Posts Tagged ‘Steel Bender Brewyard’

Summerfest returns to Pajarito Ski Area with 13 breweries on hand

Posted: June 6, 2019 by reidrivenburgh in Beer in Los Alamos, Events
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2019-SummerFest-Poster-rev5

Summer, and beer, return to the mountain.

Pajarito Ski Area outside of Los Alamos has a handful of big events throughout the year, and it’s time for another as Summerfest will be held this Saturday.

If you haven’t been up to visit yet, this would be a great time to do so. If summer finally kicks in, you can rest assured that temperatures will be much cooler on the mountain. (I always warn people to be prepared for anything when it comes to the weather, though.) Throw in the natural beauty of the mountain and forest, and it’s a stunning setting for a beer festival.

There will be plenty of things to do throughout the day. There will be a mountain bike race, a disc golf tournament, hiking and biking (made easier by running chairlifts), the band Iron Chiwawa playing classic rock, good food, and yes, plenty of beer. More than a dozen New Mexico breweries will be in attendance, including:

  • Bathtub Row: CojonHaze IPA, Cali Common, Little Bird Blonde, American Wheat
  • Blue Corn: Oatmeal Stout, Gatekeeper IPA, Road Runner IPA, Peach Gose, Lager than Life
  • Lost Hiker: Blonde, Mosaic SMASH, Belgian Rye Pale Ale, Amber
  • Red Door: Unhinged Cider, West Coast IPA, Vanilla Cream Ale, Hopical Storm (Pineapple Milkshake IPA)
  • Red River: Lazy Bear Blonde, Peach Campfire Cream Ale, Desperado Mexican Lager, Catskinner IPA
  • Second Alarm: Porter, Kolsch, IPA (one keg)
  • Second Street: TBA
  • Sierra Blanca: Alien IPA, Green Chile Cerveza, Bone Chiller Brown Ale, and either Desert Pilsner, Vanilla Milk Stout or Cherry Wheat
  • Steel Bender: Skull Bucket IPA, Raspberry Dynamite, Rosy Nosy, Lloyd’s 3 O’Clock Kolsch
  • Taos Mesa: TBA
  • Tractor: Berry Cider, Mustachio Milk Stout, Acreage IPA, plus cocktails Kentucky Mule, StraJarito Tonic, The Vodka Blues
  • Tumbleroot: TBR (Light American Lager), Old School Pale Ale, Hefeweizen, New School IPA, plus a cocktail or two
  • Turtle Mountain: Wooden Teeth, Darker than Darkness Schwarzbier, Maibock, Doppel Equis Steinundator, Table Manners Session Brut IPA, Yum Yum Breeze

We will update this list with specific beers from the breweries as we receive them. The beer portion of the event runs from 1 to 6 p.m. Iron Chiwawa will be playing from 2 to 5, and food will be served at the lodge cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets are $20, which we believe entitles you to a souvenir glass and unlimited sampling. Be sure to bring a valid ID, or you won’t get in.

As always, if you’re going to be enjoying the beer, take the free shuttle that runs every half hour from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from the high school parking lot in town. It’s a several-mile drive up the mountain, so save yourself some gas and possible grief.

For more information, visit: https://www.pajarito.ski/events/summerfest/

Cheers!

— Reid

ABQ Beer Week: Day Eleven puts a wrap on the whole darned thing

Posted: June 2, 2019 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2019
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One last time into the breach, dear friends, one last time!

Well, this is it. Eleven days of fun have come down to one final day’s worth of events.

The final slate includes a sold-out golf tournament, a breakfast special, a brunch, an anniversary party, a celebration of casks, a unique charity drive, and one final sensory experience to close it all out. Thanks for being along for the ride with us!

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: Le Cask Lunatique. Where: Steel Bender Brewyard. When: Noon. Cost: No cover charge.

Details: Once again, the Steel Bender brewers have gone a little overboard (in a good way) with six special casks on the patio bar. The Witty Gin is made from The Village Wit infused with the same botanicals and spices that Left Turn Distilling uses for its Old Tom Gin. Mulvaney’s Old Fashioned features the Irish red infused with cinnamon, orange peel, nutmeg, clove, allspice, and sweet cherries. Compa-rinha uses Compa Los Ranchos Lager conditioned with palm sugar, lime zest and juice. Stay Golden Sunrise utilizes the new Stay Golden Ale with maraschino cherries and fresh orange zest and juice. Funky George Porter adds a little brettanomyces for some proper funk. Finally, we cannot wait for Blue Bullet’s Wood-Aged Irish Whiskey, where the brewers took oak chips soaked in Left Turn’s NM Blue Corn Whiskey and added them to a cask of the Irish dry stout. Oh, and Le Chat Lunatique will be playing inside from 3:30 to 5:30.

