
April is not going out quietly, that is for certain, at least among our local breweries. This entire week is packed with events and special beer releases, with the biggest activity all going down this Saturday. Santa Fe Brewing is bringing their annual fundraiser, Spring Runoff, down to their taprooms at Green Jeans and Tin Can Alley (and it will be back at SFBC HQ, too). It will run all day with special vendors, live music, drink specials and more. Over at Canteen, Day Drinking for a Cause returns, this time benefiting NM Wild. From noon to 8 p.m., enjoy live music, and $1 from every pint sold goes to the nonprofit. As if your daylight hours weren’t packed already, there is also the whole Marble Brewery 17th Anniversary Party downtown. From noon to midnight, enjoy a plethora of standout local bands, local vendors, food trucks, and a special TBA beer release. There is a $10 cover, but once you have paid you can leave and return. To kick off the evening festivities, Boxing Bear Firestone is hosting the All Nations Ska Reggae Fest at 5 p.m. The band Ghost.Wav is coming down from Denver to perform, plus there will be a vendor market, and the special release of a new beer (see below). Over at Painted Lady, Ghostology 101 Master Class with Cody Polston will kick off at 6 p.m. to help you satisfy your spooky side (we are closing in on six months until Halloween, after all). Finally, Flock of Moons will host a CD release party for the Sage Cornelius Band starting at 7 p.m., with a strong supporting lineup of local metal bands and a beer release (also see below). The Crew will definitely be dropping by this one after the United game is over.
New Draft:
Bosque did a bit of a tap turnover of late, bringing back Resto Hazy Pale Ale, Sunbrero Helles Lager, and adding the new Scotia Light and Springfest, a variation on an Oktoberfest lager. Boxing Bear will release Rude Bear IPA this Saturday for the aforementioned All Nations Ska Reggae Fest. Ex Novo tapped two new brews in Boosted Immunity, a fruited sour, and Good Enough, Eh?, a new lager. Flock of Moons will tap Radagast the Brown, an imperial brown ale, for the aforementioned metal show Saturday. Harmon Lane leveled up with All Strong Ale, an 11-percent ABV monster. La Reforma added Oye Como Va, a new West Coast-style IPA. Steel Bender will tap Daylight Pale Ale on Friday. Tractor will add Dreamsicle Ale on Friday. (UPDATE) Thirsty Eye tapped Mort de Rire, an imperial saison with tea, that was a big hit at Fete de la Funk last weekend.
Down south, Truth or Consequences Brewing will tap Fiesta Gold on Thursday. (UPDATE) Up in Santa Fe, Beer Creek tapped Lavender, I Hardly Know Her, a lavender/coffee kolsch. Rowley Farmhouse Ales rolled out Suicide Prevention Brett IPA, which had also debuted at Fete de la Funk. Tumbleroot also puckered up with Apricot Sour.
New Package:
Ex Novo released Joint Venture, a hazy IPA made with guava terpenes, in cans and on draft. La Cumbre will release Miles from Cologne, their decadent kolsch, in cans and on draft this Friday. (UPDATES) Canteen will bring back Citranova in cans and on draft Friday. Sidetrack released Happy Hopper Honey IPA on draft and in cans.
Notable Events:
Today (Wednesday) — Trivia for a Cause: The Office is already sold out at Bosque Cottonwood at 6 p.m.
Thursday — Differential will host a Punk Market from 6 to 9 p.m.
Painted Lady owner Jesse Herron’s dad, Gary, will present A History of Pro Baseball in Albuquerque at 7 p.m. Trust me, Gary knows his baseball (we worked together at Isotopes games years ago), and he might even have a ghost story or two in there.
Friday — With the return of Miles from Cologne, La Cumbre will have Kolsch Service at both locations starting at 3 p.m.
Drag Queen Bingo is back at Tractor Wells Park at 7 p.m.
The City on the Edge Podcast will do a live show from Painted Lady at 7 p.m.
Saturday — See the intro above for all of Saturday’s events, and then for further details (including music lineups), follow the links in the brewery entries below.
Sunday — Sidetrack will spring into action with a Garden Party from 1 to 4 p.m.
Monday — Metal Monday returns to Tumbleroot Agua Fria with a loaded lineup including Oryx, Red Mesa, TKTWA, and Desmadre. Ticket prices are $15 in advance or $22 at the door, and the show will start at 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday — Trivia for a Cause: Freaks and Geeks will be at Bosque West (ex-Lava Rock) at 6 p.m.
Quick News Bits:
Some bummer news, as High and Dry Brewing is no longer brewing. Crew members who visited recently said it’s almost all guest taps now. There was a shakeup at the ownership level, and while we have reached out for more details, we have not heard back.
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 this Thursday. 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: Scale Tipper IPA (7.3% ABV, 100 IBU), the big old West Coast hop bomb is back in cans and on draft for a limited time.
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: Vienna Lager (5.3% ABV, 28 IBU), a lovely amber lager, now available in cans and on draft.
Casa Vieja Brewery — Featured seasonal: Lazy Days Cold IPA (6.0% ABV), a nice little hop bomb for cool nights on the patio.
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: Super Bloom APA (5.4% ABV), a sweet, floral pale ale that goes quite well with the new lineup of tasty smash burgers from the kitchen.
Echoes Brewery — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.
Ex Novo Brewing — Featured seasonal: Krispy’s Kolsch (4.9% ABV), available on draft and in cans.
Flix Brewhouse — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery/movie theater for an updated list of seasonals.
Flock of Moons Brewing — Featured seasonal: Amalthea Dawn (6.8% ABV, 30 IBU), a classic maibock that’s just right for the spring.
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.
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: Dry Irish Stout, a much more robust version of this style than many other breweries offer.
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: 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: 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: Citranaut IPA (6.6% ABV, 25 IBU), is flying off the shelves thanks to its combo of Citra and Triumph hops.
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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