Posts Tagged ‘Ponderosa Brewing’

Ponderosa finds its comfort zone while awaiting completion of new taproom

Posted: February 12, 2018 by cjax33 in Look Back/Look Ahead Series 2017-18
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Business was up at Ponderosa in 2017, with plenty more on deck for this year.

It was all about the little things at Ponderosa Brewing in 2017. Whether it was doing a bit of remodeling, experimenting with new beer styles, introducing a canned beer for the first time, or just focusing on making the brewery into a true neighborhood pub, it all seems to have paid off.

“2017 was really good, actually,” head brewer Antonio Fernandez said. “Everything was kind of on a pretty big uptick for us. Our customer base was bigger, our sales were bigger, I brewed more beer than we’d ever brewed before, we sold more beer than before. The business growth was really positive this past year. We’ve had a pretty steady curve of growth.”

Antonio and I sat down recently over a goblet of his Russian imperial stout, which he named Bernalillo County Stout, for Ponderosa’s turn in our Look Back/Look Ahead Series. It was a busy early afternoon on a weekday, which seemed to back up his point about business being up at the Sawmill District brewpub.

“One of the other big things that we’ve seen is that while we’ve sold a lot of food … at this point we’re selling as much beer as food,” Antonio said with a smile. “It’s 50-50 now, which is cool. That makes me happy.”

Ponderosa also continued to branch out beyond the confines of its four walls in 2017.

“We increased our distribution quite a bit,” Antonio said. “Last year at this time we were having our beer distributed through Bosque. They sold their distribution (to Admiral Beverage) and we got out of that deal. We had to get a rezoning thing done with the City and get our wholesaler’s license. You probably saw it on the way in, we’ve got our little van.”

Antonio said Ponderosa now has beer on tap at around 20 other establishments, ranging from bars to restaurants, mostly in downtown and the North Valley.

“It’s been really nice (feedback),” he said. “What’s been good for us is a couple of our normal styles are ones that no one else makes regularly, our kolsch and our brown ale. I don’t think anyone makes a kolsch year round. Our brown ale is really popular for the same reason. It’s probably one of only three or four browns made year round.”

Ponderosa found success with its first canned beer in 2017, and more styles are on deck for this year.

This past year also saw the first canned beer from Ponderosa as its India Pale Lager was sold at liquor stores and retailers around town.

“It was basically kind of like a test run to see if there’s any interest out there in the market,” Antonio said. “I decided to go with something different. You see a lot of IPA out there in the market. We did a small test run on the cans with Mother Road (Mobile Canning). It’s been most popular here in the taproom, we sell a lot of six packs (here). It’s been successful enough for us that we’re counting on doing a couple more brands (in the future).”

Antonio said the Blood Orange Wit, a big hit in the taproom, is one under consideration. The other could be a German-style pilsner.

While more cans are on deck, the biggest project of 2018 remains the first off-site taproom. It is still under construction at the El Vado Motel redevelopment on Central near Tingley.

“It’s been delay after delay,” Antonio said. “That’s how it is with construction. It will probably be open later in the spring.”

The cold room was under construction, with the draft system to follow. Antonio said they were still waiting for some of the equipment to arrive.

“My ultimate goal is that it will be open by (ABQ) Beer Week,” Antonio said. “That would be perfect if we could make that happen. But, I’ve been in this town long enough to know that if you say you’re going to open by June, I’ll see you in December. That’s just the way it is with any place that serves beer in this town.”

Even with delays on the construction of Ponderosa’s first off-site taproom, head brewer Antonio Fernandez still has plenty to smile about of late.

The first retail outlet, Metal the Store by Metal the Brand artist Michael Wieclaw, opened this past Friday at El Vado. Even Mayor Tim Keller was in attendance, which shows how much support the project is receiving from the City of Albuquerque. Plenty of folks in attendance said they were looking forward to the Ponderosa taproom opening in the future.

“It’s going to be a small taproom,” Antonio said. “It will have 10 taps to mirror what we have here on tap at all times. We thought about doing some more taps and bringing in some guest taps as well. That could be nice, but I don’t know where we are on that.”

There will be up to six different eateries at El Vado, and Antonio said they are hoping to be certified to where customers can purchase beer and take it out to any part of the complex. That might be a tough sell with the State of New Mexico, which did not allow that at Green Jeans Farmery with Santa Fe Brewing.

While all of that is going on a few miles away, Antonio is staying focused on the beer.

“I’ve been experimenting with a lot more beer (styles),” he said. “I brewed a lot more lagers. I’ve been getting into that lately. We’ve got a few more coming out. There will be a lot more fruit beers, actually. They were really popular.”

Another new beer is the result of a conversation with a couple of Ponderosa customers.

“We’re going to have a cool project coming up in a couple weeks,” Antonio said. :We’re going to partner with General Mills. We have a couple guys that work there that are regulars here. We got to talking, so we’re going to brew up a Cinnamon Toast Crunch Stout. We’re going to get a big bag of that and throw it in the mash tun.”

If the beer is a hit, expect more cereal brews in the future, he added.

The first remodeling project opened up the south end of the taproom.

In addition to new beers, there have also been some physical changes at Ponderosa.

“There are some different innovations on the south side of the restaurant,” Antonio said. “We pulled out all the booths and put in the high-top tables. It really opened up the area. It’s a lot brighter and more inviting now. It’s turned from overflow seating to where people want to go sit down.”

With that area done, the next bit of remodeling will be behind the bar.

“We’re going to move the office back in (the southeast corner),” Antonio said. “I’ll be taking over this entire (central) space. We’re expanding some more stuff into my brewery. I can move all my grain into that area. I’ll be able to add another tank. We’ll get a little more capacity, take some pressure off when I’m doing lagers.”

Speaking of lagers, Antonio said he hopes to have more fun with those during ABQ Beer Week in late May/early June.

“We’re trying to organize a small beer festival that we’ll do here just for lagers,” he said. “There will probably be six to eight breweries, everyone brings over a keg of beer. Kind of your standard format, get a sample at each one, then a glass of your favorite.”

Overall, Ponderosa will be a more active participant in the annual 11-day series of beer-centric events.

“We’re planning on doing quite a bit more for Beer Week this year,” Antonio said. “Last year we did the beer and tapas pairing every day. We’re planning on doing that again this year because we had some pretty crowds every day. We’re also going to do a full beer pairing dinner in here one of the nights now that we’ve got a stable, veteran kitchen staff. We’re going to be on track to do that.”

All of that is part of the plan at Ponderosa as the beer scene evolves around the country.

“There are over 6,000 breweries nationwide now, but if you read all the statistics, the beer-drinking base is actually shrinking,” Antonio said. “It’s making it tougher and tougher. I’d really like to focus on being a neighborhood pub, being a regular place for people. We have a lot of regulars. That’s what I personally see as the future of craft breweries.”

Thanks to Antonio for taking the time out for an interview, and for being patient when it came to this story being published (it got bumped by breaking news more than once). Make sure to head over to try the Bernalillo County Stout before the supply runs out.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister

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Beer Notes: New taproom concept and some fun events light up this weekend

Posted: January 26, 2018 by cjax33 in Beer Notes
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That little construction project on McMahon near Unser is the forthcoming west side taproom for Tractor.

Time to clear out the old beer notebook once again …

Tap That offers up a different approach

For those who do not follow us on Facebook, you might have missed our discovery, per reader Matthew Abeyta, that there is a new taproom opening up this weekend. It is not, however, like most (or possibly) taprooms you have ever been to before.

Tap That, located on Montgomery just west of Louisiana (near the old Heimat House/Assets Grille), is hosting its grand opening starting at 5 p.m. today (Friday). The concept, as explained to us by our friend Angelo Orona, is where people come in, get a hi-tech bracelet, and use it to order the beers. There will also be a full food menu. It is not quite like one of those serve yourself taprooms that have popped up in other states (that is still against the law in this state, as far as we know), but it will be a different concept.

We would share more from the Albuquerque Business First story that ran a few weeks ago, but it is locked behind the subscriber-only paywall. Needless to say, if you can afford a subscription (we cannot), go get it, and help some fellow journalists stay employed.

Otherwise, head over to Tap That and let us know what you think. With luck, and a little free time, the Crew will head over there soon as well.

Tastings, tappings, and more

Outside the breweries, there is a fair amount going on this weekend that will keep us plenty busy. It starts today (Friday) at 4 p.m. as North Coast Brewing will be at Jubilation, presenting their most excellent Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout and other beers for tasting. Word is there will even be two bottles of the barrel-aged Rasputin, XVII and XX. It runs until 6 p.m. and is free, of course, but it is so hard to roll into Jubilation these days and not roll out with a box full of delicious beers from around the country and some delectable local offerings as well.

Once you are done there, head on down to Sister for a Bell’s tap takeover that starts at 5 p.m. In addition to the worth-the-hype Hopslam, an imperial IPA brewed with honey, there will be multiple other varieties available as well. The one we are excited about is the Whiskey Barrel-Aged Cherry Stout, which many folks have told us is a much more balanced version than the regular batch.

For events at breweries, might we suggest going to Marble Westside tonight at 8 to see our friend Kristen’s band, String Dinner. Hopefully her other band, Distances, which might be the best metal band in Albuquerque, will be performing again soon somewhere.

If anyone needs to get out of town this weekend, our friends at Truth or Consequences Brewing have suggested a trip south. Take a dip in the hot springs to relax, then head over to the brewery for some fun and new beers. Big River IBA (7.5% ABV, 69 IBU) went on tap Thursday. It is an India Brown Ale, a fun take on a slightly different IPA. The brewery has live music ever Friday and Saturday night, too. Special upcoming concerts include The Pine Hill Haints on Tuesday and The Booze Bombs on Thursday, both at 7 p.m. The latter band is described as German rockabilly, which has us imagining Rammstein crossed with Reverend Horton Heat, or something like that.

The TorC staff recommends The Firewater Lodge, The Blackstone, Riverbend, Las Palomas, The Charles, Indian Springs, and The Pelican as the best places to stay the night.

