We have written a bit about some not-so-great trends lately in the industry, but now we are seeing one develop that we can definitely get behind. Kolsch Service, a very German tradition, involves stanges, where you sit at a table and your server keeps bringing you these wonderful, skinny pours of kolsch until you decide you have had enough. Ex Novo did it last weekend at both the Corrales taproom and downtown, and they will be doing it again this weekend with the delectable Krispy’s Kolsch (also available in cans to take home). But, like we said, this is starting to become a trend, because Bow & Arrow will also be doing this with their Southwest Society Kolsch in both Albuquerque and Farmington this weekend. With La Cumbre scheduled to bring back their kolsch, Miles from Cologne, later this month, we have a feeling that this is one happy little German-to-American tradition that could really catch on with folks. Pröst!

New Draft:

Boxing Bear will bring back Bear Shark IPA this Friday. Brekki Brekki tapped Dirty Chai Stout. Dripline posted that they will have two new beers out this week, names and styles TBA. Steel Bender has tapped Yellow Brick Road Cold IPA. Tractor will tap Darkhorse Dunkel on Friday.

Up in Santa Fe, Beer Creek recently added Golondrinas Gold La Vieja, an altbier, and Cleveland Steam, a California common. Over in Los Alamos, Bathtub Row added Mildly Penitential, a British session ale, and will release Into the Woods Sahti on Thursday to celebrate the Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s 25th anniversary. (UPDATE) Rowley Farmhouse Ales tapped The Best Part, a honey-rich saison brewed in collaboration with Arizona’s Superstition Meadery.

New Package:

Boxing Bear will roll out Featherweight Session IPA in cans and on draft this Friday. Ex Novo brought back Intergalactic Pale Reality in cans and on draft. Harmon Lane has fresh four-pack cans of Wind Blows IPA, O’Danny Boy Red, and Belgian Wheat Session now available. (UPDATE) Canteen has brought back Trail Angel Pale Ale in cans and on draft. Ex Novo released Cult Classic, an American pale, in cans and on draft.

Notable Events:

Friday — The Leon Looks Monthly Pop-Up Shop is back at Boxing Bear Firestone from 6 to 9 p.m.

Goth Night & Dark Market is back at Tractor Wells Park at 8 p.m.

Saturday — Canteen hosts the Outdoor Gear Sale and Swap from noon to 4 p.m.

Sidetrack and Zendo Coffee will host a Pet Adoption event with Animal Humane from 1 to 4 p.m.

Belly Nouveau with the Desert Darlings returns to Tractor Wells Park at 8 p.m.

Sunday — Pedal for a Cause combines a 7-mile bike ride at 10 a.m. with a special follow-up event at Rio Bravo from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., all to benefit the UNM Outdoor Adventure Center.

The Spring Awakening burlesque show takes over Painted Lady at 11 a.m.

Quick News Bits:

Las Cruces’ Icebox Brewing has now officially taken over the former Public House 28 Brewery near Anthony, rebranding it as the Icebox 28 Beer Garden. It is the sixth overall location for Icebox and the second outside Las Cruces, joining their Hatch taproom.

After initially saying they were closing, Box Canyon Brewing in Socorro will reopen April 24. There is still going to be a transition to new ownership in the future, but soon the beers and live music will all be back at this charming little pub.

We did mention an upcoming change in ownership at Sidetrack Brewing in a recent feature, and we promise to have a full story in the near future.

Lots of newsy tidbits from our last Beer Notes, including an update on Lasso Brewing, the new project from the owners of Gravity Bound.

Albuquerque metro area breweries

Boese Brothers Brewery — Featured seasonal: Zeus Juice IPA (7.8% ABV), the ever-popular seasonal juicy IPA is back for another run.

Bombs Away Beer Company — Featured seasonal: Countermine Coffee Stout (5.4% ABV, 50 IBU), it’s pretty much as described, and that is just fine.

Bosque Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Desert Dreamer (5.4% ABV, 35 IBU), a hoppy pilsner available in cans and on draft.

Bow & Arrow Brewing — Featured seasonal: Way Out Scenic West (6% ABV), a hazy IPA with blueberry and coconut added for a unique look and taste.

Boxing Bear Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Blonde Bearista (5%), a golden coffee stout that is available on nitro in addition to CO2.

Brekki Brekki — Featured seasonal: Cherry Stout (5% ABV), on draft for a limited time.

Brew Lab 101 Beer & Cider Company — Featured seasonal: Guatemalan Express, a coffee-infused Mexican-style amber lager.

Canteen Brewhouse — Featured seasonal: Pop’s Pilsner (5.2% ABV, 40 IBU), the right crispy lager as the weather warms up, available in cans and on draft.

Casa Vieja Brewery — Featured seasonal: Birra Italiano (5.1% ABV), an Italian-style pilsner, if you could not guess by the name.

