The Week Ahead in Beer: Raising funds and raising the dead

This week features a fascinating mix of fundraisers and spooky-themed events as we barrel towards All Hallow’s Eve. Starting with the charitable events, Painted Lady will have their Pints with Purpose Benefiting Barrett House this Thursday at 6 p.m. Canteen hosts Grapple for a Cause, benefiting Inner Strength Initiative on Saturday from 1 to 3…

Sidetrack rides to the top at the first New Mexico Craft Beer Awards

This past Friday, after the annual New Mexico Brewers Guild Technical Conference wrapped up at CNM, the attendees trekked over to nearby Flock of Moons for a special ceremony. For the first time, the Guild organized the New Mexico Craft Beer Awards, giving the local professionals and other certified judges a chance to vote and…

Boxing Bear Brewing gets their kicks with IPA Challenge win No. 6

In the end, the hosts had the most, well, votes. Boxing Bear won their sixth trophy at the New Mexico Brewers Guild IPA Challenge on Saturday afternoon, rallying from far back after the first two rounds. The hosts racked up 52 votes Saturday for a winning total of 63 across the three weeks of competition….

Downshift extends lead after second round of IPA Challenge

It was a good day to be a brewery from Southern New Mexico. The second round of the 2026 New Mexico Brewers Guild IPA Challenge was held at Icebox Brewing’s main location in Las Cruces on Saturday, with the hosts topping the round while another brewery from the region extending its overall lead. Icebox racked…

Downshift takes slight lead after 1st round of 2026 NMBG IPA Challenge

For anyone that missed it on social media, the Crew was present in numbers for the first round of the 2026 New Mexico Brewers Guild IPA Challenge on Saturday at Second Street Rufina in Santa Fe. Three of us joined in the first-round festivities, which were quite simple to enjoy in the spacious taproom, replete…

Beer Notes: Boxing Bear and Canteen bring home some hardware

The North American Brewers Association held their annual competition last week and a pair of New Mexico breweries picked up medals. Boxing Bear earned a bronze in the Helles Lager category for their Golden Gloves Premium Lager. Canteen also snagged a bronze, in the India Pale Lager or Cold IPA category, for their High Voltage…