Tis the season for fests. So many fests. A fest here, a fest there. You thought there were a lot last weekend? Surely you can’t be serious, and we’re not calling you Shirley. This weekend alone there’s an Oktoberfest at Rio Bravo on Saturday and another at Canteen on Sunday. That covers Albuquerque. There is also one on Saturday in Los Alamos, another at Kaktus in Bernalillo, and another that runs both Saturday and Sunday at Second Street Rufina in Santa Fe. Angel Fire has one up north. Truth or Consequences and Cloudcroft have them down south. Oh, and before Sunday’s festivities, Canteen is hosting a Wiener Dog Race on Saturday. Yup, the most fleet-footed, costumed dachshunds in all of the Albuquerque metro area shall compete to see who is the fastest of them all. So do not tell us there is nothing to do this weekend. We know you’re lying. There is everything to do this weekend. Just pick one. Hey, we’ll have to do it, too. Which one will we choose? Get out of the house and find out.
New Draft:
Calavida Cantina tapped a new pilsner, Skull Czech. Canteen will release Tiny Legs Big Heart West Coast IPA on Friday. Flock of Moons brought back Vollmond, a German pilsner, and Forever Twilight, a most excellent Vienna lager. High and Dry tapped Lofted Lederhosen, their Oktoberfest märzen. Kaktus added their Oktoberfest lager. La Cumbre gets down to Serious Business with their new West Coast IPA. Quarter Celtic recently added Day Shift Destroyer, a rice lager, and No Scotland No Party, a Scotch ale if you could not guess or somehow missed the best story of the entire 2026 World Cup. Starr Brothers tapped Ballooney Tunez, a hazy IPA. Steel Bender will bring back Nigel Scotch Ale on Friday. Unhinged tapped their Oktoberfest lager.
Up in Santa Fe, Tumbleroot tapped Citradelic Sunset, a variant on their Sunset IPA. Down south in Santa Clara, Open Space added Hiker Midnight, an oatmeal stout, and Garden Day: Clary Sage, a saison. Truth or Consequences Brewing will bring back a crowd favorite, Palomas Porter, on Thursday.
New Package:
Boxing Bear brought back Lucille Pale Ale and The Red Glove Double Red both in cans and on draft. Ex Novo released Grand Enchantment, a West Coast IPA, in cans and on draft. Steel Bender brings back an annual favorite Friday with Ale Witch Pumpkin Ale in cans and on draft.
Notable Events:
Thursday — Painted Lady hosts Pints for Pink, benefiting Pink Warrior House, at 5 p.m.
Friday — ArtWalk kicks off at 5 p.m., with art and music at Ex Novo, and art and Adobe Disco at Sidetrack starting at 6 p.m.
The Dash and Drink for Pink is back at Canteen at 6 p.m.
The First Fridays Comedy Contest returns to Tractor Wells Park at 7 p.m.
Painted Lady hosts The Outlaw, Lawman and Ghost Magic Show at 8 p.m.
Saturday — The Albuquerque Oktoberfest runs from noon to 10 p.m. at Rio Bravo.
Marble’s onsite food truck, the SRB Sangwich Shop, celebrates their first year in business with a BBQ Bash at noon (apologies, we had this as being last week).
If you are up for a road trip, head up to Los Alamos for OkTUBerfest from 12:30 to 5 p.m.
The aforementioned Wiener Dog Dash will be at Canteen from 1 to 3 p.m.
Kaktoberfest takes over the brewery in Bernalillo from 4 to 9 p.m.
OkTUBAfest returns to Second Street Rufina both Saturday and Sunday.
Sunday — It’s time for the Tumbleroot Harvest Party at the Agua Fria taproom from 2 to 6 p.m.
Canteen hosts their Oktoberfest from 2 to 7 p.m.
Quick News Bits:
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta kicks off this Saturday (yes, we know, it seems too soon after the State Fair ended), and Steel Bender will host their awesome Balloons & Brews every morning through October 11 from 7 to 10 a.m.
Kaktus has new fall hours — Monday closed, Tuesday and Wednesday 2 to 9 p.m., Thursday and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Starr Brothers will be open every Monday evening during NFL season to show Monday Night Football.
High and Dry has new hours for the fall — Monday through Thursday 2 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Putts N Pints is now open and has set their hours — Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight, Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Albuquerque metro area breweries
Boese Brothers Brewery — Featured seasonal: Drunk Astronaut (8.1% ABV), a double IPA with a hefty amount of Galaxy hops (get it?).
Bombs Away Beer Company — Featured seasonal: Oktoberfest (5.9% ABV, 20 IBU), the traditional märzen that you have been waiting for this fall.
Bow & Arrow Brewing — Featured seasonal: I Like Big Buttes (8% ABV) not only has arguably the best beer name of the year so far, it’s also an outstanding classic DIPA available in cans and on draft.
Boxing Bear Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: OktoBEARfest (5.3% ABV), a crushable German lager available in cans and on draft.
Brekki Brekki/Cantina Craftworks — Featured seasonal: The beers made at Brekki Brekki are for the entire restaurant collective under the Cantina Hospitality Group banner. Contact each location for what’s on tap.
Brew Lab 101 Beer & Cider Company — Featured seasonal: Labtoberfest is back for the season.
Calavida Cantina — Featured seasonal: Celtic Hermano (6.1% ABV, 42 IBU), this stout (not this batch) was the first one they brewed on the system in the old Boxing Bear space.