New brewery/taproom updates

  • High & Dry Brewing has quietly opened in the southeast. I took a tour the other day with brewer/owner Andrew Kalemba, so look for our full story early next week. For now, there are six guest taps available, but the house beers will not be on tap until the grand opening on February 10. It is a sweet little space that they have built on Adams just south of Lomas. It also might be one of the most deceptive taprooms in town. From the outside it looks quite small, but the inside can fit up to 88 people, with even more room in the back for brewing.
  • Tractor has a pending license for its forthcoming west side taproom, plus some pictures went up on social media this week (see above). Look for that space to open in the coming months.
  • It appears the mysterious 1933 Brewing Company announced for Rio Rancho will be moving into the old Fat Squirrel Pub and Grill on Southern Boulevard. Long ago, of course, that was the original location of Turtle Mountain. It will not be owned by the folks behind Pi Brewing, who also previously owned the Fat Squirrel, but by new owners.
  • Construction continues apace at Cantero and Lava Rock, but neither appears close to opening its doors. The Ponderosa taproom at the El Vado Motel redevelopment has been delayed (more on that with the Ponderosa Look Back/Look Ahead Series article coming next week) and will probably not open until later in the spring.
  • Another new addition to the list of pending small brewer licenses is Casa Vieja LLC in Corrales. We are pretty sure we know what this one is, too, but for now we are remaining mum at the request of the owner.

That is all from us today. As always, please let us know whenever you see anything out there that you think is beer news: nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister

Beer Notes: Brewers Association recaps the entire year

Posted: December 15, 2017 by cjax33 in Uncategorized
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Cheers to the BA for all it does.

Yeah, it is definitely that time of year. The recaps and top 10 lists are being posted, the year-in-review stories are rolling along (like, uh, our Look Back/Look Ahead Series). When it comes to recapping the year in craft beer for the entire country, no one sums it up best quite like the Brewers Association.

It was another big year for craft beer, to say the least.

“Craft brewers continue to thrive, if at a slower pace, fueled by a passionate community dedicated to bringing innovation, jobs and beer across America—on Main Street and beyond,” said Bart Watson, the chief economist of the Brewers Association, in a press release. “Today, 83 percent of the population lives within 10 miles of a local brewery, meaning that the positive impact of breweries is being felt in communities all over the country.”

OK, that is pretty cool. What other stats does the BA have for us?

  • The number of breweries nationwide has now surpassed 6,000, with 98 percent of those falling under the craft banner. By the Crew’s count, 68 of those are in New Mexico, with at least six more active licenses for places that have yet to open their doors, but should in the next couple months (more on that down below).
  • All those breweries have created 456,373 jobs, a 7.5-percent increase from 2014. In turn, that has generated $67.8 billion for the U.S. economy, a 21.7-percent increase. Craft breweries in turn donated $73.4 million to charities.
  • The Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act has support from both parties and will potentially pass through both houses of Congress and become law during this current session. So, yeah, I guess we will have to say that Congress will do one good thing.
  • It appears the term “beercation” is becoming more and more of a reality. The average craft beer drinker visits 3.5 breweries near home and 2.5 breweries within two hours driving distance (take note: the press release did not say whether this was 3.5 per week, per month, or per year; for the Crew, it would certainly be per week, sometimes even per day, when we are feeling frisky with our Lyft/Uber accounts). A survey by the BA found that 64 percent of craft drinkers like to visit breweries to try new beers on a regular basis. We will raise one to that.
  • The New Mexico stats on the BA website are for 2016, but they still tell a positive story. By the end of that year, there 57 breweries, ranking 26th in the country. More notably, the 3.9 breweries per capita (100,000 adults) ranks 11th nationwide. Breweries had an economic impact of $333 million (40th) or $226.26 per capita (35th). A total of 111,237 barrels (32nd) were produced, amounting to 2.3 gallons consumed per adult (21st).

Yeah, it is still a good era for craft beer. Here is hoping it continues into 2018 and beyond.

Embrace the darkness at beer bars, too

The quality of dark beers around town is straight fire.

Our friends over Rock & Brews wanted you all to know that the current dark beer lineup is fairly epic. As fun as it is to hit up the breweries first, don’t forget the beer bars, as they often pull in some exclusive styles from out of state that you can usually only get in bottles or cans.

Rock & Brews currently has Dogfish Head’s Vanilla Oak-Aged Worldwide Stout, which is otherwise a pricey purchase in four-pack bottles. The ubiquitous Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout lines up next to Worldwide. There is also the most recent iteration of the ultimate beer geek beer, Stone’s Imperial Farking Wootstout. The real surprise gem, though, is Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout. No, really, it is on tap. If that hefty price tag for a bomber is scaring you off, but you really want to know if it is worth it (we think so, but we’re biased), head over to Rock & Brews to try it first before you commit to a 22-ounce bottle or two.

Down at Sister Bar, at least as of the Gatecreeper show this past Monday (gotta say, impressive crowd showing, ABQ-area metalheads), there is still some of La Cumbre’s La Negra on tap. It has been out at the brewery for a while, so get some while it lasts (if it’s even still there, we apologize if it is gone by now).

Nob Hill Bar & Grill has a strong lineup, which you can find anytime via Untappd. The current black beasts of ahhh available are Bell’s Black Note and Kalamazoo Stout, plus 2016 and 2017 Bourbon County Brand Stout, and two old favorites in Oskar Blues Ten FIDY and Stone Xocoveza.

So much dark beer, so little time.

New breweries update

Hello to a new small town brewery!

Sticking with tradition in beer notes, here are the most recent updates on all the forthcoming breweries across New Mexico. As always, we only list breweries with pending or active small brewer licenses with the State.

  • BLUE (Albuquerque): Nothing new on this small brewery located somewhere near Broadway and Lead/Coal.
  • Bonito Valley Brewing (Lincoln): A newcomer to the list located in a small, historic town west of Roswell along Highway 380. There is a Facebook page that says the owners are aiming for a summer 2018 opening.
  • Brewstillery (Albuquerque): We still have no info on this combo operation in the Southeast.
  • Callahan West Brewery (Mosquero): The small town brewery has been in touch with the NM Brewers Guild about joining up in 2018, so it appears to be a go.
  • Cantero Brewing (Albuquerque): Now armed with an active license, the final parts of construction are underway.
  • Elkins Brewing (Grants): We have no new info on this business.
  • Glencoe Distillery and Brewery (Ruidoso): The license is active, but there is still no website that we can find, nor any social media. It remains a mystery.
  • Guadalupe Mountain Brewing (Carlsbad): The license is active here, too, and beer is now being brewed. We await the announcement of opening, which could come any week now.
  • High and Dry Brewing (Albuquerque): Construction appears to be mostly complete down near Adams and Lomas. The Crew is in touch with the ownership and we are working to set up an advance tour when they are ready.
  • Hollow Spirits (Albuquerque): Construction continues on this new combo spot in the Wells Park neighborhood. It is the brainchild of former Red Door co-owner Frank Holloway.
  • Lava Rock Brewing (Albuquerque): The West Side brewery is getting closer and closer to opening on Unser just north of Ladera.
  • Lost Hiker Brewing (Ruidoso): Yes, the license is active, now only a few final touches must be completed and there will be local beer in the mountains down south. Keep track of the progress on the Lost Hiker Facebook page.
  • 1933 Brewing (Rio Rancho): Another newcomer to the list, we have no info beyond a name and a zip code for RR. It is unknown if this brewery is related in any way to the former 1933 Brewing of Fort Collins, Colo., which closed at the end of 2016.
  • Red River Brewing: All this mild winter is not helping the ski industry up north, but it should enable RRB to finish construction and remain on track for an early 2018 opening.
  • Switchback Brewery (Cloudcroft): There is still no info online on this place. We would like to remind everyone, though, that there is a Switchback Brewing in Vermont, so a name change may ultimately be necessary.
  • Toltec Brewing (Albuquerque): The forthcoming West Side brewery took a big step by hiring a head brewer, but we have been asked not to reveal the identity of this individual just yet. Let us just say, however, that we are excited.
  • Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery (Santa Fe): There are lots of construction photos on Facebook, so it looks like a good bet to open sooner than later. The small brewer license is now active.
  • The pending licenses for off-site taprooms remains as follows — Little Toad Creek in Las Cruces (new!); Ponderosa at El Vado Motel redevelopment (getting close); Santa Fe Downtown Taproom; Starr Brothers Alehouse (location TBA); Tumbleroot in Santa Fe (they will not sell beer out of the production facility down the street). Also, the Milton’s taproom in Roswell has an active license, but it is not yet open as far as we know.

That is all for now. As always, if you know anything about anything, please drop us a line at nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com or contact us via direct message on Facebook or Twitter.

Have a great weekend, and good luck with any last-minute Christmas shopping!

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister

The Crew survived to tell the tale of NM Brew Fest 8

Posted: October 17, 2017 by cjax33 in NM Brew Fest 2017
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Hello, NMBF, you were wonderful again!

While I was at work Saturday afternoon, a trio of Crew members joined a gaggle of our friends and other beer lovers at the eighth annual New Mexico Brew Fest. Held at Expo New Mexico, it moved back out to Main Street instead of being in the more cramped Villa Hispana. Here are their thoughts and a few photos from the fest I missed (at least agreeing to work Saturdays came with a raise).

AmyO: I really like this particular brew fest, and I am always sad when I can’t go because it often conflicts with a Lobo game or a trip out of town. Happily, I was able to attend this year. I love the super local feel of this one. It reminds me of some of the smaller brew fests in Portland back in the day before they began to get out-of-control crowded. Some people even wore costumes, and many of the attendees seemed pretty beer savvy.

The weather sure cooperated; although it was starting to get pretty warm in the late afternoon, there is always some shade at this venue. I appreciated the food selection this year. I ate the “special” at the barbecue food truck (Nomad’s BBQ). This was a hot link in a bun covered with a TON of pulled pork. It’s exactly the kind of food you need to soak up so much beer. And, it went really well with some of the spicier/fall-style beers. I also saw someone with a really great looking poke bowl. Very different, and a healthier option!

Raise the horns!

My overall favorite beer was probably the Raspberry Nitro Stout from Marble. First of all, having nitro at a festival always rates high for me. The beer was heavy on the raspberry, but not at all sweet. There was a cocoa powder flavor and mouthfeel that also added to the uniqueness. The Tripel Reserve from Monks’ did not disappoint, either.

