The New Mexico Brewers Guild had big plans back in 2020 for its own version of the annual Craft Brewers Conference, a combined educational event and trade show for members of the industry within the state. COVID, of course, wiped out both the New Mexico version and the national version that year, but after CBC…
Tag: New Mexico Brewers Guild
La Cumbre Brewing ascends to the top of the 2022 NMBG Stout Invitational
It was a close vote at the 2022 New Mexico Brewers Guild Stout Invitational on Saturday, but at the end it was La Cumbre who came out on top. With 29 votes, the longtime Albuquerque heavyweight prevailed over a field of 16 stouts in a blind taste test held over three sessions at Bathtub Row…
Stout Invitational returns with a twist to Los Alamos after 1-year COVID hiatus
Before the dark times arrived in March 2020, the last great beer event held was the New Mexico Brewers Guild Stout Invitational at Bathtub Row Brewing in Los Alamos. Flix Brewhouse took home the trophy in the February competition, a blind taste test of 16 stouts from around the state. And then, COVID, and darkness,…
New Brewers Guild executive director stoked to return to her home state
If the new executive director of the New Mexico Brewers Guild looks familiar to anyone, it would probably to the former loyal customers of one of our state’s classic brewpubs, Chama River, that is sadly no more. That alone is the first sign that a lot has changed since Tess Vidalis left New Mexico, and…
WinterBrew returns in 2022 with plenty of beers to keep everyone warm and cozy
Sadly, I had missed my first WinterBrew in 2020 because I was on the road. How could I know I wouldn’t get a chance to return to my favorite festival the following year in 2021? I have to admit, I was pretty bummed about the whole thing. I saw all the great pictures. Late last…
New Mexico Brewers Guild executive director moves on to her next chapter
The first time I met Leah Black was when she was slinging beers at the long-gone Hallenbrick Brewing, where she was gutting through the process of pouring brews despite a broken wrist suffered recently on the ski slopes of Northern New Mexico. Then, months later, there she was, sans air cast, doing the same at…
Turtle Mountain North nearly ready for its grand debut in Enchanted Hills
The penultimate New Mexico Brewers Guild Social of the year took place Tuesday night in a unique spot, as those of us in attendance got a first look (or in my case, a second look) at the forthcoming Turtle Mountain North in Enchanted Hills at the far end of Rio Rancho. Owner Nico Ortiz said…
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!…
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…
DARK SIDE BREW CREW 