Welcome to an early edition of Week Ahead, as we want to make sure everyone is aware of what beers are available well in advance of Thanksgiving, when most breweries will be closed (see below for the exceptions). Despite being a holiday week, there are plenty of beer releases coming Friday, with some fun events…
Boxing Bear reclaims the crown for its 4th NM IPA Challenge victory in 6 years
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…
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!…
Santa Fe area breweries share their own tales of supply chain woe
It’s been a few weeks since we ran the article on the supply chain issues facing the New Mexico brewing industry, but the picture wouldn’t be complete without chatting with a few of the Santa Fe breweries, including a mixture of production facilities and brewpubs for good measure. So let’s get jump back in, shall…
The Week Ahead In Beer: Barleywines are here and the 2021 IPA Challenge concludes
Another beautiful autumn week full of delightful dark ales is behind us, the culmination of the 2021 IPA Challenge sits before us, and communal feasting just around the corner — tis a grand season. Franz Solo here, for another round of all things beer and the like. The final round of the 2021 IPA Challenge…
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…
NM IPA Challenge heads to Beer Creek Brewing Co. for Round 2
The second round of the New Mexico IPA Challenge is heading out to Beer Creek Brewing Co. on Saturday afternoon, and despite the abundance of easy atmosphere and delicious pizza, this one’s going to be a nail-bitter for the participating breweries and IPA fans. In case you missed it, this past week the good people…
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…
The Week Ahead In Beer: IPA Challenge 2021 Arrives
Greetings all, Franz Solo here, returned from adventures in Chicago and a week lost to a lingering cold. As the “hop head” of our fair group (I have been known to brew 300+ IBU IPAs and if you’ve ever asked if you could add more hops to a beer, the answer is yes), I’m always…