The best name has to go to Canteen’s Oompa Lupulin DIPA, but it’s even harder to say after you have had some!

Surprises for me as far as beers I did not expect to enjoy as much as I did were the Das Roggen Weiner from Marble, and Palmer’s Double IPA (because there was much less sweetness to it than I thought there would be). A really great palate cleanser after multiple heavy beers was Ponderosa’s Ecliptic Wet Hop Ale.

My big disappointment was that I never got to try Blue Corn’s Imperial Stout. Blue Corn was late to arrive because sadly they had a tire blowout on the way down to Albuquerque. When they finally did get set up, they held the stout to a 4 p.m. tapping. Everyone was ready to leave by that time, so I never got to try it. I did have their oak-aged Scotch and that was lovely.

Franz Solo found his fellow vikings.

Franz Solo: What I loved best about this particular festival was just how local and friendly the whole thing was. Drinking beer under cottonwoods on the old fairgrounds with a great crowd of people and some fantastic local offerings, both beer-wise and food-wise, was simply magical. Highlights for me were Turtle Mountain’s Depravity barleywine which has aged extremely well since last winter; Canteen’s Oompa Lupulin DIPA, which was simply a hop screamer straight out of the gates of hop heaven; Monks’ Tripel Reserve, which is incredibly smooth and clear for a monster of a beer; and the pair of ludicrous offerings from Blue Corn, which brought its ’16 Scotch and ’15 Russian Imperial Stout, which were both stupendous. Having so many Oktoberfest Marzens as well was a real treat to cleanse the palate between some of the bigger brews, and on the whole they were all quite tasty. A grand event for the NM Brewers Guild and for local breweries and local food offerings alike. I look forward to returning to this wonderful NM Brew Fest.

The Crew and friends did a good job of wiping out that ’15 Imperial Stout from Blue Corn.

Brandon: The brewery list seemed smaller this year, but I can’t blame more places for not participating in this event, with just having wrapped up GABF and all. That being said, the breweries in attendance made sure to bring some standout brews, so here’s what popped for me:

  • Featherweight Session IPA, Boxing Bear: Fresh off a bronze medal at GABF. Lighter but crisp malt backing, with grassy, floral, and citrus zest notes. The low ABV made this one a good choice for the warm weather of the day. Who says session beers can’t pack a flavor punch?
  • Depravity Barleywine 2016, Turtle Mountain: Not a palate-crushing, hop-forward incarnation, like some versions of the style. Tons of caramel, burnt caramel, and toffee.  Chewy as all hell, but not a lot of alcohol warmth. A deceptively dangerous barleywine, loved it.
  • 2015 Imperial Stout, Blue Corn: “Oh what a surprise, the DSBC liked a dark beer”… if you expected less, you don’t know our lives. This beer is a beast, it has about four different types of chocolate notes present — dried fruit, oak and vanilla, and warms you to the core. We want more of this black fire in a glass!
  • V.M.O.M.G., Steel Bender: This one was released a few days prior to NM Brew Fest, but this was my first chance to taste it.  Was quite surprised.  Not that I thought it would be a bad beer, but I didn’t expect this to be THAT good. A damn fine take on a traditional seasonal style. Crisp, sweet malt, good spice from hops. Very solid.
  • Oktoberfest, La Cumbre: I’m going to be blunt here … if you missed this one, you’re f****d.  Cans are gone or close to gone, and all kegs are already gone in distribution. If you find any of this lovely beer, drink it while you can.

That is all from us. Thank you to Kevin Hopper for the tickets, and thank you to all the breweries for bringing some of their finest offerings!

Cheers!

— The Crew

An in-depth look at Saturday’s many beer-laden events

Posted: September 22, 2017 by cjax33 in Events
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This is just one of the many big events on Saturday.

As we noted back in The Week Ahead in Beer, this Saturday is chock-full of beer-soaked events in Albuquerque and points nearby. To help everyone pick out where to go, we offer up a more detailed look at all of them.

We already covered ULLR Fest in Los Alamos, with an updated entry for Boxing Bear (thanks, Justin!), so you can also consider that fun annual event. Here are all the others. All times listed are for Saturday unless noted.

Out of town events

Sierra Blanca 6th Annual Oktoberfest

  • When: 2-9 p.m.
  • Where: Sierra Blanca Brewing, Moriarty
  • How much: $12 for Sam’s Famous Bratwurst Dinner (kids 12 and under are free)
  • Live music: Tom Williams and Full Moon
  • Other fun stuff: There will be a kids’ zone, so rest easy, parents. Kids also get a free plate with a hot dog, chips, and a soda.
  • Special beer(s): Oktoberfest and Whiskey Stout

Atalaya RescueFest

  • When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Where: Second Street original location
  • How much: No cover
  • Live music: Andrew Primm, Petty Theft, The Bus Tapes, Swing Soleil, Bill Hearne (set times TBA)
  • Other fun stuff: There will be commemorative pint glasses and apparel, plus a live auction and a raffle.
  • Special beer: Atalaya Altbier

In town events

Rio Bravo Second Anniversary Weekend

  • When: Today, 7-11 p.m., Saturday, 3-11 p.m., Sunday, 4-7 p.m.
  • Where: Rio Bravo
  • How much: No cover
  • Live music: Today—Le Chat Lunatique, 7-9 p.m., hONEyhoUSe, 9:30-11 p.m.; Saturday—Fred Johnson Band, 3-4 p.m., Higher Ground Bluegrass, 4:20-6:20 p.m., Silver String Band, 6:40-8:40 p.m., The Squash Blossom Boys, 9-11 p.m.; Sunday—Women in the Arts Showcase featuring musicians Anabellie Rivera and Elizabeth Marie Berry, 4-7 p.m.
  • Other fun stuff: This weekend also marks the grand opening of The Burger Stand at Rio Bravo. There will be lots of food specials, including a Saturday shrimp boil in the Bier Garten. Sunday’s Women in the Arts Showcase is hosted by poet/singer/author/activist Ebony Isis Booth and will feature 10-year-old author Marisol Paramo, a live artist auction, and women-owned businesses and arts vendors.
  • Special beer: Schwarzbier

Ponderosa Third Anniversary Party

  • When: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
  • Where: Ponderosa Brewing
  • How much: No cover
  • Live music: Bands TBA
  • Other fun stuff: There will be door prizes, plus a special beer, cheese, and salami tasting for $30 that includes a free stein you can fill with your favorite brew. There will also be a special event called Wine Down with Art featuring Suki Willoughby from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  • Special beer: Barleywine (archived keg)

Albuquerque Mountain Rescue Brew Fest

  • When: Noon-11 p.m.
  • Where: Marble Downtown
  • How much: No cover
  • Live music: The Real Matt Jones, noon-1 p.m., TV Killers, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Stanlie Kee and Step In, 3-4 p.m., DJ Leftovers, 4:30-6 p.m., Sol De La Noche, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Cynical Bird, 8-9 p.m., Wagogo, 9:30-11 p.m.
  • Other fun stuff: There are three rounds of silent auctions, a raffle, limited edition commemorative T-shirts, pint glasses, stickers, and hats, plus three food trucks (Saep Fire Grill, Soo Bak, Street Food Institute).
  • Special beer: Sandia Sunset Saison, brewed with watermelon

SOMOS Albuquerque

  • When: 4-10 p.m.
  • Where: Downtown on Central between 3rd and 7th Streets, running north to Copper and south to Gold.
  • How much: $10
  • Live music: There are four stages, Dance, Hip Hop, Rock, and Country/NM. Dillon Francis will headline the dance stage from 8:40-9:55 p.m. Deltron 3030 will headline the Hip Hop stage from 8-9:15 p.m. Minus the Bear will headline the Rock stage from 8:15-9:30 p.m. Jackie Lee will headline the Country/NM stage from 7:45-9 p.m.
  • Other fun stuff: There will be multiple food vendors, the Nuevo Tech Experience at Mezcal, native dance at the Kimo Theater, many local commercial vendors, a family zone, and more.
  • Special beer: None, but there is a beer garden with 10 local breweries, including Bow & Arrow, Marble, and Tractor.

If you are planning to attend multiple events, or even one for a good chunk of time, please use a designated driver, Lyft, Uber, or a taxi. We want to make sure everyone has a fun and safe time this weekend.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister

The Week Ahead in Beer: A mountain of events to ascend

Posted: September 20, 2017 by cjax33 in The Week Ahead in Beer
Tags: , , , ,
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Greetings, New Mexico craft beer lovers. Stoutmeister here with The Week Ahead in Beer. This column covers all the breweries in Bernalillo and Sandoval counties, with Santa Fe’s six breweries, one in Los Alamos, and one in Moriarty also joining the party.

Stoutmeister puts on his serious face to handle The Week Ahead in Beer.

Stoutmeister puts on his serious face to handle The Week Ahead in Beer.

You know those weeks where there are barely any events or beer releases to feature? This is not one of those weeks. Not at all. The madness starts today (Wednesday) with the Cuvee Rouge tap and bottle release at all three Marble locations. Each will have a different food pairing, so head to the respective Facebook pages and see which one you want to attend. At least that should be an easy choice, as opposed to picking where to go Saturday. Ponderosa and Rio Bravo are celebrating their anniversaries, Sierra Blanca has its annual Oktoberfest celebration, and there will be two mountain-themed events at Marble Downtown and the original second street. Ponderosa’s third anniversary party will feature live music, art, and a tapping of an archived barleywine. It will run from open to close. Rio Bravo will actually tap its anniversary schwarzbier on Friday, but Saturday will feature live music from 3 to 11 p.m. (see their entry below for the lineup). Sierra Blanca’s sixth annual event runs from 2 to 9 p.m. It costs $12 and you get a sausage plate, plus live music. There will a kids zone and all sorts of games for adults, too. Second Street and Atalaya Search & Rescue will host the fourth annual Rescuefest from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will be live music, commemorative pint glasses, special apparel for sale, a silent auction and raffle, and of course the annual tapping of the Atalaya Altbier. Marble will host a sister event, the eighth annual Albuquerque Mountain Rescue Brew Fest, with live music from noon to 11 p.m. There will be special raffles, merchandise sales, silent auctions, commemorative items, and more. Oh, and ULLR Fest is up on Pajarito Mountain above Los Alamos on Saturday, but we will have a separate preview of that later in the week. Good thing they’re all letting us rest before GABF, right?

