Savory 16 finalists set for 2026 New Mexico Brewers Guild IPA Challenge

One of the trays from the preliminary round. The labels on the sample cups are coded for this round only.

Whomever controls the hops controls the beer universe. Or, something like that, but it’s getting to be time for the New Mexico Brewers Guild’s IPA Challenge, so we may be mangling more movie quotes before the winner is crowned on August 1.

The preliminary round, where judging panels of brewers and chosen brewery representatives gather to narrow down the field, was held today (Saturday) at the Boxing Bear taproom at The Bridges on Tramway. There were 28 breweries competing to advance to the public rounds, with a capped limit of 16 entries.

And, before anyone grumbles, La Cumbre did not compete this year. You can hold off on the “it’s not a real IPA Challenge without La Cumbre!” ranting. We get it, they make amazing hop-forward beers, but this year they didn’t enter the competition and we do not know why. OK? Ahem, moving on …

NMBG executive director Ebbie Edmonston holds the list of the 16 finalists that will compete in the public rounds.

The 16 breweries who will be competing are as follows, in alphabetical order:

Bathtub Row Brewing Co-op
Bow & Arrow Brewing
Boxing Bear Brewing (defending champ, final-round host)
Canteen Brewhouse
Downshift Brewing (last year’s runner-up by a single vote)
Ex Novo Brewing
Flix Brewhouse
Gravity Bound Brewing
Icebox Brewing (round two host in Las Cruces)
Ponderosa Brewing
Quarter Celtic Brewpub
Second Street Brewery (round one host in Santa Fe)
Sidetrack Brewing
Thirsty Eye Brewing
Tractor Brewing
Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery

It’s a fairly good representation of the state, with breweries from the south (Downshift, Icebox), the north (Bathtub Row, Second Street, Tumbleroot), and the Albuquerque metro area in between.

The public rounds will be on the next three Saturdays, starting at Second Street Rufina at noon on July 18. Icebox Brewing’s main location on Picacho will host the second round on July 25. Boxing Bear Firestone will be the site of the final round August 1.

Tickets are available online for all three rounds. The Albuquerque round always sells out, so do not wait long.

A big thanks to Ebbie and the Guild membership for letting us hang out and record the results.

Keep supporting local!

— Stoutmeister