Good lord, time is flying again. It seems like just yesterday that I sat down with Bob Haggerty, Ethan and Shelby Chant over at the old Boxing Bear to talk about their plans for a brewery in Los Ranchos.

But, no, it has been quite a while, since that Boxing Bear is now Calavida Cantina, Haggerty has moved on to some other projects, and Steel Bender Brewyard is celebrating a ninth anniversary starting this Sunday.

Everything kicks off Sunday and runs through Tuesday, which at first glance might seem odd, but then all one has to realize is that Tuesday is St. Patrick’s Day.

There will be three beer releases, one per day, with Sundazed Apricot Wheat available Sunday in cans and on draft. Monday will see the return of Double Triple Berry Pie Dynamite Pastry Sour, on draft only. Tuesday will naturally feature Short Mondays Irish Red back on draft.

On the food side of things, Steel Bender is cooking up their recent Souper Bowl award winner, Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Posole, for everyone this Sunday. For Tuesday, Irish Meat Pies will be served. There will also be some sneak previews of some new menu items, including a six-cheese grilled cheese sandwich.

No party would be complete without some good local music. Le Chat Lunatique will bust out some of that filthy, mangy jazz that everyone loves Sunday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The Dirty Brown Jug Band will get a little Irish on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m.

Brave the March winds and get on down to Steel Bender for some proper eats, drinks, music, and fun.

Keep supporting local!

— Stoutmeister