On the new beer front this week, there are a few options to check out. Canteen added a delicious Oktoberfest late last week. Ponderosa has its Ecliptic Wet Hop Ale, brewed during the recent eclipes. Rio Bravo also has Grapefruit Launcher IPA due out Friday. Sidetrack has turned a slight mishap into a new red ale named Bonehead. Steel Bender added Cow Plow Brown Ale back on Monday. Tractor gets creative by putting Blood Orange Pale Ale on its nitro tap at Wells Park. Turtle Mountain dives into the wet-hop craze with S.O.S. (Shop on Southern), part of a new effort to keep locals supporting businesses up and down Southern Boulevard, which is about to undergo a huge round of construction.

Up in Santa Fe, Chili Line rolls out Jacona Stout and P.G. (Pinche Guey) IPA. Santa Fe’s latest entry in the Ever Changing Series, Wet Hop Pale Ale, has hit taps. Second Street has also added fresh batches of Rod’s Best Bitter, XX ESB, Civil Rye, and Wet Hop Otowi.

Continue reading for all the news that is fit to blog for the week of September 18.

To break down each “capsule,” I listed the brewery (with Web page linked), its phone number and hours of operation. Under “Beers” are the new or seasonal beers on tap for this week.

Albuquerque metro area breweries

Ale Republic — (505) 281-2828

(Mon–Thurs 2–10 p.m., Fri–Sun noon–10 p.m.)

Beers: Brune, Blonde, Strong Dark and Handsome, Diablo del Oro, Parasol, Red Mountain. The most recent additions were the Red Mountain (7.5% ABV, 80 IBU), Parasol (4.5% ABV, 20 IBU), and Diablo (9.7% ABV, 20 IBU), which is a hefty Belgian golden strong.

Alien Brew Pub — (505) 884-1116

(Mon–Thurs 11 a.m.–midnight, Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–2 a.m., Sunday 10 a.m.–midnight)

Beers: Call the number above for details on any small-batch beers currently available. They change frequently. The rest of the lineup is from the Sierra Blanca/Rio Grande family of beers.

Bistronomy B2B — (505) 262-2222

(Mon–Tues 4-9 p.m., Weds noon-9 p.m., Thurs–Sat noon-9:30 p.m., Sun noon-9 p.m.)

Beers: Contact the brewery for an updated list.

The Blue Grasshopper — (505) 896-8579

(Noon to 11 p.m. most days, call for more info)

Beers: El Jeffe Hefeweizen, Frias Belgian-Style Single, June Bock German Lager. Rejoice, for Blue Grasshopper is brewing again! The Friars and June Bock are the more recent additions.

Live Music: Bands perform from 6 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday through Saturday. Click the link for the schedule.

Boese Brothers Brewery — (505) 382-7060

(Hours: Mon–Thurs 3 p.m.–midnight, Fri 3 p.m.–2 a.m., Sat noon–2 a.m., Sun noon–10 p.m.)

Beers: La Onza White Ale, Dr. Strangehop XPA, Duke City Lager, Washington’s Hatchet, Zeus Juice White IPA, Betchin Little Pale Ale, Cherry Bomb, Sour Relationship, Sour Strangehop, Grapefruit Pale Ale. The Zeus Juice can also be purchased in bombers. Grapefruit Pale Ale is the most recent addition.

Live Music: Saturday—Casey Mraz, 9 p.m.

Other Events: Saturday—Premier League Viewing Party, 5:30 a.m.

Happy Hour/Discounts: Boese will have a happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, with $3 pints. You can also get $3 pints all day Tuesday and $6 growler fills all day Wednesday.

Bosque Brewing Company — (505) 750-7596 (main brewery), (505) 508-5967 (Nob Hill Public House), (575) 571-4626 (Las Cruces Taproom)

(Main brewery on San Mateo: Mon–Thurs 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.-midnight, Sun noon-8 p.m.; Nob Hill: Mon–Weds 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Thurs 11 a.m.-midnight, Fri–Sat 11 a.m.-1 a.m., Sun noon-11 p.m.; Las Cruces: Sun–Thurs noon-11 p.m., Fri–Sat noon-midnight)

Beers: Summer Slammer, Rio Vallecitos (Wet Hop DIPA), Oktoberfest, Pistol Pete’s 1888. Get some of that delicious Oktoberfest before it’s gone. The Pistol Pete’s 1888 was brewed for the New Mexico State University athletic program.

Happy Hour/Discounts: Bosque has a happy hour running from 3-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and all day on Sunday. Look for special menu items and get $1 off your favorite pints.

Bow & Arrow Brewing — (505) 247-9800

(Mon-Weds 3–10 p.m., Thurs 3–11 p.m., Fri-Sat noon–midnight, Sun noon–9 p.m.)

Beers: Flint & Grit (British Mild), Sun Dagger (Saison), True Aim (Scotch Ale), Hoka Hey (IPA), Jemez Field Notes Lager, Wayward Arrow Hefeweizen, Way Out West Farmhouse Sour, Cosmic Arrow Brett Saison, Hoodoo Monster Imperial Red, Way Out West Sour Sumac, Black Chandelier (Belgo Stout), Dry-hopped Sour with Motueka, Desert Dynamo IPL, Fast Luck Dry-Hopped Pale Ale. The most recent additions to the lineup are the Fast Luck, Desert Dynamo, Dry-hoppped Sour, Cosmic Arrow, Hoodoo Monster, Sour Sumac, and Black Chandelier. The sheer variety of styles on tap is quite impressive, and Wolf Eyes Oktoberfest will join them this Thursday.

Happy Hour/Discounts: Bow & Arrow has happy hour every Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. Get $1 off pints.

Boxing Bear Brewing Company — (505) 897-2327

(Sun-Thurs 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-11 p.m.)

Beers: The Red Glove, Chocolate Red, Featherweight Session IPA, Crystal Kolsch, P.U.B. The most recent additions are P.U.B. (Pineapple Upside-down Beer), Crystal Kolsch, The Red Glove, Featherweight, New Mexikolsch, and Chocolate Red. The Red Glove won a gold medal at the 2016 GABF. Chocolate Red is the current nitro tap.

Live Music: Thursday—Isaac Aragon & The Healing, 7 p.m.

Weekly Events: Today (Wednesday)—Geeks Who Drink, 8-10 p.m.

Happy Hour/Discounts: Every day at lunchtime (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), for just $10 you can get a pint and a panini of your choice.

Broken Trail Brewery & Distillery — (505) 221-6281

(Mon-Thu 3-9 p.m., Fri 3-10 p.m., Sat noon-10 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.-8 p.m.)

Beers: Otero ESB, Lone Pine Pilsner, Sancho Saison, Double Black IPA, Sancho de la Sierra, Pepe the Mule, Trailworks IPA. OK, fine, Pepe the Mule counts as a beer, even though it is basically a Moscow Mule, but it was made with beer. The Sancho de la Sierra is a rye version of the saison made in collaboration with Jubilation. The Trailworks was made in collaboration with Bikeworks, a neighboring business, with a portion of the proceeds going to trail maintenance in the metro area.

Weekly Events (main location): Today (Wednesday)—Cards Against Humanity hosted by 10 Drink Minimum, 7 p.m.; Sunday—Build-your-own Mule bar, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Tuesday—All house beers are $2 a pint

Canteen Brewhouse — (505) 881-2737 (brewery), (505) 200-2344 (taproom)

(Brewery: Sun–Thurs noon–10 p.m., Fri–Sat noon–midnight; Taproom: Open daily 3–10 p.m.)

Beers: Exodus IPA, Canteen Kolsch, Oktoberfest, Hank ESB, Fill in the Blanco IPA, Blood Orange Wheat, Astro Hound DIPA. The most recent additions are the, Oktoberfest, Blood Orange Wheat, and Astro Hound. The latter is one of Canteen’s four competition entries for GABF.

Live Music: Thursday—High Desert Playboys, 6-9 p.m.; Sunday—The Tumbleweeds, 4-7 p.m.

Cazuela’s Seafood & Mexican Grill — (505) 994-9364

(Open daily 8 a.m.–10 p.m.)

Beers: Papacabra (Double IPA), Acapulco Gold (Mexican Lager), Chupacabra IPA, Piedra del Fuego Stoned Cream Ale, Beer for My Horses (Oatmeal Stout). These are the regular house beers. Call the number above for an updated seasonal list.

Dialogue Brewing — (505) 585-1501

(Open daily noon-midnight)

Beers: Belgian Citrus IPA, Berliner Weisse, Sour Raspberry, Boyz N Berry N the Hood, Blood Orange Berliner Weisse, Sour Pale, P-funk Porter, #40 (Citra Pale Ale), Sun Made, fe’denk lager. The most recent additions are the P-funk, #40, fe’denk (Vienna-style), and Sun Made, a Belgian single made with golden raisins.

Live Music: Thursday—Keith Sanchez, 6 p.m.; Friday—Alex Maryol, 7 p.m.

Other Events: Thursday—HandCrafted with Chris Lopez (artist) and Danny Heart Design (vendor), 6 p.m.

Weekly Events: Monday—Service Industry Night, 6 p.m.

Drafty Kilt Brewing — (505) 881-0234

(Sun 11 a.m–10 p.m., Mon 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Tues–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–midnight)

Beers: Groundskeeper Willie Cream Ale, Wee Beastie Scottish Ale, McWabbit Pale Ale, Campbell Toe IPA, Obliviscaris Oatmeal Stout, McRojo or No (Irish Red), Covfefe Hefe. Brewer/owner Mike Campbell has five of his own creations on tap at 4814 Hardware Dr. NE, including the Campbell Toe (no snickering). The Obliviscaris is a burly throwback to the stouts of old. The Covfefe Hefe is the most recent addition.

