Back during the preliminary round of the 2025 New Mexico IPA Challenge, a few brewers told the Crew that it would be awfully hard for any of the quality ales featured to break away from the pack.

The first round of public voting Saturday proved that prediction right, as three breweries tied with 12 votes apiece with two more rounds to go in the annual blind taste test competition organized by the New Mexico Brewers Guild. Four-time past champion Boxing Bear shared the early lead with Ponderosa and Second Street.

Canteen followed with nine votes and Icebox, the host of the next round, tallied eight votes. Every brewery managed at least two votes.

Reid volunteered to represent the Crew at the opening round at The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing, where 103 votes were cast for the 16 competing IPAs. Reid said it was a relaxed affair, nicely nestled inside the air conditioned Bridge (which one canine companion particularly appreciated, see below).

In general, the first round, whether held in Santa Fe or Las Cruces, isn’t a perfect barometer of what is to come. It’s entirely possible that starting at Icebox next Saturday, someone will break loose of the pack and take a big lead into the final round July 26 at Canteen. Or, we may just have to wait until that grand finale. You can get tickets for the next two rounds (Icebox, Canteen) on Eventbrite.

Since Reid took a whole lot of photos, we decided to share them all here. We’re quite glad that he was able to hustle on over there and represent the Crew. For the record, he voted for No. 15 on his tray, which turned out to be Tumbleroot.

We hope to see many of you at the final round at Canteen in two weeks. If anyone down south wants to send us some photos, particularly of the voting totals, next Saturday, please shoot them over via social media DM or at nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com.

Keep supporting local!

— Stoutmeister