Stoutmeister

Rejoice for Founders Week is upon us in Albuquerque

So in case you missed it, but judging by the sales sheet at Jubilation, you haven’t, Founders Brewing has arrived in Albuquerque and the fun has only just begun. This week alone we have beer for sale at Jubilation right now, beers on tap at Nob Hill Bar & Grill on Wednesday night, a special…

Red Door joins the long list of breweries opening a new taproom

The seemingly never-ending expansion of the local brewing scene includes not just new breweries, but existing breweries opening taprooms left and right. Even though they just celebrated their first anniversary, Red Door is joining the fray with plans to open a taproom downtown in the Simms Building. To get some further details about the space…

Boxing Bear and Nexus enjoy the sweet silver they brought home from GABF

Last week I got the chance for a two-for-one interview with our two local brewers who brought home silver medals from the Great American Beer Festival. Kaylynn McKnight of Nexus and I traveled over to Boxing Bear to join Justin Hamilton over a few pints to talk about their medal-winning experiences. Once I was able…

There are lessons to be learned from the closing of Broken Bottle

It is a bit trite to say, but for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. As more and more breweries open around the Albuquerque metro area, there has always been the possibility that some might not survive in an increasingly competitive market. Other brewery owners have said a sort of reckoning is…

The 2015 Balloon Fiesta tourist guide to NM craft breweries

It’s that time of year again, when lots of folks from outside Albuquerque and New Mexico descend upon the Duke City for the Balloon Fiesta. While a lot of us locals grumble about the increase in traffic, even we’re big softies for the Fiesta (assuming we wake up in time). Well, we are, our dogs…

Bosque basks in a golden glow from GABF

No one can dispute that Bosque Brewing is in the midst of a great year. They opened two taprooms, won the National IPA Challenge, won a second straight New Mexico IPA Challenge, have bottled two beers (with a third on the way), and, oh yeah, just won their first gold medal at the Great American…

The Week Ahead in Beer: Oktoberfest-a-palooza takes over the metro area

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 a pair of newcomers, one down in Socorro and the other in Los Alamos, also joining the party. The calendar is slowly turning to…

Quarter Celtic creeping closer to their full opening

The good guys over at Quarter Celtic Brewpub, a.k.a. the brainchild of former Canteen brewer Brady McKeown and company, had invited us over to visit their forthcoming brewery a little while back. After we were reminded again recently, Brandon and I trekked over to check on their progress, take a few pictures, hear lots of…

Firkin Brewhouse moving closer to opening

Greetings, everyone. Here is hoping all of those GABF hangovers have faded and you are all ready for another busy week involving our local brewing scene. Before we head off to talk to some of the medal winners, while also catching up on Red Door’s new taproom plans and saying good-bye to Broken Bottle, and…

New Mexico breweries endure a tough day at GABF but still earn 4 medals

New Mexico breweries were not able to recapture the medal haul of the past two years at the Great American Beer Festival on Saturday, but there were still a few impressive medals earned. This year saw four breweries bring home four medals. New Mexico breweries had earned eight medals apiece in 2013 and 2014. Bosque…