Weekly Events: Tuesday—Geeks Who Drink, 7 p.m.; Thursday—Blues Jam with the Rudy Boy Experiment, 7-10 p.m.; Sunday—Blues Jam with Bob Bolz with Ale-Tail Cocktails, 2-6 p.m.

Happy Hour/Discounts: $1 off pints and 20-ounce pours, Mon-Fri, 3-6 p.m.; “Just Because We Love You Club,” happy hour prices at all times for teachers, first responders, law enforcement, and military with ID; Growler Fill Days on Thu and Sun, $2 off new growlers, $1 off refills

Flix Brewhouse — (505) 445-8500

(Open daily 11 a.m.-midnight)

Beers: Tart and Soul (Guava Berliner Weisse), Tripel Whammy, Pilsner? I Barley Know’er!, January Embers Barleywine, Das Umlaut Oktoberfest, Eater of Worlds Pale Ale. The most recent additions include the return of January Embers, while Eater of Worlds and Das Umlaut are new.

Hops Brewery — (505) 369-1378

(Sun-Thurs noon-10 p.m., Fri-Sat noon-midnight)

Beers: Dad Joke (California Common), Tipsy Cow (Milk Stout), Warm Scottish Nights, An Irish Tan (English Bitter), Honey Wheat, Chica (Pale Ale), Hop Hill IPA. Welcome to the listings, Hops! They have started out with these seven beers on tap, but they also have 31 more guest taps, just in case you don’t find one to your liking. Here is our first review. The Dad Joke and Warm Scottish Nights are both back on tap after a short absence, while Hop Hill (7.1% ABV, 69 IBU) joins the lineup.

Kaktus Brewing — (505) 379-5072

(Bernalillo hours Mon-Thu 2-9 p.m., Fri-Sat 11:30-10 p.m., Sun 11:30-9 p.m.)

Beers: Porter Auf Deutsch, Cucumber Ale, Bavarian Golden Ale, Ctrl-Alt-Drink, Basil Lager, Helles Lager, IPA, Walnut Cider, DjinnJar Kombucha. The most recent additions include Cucumber Ale, Basil Lager, and Helles Lager.

Weekly Events (Nob Hill): Thursday—The Desert Darlings, 7-9 p.m.

Weekly Events (Bernalillo): Sunday—Brunch, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., The Desert Darlings, 6-8 p.m.

Happy Hour/Discounts: Kaktus has several new weekday specials in Bernalillo, including $3 pints on Monday, $9 growlers on Tuesday, $6 bison nachos on Wednesday, and $8 Frito pie and beer on Thursday.

Kellys Brew Pub — (505) 262-2739

(Mon–Thurs 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun 8 a.m.-10 p.m.)

Beers: (house) Apricot Ale, Blonde, Farm House Ale, IPA, Red, Scotch Ale, Session IPA; (seasonal) Hefeweizen, Farmhouse Apricot, Mars DIPA, Lobo Red Ale. The recent change in ownership at Kellys has led to some seriously improved beers and food, so we decided it was high time to add it to the listings. The summer seasonals are the Hefeweizen and Farmhouse Apricot, replacing the Rye Pale Ale and Dry Stout, plus the Mars DIPA. The Lobo Red was brewed for the University of New Mexico athletic program, if you could not guess.

Live Music: Every Wednesday 6-9 p.m. and Sunday 3-6 p.m.

Happy Hour/Discounts: Thursday Pint night $1 off pints.

La Cumbre Brewing — (505) 872-0225

(Open every day at noon)

Beers: All That I Need Kellerbier, ‘Merica (Pale Ale), Simcoe SMASH IPA, Ales for ALS IPA, Oktoberfest. If you can still find a bottle of the Wet Hopped Elevated, get it fast. The Oktoberfest is as authentic as it gets, and you may still be able to find four-packs around town.

Live Music: Saturday—The Bus Tapes, 6-9 p.m.

Other Events: Thursday—Harvest Pairing with My Sweet Basil, 6-9 p.m.

Weekly Events: Tuesday—Trivia or Loteria (alternates by week), 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Lizard Tail Brewing — (505) 717-1301

(Mon–Weds noon-9 p.m., Thurs–Sat noon-midnight, Sun noon-7 p.m.)

Beers: Contact the brewery for an updated list.

Happy Hour/Discounts: Lizard Tail’s happy hour runs seven days a week from 3 to 6 p.m. You get $1 off food, flights, and pints.

Weekly Events: Tuesday—Geeks Who Drink, 8 p.m.; Thursday—Karaoke, 8-11 p.m.

Marble Brewery — (505) 243-2739 (downtown), (505) 508-4638 (Westside), (505) 323-4030 (Heights)

(Downtown: Mon–Sat noon–midnight, Sun noon–10:30 p.m.; Westside: Mon–Thurs noon–11 p.m., Fri–Sat noon–midnight, Sun noon–10 p.m.; Heights: Mon–Sat noon–midnight, Sun noon–10:30 p.m.)

Beers: Por Vida Pale Ale, DANG Pale Ale, Mavbock, Dupy’s Dunkel, Marble Pale Ale, Passionate Gose, Imperial Red (Downtown and Heights only), White Out (Downtown and Heights only), Cholo Stout (Downtown and Westside only), Blueberry Gose (Heights and Westside only), UnbeWeavably Marbelous (Heights and Westside only), Tart Petit (Heights and Westside only), Apricot Gose (Heights and Westside only), Nitro Madera (Westside only), Belgo Petite (Westside only), Mango Gose (Westside only). There are so, so many beers between the three locations. Don’t feel bad if you can’t get to them all. The Mavbock and Marble Pale Ale are the most recent additions.

Live Music (Downtown): Today (Wednesday)—Julian Dossett Trio, 6-9 p.m.; Thursday—Buddha Bass & Soulfood, 4-6 p.m., Moonhat, 7-10 p.m.; Friday—Bandwidth No Name, 8-11 p.m.; Saturday—Mountain Rescue Brew Fest with The Real Matt Jones, noon-1 p.m., TV Killers, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Stanlie Kee and Step In, 3-4 p.m., DJ Leftovers, 4:30-6 p.m., Sol De La Noche, 6:30-7:30 p.m.; Cynical Bird, 8-9 p.m., Wagogo, 9:30-11 p.m.; Sunday—Cloacas, 3-6 p.m.

Live Music (Heights): Today (Wednesday)—RJ Perez, 6-9 p.m.; Friday—Black Smoke Blues, 7-10 p.m.; Saturday—Big Naturals, 7-10 p.m.

Live Music (Westside): Friday—The Fabulous Martini Tones, 8-11 p.m.; Saturday—Last Call, 8-11 p.m.

Weekly Events (Downtown): Saturday—Brewery tours, 2 p.m.

Nexus Brewery — (505) 242-4100 (brewery), (505) 226-1055 (Silver Taproom)

(Brewery: Mon–Thurs 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Silver Taproom: Mon–Fri 4-10 p.m., Sat noon-10 p.m., Sun noon-9 p.m.)

Beers: Imperial Pilsner, Kaylynn’s Altbier, To Boldly Gose, Honey Dubbs, Beam Me Up Scotty (Silver only), Kolsch (Silver only), Double Bird of Prey (Silver only). The most recent additions were To Boldly Gose and Honey Dubbs (Imperial Honey Chamomile Wheat).

Happy Hour/Discounts (Brewery): Monday–Friday, $5 appetizers, 3-5 p.m.

Weekly Events (Silver Taproom): Saturday—a live DJ will perform; Sunday—a live band will perform at 2 p.m.

Palmer Brewery and Cider House — (505) 508-0508

(Tues–Sat 3–9 p.m.)

Beers: MWA (Malt With Attitude), Guero (Belgian Wit), Poolside Pale Ale, Cockness Monster (Scotch Ale), Switch Stance Stout. Palmer shares a building with Left Turn Distilling on Girard south of Candelaria. This batch of Cockness Monster is fresh and tasty.

Ponderosa Brewing Co. — (505) 639-5941

(Sun 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Mon–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m.)

Beers: Hoppy Pilsner, Ecliptic Wet Hop Ale, D.D.U. IPA, India Pale Lager 2.0, Blueberry Stout. The Blueberry Stout got rave reviews at Hopfest. The D.D.U. stands for double down under, a reference to the recipe’s all-Australian hop bill. The Ecliptic Wet Hop Ale was brewed the day of the solar eclipse with Neo Mexicanus hops. Look for an archived keg of barleywine to go on tap for the Saturday anniversary party (see our intro above).

News: You can now find India Pale Lager 2.0 for sale in cans, at the brewery and at local liquor stores, including Jubilation!

Live Music: Today (Wednesday)—The Draft Sessions, 7-9 p.m.

Other Events: Saturday—Third Anniversary Party, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Quarter Celtic Brewpub — (505) 503-1387

(Sun–Thurs 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.)

Beers: Peach Berliner Weisse, Mike’s Beer (American Pilsner), Bruce (Black IPA), Loch Lomas Oatmeal Stout, Clark (Hazy IPA), Fresh Hop Clark, Oktoberfest. QC gets dark with the return of Bruce, which was brewed in the hazy New England style but still as a black IPA, and Loch Lomas. The Oktoberfest is a delightful way to welcome the start of autumn.

Red Door Brewing — (505) 633-6675 (brewery), (505) 990-3029 (downtown taproom)

(Brewery hours: Mon–Thurs 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Fri 11 a.m. to midnight, Sat 7 a.m. to midnight, Sun 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Downtown taproom hours: Mon–Thurs 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m. to midnight, Sun 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.)

Beers: Imperial Red IPA, Plum Gose, Oktoberfest, Blackberry Hefeweizen (downtown only), White AF IPA (downtown only). The Imperial Red IPA was the first in a series of beers to celebrate Red Door’s recent anniversary. The Plum Gose was second and Oktoberfest was third.

Live Music (Brewery): Today (Wednesday)—Pat Kearns, 7-9 p.m.

Events (Brewery): Saturday—NM Pets Alive, 11 a.m.

Weekly Events (Brewery): Monday—The Draft Sessions, 7-9 p.m.

Weekly Events (Taproom): Today (Wednesday)—Paint it Black Open Mic Comedy, 7-9 p.m.; Tuesday—Geeks Who Drink, 7-9 p.m.