Why you should go: If you can’t find a cask you like here, we’re not sure you really like beer.

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ABQ Beer Week: Day Ten kicks into high gear all around town

Posted: June 1, 2019 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2019
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You can watch soccer and drink beer, or just drink beer today.

Ah, it’s the big day. No, not about beer, though there’s plenty of that, but it’s the Champions League final today at 1 p.m. We’re all rooting for Tottenham to upset Liverpool, but no matter the outcome, it should be a fun finale for the European soccer season.

For all the non-soccer fans out there, fear not, there’s plenty for you, too.

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: IPAiring. Where: Marble Westside. When: 3-6 p.m. Cost: $20 (mug club), $25 (general admission).

Details: Marble is teaming up with Savor by Chef Stephen Ormsby for a special lineup of three food dishes paired up with three 7-ounce pours of IPA. The hoppy lineup includes the classic IPA, Desert Fog Hazy IPA, and Double IPA. Tickets for mug club members can only be purchased at the taproom, while everyone else can buy theirs online.

Why you should go: If you love hops, you know Marble has you covered, and if you love food, Savor has you covered.

All the other great events

What: Farm House Ale Event. Where: Loretto Park, Bernalillo. When: Noon. Cost: $10. Details: We already previewed this fun celebration of farmhouse ales and country music, with beers from Kaktus and Bosque. Why you should go: If you like your beers funky and your music country, this is the one for you.

What: Brut IPA Release. Where: Canteen Brewhouse and Taproom. When: Noon. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Brewtus the Younger makes its debut at both locations. Why you should go: If you have a hankering for this style, go get it.

What: Worthogs Homebrew Demo. Where: Casa Vieja Brewery. When: 1 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: The local homebrew club is offering up demonstrations on how to brew your own beer at home. This will be followed by a brewery tour at 4 p.m., and live music with Dan O’Brien on the patio from 6 to 9. Why you should go: If you have any interest in homebrewing, this is a good introduction, plus you can watch while sipping on a pint of Casa Vieja’s beer.

What: Pop Fizz Paleta Pairing with Strawberry Blonde Collaboration. Where: Rio Bravo Brewing. When: 2 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Rio Bravo and High and Dry have collaborated on a new Strawberry Blonde Ale, and they are pairing it with paletas from Pop Fizz. Why you should go: Indulge your sweet tooth and support two breweries for the price of one.

What: Super Smash Brews Tournament. Where: Kilt Check Brewing. When: 5-9 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Test your Super Smash Brothers skills against other local fans. Sign-ups start at 5, tournament starts at 6. Why you should go: Video games go quite well with beer.

What: Beer, BBQ and Bites Pairing with Asa Stone. Where: Canteen Brewhouse. When: 6-9 p.m. Cost: $10 per pairing. Details: Join advanced Cicerone Asa Stone for a special series of three pairings, each with two 5-ounce pours of Canteen beers, where you determine which one is the better fit. The pairings are smoked shrimp with Social Capital vs. Dougie Style Amber, pulled pork with Pecos Trail Brown vs. Irish Red, and short ribs with Brewtus the Younger IPA vs. Dark ‘n Lusty Stout. Why you should go: So much good food, so many good beers.

What: Steel Bender Beer Dinner. Where: Artichoke Cafe. When: 6:30 p.m. Cost: $65. Details: It’s a four-course meal paired with Steel Bender beers. RSVP to (505) 243-0200. Why you should go: If it’s not sold out already, go ahead, indulge yourselves for once.

What: Prism Bitch Unplugged. Where: Tractor Wells Park. When: 8 p.m. Cost: $5. Details: As we previewed in our roundup of Tractor’s events, the popular local band will be performing in front of a limited crowd of 75 people, so get those tickets in advance. Why you should go: Support local musicians while drinking local beer/cider/spirits. It’s a win-win.

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Got any questions, comments, complaints? Send them to nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com, or leave them here on our site, on Facebook, on Twitter (@nmdarksidebc), or on Instagram.
Enjoy yourselves out there, but please, do it responsibly.
Cheers!
— Stoutmeister

ABQ Beer Week: Day Eight is great when breweries collaborate

Posted: May 30, 2019 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2019
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Enjoy a collaboration, a couple beer dinners, and a whole lot more on Day Eight.

