BearFest roars back with new indoor location

BearFest, the annual local-only craft beer festival hosted by Boxing Bear, returns for a third go-around this Saturday. The big change this year, besides pushing it back and away from ABQ Beer Week and Blues & Brews, is moving the fest out of the brewery parking lot to the Albuquerque Convention Center. Unless you are…

ABQ Beer Week: Nearing a grand end on Day Ten

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…

ABQ Beer Week: Find your slice of heaven on Day Seven

We are past the halfway point of Beer Week, but it is hardly time to slow down. Today’s events are mostly of the special tapping/sampling/tap takeover variety, scattered all over town. There will also be a mini cask festival at Quarter Celtic, a beer-and-food-and-wine pairing at Tractor Wells Park, and an early 90s party with…

ABQ Beer Week: Day Four offers up more beyond the big fest

Yes, it is Blues & Brews day, but there are still some other options for those either not attending or just looking for a little pre-game fun. We posted the beer lists for Blues & Brews on Saturday, so click that link if you’re curious. Otherwise, kick back and enjoy! You earned the break. Featured…

Quarter Celtic comes up big Down Under

Thursday proved to be a very good day for Quarter Celtic Brewpub as the staff learned the results of the Australian International Beer Awards competition. QC racked up a total of five medals — one gold, three silvers, one bronze — out of the six entries they submitted to the competition, which features beers from…

Charting out an early plan of attack for ABQ Beer Week

We are T-minus one month and one day until the annual madness of ABQ Beer Week is upon us once again. The Crew received a copy of the final printed schedule that you will soon be able to find (almost) everywhere there is craft beer. More events figure to be added between now and May…

Beer Notes: New label guidelines, Bacon Fest lists and more

Goodness gracious, beer notes on a Friday. Whatever has come over me? Brewers Association takes a stand against offensive labels An emerging point of contention for craft beer has been the use of blatantly sexist or offensive labels and imagery by certain breweries. Luckily, New Mexico breweries have largely managed to avoid these sorts of…

Éirinn go Brách! Quarter Celtic rolls toward its 1st anniversary

At long last I’ve managed to get to this delightful Look Back/Look Ahead Series article with Ror McKeown, David Facey, and Brady McKeown of the nearly one-year-old Quarter Celtic Brewpub. Stoutmeister and I were in attendance on a fine day earlier this winter for a lengthy interview. (Editor’s note: It was a fun time, but…

Beer Notes: Firkin closing is not the start of a bad trend

In case anyone missed it on social media over the weekend, the long-rumored demise of The Firkin BrewHouse and Grill came to pass, as their own Facebook page communicated the following: To all of our loyal and wonderful customers, unfortunately I must state that the Firkin BrewHouse and Grill is closed. More info will follow…

Hopfest 2016: The first fest of the season keeps it fresh

Newcomers and summery, fresh-tasting, hoppy beers helped to keep interest alive for the ninth annual Albuquerque Hopfest. Each year the crowds get larger, and each year I wonder how in the world Marne Gaston puts on such a large production. But, she does, flawlessly, and I am in complete awe of her. I would be…