Rio Bravo Brewing Company — (505) 900-3909

(Mon noon–10 p.m., Tues–Thu noon–11 p.m., Fri–Sat noon–1 a.m., Sun 11 a.m.–10 p.m.)

Beers: Rio Bravo Amber, Weizen, Randy’s Shandy, Dirty Rotten Bastard IPA, Snakebite IPA, Roadkill Red Ale, La Luz Lager, Old Town Porter (regular and barrel-aged), Vanilla Porter, NM Pinon Coffee Porter, Oatmeal Stout, Barrel-aged Belgian Strong Golden, Level 3 IPA, Imperial Russian Stout (regular and barrel-aged), Lemongrass Wit, Peach Gose, Cherry Sour, Kolsch, Hibiscus Mojito, Penguin Lager, Belgian Blonde, Cherry Wheat, Belgo IPA, Pink Boots Pale Ale, Oktoberfest. A portion of the Penguin Lager proceeds are going to the new exhibit at the ABQ Bio Park. There are now three barrel-aged beers on tap in the Porter, RIS, and Belgian Strong. The Oktoberfest is the most recent addition. The Grapefruit Launcher IPA and Schwarzbier debut this Friday.

Live Music: Thursday—Folds of Honor Concert: Rob West, 8-10 p.m.; Friday—Le Chat Lunatique and hONEyhoUSe, 7-11 p.m.; Saturday—Second Anniversary Party with Fred Johnson Band, 3-4 p.m., Higher Ground Bluegrass, 4:20-6:20 p.m., Silver String Band, 6:40-8:40 p.m., The Squash Blossom Boys, 9-11 p.m.

Other Events: Friday—Headliners Comedy presents Friday Night Fools ($5 cover, event only), 9:30 p.m.; Sunday—Women in the Arts Showcase III, 4-7 p.m.

Weekly Events: Today (Wednesday)—Movie Night (now outside), 7 p.m. or later, weather permitting; Thursday—Girls Pint Out, all day; Sunday—Pints & Planks with Yoga Zo; Monday—Micro Mondays, 7 p.m.

Happy Hour/Discounts: Happy hour Monday-Friday, 2-6 p.m., $1 off pints

Sidetrack Brewing — (505) 832-7183

(Mon–Thurs 3–11 p.m., Fri 3 p.m.–midnight, Sat noon–midnight, Sun noon–10 p.m.)

Beers: Marzen, Switchgear IPA, Pub Ale, Bonehead Red, Dark Engine Stout, Sidetrack Pilsner, C-Train IPA. The most recent additions are the C-Train and Bonehead.

Cask: The C-Train and Pub Ale are in the firkins.

Weekly Events: Tuesday—Taco Tuesday, all day

Starr Brothers Brewing — (505) 492-2752

(Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day)

Beers: Starrstruck IPA, L.A. Woman (Blonde), Red Zepplin, Lampshade Porter, Electric Sun American Wheat, Starrphire Pilsner, Brown Chicken Brown Cow, Foggy Monocle (Oatmeal Stout), Sando Spice (Green Chile IPA), ThereWolf (Oktoberfest), Oakey Smokey. Welcome back, Foggy Monocle, the winner of the 2017 Brew Crew Stout Challenge. The most recent additions are the Sando Spice, ThereWolf, and Oakey Smokey, which goes down in history as the last collaboration brew with Chama River.

Steel Bender Brewyard — (505) 433-3537

(Sun–Thurs 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m.)

Beers: (house) Skull Bucket IPA, Red Iron Red, Sparkfitter Amber, Lloyd’s 3 O’Clock Kolsch, Blue Bullet Stout, The Village Wit; (seasonals/specialties) Wheels of Soul Black (Hole Sun) IPA, Spell Bender Pils, Compa New Mexican Lager, Saison de la Rose, Plum Bob Gose, Cow Plow Brown Ale. The Plum Bob Gose and Cow Plow are the two most recent additions to the menu.

The 377 Brewery — (505) 934-0795

(Open noon-11 p.m. most days)

Beers: (house) 377 IPA, Dieterhosen Hefe, El CuCuy (DIPA), Fat Brown Guy (Porter), Red Horse NM Lager, Schwarzbier, Berliner Weisse, Naked Ale (Pale); (seasonals) Secret Squirrel (Best Bitter), Black Ops Hops, Kolsch, Full Booty Stout, Scottish Ale, Say Juan (Summer Saison), Plum Sour, Peach Wheat, Oktoberfest. This inaugural batch of Oktoberfest from The 377 hits the right notes, with some malty breadiness without too much sweetness.

Tractor Brewing Company — (505) 433-5654 (Nob Hill), (505) 243-6752 (Wells Park), (505) 243-6752 (Four Hills)

(Nob Hill: Sun–Weds noon–midnight, Thurs noon–2 a.m., Fri–Sat noon–2 a.m.; Wells Park: Mon–Thurs 3 p.m.–close, Fri–Sun 1 p.m.–midnight; Four Hills: Sun–Thurs 11 a.m.–midnight, Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–2 a.m.)

Beers: Chocolate Milk Stout, Minute-4, Apricot Wheat, Berry Cider, Big Sipper IPA, Scout Golden Ale, Cucumber Gose, Tangelo IPA, Traktoberfest, Flanders Red Ale (Wells Park and Four Hills only), Nitro Blood Orange Pale Ale (Wells Park only), Tupac Cali Red (Nob Hill and Four Hills only), Half Acre Hefe (Four Hills only), Delicious Golden Dry Cider (Four Hills Only), Holstein & Hops (Four Hills only), Cascara Cider (Four Hills only). The Oktoberfest is the most recent addition, preceded by the Chocolate Milk Stout, Cucumber Gose, and Tangelo IPA.

Live Music (Wells Park): Thursday—Alex Maryol, 8 p.m.; Saturday—Danny Harps Band, 8 p.m.

Live Music (Nob Hill): Today (Wednesday)—Sloan Armitage, 8:30 p.m.; Saturday—Keith Sanchez, 5 p.m.

Live Music (Four Hills): Saturday—Clark Libbey, 7 p.m.

Other Events (Wells Park): Monday—Pre-Gaming with The Progs, 5-7 p.m.

Other Events (Nob Hill): Friday—Global Pub Quiz Vol. 3, 6:30 p.m.

Weekly Events (Wells Park): Monday—MNF Fantasy Shootout, 5 p.m.; Tuesday—Kamikaze Karaoke, 7 p.m.

Weekly Events (Nob Hill): Today (Wednesday)—Writing Wednesdays, 5 p.m.; Monday—Tractor Tune Up, 7:30 p.m.

Also, every first Monday of the month at both Tractor locations is Beer for a Better Burque night. For every pint you buy $1 can go to one of four charities that have partnered with Tractor. You can also opt to purchase a special growler with the logo of your favorite charity.

Happy Hour/Discounts: Tractor now has a late happy hour from 9 p.m. to midnight on Mondays with $2.25 classic beers and $3.25 seasonals.

Turtle Mountain Brewing Company — (505) 994-9497

(Kitchen hours: Mon–Tues 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Wed–Thurs 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Sun 10:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Reminder: TMBC closes early when business dictates. Please call.)

Beers: Lil’ Shelly (Pale Ale), Yum Yum OG, Mr. Hoover’s Redux, SCH Scotch Lager, Pour les Abeilles. The Pour les Abeilles (Honey Lemongrass Saison) was the most recent addition. An archived keg of Wilde Jagd has been tapped, but it will be out by the end of the week. An archived keg of Cocomilia Robur will replace it. Coming this Thursday is a new wet hop pale ale, S.O.S. (Shop on Southern).

Cask: Tuesday—Cosmic Yum Yum (cranberry and lime kettle sour)

Santa Fe breweries

Blue Corn Brewery — (505) 438-1800

(Open daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m.)

Beers: Wedding Lager, Merry Prankster’s Sour Ale, Ginger Braggot, Apparition Pale Coffee Ale. The Ginger Braggot is back for another run, ditto the Apparition.

Chili Line Brewing — (505) 500-7903

(Mon–Sat 4–11 p.m., Sun 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.)

Beers: El Jefe (Rauchweizen), Antonio Bandito (Dunkelweizen), Llorona Lager, La Bamba (Rauchbier), Stara Baba (Oak Smoked Polish Gratzer), Jacona Stout, P.G. (Pinche Guey) IPA. The Jacona and P.G. are the most recent additions.

Live Music: Every night at 7 p.m.

Happy Hour/Discounts: Reverse happy hour after 9 p.m. includes $1 off pints, $6 appetizers, $10 entrees and pizzas.

Duel Brewing Company — (505) 474-5301

(Brewery: Mon–Sat open at 11 a.m., Sun open at 1 p.m.; ABQ taproom: Mon–Thurs 2 p.m.–midnight; Fri–Sun noon–midnight)

Beers: Bad Amber, Fiction (IPA), Oui Lourd, WWWMD (Barrel-Aged Whistler), Manikin (Scottish), Cezanne Origine, Ensor (Sour), Turncoat, Monomyth, Marcel, Sans Titre (Amber Sour), Fantin (Double Pale Ale), Duchamp (Sour Wit), Cezanne Magnifique. The Origine was the spring saison. The Cezanne Magnifique is the most recent addition, but HMWWA FIACFW will return soon. The WWWMD acronym stands for What Would Whistler’s Mother Do.

Live Music (ABQ tarpoom): Friday—Kendrick Lamar Night with Wae Fonkey, 9 p.m.

Other Events (ABQ taproom): Thursday—Bebop’s Doggie Benefit & Fashion Show, 5 p.m.

Weekly Events (ABQ taproom): Tuesday—Bike-In Brew, 7 p.m.

Happy Hour/Discounts (Brewery): Happy hour Mon–Fri, 4-6 p.m. (discounts for all draft beer), Growler Saturdays ($3 off growler fills).

Happy Hour/Discounts (ABQ taproom): Happy hour Mon–Fri, 5-7 p.m.

Rowley Farmhouse Ales — (505) 428-0719

(Open all week from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.)