First, we are terribly sorry for that rhyming headline, but, we could not resist. Moving on …

As we inch closer to the second and final weekend of Beer Week, the number of events takes a jump today.

There are two beer dinners on opposite sides of town, a special collaboration beer release from two local breweries, a trip back in time at Tractor, and a whole lot of other unique events.

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: Saison de Luxe Bottle Release. Where: Steel Bender Brewyard. When: 11 a.m. Cost: No cover charge.

Details: The brewers from Steel Bender and Ex Novo teamed up a few months back to brew up a brett saison that was then refermented with both house strains of brett and dry-hopped with Southern Passion hops from South Africa. There will be bottles for sale, plus a special food pairing available of grilled lengua served on a grilled polenta cake topped with salsa verde and served with calabacitas.

Why you should go: If you like the funk, we got a feeling this is your kind of beer. Plus, that food pairing looks delightful.

All the other great events

What: Upslope Brewing Sampling. Where: Jubilation. When: 4 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Taste a number of Upslope’s outstanding regular beers and maybe some seasonal/specialty beers as well. Why you should go: Free beer, plus you can buy your favorites and take them home.

What: The Great Gatsby Edition of Gin & Jazz. Where: Tractor Wells Park. When: 5 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Tractor celebrates the roaring 20’s with special Prohibition era beers and cocktails, with live music from Le Chat Lunatique and Eddie Brewer and the Manic Episodes. Why you should go: Go old-school and enjoy some classic drinks and jazz tunes.

What: Bell’s Brewery Tappening. Where: O’Niell’s Heights. When: 5-7 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: It’s a summery beer takeover with Official Hazy IPA, Hopsolution Ale, and Pooltime Ale on tap. Why you should go: Enjoy some Bell’s on the patio and avoid all that rush hour traffic.

What: Special Charity Event. Where: The County Line. When: 5-9 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Free live music as part of the summer music series benefitting Meals on Wheels, with food and beer specials. Why you should go: Chow down on some BBQ while helping a charity.

What: Odell Brewing Pint Night. Where: Billy’s Long Bar. When: 5-7 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Hammer Chain Fresh Grind DIPA will be among the featured Odell beers on tap. Why you should go: If you are an Odell fan, this event is for you.

What: Pints & Paintbrushes Night. Where: Canteen Taproom. When: 6 p.m. Cost: $30. Details: Host Carisa Otero will lead you in this fun paint night, with one pint included along with all of your materials. Email canteentaproom@gmail.com for reservations, as this one is limited to 20 patrons. Why you should go: Show off your artistic side while enjoying some delicious beer.

What: La Cumbre Beer Dinner. Where: Nob Hill Bar & Grill. When: 6-9 p.m. Cost: $40. Details: La Cumbre is teaming up with NHBG for a four-course beer dinner featuring Helles Lager, Boysenberry Brut, Strawberry Gose, and Brut IPA. Call NHBG at (505) 266-4455 to make a reservation. Why you should go: That’s a tempting price for a beer dinner, and those are some excellent beers to enjoy.

What: Mysteries and History Tour. Where: Casa Vieja Brewery. When: 6-9 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Come visit Casa Vieja and ask for a free tour of the 250-year-old building to learn more of its history. Then grab a pint and head to the patio for live music. Why you should go: Chill out in Corrales, because why not?

What: Toltec Brewing Dinner and Beer Pairing. Where: Toltec Brewing. When: 6:30 p.m. Cost: $40. Details: Toltec will have four special courses paired up with four beers. Email brewingteam@toltecbrewing.com to make your reservation. Why you should go: Another affordable beer dinner (it’s about time!) beckons if you are out on the westside.

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

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

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister

ABQ Beer Week: Day Seven unleashes a Rebel (Donut) yell

Posted: May 29, 2019 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2019
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No two options are alike on this seventh day of ABQ Beer Week.

As we move into the second half of Beer Week, variety is the spice of life.

Today’s events include the original beer-and-donut pairing, a special sampling/tasting, a tap takeover, a beer dinner, some beer trivia, and a special educational lecture. Add it all up and there should be something for 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: Rebel Donut and Beer Pairing. Where: Tractor Four Hills. When: two sessions at 4-6 p.m., 6-8 p.m. Cost: $11.

Details: We covered this one in our Tractor events preview, but you need to buy tickets in advance for a pairing of four donuts and four beers. The pairings are Waning Wheat with French Toast, Cowgirl Coffee with the Maple Bacon, Sodbuster Pale Ale with Birthday Cake, and Triple Chocolate with Blood Orange.

Why you should go: Rebel makes some amazing donuts and they do their homework when pairing them with Tractor’s beers.

