The news has been pretty slow, lately, which can be seen by how few stories we’ve posted. With that in mind, and since it is November and all, we elected to send out the annual email to the breweries letting them know that it’s time for the Look Back/Look Ahead Series to start up again.
As we did last year, we have whittled these features down to three key questions:
- What was your biggest accomplishment(s) of the past year?
- What was the biggest challenge you faced?
- What are you hopes/goals for next year?
Now, usually the breweries take a little while to get back to us, which is natural. After all, they are winding down from festival season, getting ready for the slow stretch of winter.
Well, not this year, as Boxing Bear replied via email right away. Like, less than 90 minutes later. All we had to do after that was stop to take a few fresh photos, and, um, well of course have a pint or two.
Co-owner Kevin Davis took us through how 2026 went and what they hope for in 2027.
Growth, even in this economy?
“I think our greatest accomplishment in 2026 was growing production by 11 percent,” Davis wrote. “With the current craft beer market being a bit less favorable than in previous years, we are taking that as a win.”
That is a huge win, to be honest. But then again, winning was the theme this year for Boxing Bear.
“Also, our beers seem to be doing well in the various competitions,” Davis wrote. “Winning the NM IPA Challenge again was a feather in the cap for our brewing team, as was medaling for their Black Mesa Dunkel at GABF.
“We also made the final table with our Dortmunderstruck and were listed beside such amazing breweries as Chuckanut, Deschutes, Fat Head’s, and Moontown. It was a huge honor to be on that list, and it shows our brewing team is doing an excellent job on their German lagers.”
Black Mesa earned bronze, the sixth overall medal for Boxing Bear at the Great American Beer Festival since 2015, and the first for that specific beer. Both it and that Dortmunderstruck are currently available on draft at both taprooms, plus Black Mesa is still available in cans.
“We also were honored to brew the New Mexico State Fair beer this year,” Davis added.
Centennial Lager was a proper tribute to 100 years of Route 66 and ended up a big seller at the taprooms and at the Fair.
Overall, things were good, even when the economy was not.
“Our greatest challenge has been navigating ever-increasing costs, from malt and hops to packaging material, insurance, freight, and utilities,” Davis wrote. “We know our customers are dealing with the very same issues, so we committed to not raise prices in 2026. Front-of-house, media, and brewery leadership have done their best to help manage costs. We have a great management team. Their attention to detail has been critical in cost control, helping to keep our prices stable.”
Everyone can agree, keeping those pints and four-packs affordable is best for all involved.
Staying in the fight in 2027
There are no big moves on deck for the coming year, just hopes for more of the same.
“We want to continue building on our growth in 2027, and would like to see another 10-percent increase in production,” Davis wrote. “Hopefully, inflation will start to decline so we all can have a little more wiggle room in the ol’ checkbook.”
There is still one big event left to close out this year. The Black Friday Event runs from noon to 5 p.m. on November 27, and it will feature an impressive array of new and returning beers. Throw in live music, new merch, a photo booth, and cocktails for those weird-but-endearing friends who don’t like beer so much, and it should be a far superior alternative to going shopping and fighting the crowds.
The 12 Beers of Christmas Advent Calendar Box is coming back, along with Red Square Bear Russian Imperial Stout, Old Pugilist American Barleywine, and Bounty of Jumis Baltic Porter. Old favorite Oso Otoño Brown Ale should be out by then if not before. New is The Abyss Looks Bock, which might have our favorite can art of the year.
A big thanks to Kevin for helping us kick off things again this year, and to head brewer Eddie Dominguez and his team for letting us in the back (and for giving us a sneak preview of some of those forthcoming beers).
Keep supporting local!
— Stoutmeister