Beers: Fields of Rye, Saison du Sarlacc, Agent Scully – Season One, Episode Three with coconut (IPA), Germophile (Berliner Weisse), Meier (Meyer Lemon Gose), Tea for Two (Saison), Fruhschoppen (Hefeweizen), Little White Lies (Belgian Blonde). The Agent Scully is a new series of IPAs which will vary by hop combinations. Get the delicious Episode 3 before Episode 4 goes on tap soon. Coconut was added to the last of the Episode 3 batch. The most recent additions are the Little White Lies, Tea for Two, and Fruhschoppen.

Santa Fe Brewing Company — (505) 424-3333

(Main taproom: Mon–Sat 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun 2-8 p.m.; ABQ taproom: Mon–Thurs 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–midnight; Sun 11 a.m.–10 p.m.)

Beers: Freestyle Pilsner, Autonomous Collective IPA, Oktoberfest, Hefe’d Up, Cucumber Saison (ECS), Secret Society of A.L.T. (ECS), Wet Hop Pale Ale (ECS). Rejoice, for Oktoberfest is back, even though it doesn’t feel much like autumn yet. And yes, Freestyle is still around for a limited time as well, but rumors persist it may never leave the lineup.

Happy Hour/Discounts: $1 off growler refills in the tasting room on Mondays. $2 pint Tuesdays at the Eldorado Taphouse. On Wednesday, there is a $2 pint special in the tasting room. On Thursday, there will be $1 off growler refills at the Eldorado Taphouse.

Second Street Brewery — (505) 989-3278 (Railyard), (505) 982-3030 (original location)

(Mon–Thurs 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sunday noon-9 p.m.)

Beers: Kolsch, IPA, Cream Stout, Rod’s Best Bitter, Coffee Porter, Diablo Canyon Pale Ale, 2920 Vienna, Summer Rain Sour, XX ESB, Civil Rye, Wet Hop Otowi. The most recent additions are the Rod’s Best, XX ESB, Civil Rye, and Wet Hop Otowi. They will be joined by the Atalaya Altbier this Saturday for the big event (see our intro).

Live Music (Original location): Thursday—Alto Street, 6-9 p.m.; Friday—Left Bank, 6-9 p.m.; Saturday—Atalaya Rescuefest with Andrew Primm, Petty Theft, The Bus Tapes, Swing Soleil, and Bill Hearne, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Live Music (Railyard): Friday—Shiners Club, 6-9 p.m.; Saturday—Blues Revue Band, 6-9 p.m.; Sunday—Lone Pinon, 1-4 p.m.

Weekly Events (Railyard): Today (Wednesday)—Geeks Who Drink, 8 p.m.

Other breweries you need to visit

Bathtub Row Brewing — (505) 500-8381

(Mon–Weds 2–10 p.m., Thurs 2–11 p.m., Fri–Sat noon–11 p.m., Sun noon–10 p.m.)

Beers: Kutthroat Kolsch, Kaboom Quad, Wit Rock, Catherine’s Historical Stout, Little Bird Blonde, Anderson Amber. Well, look at that, an updated beer list for BRB. The Wit Rock and Little Bird are old favorites, the rest are more recent recipes.

Sierra Blanca Brewing — (505) 832-2337

(Mon–Thurs 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Fri –Sat 11 a.m.–9 p.m.)

Beers: Oktoberfest, Cherry Sour, Interstella Vanilla, Cherry Wheat, Single Hop IPA. The Whiskey Stout will return in a week-and-a-half. The Cherry Sour is back for another run. Oktoberfest is now available on tap.

Live Music: Saturday—Tom Williams and Full Moon, 2 p.m.

* * * *

That’s all for this week! If you have any questions or comments, leave them below or contact us on our Facebook page.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister

Random thoughts on the 10th annual Hopfest

Posted: August 29, 2017 by cjax33 in Hopfest 2017
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Another Hopfest is in the books.

Yeah, this story should have run Monday, but Sunday featured soccer in the morning, work in the afternoon, and Isotopes coverage in the evening. Anyway, just figured the Crew could share a few of our thoughts on the latest edition of Hopfest, which was held back on Saturday at Isleta Casino.

Wherefore art thou, 377?

One of the weird little moments was the fact that The 377 Brewery had a space reserved but never showed up. No word was ever given as to why. That, plus the sudden closing of Chama River, left one corner of the main room somewhat barren. They were supposed to be right next to each other. (Before anyone panics, The 377 is still open and doing fine, by all accounts.)

A little light on the crowd

One thing that was quickly apparent was a visible drop in attendance. Two mitigating factors could have been all the people who were elsewhere, preparing for the Mayweather-McGregor fight, or more likely all the folks on the West Side of ABQ preferred to attend Summerfest in their backyard. Of course, with fewer people, things seemed to go much smoother. Most importantly, the bathroom lines were short if not non-existent. That alone is a victory.

NM weather is not your friend

The side room that used to host a lot of breweries was instead reserved for the Dukes of Ale and the NM Brewers Guild Educational Pavilion, which meant a lot of breweries had to go outside beyond the patio. Many of these were local breweries, which meant they had to endure a fair amount of wind, plenty of heat, and even some rain. It would not be the late summer in New Mexico without some wacky weather (as I type this on Monday, the Isotopes are in a rain delay, which means I may be filing this from the ballpark at some point in the weird hours).

As Crew member Shawna put it best: “Hopfest was a lot of fun! (But) it was disappointing to see so many local breweries outside. The outdoor situation seemed like a hot mess (literally).”

Hail to the Dukes

Franz Solo’s next project is to assemble a kit like this one.

AmyO got to hang out over at the Dukes of Ale display, which included the ultimate homebrew setup (pictured). She added this: “Really liked getting in to that first room early just before extra hoppy (hour) and having the Dukes of Ale over there. I enjoyed that coconut, etc., vanilla, etc., etc. beer, but there was a little too much going on — so much so I can’t even remember the name(s) of what was in there.” She also enjoyed the doppelbock, but one of her friends liked the IPA better than she did.

Shawna chimed in: “I really loved the Dukes of Ale setup. My favorite was the dopplebock.”

Our picks for best beers of the fest

I will let the ladies go first.

AmyO: “You know my favorite beer was that imperial red (Ol’ Lassy) from Enchanted Circle. My second favorite was, strangely, Lava Rock’s Hefeweizen. Now, one reason might be just plain uniqueness when you kind of get fatigued from the same old beers sometimes. I thought the Blueberry Stout at Ponderosa was nice, and not too overpowering on the blueberry.”

Shawna: “Bow and Arrow had a very good IPA (Hazillionaire). I also enjoyed Ponderosa’s Blueberry Stout! I’m proud to see Antonio (Fernandez) making so much progress! Oddly enough, considering I lean towards darker beers, I kept going back to Flix Brewhouse’s So It Gose. That was a very well rounded gose, not too sour or too sweet.”

As for me, I kept the sampling to a minimum since I had to give a seminar on the history of brewing (yes, shameless book promotion moment). The top six that I tried were:

  • Bathtub Row Krosscut Kolsch: If there was a perfect beer for the scorching temps outside, it was this one. Wonderfully sweet and refreshing. If they canned or bottled this and shipped it down to ABQ, I would buy it every summer.
  • Bow & Arrow Hoodoo Monster Imperial Red: Fairly tasty red, without the hop kick of Marble’s Imperial Red. Both sweet and yet dry. Overall, solid.
  • Bow & Arrow Desert Dynamo IPL: Fresh batch was tapped later in the session. Sweet, floral, fairly juicy. I was impressed by the B&A offerings, definitely gotta revisit the brewery as soon as baseball season ends.
  • Duel Oui Lourd: I was initially skeptical, but curious, about a sour Scottish wee heavy. I don’t know if I would drink a full pour, but it was pretty good, and this is coming from a non-sour guy. If nothing else, it was different.
  • Quarter Celtic Bruce (Black IPA): This batch was done in a hazy New England style. Yes, a hazy black IPA. Lots of flavors at play here, with the roasted malts coming through even amid the hops. It was just tapped that morning, so it will be interesting to see how it settles in at the brewpub.
  • Rowley Farmhouse Ales Agent Scully – Season 1, Episode 3: The latest in a series of revolving IPAs from RFA, this one is a sweet, floral delight, with berry/melon flavors. I have no idea what the hop combo was, but man, I hope they use that again.

Apologies to those local breweries that I did not visit. I will make it up to you at your actual location or an off-site taproom.

A special thanks to Marne Gaston (and her mom), John Gozigian, Angelo Orona, and Carlos Contreras.

Even if I didn’t sell many books (people had beers to drink, I understand), it was still a good festival. I only rambled on at the seminar for about 20 minutes, too, which is remarkable considering how long-winded I can get. Anyway, until the next major festival (GABF!), it is back to the regular grind. Let us hope that there will be no additional brewery obits between now and then.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister

ABQ Beer Week: A fond farewell with Day Eleven

Posted: June 4, 2017 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2017
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Day Eleven is here, putting a bow on another successful Beer Week!

That’s a wrap, folks!

ABQ Beer Week 2017 ends with a small handful of events, including the annual Guild golf tournament, plus a few brunches and food-and-beer pairings.

We wanted to thank everyone who made it out to one or more events this year. It all came together fairly smoothly, at least from our perspective. We enjoyed some amazing beer and food and, most importantly, had fun.

Until 2018, the Crew will be winding back down to normal.

Featured Event

Every day we will pick what we consider the biggest, most interesting, most unique event. This does not mean you should go to only this event and ignore the rest. All of them deserve your attention, but realistically, you can probably only attend a few. So we will make our daily pick, and you can either jump on it, or declare the Crew is foolish (we kinda are) and pick your own.

What: Joe S. Sausage Super Sunday Sampler. Where: Marble Downtown. When: 2-6 p.m. Cost: $25.

Details: The annual closing event of Beer Week at Marble features Joe and his amazing sausages, each of which will be paired with different beers. There will also be live music from the Naughty Sweethearts at 2 and Dusty Green Bones at 3:30.

Why you should go: Go ahead, be a glutton one last time and stuff your face, all while listening to local music.