All the other great events

What: Steel Bender Tap Takeover. Where: M’tucci’s Market and Pizzeria. When: 11 a.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: As we mentioned in our Steel Bender events preview, there will be ETTU Brut IPA and Rosy Nosy in addition to staples like Lloyd’s 3 O’Clock Kolsch and Skull Bucket IPA. Why you should go: M’tucci’s food alone should be enough to get you across the river, but throw in some SBB beer, and you can’t let bad traffic stop you.

What: Firestone Walker Tasting. Where: Jubilation. When: 4-6 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Sample the finest bottled and canned offerings from the California brewery. Why you should go: Free beer, plus you can purchase your favorites and take them home.

What: Lecture on Hops and Climate in New Mexico. Where: Red Door Candelaria. When: 6-7 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: The latest in a series of education lectures at Red Door takes on the issue of climate change and how it will affect the brewing industry, from hops farms to water usage and more. We will have a separate preview later today. Why you should go: Grab a pint and learn something.

What: Brain Gang Trivia Beer Edition. Where: Canteen Brewhouse. When: 6-8 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: The popular trivia contest focuses on what’s in your pint. Why you should go: If you’ve ever considered yourself a beer expert, you might finally have an event that can prove it to everyone.

What: Founders Barrel-Aged Beer Dinner. Where: The Salt Yard, 6001 Osuna Road NE. When: 6-8 p.m. Cost: $30 (single), $50 (couple). Details: It’s a five-course dinner for a reasonable price. The beers are not all barrel-aged, but will include Solid Gold Lager, All Day IPA, Lizard of Koz, Nitro Rubeaus, and Backwoods Bastard. Why you should go: An affordable beer dinner? You gotta take advantage of this rarity with some delicious food paired up with Founders beers.

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

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

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister

ABQ Beer Week: Day Five calls for feasting, music and more

Posted: May 27, 2019 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2019
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Get on out there this Memorial Day and enjoy yourselves without overdoing it.

After running ourselves ragged over the last four days, we all need a day to kick back a little. This is that day.

Whether you’re feasting, dancing, singing, or whatever else you feel like doing from the list below, have a great time out there.

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: Memorial Day Bender Smoke-out. Where: Steel Bender Brewyard. When: 11 a.m. Cost: No cover charge.

Details: The good people at Steel Bender know that a proper barbecue is a holiday must, but they want to spare you the stress of cooking. Instead, come to the brewery, let the wonderful staff take care of you, and then gorge yourselves on smoked turkey legs, brisket, and hot links, with all the proper sides. Enjoy the full lineup of Steel Bender beers while also listening to the Dirty Brown Jug Band perform from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on the patio.

Why you should go: Have you seen the pictures that SBB has been posting of those turkey legs? This was an epic event last year, and it shall be again this year. Wear your stretchy pants.

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ABQ Beer Week: Day Three offers up plenty of tasty treats

Posted: May 25, 2019 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2019
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There’s just a few food items to pair with your beer on this day of 15 events.

Every day of Beer Week seems to have a different underlying theme that covers most of that day’s events. If there is one to be found today (Saturday), it is food.

Yes, today is the day of beer and food pairings galore. There’s a brunch with beer, two separate donuts-and-beer pairings, more beer-and-cheese pairings, and a food truck “battle” for the ages. You will not go hungry while enjoying the vast variety of beers on tap today (and just about every other event that is taking place today is somewhere that also serves food).

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: Mini Cask Fest. Where: Quarter Celtic Brewpub. When: 11 a.m. Cost: $5.

Details: Once again, Quarter Celtic harkens back to its British-style brewing roots by embracing cask ales. There will be four special beers available — Chai Tea Irish Red, Dry-Hopped Gose, Double Dry-Hopped MorBuck, Bourbon Barrel-Aged MacLomas Stout — and you can order that little sample wheel of all four. Once you’ve picked your favorite, snag a pint of that while enjoying the German DFB Pokal final (at noon) and the Spanish Copa del Rey final (at 1 p.m.) as the European soccer season nears its fateful end.

Why you should go: Those beers are just too hard to pass up, and if you mix in QC’s food and soccer on TV, it all comes together just perfectly.

All the other great events

What: Marbelous Modern General Brunch Pairing. Where: Modern General, 1720 Central Ave. SW. When: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Cost: $20. Details: Two special courses from Modern General, located in the former Draft Station space, will be paired with two 8-ounce Marble pours. Why you should go: Fill that belly before you dive into all the other great events today.