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

Differential Brewing — Featured seasonal: Mint Porter (4.7% ABV, 35 IBU), which is way better than those little mint and chocolate candies they leave in fancy hotels.

Dripline Brewery — Featured seasonal: Le Chat Roux (6.6% ABV), is a hefty, malty red ale, and while it’s technically a year-round beer, everything is new at the newest brewery in town and we are highlighting this because it’s damn good.

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

Ex Novo Brewing — Featured seasonal: Krispy’s Kolsch (4.9% ABV), go check our intro for Kolsch Service details, or if you are short on time, stop by either location and get a four-pack to go.

Flix Brewhouse  — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery/movie theater for an updated list of seasonals.

Flock of Moons Brewing — Featured seasonal: Tomorrow Begat Tomorrow (10.2% ABV), a big, sweet, not too yeasty Belgian dark strong.

Gravity Bound Brewing — Featured seasonal: Subtitles On, the classic Munich dunkel is back for a limited time, just like every other beer tends to be at GB.

Harmon Lane Brewing at Southwest Grape and Grain — Featured seasonal: Wind Blows IPA, one of the all-time great beer names for our state, available on draft and in cans.

High and Dry Brewing — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.

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: Winter Doppelbock, a hefty lager to get you through the last of the chilly season.

La Cumbre Brewing — Featured seasonal: La Negra (14.1% ABV), the beautiful beast of a Russian imperial stout is back in bottles and on draft.

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

Marble Brewery — Featured seasonal: The Parting Glass (5% ABV), an Irish dry stout served on nitro.

Nexus Brewery — Featured seasonal: Holodeck Helles, a delightful lager brewed for a good cause, with $1 from every pint sold going to the MS Society.

Painted Lady Bed and Brew — Featured seasonal: Whatever You Do, Don’t Fall Asleep, a coffee blonde ale inspired by the original A Nightmare on Elm Street.

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: Barrel-Aged Irish Handcuffs Imperial Stout (12.2% ABV), this delicious monstrosity is available for a limited time, so get it. Now. NOW.

Rio Bravo Brewing — Featured seasonal: Very Demure (6.7% ABV, 19 IBU), an apricot wheat with a clever name.

Rumor Brewing — Featured seasonal: La Madera Mild (5.5% ABV, 22 IBU), a chewy little biscuit of an English-style brew that is perfect before or after a day on the hiking trails around Cedar Crest.

Sidetrack Brewing — Featured seasonal: Matching Stoutfits (6.6% ABV, 30 IBU), it’s back on nitro only for a limited time.

Sobremesa — Featured seasonal: Stout Seco, an Irish dry stout is now on tap.

Starr Brothers Brewing — Featured seasonal: Hazebangers Ball (6.5% ABV), a hazy IPA with a most-excellent name for all of us Gen Xers who grew up watching a certain show on MTV when it still played music videos.

Steel Bender Brewyard — Featured seasonal: Italian Stallion (6.1% ABV, 65 IBU), a bigger, stronger, hoppier version of Esmerelda, now available on draft.

Sunday Service Motor Company — Featured seasonal: Red Velvet Cake Stout (8.2% ABV), a not-too-sweet dessert beer that hides the ABV rather well.

The Tatted Bee Brewhouse — Featured seasonal: Tatted Stout, a nice and chewy dark ale of decadence.

Thirsty Eye Brewing — Featured seasonal: Aldo’s Last Stand (6.5% ABV, 60 IBU), a chocolate-and-roast beast of an American stout.

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

Tractor Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Turkey Drool (8.2% ABV), the Crew’s favorite seasonal from this brewery is an amazing holiday concoction.

Turtle Mountain Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Scarlet Letter (12.5%), the brewery’s first seltzer is an imperial one, made with cranberry and sage.

Unhinged Brewing — Featured seasonal: Tatooine Spring (7.8% ABV), the imperial amber is back for another run.

Vision City Brewstillery — Featured seasonal: Winter Lager, a season-appropriate seasonal if we ever saw one.

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: Laying New Tracks IPA, part of a whole series of railroad-themed names and we’re just gonna guess it’s because they’re at the Santa Fe Railyard.

Rowley Farmhouse Ales — Featured seasonal: Second-String Loser (9.6% ABV, 26 IBU), a Belgian golden strong ale.

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: Superior Porter (6.3% ABV, 34 IBU), a seasonal-appropriate robust porter, available in cans and on draft.

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: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.

Other breweries you need to visit

Bathtub Row Brewing — Featured seasonal: Irish Goodbye Stout (4.6% ABV), a proper seasonal for the waning days of March.

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: Russian Imperial Stout (10% ABV, 30 IBU), which proves you just have to head north into the colder regions of New Mexico to find the big stouts.

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