Canteen Brewhouse — Featured seasonal: Allora Italian Pilsner (5.2% ABV, 25 IBU), a lager option that isn’t a märzen or festbier, available in cans and on draft.
Casa Vieja Brewery — Featured seasonal: Duke’s Red Irish Ale (5% ABV), a brewery original back on tap for a limited time.
Differential Brewing — Featured seasonal: Matcha Ginger Blonde (5% ABV) is the current seasonal on tap.
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.
Ex Novo Brewing — Featured seasonal: German Overalls (5.8% ABV), the traditional märzen is back in cans and on draft.
Flix Brewhouse — Featured seasonal: Flix Brühaus, their Oktoberfest lager, is back for the season.
Flock of Moons Brewing — Featured seasonal: Neumond (4.7% ABV, 26 IBU), an absolutely brilliant interpretation of the German schwarzbier (dark lager) style.
FMV Brewing — Featured seasonal: Stage 10 American Amber, the first house beer is now on draft at this brewery located at 2500 Yale Blvd SE near the Sunport.
Gravity Bound Brewing — Featured seasonal: Pistola, the classic West Coast IPA is back on draft and in cans for a limited time.
High and Dry Brewing — Featured seasonal: Unbalanced Breakfast (4.8% ABV), an oatmeal stout with a low ABV that still boasts a lot of flavor.
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: Woolly Slammoth IPA (7.3% ABV, 80 IBU), a quaffable English-style hoppy ale.
La Cumbre Brewing — Featured seasonal: Oktoberfest (5.9% ABV, 32 IBU), basically the local gold standard for a märzen, available in cans and on draft.
Lasso Brewing — Featured seasonal: Kolsch, which has recently been released for the first time in cans and on draft.
Marble Brewery — Featured seasonal: Marblefest (6.5% ABV), back for the season in cans and on draft.
Nexus Brewery — Featured seasonal: Festbier (6.3% ABV, 20 IBU), described by the brewery as “Prost to the season! Festbier Oktoberfest is moderately malty, toasty, and dangerously easy to drink. Blink once and your stein will be empty!”
Painted Lady Bed and Brew — Featured seasonal: Boogedy Boogedy Boo!, a robust porter that’s excellent for spooky nights, now with Indonesian vanilla added for a limited time.
Ponderosa Brewing Co. — Featured seasonal: Bellamah Detour (6.7% ABV, 30 IBU), an imperial brown ale named for the recent road construction in the Sawmill District.
Quarter Celtic Brewpub— Featured seasonal: Vienna Lager, the most awarded one-off that keeps coming back because, well, it brings all the medals to the brewery.
Rio Bravo Brewing — Featured seasonal: Somos Brewnidos (5.2% ABV, 18 IBU), a New Mexican lager perfect for patio days or United games, with a portion of the proceeds from draft and can sales going to the Somos Unidos Foundation.
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: Oktoberfest (6% ABV), a delectable märzen available in cans and on draft.
Starr Brothers Brewing — Featured seasonal: Therewolf (6.5% ABV, 22 IBU), the annual Oktoberfest release is back on draft.
Steel Bender Brewyard — Featured seasonal: Oktoberfiesta (7% ABV), because autumn is a state of mind, and this beer will get you there early in cans and on draft.
Sunday Service Motor Company — Featured seasonal: Still closed for renovations.
The Tatted Bee Brewhouse — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.
Thirsty Eye Brewing — Featured seasonal: Shut the Front Dort, a good lager with one of our favorite beer names of all time.
The 377 Brewery — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.
Tractor Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Old Wizard Fingers Doppelbock (7.2% ABV), a delectable dark lager.
Turtle Mountain Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Turtle Claw Hard Seltzer (7% ABV), and yeah, they requested we highlight the seltzer, so that’s what we’re doing because we’re nice. It’s not our thing, but it might be yours.
Unhinged Brewing — Featured seasonal: A Ton of Fruit, a prickly pear wheat ale.
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.”
Nuckolls Brewing — Featured seasonal: Coal Car (5.5% ABV), an oatmeal stout that’s just one of 11 house beers now available.
Rowley Farmhouse Ales — Featured seasonal: Second-String Loser (9.6% ABV, 26 IBU), a Belgian golden strong ale.
Santa Fe Brewing Company — Featured seasonal: Oktoberfest (6% ABV), the classic German-style lager is back in cans and on draft.
Second Street Brewery — Featured seasonal: Butterfly IPA, a true session IPA with an ABV under 4 percent, available in cans and on draft.
Travel Bug — Featured seasonal: A reader tipped us off that this brewery in a travel bookstore has started rotating beers now, and currently on tap are Suelo Red Ale, Flaxon Ale, and Pale Ale.
Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery — Featured seasonal: Festbier (6.6% ABV), a traditional German lager that was just tapped earlier this week.
Other breweries you need to visit
Bathtub Row Brewing — Featured seasonal: Oz’s Oatmeal Stout (5.4% ABV), a classic ode to the darkness.
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.
Jemez Mountain Brewhouse — Featured seasonal: Señor Lager, which as you may have guessed from the name is a Mexican-style lager.
Open Space Brewing — Featured seasonal: Mining District Märzen (6.3% ABV), an excellent Oktoberfest for the season.
Red River Brewing and Distilling — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.
Sierra Blanca Brewing — Featured seasonal: Contact the brewery for an updated list of seasonals.
Truth or Consequences Brewing — Featured seasonal: La Bete (15% ABV), a monstrous yet beautiful imperial brut saison.
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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
