Sidetrack swings open their doors at last

Quiet weekends can be nice sometimes. Other times, they get downright boring. Luckily for craft beer drinkers in Albuquerque, this weekend saw the surprise opening of Sidetrack Brewing downtown. I originally visited Sidetrack back in September and they looked to be a month or so from opening, but things went a bit quiet after that….

Starr Brothers hopes to shine in Northeast Heights

Everything old is new again. Starr Brothers Brewing is going back to the old school, opening a true brewpub in an era where kitchens have been eschewed in favor of food trucks. The forthcoming brewery is located on San Antonio east of I-25 in the San Antonio Commons retail center. If you reach San Pedro,…

Kaktus scrambles to open Nob Hill taproom for New Year’s Eve

The folks over at Kaktus Brewing might be nuts. Or, maybe they are just ambitious. But, probably nuts. They are currently in a mad rush to have their new Nob Hill taproom ready for a New Year’s Eve celebration. I stopped by Monday afternoon amid the chaos, and more than anything I came away impressed…

A farewell, of sorts, to a good friend of craft beer

There are times in life when someone we know gives us great news, but it is also news that gives us pause. Perhaps it has to do with a friend getting a great new job, but having to leave town. Sometimes it is far more personal. We are happy for our friend, but at the…

Keeping Portland beered even when things get weird

Each year, the Portland Holiday Ale fest sets me right into my holiday mood, and this year was no exception. The festival was more expensive, yet more crowded than any of the previous years, with a $35 entry fee. Entry included a plastic mug and 12 tickets (so essentially the price just to walk in…

New Santa Fe Brewery hits roadblock, but still on course to open

A couple weeks ago, John Rowley, head brewer of Sub Rosa Cellars, which, as you now know, is the new brewery opening soon in Santa Fe, contacted me to let me know that he had some big news. It wasn’t good news, but it wasn’t devastating, either. It was news of a roadblock that happens…

Picking out the newsy tidbits from Bosque Insider event

The other night three of us in the Crew — myself, Adam, and AmyO — got a chance to be a part of the first Bosque Insider event. This invite-only experience happened inside the brewery, where we got to try out some of Bosque’s new food items paired with specific new beers. More on that…

The second annual Santa Fe Open brewing competition was another success

The Santa Fe Open brewing competition has once again come and gone, and this year the event was bigger and better than the first. Envisioned by the Sangre De Cristo Craft Brewers (the local Santa Fe homebrew club) in 2014, this event has been held in early to mid-November for home brewers and professional brewers…

Festival overload is hurting the NM craft brewing scene

As the snow falls outside, it currently feels about as far removed from festival season as can be in New Mexico. The period that begins with ABQ Beer Week in May and ends with NM Brew Fest in October saw more festivals than ever this year. That is not a good thing. Back on Friday…

Bosque ups the ante for awesomeness

A Thursday that began with all the computers going down at the day job just turned into something far, far better. The good folks at Bosque Brewing dropped some welcome news in our laps, and we just had to make sure to share it with all of you. Next Friday, Nov. 20, from 4 to…