 

All the other great events

 

 

What: 9th Annual NM Brewers Guild Golf Tournament. Where: Santa Ana Golf Club. When: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: $110 per person. Details: Support the Guild and head out to the course! Your fee gets you free range balls, a golf cart, a breakfast burrito, a full round with beer on the course, lunch, and a chance to win swag from the Guild for the first-, second-, and third-place finishers. Warm ups start at 7, shotgun start at 8. Why you should go: By the time you’re reading this, you either went or are at home reading this.

What: NM True Fest. Where: Rio Bravo. When: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: The spacious outdoor patio at Rio Bravo will be home to NM True-certified local vendors. There will be live music and food trucks parked outside as well. Why you should go: Support local crafts, local beer, local food, and local music all in one place!

What: Goose Island Sisters Brunch. Where: Nob Hill Bar & Grill. When: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: TBA. Details: Enjoy another great brunch at NHBG, again featuring the Sisters Series beers, Lolita, Sofie, and Matilda. Why you should go: Beer and food and bid this week farewell.

What: End of Beer Week Brunch with Upslope. Where: M’tucci’s Italian. When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Cost: TBA. Details: There weren’t any details available, but if we get them, we’ll update this entry. Why you should go: It’s M’tucci’s and Upslope, it’s not like you can really go wrong.

What: Beer and Tapas Pairing. Where: Ponderosa. When: 4-7 p.m. Cost: $7 per pairing. Details: A different beer and tapas pairing will be available each day. Why you should go: You need some food in your belly to go with all this beer, and this is the last time you can get it.

* * * * *

Got any questions, comments, complaints, send them to nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com, or leave them here on our site, on Facebook, or on Twitter (@nmdarksidebc).

Enjoy yourselves out there, but please, do it responsibly.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister

ABQ Beer Week: Nearing a grand end on Day Ten

Posted: June 3, 2017 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2017
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Day Ten pushes us closer to the end. (sniff)

The end is almost here. It’s OK to be a little melancholy about Beer Week being almost over.

After all, you will only have our 30-plus amazing local breweries to keep you happy through the rest of the summer.

Oh, darn.

Anyway, all sarcasm aside, there are a lot of varied events today, with plenty of beer-and-food offerings, special releases, and the ultimate ode to cider.

Featured Event

Every day we will pick what we consider the biggest, most interesting, most unique event. This does not mean you should go to only this event and ignore the rest. All of them deserve your attention, but realistically, you can probably only attend a few. So we will make our daily pick, and you can either jump on it, or declare the Crew is foolish (we kinda are) and pick your own.

What: Great Divide Special Tapping. Where: Nob Hill Bar & Grill. When: 5 p.m. to close. Cost: No cover charge.

Details: Join the Crew and other lovers of the dark side of beer for the tappings of two beers never before served in New Mexico. We shall indulge in Barrel-Aged Chocolate Yeti and She Said, I Brew, a barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout. Great Divide is one of our favorite Colorado breweries, or just breweries period, and these should be two amazing examples of just why we believe that.

Why you should go: Tell summer to go to hell and let your mind travel back to the dead of winter, to the olden days of the Norsemen with Amon Amarth as your soundtrack!

All the other great events

What: Yappy Hour with Watermelon Mountain Ranch. Where: Cazuela’s. When: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Head to the Cazuela’s patio for a special fundraiser and adoption event for WMR. Why you should go: Get a beer, get a bite to eat, go home with a new best friend.

What: Special Release of Mangose. Where: Quarter Celtic. When: 11 a.m. to close. Cost: No cover charge. Details: QC releases their new mango gose, which debuted during Blues & Brews, to the general public. Why you should go: Admit it, you’re curious as to just how a mango and gose go together.

What: Ladies Loving Beer Luncheon. Where: Marble Westside. When: 12-2 p.m. Cost: $30 per person. Details: Join the women of Marble for an interactive discussion about beer while enjoying a special four-course meal from Ohana Hut. There will be goody bags and a special surprise announcement at the end of the event. Why you should go: Women invented beer, so they definitely deserve their own event.

What: Food Truck Battle. Where: Red Door. When: 12-4 p.m. Cost: TBA. Details: A slew of food trucks will be parked at the Candelaria location, offering up their finest dishes for you to judge. A winner will be crowned at the end. Why you should go: We don’t have a list of the attending trucks, but we’re guessing it will be many of the local heavyweights.

What: Beer and Tapas Pairing. Where: Ponderosa. When: 4-7 p.m. Cost: $7 per pairing. Details: A different beer and tapas pairing will be available each day. Why you should go: You need some food in your belly to go with all this beer.

What: Sierra Nevada and Girl Scout Cookie Pairing. Where: O’Niell’s Heights. When: 4-6 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Flights of Sierra Nevada beers are paired with Girl Scout Cookies. Need we say more? Why you should go: Cookies and beer!

What: Cider Day Night Fever. Where: Tractor Nob Hill. When: 5-10 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: DJ Wae Fonkey will provide the disco tunes, you wear the costume and bring your love of ciders. There will be five Tractor ciders, two each from Red Door, Santa Fe Cider Works, The Craft Room, NM Hard Cider, and Palmer Brewery & Cider House, and one from Skarsgard Farms. That’s 16 if math is not your strong suit. Why you should go: If you love ciders and don’t go, well, then there’s no hope for you.

What: Jodie Herrera Art Opening, Glass and Beer Release. Where: Tractor Wells Park. When: 7-10 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Artist Jodie Herrera designed a special glass for the Berry Cider, plus her art will be on the walls and the Blank Tapes will provide the music starting at 8 p.m. Why you should go: Celebrate a local artist and local band with local brews and ciders.

What: Upslope Beer Dinner. Where: M’tucci’s Market and Deli. When: 7-10 p.m. Cost: $55 per person. Details: Feast upon an epic five-course meal paired with Upslope beers. The dessert is paired with the barrel-aged imperial stout with coffee, which is reason enough to go. Why you should go: Five dishes upon which to feast, five beers to wash them down. Victory is yours!

* * * * *

Got any questions, comments, complaints, send them to nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com, or leave them here on our site, on Facebook, or on Twitter (@nmdarksidebc).

Enjoy yourselves out there, but please, do it responsibly.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister

ABQ Beer Week: The Tower of Sour looks fine on Day Nine

Posted: June 2, 2017 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2017
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
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Day Nine calls upon everyone to pucker up once again!

The final stretch of Beer Week begins with a number of varied events tonight.

Topping the list is the fourth annual Tower of Sour at Back Alley Draft House, which is going to be bigger and more festive than ever before.

There will also be special events at both Tractor locations, a special tapping at Nob Hill Bar & Grill, and fun and games with Upslope at Rock & Brews.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Featured Event

Every day we will pick what we consider the biggest, most interesting, most unique event. This does not mean you should go to only this event and ignore the rest. All of them deserve your attention, but realistically, you can probably only attend a few. So we will make our daily pick, and you can either jump on it, or declare the Crew is foolish (we kinda are) and pick your own.

What: Tower of Sour. Where: Back Alley Draft House. When: 6 p.m. Cost: $10 for entry (music only, no beer); $20 economy ticket; $40 general admission; $50 VIP.

Details: The fourth Tower of Sour will expand from BADH out into the parking lot. There will 14 breweries represented, including Marble and Sierra Blanca, offering up 30-plus sours from around the world. The Real Matt Jones and Vanilla Pop will provide the music. The economy ticket gets you six samples and one 10-ounce pour, plus entry into the New Belgium bike giveaway. The general admission ticket covers unlimited sampling and a special souvenir. The VIP ticket gets you early entry at 5 p.m., which is the Ska Brewing VIP Party, with appetizers and giveaways, plus unlimited sampling.

Why you should go: If you love sours, you pretty much have to go to this one.

All the other great events

What: Beer and Tapas Pairing. Where: Ponderosa. When: 4-7 p.m. Cost: $7 per pairing. Details: A different beer and tapas pairing will be available each day. Why you should go: You need some food in your belly to go with all this beer.

What: Sierra Nevada Special Tapping. Where: Gecko’s Nob Hill. When: 4-6 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: The Golden IPA from the current Beer Camp mixed pack (available at Jubilation) will be tapped. Why you should go: Odds are you have not had this before, so get on over there and get it with a bite to eat!

What: La Cumbre Sampling. Where: Whole Foods Academy. When: 4-5 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Taste the full LC packaged lineup. Why you should go: Free beer!

What: Goose Island Sampling. Where: Total Wine Uptown. When: 4-7 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Taste the full GI packaged lineup. Why you should go: Free beer!

What: Upslope Rochambeau Tournament and Pint Night. Where: Rock & Brews. When: 5-9 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Compete with the best in rock-paper-scissors. Entry is free, and the top five finishers will be awarded prizes. Plus, of course, lots of Upslope beers will be on tap. Why you should go: We all need a spot of silliness in our lives, but with beer, it’s even better.

What: Oskar Blues Secret Stash Event. Where: Nob Hill Bar & Grill. When: 5 p.m. to close. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Oskar Blues brewed up a special beer with the NHBG staff and now you get to enjoy it. Why you should go: Satisfy your (and ours) curiosity and see just what they created.

What: Sierra Nevada Special Tapping. Where: Gecko’s Academy. When: 6 p.m. to close. Cost: No cover charge. Details: The Golden IPA from the current Beer Camp mixed pack (available at Jubilation) will be tapped. Why you should go: Odds are you have not had this before, so get on over there and get it with a bite to eat!

What: Art Fight 32 – Beer Week Edition. Where: Tractor Wells Park. When: 7-10:30 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: There will be live art, all with the theme of beer itself, while you watch and enjoy beer. Why you should go: Beer is art, beer is life, beer is good.

What: Night Out Cards Pub Crawl Edition. Where: Tractor Nob Hill. When: 7 p.m.-midnight. Cost: $20 for card deck and two wristbands, additional wristbands are $5. Details: Night Out Cards are basically like truth or dare with a drinking theme, so enjoy them at the taproom as you put your team together and compete for prizes. You also get $1 off all pints. Why you should go: Discounted beer, prizes, and shenanigans. Seems like a good way to spend Friday night.

* * * * *

Got any questions, comments, complaints, send them to nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com, or leave them here on our site, on Facebook, or on Twitter (@nmdarksidebc).

Enjoy yourselves out there, but please, do it responsibly.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister

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