Sidetrack rides to the top at the first New Mexico Craft Beer Awards

Brewers from seven of the eight to win medals pose with their hardware. (Photos courtesy of Nick Bridges/Boxing Bear)

This past Friday, after the annual New Mexico Brewers Guild Technical Conference wrapped up at CNM, the attendees trekked over to nearby Flock of Moons for a special ceremony.

For the first time, the Guild organized the New Mexico Craft Beer Awards, giving the local professionals and other certified judges a chance to vote and choose the best of the best among them. Sidetrack Brewing came out the big winner, claiming Best of Show honors.

There were only three categories — amber beers, American and international lagers, IPAs — but there were still a combined 85 entries between 25 participating breweries. In other words, it was competitive. The judges had met and voted with their palates in recent weeks.

Sidetrack came out on top in the IPA category with Basecamp, their house hoppy ale. It then advanced to a final showdown, of sorts, with the other two category winners, where it was named the best overall.

“The New Mexico Craft Beer Awards are about celebrating the incredible beers being made here in New Mexico and giving our breweries another opportunity to showcase their craftsmanship,” said NMBG executive director Ebbie Edmonston in a press release. “We were thrilled with the response to the inaugural competition, and we’re excited to build on it in the years ahead.”

If the brewery you visited last Friday felt a little empty of staff members, this is where they were hanging out.

Here are the other winners by category, with comments from the gold-medal-winning brewers.

Amber Beers

Gold: Waning Crescent Vienna Lager, Flock of Moons Brewing
Silver: Farmer’s Tan Red Ale, Tractor Brewing
Bronze: Class “M” Marzen, Nexus Brewery

“This is our first medal win in a judged competition, so we’re pretty excited and receiving gold in the category makes it even more special!” said Flock of Moons brewer/co-owner Jeff Tomlinson. “We’re also proud to stand alongside a couple of our favorite breweries in winning gold. It was a lot of fun and another great way to celebrate New Mexico beer. Lastly, we’d like to send our congratulations to all of the medalists. We have so much respect for every single one of them!”

American and International Lagers

Gold: Lasso Pils, Lasso Coffee & Lager
Silver: Kolsch, Lasso Coffee & Lager
Bronze: El Sombearo, Boxing Bear Brewing

India Pale Ales

Gold: Basecamp IPA, Sidetrack Brewing
Silver: Ghost Train IPA, Ponderosa Brewing
Bronze: Exodus IPA, Canteen Brewhouse

“I was excited to be able to participate this first year and go up against so much great New Mexico Competition,” said Sidetrack head brewer Cordell Rincon. “Getting a medal in the home state, with so many friends I’ve learned from throughout the years, is even more special. Congrats to the medalists and thank you to Ebbie and everyone who entered. Can’t wait for next year!”

The best part about almost all of those beers? They are all on tap year round, or close to it (the Marzen at Nexus is running low, so hurry on over to either location).

Congratulations to the winners, and a big thanks to the Guild for putting on this fun event to keep everyone in the industry engaged.

Oh, and don’t worry, we’ll have a Lagerhosen preview out later this week.

Keep supporting local!

— Stoutmeister