After having gone to the original Oktoberfest in Munich last year, one might think any festival of that type in New Mexico could not possibly live up to that experience for the Crew. Well, yeah, nothing comes close to that event in sheer size, but that does not mean the Crew cannot be impressed. And,…
Tag: Downshift Brewing
Oktoberfest in the mountains called and the Crew answered
After missing out last year, albeit for a very good reason, the Dark Side Brew Crew is descending upon Ruidoso for their epic Oktoberfest celebration at Downshift Brewing Riverside on Saturday. Oh, that reason was because we were at the OG Oktoberfest in Munich last year, but you’ve already heard us gloat about that plenty…
Statewide Oktoberfest Guide 2026: So many fests and so little time
There are a slew of Oktoberfest celebrations coming up this season in New Mexico, so we decided to round ’em all up to help you best plan out your weekends for the rest of this month and part of October. From Red River to Ruidoso, from Carlsbad to Angel Fire, and of course Albuquerque and…
Reigning IPA Challenge winners host final round but trail in standings
Prep your palates, the day of the hops is almost upon us! The final round of the 2026 New Mexico Brewers Guild IPA Challenge is this Saturday at Boxing Bear Firestone. Online tickets for all sessions (noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m.) are still available, but if you want to get in on the last session…
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…
IPA Challenge heads south where brewery activity is ramping up
The second round of the New Mexico Brewers Guild IPA Challenge is set for Saturday afternoon at Icebox Brewing in Las Cruces. The Crew will not be braving the heat and driving down I-25, but we will do our best to get the results out when the Guild announces the voting totals. Last weekend, Downshift…
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…
Statewide Oktoberfest Guide 2025: Every event celebrating the best season
There are quite a few Oktoberfest celebrations coming up this season in New Mexico, so we decided to round ’em all up to help you best plan out your weekends for the rest of this month and part of October. From Red River to Ruidoso, from Carlsbad to Angel Fire, and of course Albuquerque and…
Santa Fe Beer & Food Festival offers up wide variety of tasty brews
We mentioned in The Week Ahead in Beer that this Saturday and Sunday is the Santa Fe Beer & Food Festival at El Rancho de las Golondrinas. Now, as we tend to do any time there is a festival, we went ahead and got as many of the beer lists as we could for the…
Boxing Bear edges Downshift in closest IPA Challenge vote in many years
Back before the final round of the 2025 New Mexico Brewers Guild IPA Challenge, the Crew got all sentimental because it was going to be held at Canteen, the site of the first NMIPAC that we attended as a Crew back in 2012. Well, lo and behold, it was actually the 2016 NMIPAC that was…
