There is no such thing is a perfect beer tasting event. Whether it is the annual IPA Challenge, or even the Brew Crew’s own Stout Challenge, something usually comes up that throws it all for a loop; sometimes it’s big, sometimes it’s small. In our case on Saturday night, we were all a bit surprised…
Author: Stoutmeister
Former sports writer in Tucson, LA, and Burque. Now I write about craft beer, which is a totally reasonable way to support my hobby of spending afternoons and evenings indulging in the finest stouts, lagers, and more.
Stout Challenge XI: Can Canteen become the first back-to-back winner?
Super Bowl weekend is upon us, which means it is time for the Dark Side Brew Crew’s annual Stout Challenge. For the second year in a row we are changing things up slightly, with a new location and on a different day. In the past, we have usually held this blind-taste test of the finest…
The Week Ahead in Beer: From a Super Sunday to loving brews on a Monday
The downside, or upside, depending on one’s perspective, of the NFL going to an 18th week/17th game was that the Super Bowl got pushed back a week. The big game is this Sunday, followed by Valentine’s Day on Monday. In other words, pace yourselves carefully this weekend, at least those of you in committed relationships….
Rio Bravo readies a rebrand as part of an ongoing return to normalcy in 2022
The good folks at Rio Bravo Brewing had already given me a list of possible interview times for our Look Back/Look Ahead Series when I learned that their newest limited beer release, Putin’s Mistress (Rum-Barrel-Aged Coffee Imperial Stout), was due out right in between those possible dates. Luckily, director of brewing operations Austin Giorgetta also…
Small brewer license renewals come with a surprise for some this year
Back in 2019, Senate Bill 413 was passed, which had a potentially profound effect on breweries throughout New Mexico. One of its key provisions was a new requirement for every brewery to produce a minimum of 50 barrels per year, or at least have its own beers account for 50 percent of total alcohol sales….
Kaktus Brewing overcomes numerous obstacles to post its best year to date
There has always been a general sense of optimism that permeates just about every aspect of Kaktus Brewing in Bernalillo. Even amidst all the challenges of 2021, the staff there was still happy to report it was a positive year, as we learned in our latest Look Back/Look Ahead Series entry. I sat down with…
Sidetrack Brewing finds being small can be big in advance of its 6th anniversary
The general belief that the smaller breweries were taking the brunt of the pandemic has not quite proven to be the case, as we have learned for this go-around of the Look Back/Look Ahead Series. Take Sidetrack Brewing, for example, where things seem to be thriving rather than struggling as they prepare for their sixth…
The Week Ahead in Beer: New canned releases surge in grand January finale
There are quite a few canned releases to close out this month, which is just fine since our beer fridges haven’t been overflowing at all lately. (Insert sarcastic and/or maniacal laughter here.) The hop-forward beers are surprisingly the dominant style being released in package this week, but in New Mexico, it’s always hoppy season. There…
Tractor Brewing plows through a blur of a year with higher hopes for 2022
The global pandemic has left no business unscathed, but for breweries with a big focus on hosting events, it was particularly rough over the past year-plus. Perhaps no brewery in New Mexico endured the ups and downs quite as much as Tractor Brewing. I sat down with marketing director Jeremy Kinter and co-owner/brewmaster David Hargis…
Marble Brewery refocuses its efforts on planning ahead amid ongoing pandemic
The bigger the brewery, the harder it can be sometimes to pivot and adjust to the constantly shifting currents of the world at large these days. For the biggest brewery in Albuquerque, it has certainly been a challenge for Marble, but with a little extra advance planning, the staff has been able to keep things…
DARK SIDE BREW CREW 