As all of us in the Dark Side Brew Crew can attest, a love of metal and a love of craft beer can be quite the harmonious intersection. Those were two of the main things that brought us together before we launched this site in 2012 (our name has never been a Star Wars reference,…
Category: News
Steel Bender finds much-needed positivity in its latest charity brew
Anyone following Steel Bender on social media probably saw some teasing images of a new canned specialty beer last week. At the start of this week, the beer was unveiled as Shine On Saison, made with passion fruit, and brewed in collaboration with Whole Foods Markets and the Agora Crisis Center. “It’s been this enthusiastic,…
Kaktus Brewing announces plans to reopen this week
One year ago, when COVID-19 first threatened to become a full blown pandemic in the U.S., breweries throughout New Mexico took various approaches as to how they would handle the newly mandated restrictions. After much reflection, choices were made on the next steps that would be best for the business, and for the community. For…
Ex Novo Brewing is crowdfunding the beer garden of our dreams
The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, the wind is blowing and the people are sneezing. It’s springtime in New Mexico, folks, and we’re finally able to venture out to our favorite breweries and enjoy pints on the patio like the good old days. One local brewery is planning a massive expansion to their…
Resurrection Song: 3 closed Burque breweries are returning to life
Over the last few days, as we worked to follow up on our recent story about the challenge of reporting on brewery closures, we learned that three places we have reported as closing for good may be coming back to life. The circumstances in each case appear to be slightly different, but we are happy…
Marble teams up with Nexus and Hollow Spirits to support Welstand Foundation for Black History Month
Even a global pandemic has not dampened the enthusiasm that our local breweries have for supporting charitable causes and nonprofits in New Mexico. Take Marble Brewery, which continues its community outreach, this time in collaboration with Nexus Brewery and Hollow Spirits. All three will be highlighting local influential African-Americans — including Nexus owner Ken Carson…
Bell’s Brewery steps up to help The Storehouse and other New Mexico food banks
Throughout all of 2020 since the pandemic began, breweries locally and nationally have kept going in their work to help charities throughout New Mexico. On the heels of the annual One for 5 campaign to help The Storehouse New Mexico, another charity drive to keep people fed this holiday season has begun. Bell’s Brewery and…
Embrace the darkness statewide on International Stout Day
We are not the ones responsible for International Stout Day, but we are definitely among the beer lovers who will celebrate this annual “holiday” devoted to the darkest of beers. As a public service, we decided it was a good idea to list every stout that we know is available at our breweries, though we…
Boxing Bear shakes up the collaboration game with a new artist-inspired series
Plenty of breweries have collaborated on beers over the years here in Albuquerque and parts beyond. Now it may be time for a new sort of collaboration, and not just something involving beer writers like us. Boxing Bear Brewing and local glass-blowing artist Rashan Jones of High Desert Flameworks have teamed up for a collaboration…
Nexus Brewery boldly goes to the next frontier — canning its beers
The news that Nexus Brewery was preparing to can its own beers had slowly trickled out over the last few months, but there was still nothing 100-percent official as to when those cans would arrive at both locations. Well, the cans have landed, and are officially on sale now, with a big release party on…
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