The more things change, the more they stay the same. Well, at least as far as IPAs go, as Boxing Bear Brewing won its fourth New Mexico IPA Challenge trophy in the past six years. A clear, West Coast-style IPA was triumphant, which was impressive considering 11 of the 16 finalists were of the hazy…
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.
The great haze vs. clear debate will be settled at NM IPA Challenge final round
After two wildly different results from the first two rounds of the 2021 New Mexico IPA Challenge, everything will be decided Saturday afternoon from 1 to 4 at Boxing Bear’s Firestone Taproom. Normally, we would include a ticket link, but the final round has sold out online as of Friday morning. Huzzah to that news!…
A beer about something: 3 breweries collaborate on SereniTEA Now for charity
The generous trio of Canteen Brewhouse, High and Dry Brewing, and Steel Bender Brewyard are at it again, teaming up to help a worthy local nonprofit with a collaboration beer and some special events. Agora Crisis Center, a student organization at the University of New Mexico, is the recipient, just like in 2019, the last…
The West Coast-style IPAs roar back in 2nd round of NMIPAC at Beer Creek
If the first round of the 2021 New Mexico IPA Challenge seemed to indicate that the first hazy champion was inevitable, the second round told a very different story. The 16 finalists competed again with a new crop of customers at Beer Creek Brewing on Highway 14 south of Santa Fe on Saturday afternoon. This…
Nexus and Tumbleroot tied for 1st after opening round of NM IPA Challenge
The voters in Las Cruces had their say Wednesday night, and it was a close finish atop the standings as the first round of the 2021 New Mexico IPA Challenge was completed at Icebox Brewing. Nexus Brewery and Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery tied atop the standings with 16 votes apiece, followed closely by host Icebox…
Analyzing the field ahead of the first public round of the NM IPA Challenge
The haze has overtaken the clear. After years of West Coast-style IPA dominance, this year’s final 16 entries in the New Mexico IPA Challenge are primarily of the hazy New England style. So can one of them become the first winner of an in-person NMIPAC? Rio Bravo’s hazy Dice Roll IPA won the take-home edition…
Breaking News: Brewers Guild forced to cancel 3rd round of NM IPA Challenge
The 2021 edition of the New Mexico IPA Challenge was reduced from four rounds to three on Monday night. Due to a combination of low ticket sales and a possible new COVID-related lockdown for San Juan County, the third round of the competition set for November 17 at Lauter Haus Brewing in Farmington has been…
Preliminary round of NM IPA Challenge produces some surprising finalists
The brewers had their say Saturday afternoon, narrowing down a field of 35 IPAs to a final 16 for the upcoming public rounds of the 2021 New Mexico IPA Challenge. As one might expect, there were some surprises in the breweries that advanced, and those that did not. Here are the 16 finalists. Boxing Bear…
Downtown breweries appreciate all that Artwalk brings to their taprooms
The weather is sure cooperating with the organizers of the monthly ABQ Artwalk in downtown this Friday. The festivities kick off at 5 p.m. and run through most of the night at multiple places on Central and adjacent streets. From today’s events to all those in past months, Artwalk has provided a major boost for…
The Week Ahead in Beer: Embrace the darkness in its many forms
A smooth stout appears in cans, an epic imperial stout returns in bottles, we celebrate the dead, dance to a certain spooky family’s theme, and blast our souls into oblivion with local metal. Yeah, it’s our kind of week. New Draft: Boese Brothers also joins this darker setting with Soul Stealer Extra Stout. (UPDATE) Bombs…
DARK SIDE BREW CREW 