The news is a little slow at the moment (not that we’re trying to jinx things into ramping up around here) but we had a couple things to share, so Beer Notes shall make a triumphant return.

First up, while enjoying lunch at the original Turtle Mountain Brewing last week, I bumped into owner Nico Ortiz. He had a nice update on the pending move of the brewhouse from the south taproom to the suite adjacent to Turtle Mountain North.

For those who have not followed this story, even before North opened, Ortiz and his brewing team had come to realize that there was simply no way to expand the current brewing area. Once North opened, the current space was pushed to its limit to try and keep the beer flowing at both locations.

Luckily, no one had leased out the suite on the east side of the building that North occupies off Enchanted Hills Blvd, and since Turtle Mountain had been using that room for storage, a deal was reached to start transforming it into a functional brewery.

The hope that it would be open quickly was soon squashed by a combination of factors, not the least of which was the lack of construction crews/electricians/plumbers in the metro area. Finally, however, Ortiz said that progress is actually happening.

Last week, the overhead glycol lines are being installed, following the earlier completion of the floor drains and other ground plumbing. The cold room is assembled and ready to go, and Ortiz said that as soon as those overhead lines are finished, they can start moving tanks into place. He still cautioned that things are moving slowly, with a full projected move of the brewery now set for March.

Hey, that was still a lot more optimistic than where they were when we last checked in over the summer, so any progress is a welcome sight. Ortiz said that if everything works out like they hope, 24 of the 36 taps at North will be pouring TMBC beers by summertime. Cheers to that!

Oh, and if you have not been to the original Turtle Mountain in a while, the food is still on point, and the Oktürtlefest and La Vida Mocha Coffee Stout are tasting quite good. It’s worth navigating either 528 or Unser to Southern.

Worthogs offered up a fun little invite

I was a little surprised to receive an invitation to a special Baltic porter tasting by the Worthogs Homebrew Club last week, mainly since I am not a member nor a frequent homebrewer (that would be Franz Solo among the Crew). Longtime friend-of-the-Crew Neil Arnote extended the offer via text message, probably figuring there was no way that I could say no to one of my favorite styles.

This was the final in-house competition among the Worthogs. Several times a year, members brew up the same style, and then they gather and hold a blind tasting. It’s one of several fun events the group holds over the course of the year.

This, and many others, are hosted by Southwest Grape and Grain after hours. The club gathered in the meeting room while a couple of members who did not participate in the brews went and set up the bottles/growlers in the main brewery area. We marched out, poured six samples, and contemplated which one best fit the style at hand.

Neil ended up winning, which should not have surprised me considering his love for lagers and darker beers. I picked the entry codenamed “Taco Baklava,” which was third in the final voting (I had Neil’s entry second). The top three finishers got special Hopsteiner prize packs featuring bags of hops, a coupon for a future yeast purchase, hats, and other fun little items. It was certainly better than just a hearty congrats and a pat on the back.

We also sampled the collaboration porter the club made with Unhinged Brewing. The Worthogs worked together with the brewery and Hollow Spirits to create two barrel-aged versions of Los Muertos Porter. You can still try those at Unhinged for a limited time.

The Worthogs are always open to new members, or to just provide advice for anyone wanting to brew beer at home. And, not just beer, as they consider themselves a fermentation club, so for anything from mead to kombucha to sauerkraut, their members know how to make them right. You can find them on Facebook and Instagram (@worthogshc), and Neil said the latter is the best way to reach out.

They have monthly meetings the first Thursday of every month at SWGG, though December 7 will just be their holiday party at Unhinged (which non-members or folks interested in joining can attend, so long as you bring something fermented to share). Regular meetings will resume in January, and oftentimes they meet at other breweries to take tours and learn from the pros.

Other homebrew clubs in the state include the Dukes of Ale, Sangre de Cristo Craft Brewers (Santa Fe area), and Mesilla Valley Homebrew Club (Las Cruces area). Check them all out on social media.

Sample tray

• Ex Novo unveiled the four variants of Kill the Sun, their annual barrel-aged imperial stout of epic goodness. The Crew is a little torn between Pecan Pie and Biscochito as our projected favorite. Toasted Almond Coffee also sounds interesting, maybe like a marzipan crossed with an espresso. Grand Cru, which is a blend of three different barrels (one from Santa Fe’s As Above, So Below distillery), is also back for another tasty run. We also like that KTS is back in bombers instead of cans. Proper barrel-aged brews just taste better from bottles, in our opinion. That is already apparent in this year’s bottled version of Nevermore Black Barleywine, which is available at both Ex Novo locations. Huzzah to big beer season!
• Speaking of big beers, Irish Handcuffs Imperial Stout is back on tap at Quarter Celtic.
• By the end of this week we should know which breweries were selected by the New Mexico Breweres Guild for WinterBrew 2025. Arguably our favorite beer festival of the year is set for January 24 at the Santa Fe Farmers Market. Breweries based in Santa Fe are guaranteed a spot if they sign up, but those from the Albuquerque area and other parts of the state have to enter into a lottery draw. It can make for some fun lineups that differ from other festivals. Once those breweries are all announced, the ticket link should appear, and we will make sure to share it. While you can take the Rail Runner to and from the event, we recommend grabbing a room nearby and spending the night.
• And finally, before anyone asks, no, we still do not know who is buying Marble Brewery.

Got any beer news to share? DM us on social media, or fire off an email to nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com.

Keep supporting local!

— Stoutmeister