Stoutmeister

The first brewery in Raton is close to completion

Every now and again, amid the spam and the weirder information requests, the Crew gets an email of some value. Sometimes it can be a small tip, other times it can be a full-on news item. We received one of the latter at the end of last week, a welcome update to a brewery project…

The Week Ahead in Beer: Happy birthday to the Bear!

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 four breweries and one down in Socorro and the other in Los Alamos also joining the party. Remember recently when I noted how it seems like all…

IPA Challenge 2016: Boxing Bear goes the distance for their first title

Another year, another IPA Challenge is in the books. Only for the first time in a while, there will be a new champion holding onto the trophy. Boxing Bear held off Canteen and 3 Rivers in the closest vote in NMIPAC history. The final round was decided by hundreds of beer lovers/hopheads on a (very)…

IPA Challenge 2016: The last-minute info for the final round

Bitter is ending! The 2016 NM IPA Challenge comes to a close on Saturday at Tractor Wells Park. The final round will start at noon and run until 4 p.m. These are the things you probably already know, but just in case there was any additional important info, we contacted the hosts to make sure…

IPA Challenge: Quarter Celtic wins the round, Boxing Bear leads the bout

The NM IPA Challenge continued Wednesday night at 3 Rivers Brewery in Farmington, with 80 people coming out to partake and vote for their favorite. The hometown brewery had a respectable showing with 11 votes to give it 22 through two rounds, but Quarter Celtic was the round winner with 18 votes (26 total). Boxing…

The Week Ahead in Beer: Special releases galore before final hop onslaught

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 four breweries and one down in Socorro and the other in Los Alamos also joining the party. Before we all take our palates into battle at the…

IPA Challenge 2016: Boxing Bear takes slim lead after one round

More than 160 patrons packed The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing on Saturday afternoon to cast their votes in the first of the three main rounds of the 2016 NM IPA Challenge. The initial tallies suggest this is going to be a close one, though a lot can change between now and the final votes…

Nob Hill becomes beer epicenter of this weekend and beyond

Oh, Nob Hill. You wonderful little place, except for your lack of parking. Home to three taprooms, several beer bars, and that place with the nice patio. This Saturday, it will also be home to one small-but-awesome event, and one very large event. Then comes Tuesday, with another small-but-awesome. First up, Ballast Point will be…

Firkin Brewhouse up and running despite an uncertain future

Divorce is never a pretty thing. Even in the craft beer business. A few months ago, Firkin Brewhouse went from being just another new brewery looking to make their mark to a vortex of controversy and in-fighting, the likes of which had not been seen in Albuquerque in a long time. Things have settled down,…

The Week Ahead in Beer: Duel dials up a 3rd anniversary celebration

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 four breweries and one down in Socorro and the other in Los Alamos also joining the party. Every time a brewery’s anniversary comes around, it usually leads…