Stoutmeister

Blue Grasshopper begins the difficult process of scaling back

A surprising post on Facebook changed our plans on Saturday, when we read that Blue Grasshopper Brewery was holding a “grand closing” of its location at Second Street and Summer in Wells Park. Taking a chance, I drove down and found co-owner Peter Apers was still around and willing to chat about everything that is…

Kaktus Brewery maxes out its space for the benefit of its customers

If there was ever a brewery that fit the definition of cozy, Kaktus Brewery would be at the forefront of all the candidates from New Mexico. That will not be changing anytime soon for this hometown pub for all the residents of Bernalillo, as we found out in our latest Look Back/Look Ahead Series interview….

The Week Ahead in Beer: Celebrating Mardi Gras in New Mexico

Greetings, New Mexico craft beer lovers. Stoutmeister here with The Week Ahead in Beer. This column covers all the breweries in Bernalillo and Sandoval counties, with Santa Fe’s seven breweries, one in Los Alamos, one in Moriarty, one in Red River, one in Silver City, and one in Truth or Consequences also joining the party….

Flix Brewhouse sneaks past Rio Bravo to claim 2020 Stout Invitational

Flix Brewhouse’s very good February continued on Saturday afternoon. The brewery/cinema followed up three medals at the Best of Craft Beer Awards by taking first place in the fifth annual New Mexico Brewers Guild Stout Invitational, once again held at Bathtub Row Brewing. Mama’s Kitchen, a milk chocolate stout with cinnamon, cocoa, coffee, coconut, and…

Bow & Arrow Brewing aims to continue its evolution into a regional powerhouse

Bow & Arrow Brewing will celebrate its fourth anniversary this weekend, which made this a natural time to sit down with co-owner Shyla Sheppard and head brewer Ted O’Hanlan for our annual Look Back/Look Ahead Series. They have accrued some seriously good press for the brewery on Sixth Street, which is quickly emerging as a…

The Week Ahead in Beer: Marble unveils a double dose of barrel-aged goodness

New Mexico breweries bring home dozen medals from Best of Craft Beer Awards

The first national brewing competition of the year is in the books as the Best of Craft Beer Awards were announced Monday in Bend, Oregon. Once again, New Mexico breweries cleaned up, with five splitting up 12 medals between them, including three gold medals. Leading the pack was Ex Novo Brewing with four medals, while…

Fifth annual Stout Invitational returns with a sweet twist at Bathtub Row Brewing

Winter is not loosening its grip on New Mexico just yet, so it seems like a perfect time for the annual New Mexico Brewers Guild Stout Invitational at Bathtub Row Brewing in Los Alamos. This fun competition will be held this Saturday, with three judging sessions at noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. As of…

Beer Notes: Ongoing offsite taproom boom hits Las Cruces

Enough little news items piled up on our proverbial desk that we figured it was time for another rapid-fire Beer Notes to get you ready for the weekend. Taprooms taprooms taprooms! The rapid growth of offsite taprooms is continuing down south. Truth or Consequences Brewing opened its first taproom this week at 2001 E. Lohman…

Canteen Brewhouse basks in the afterglow of its 25th anniversary year

After a quarter century of making beer, one might think that Canteen Brewhouse would take it easy this year. Taking it easy, however, has never been part of the plan at the oldest brewery in Albuquerque, so why start now? I caught up with Canteen head brewer Zach Guilmette and general manager Jamie Schwebach to…