the sweet malts and hops.

Gravity Bound Brewing — Featured seasonal: Garden Spot, the always popular cucumber basil gose, is back for a limited time.

Harmon Lane Brewing at Southwest Grape and Grain — Featured seasonal: Wobble On Crimson Ale, a nifty little red inspired by the brewer, who used to play football for New Mexico State.

High and Dry Brewing — Featured seasonal: Oktoberfest Pt. 7 None in the Chamber (5.3% ABV, 20 IBU), an amber ale with German lager qualities that is rather delightful.

Hops Brewery — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.

JUNO Brewery — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.

Kaktus Brewing — Featured seasonal: Sweet Darkness Milk Stout, a nice treat for dessert after your pizza.

La Cumbre Brewing — Featured seasonal: Wiesn Festbier (5.9% ABV), Franz Solo’s favorite annual seasonal lager is now available in cans and on draft.

La Reforma Brewery — Featured seasonal: Five Times Hoppier IPA, the runner-up at the NM IPA Challenge.

Late Shift Lager House at The Craftroom — Featured seasonal: Goldmember (7% ABV), a golden strong ale.

Lizard Tail Brewing — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.

Marble Brewery — Featured seasonal: Pumpkin Noir (8% ABV), the popular fall specialty dark ale, now available in cans and on draft.

Nexus Brewery — Featured seasonal: Festbier (5.8% ABV, 21 IBU), my personal runner-up among the beers at Marblefest, this is a lighter but flavorful German-style lager.

Painted Lady Bed and Brew — Featured seasonal: A new specialty brew is due out this Saturday (see above).

Palmer Brewery and Cider House — Featured seasonal: Cockness Monster (14% ABV), a monstrous Scotch ale aged in whiskey barrels for two years.

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: Super Stoop Malt Liquor (6.5% ABV, 18 IBU), which does not have to be consumed on a stoop or in a paper bag.

Rio Bravo Brewing — Featured seasonal: Kitchen Sink DIPA (8.5% ABV, 60 IBU), a chewy hop bomb to enjoy in moderation.

Rumor Brewing — Featured seasonal: Desert Monk (6.8% ABV, 21 IBU), a Belgian-style dubbel.

Sidetrack Brewing — Featured seasonal: Fresh Hop IPA (6.6% ABV, 50 IBU), which is one of those beers we should all help drink up ASAP before it’s not fresh anymore.

Sobremesa — Featured seasonal: Oktoberfest, a festbier-style lager that pairs great with their bone-in pork schnitzel that’s also available for a limited time.

Starr Brothers Brewing — Featured seasonal: St. Robby’s Girl (5.3% ABV, 26 IBU), a Dortmunder-style lager brewed in collaboration with Palmer Brewery.

Steel Bender Brewyard — Featured seasonal: Oktoberfiesta (6.8% ABV, 25 IBU), the annual treat is back in cans and on draft.

Sunday Service Motor Company — Featured seasonal: Cosmic Wave IPA (6.2% ABV, 67 IBU), a West Coast-style hop bomb with some fruity hops up front and a clean, bitter-free finish.

The Tatted Bee Brewhouse — Featured seasonal: Game On, an old-school pale ale that is one of the first house beers now on tap.

Thirsty Eye Brewing — Featured seasonal: Oktobefest (6% ABV, 20 IBU), a sweet and satisfying märzen lager.

The 377 Brewery — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.

Tractor Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Scotcholate, the cult favorite twist on a Scottish ale is back on draft.

Turtle Mountain Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Sierra Nativo (5.5% ABV, 37 IBU), as this is a wet-hop pale ale, its availability will be limited, so get it while it’s fresh.

Unhinged Brewing — Featured seasonal: Oktoberfest, the first lager in the young history of the brewery.

Vision City Brewstillery — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.

Santa Fe breweries

Beer Creek Brewing — Featured seasonal: Temporada (6.1% ABV), a Belgian saison brewed with 100-percent New Mexico-grown pilsner malt and Neomexicanus hops. Described by the brewery as “crisp and dry with hints of bubblegum. Not a Brett beer.”

Chile Line Brewing — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.

Nuckolls Brewing — Featured seasonal: Hoppy Wife, Hoppy Life, a hazy pale ale and a possible contender for Beer Name of the Year.

Rowley Farmhouse Ales — Featured seasonal: Thibadeux (5% ABV, 50 IBU), a collaboration kvass with Beer Creek.

Santa Fe Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Starter Fluid (9.5% ABV), a hazy DIPA with a kick, now available in cans and on draft.

Second Street Brewery — Featured seasonal: Oktoberfest (5.4% ABV), our pick for the best of the best among all the great märzens currently available statewide.

Travel Bug — Featured seasonal: This bookstore/cafe only has two beers on tap, Rough Draft Ale (4.5% ABV) and Second Draft English Bitter (6% ABV), but if any seasonals ever pop up, we will list them here.

Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery — Featured seasonal: Molé Stout (9.2% ABV), the seasonal beer with a lovely kick of spice is back on draft and in bottles. Oh, they put some on nitro now, too.

Other breweries you need to visit

Bathtub Row Brewing — Featured seasonal: Oz’s Oatmeal Stout (5% ABV), because if you are up in the mountains, it’s cooler, and stouts are appropriate.

Downshift Brewing — Featured seasonal: Gratitude Pale Ale (5.4% ABV, 40 IBU), brewed to support local charities, and right now $1 from every pint sold goes to helping in the recovery efforts from the South Fork and Salt fires.

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: Pecan Brown Ale, a classic offering from the brewery.

Truth or Consequences Brewing — Featured seasonal: Rio Rojo Red Ale (4.5% ABV, 30 IBU), a nice malty treat similar to the Irish red, but made with different malts and a German ale yeast that produce some distinctive differences.

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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