What: The Breakfast of Champions with Bristol Doughnut Co. Where: Steel Bender Brewyard. When: 11 a.m. Cost: $12. Details: We covered this one in our roundup of all Steel Bender events, but suffice to say, it’s four special donuts paired with SBB beers and cider. Why you should go: Donuts and beer, need we say more? Just arrive early because the supply is limited.

What: Brewery Yoga with SavaYoga. Where: Kilt Check Brewing. When: 11 a.m. Cost: $5. Details: Stretch yourselves out and get ready for the long day ahead, with a beer waiting for you right after class. Why you should go: Fit beats fat, or so they tell us.

What: Beer and Donut Pairing with Rebel Donut. Where: Kilt Check Brewing. When: Noon. Cost: $10. Details: Get a flight of beers paired up with special offerings from Rebel. Why you should go: Donuts and beer, need we say more?

What: Ciderday Night Fever. Where: Tractor Nob Hill. When: Noon to close. Cost: No cover charge. Details: All day long, enjoy a wide variety of ciders from Tractor and other breweries and cideries. Or, stop in at 8 p.m., as DJ Dave 12 will be spinning up some classic disco tunes. Just stick with the Travolta instead of the two brawling girl scouts from Airplane. Why you should go: If ciders are your thing, this is your event. Plus, you can bust out those platform shoes that had been hiding in your closet!

What: Fourth Annual Food Truck Battle. Where: Red Door Candelaria. When: 1 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: We already covered this fun event that pits four food trucks against each other for some bragging rights, all while you fill your belly. Why you should go: Awesome food paired with Red Door beers and live music from Reuben Krussick of Wholehearted.

What: Bosque Beer and Cheese Sampling. Where: Albertsons Market at Enchanted Hills. When: 3 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Free beer and cheese. Why you should go: Free beer, and you can buy some cans to take home.

What: Sierra Blanca Beer and Cheese Sampling. Where: Albertsons Market at Ridgecrest. When: 3 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Free beer and cheese. Why you should go: Free beer, and you can buy some bottles to take home.

What: Santa Fe Beer and Cheese Sampling. Where: Albertsons Market at 10131 Coors NW. When: 3 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Free beer and cheese. Why you should go: Free beer, and you can buy some cans to take home.

What: Where the Magic Happens Brewery Tour. Where: Casa Vieja Brewery. When: 4 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Take a trip into the Corrales brewery and learn more about the brewing process, after which you can listen to Van Roper play some tunes on the patio. Why you should go: Take a break from the craziness on one of the most chill outdoor spaces in the metro area.

What: Ex Novo Release Party. Where: Sister Bar. When: 6 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Ex Novo opened to the public Friday night, but if you want to try the beer before you drive to Corrales, this is your opportunity. Why you should go: The Ex Novo beer lineup is worth the trip downtown, or Corrales, or anywhere.

What: Comedy Quiz Show. Where: Red Door Downtown. When: 7:30 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: No details were available, but we think this involves comedy, and a quiz-type contest of some sort. Why you should go: Solve the mystery of what this event is all about.

What: Under Covers. Where: Tractor Wells Park. When: 8 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: A plethora of local musicians — JD Nash Harding, Michael Moxey, Still Closed For Repairs, Austin Morrell, Bellemah — will be performing covers of their favorite songs. Why you should go: After the long day, unwinding with some tunes sounds like a great idea.

What: Comedy Night. Where: Canteen Brewhouse. When: 8:30 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Laugh it up with host Zach Abeyta and other local comedians while enjoying some of Canteen’s finest beers. Why you should go: A little laughter is an excellent way to close out the evening.

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

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

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister

ABQ Beer Week: Steel Bender ramps up number of varied events

Posted: May 23, 2019 by Kristian Macaron in ABQ Beer Week 2019
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There will be plenty of events at Steel Bender during ABQ Beer Week.

ABQ Beer Week 2019 is upon us with a true blitzkrieg of funky events and new brews, and a Los Ranchos brewery is right at the heart of it. Steel Bender Brewyard is embracing its neighborhood roots by branching out across the city, while still staying close to home. 

“We really did want to build a place to ‘brew,’ that’s where our tag line comes from,“ said Steel Bender marketing director/co-owner Shelby Chant. “Yes, to brew the beer, but to brew with your friends, to brew up a great idea, to brew up your next vacation.” 

Steel Bender is kicking off ABQ Beer Week today (Thursday) with the release of their new beer, Stay Golden Ale, an English-style summer ale brewed with lemon peel. Then on Friday, SBB sales reps will be at Jubilation Beer, Wine, & Spirits’ Wild and Sour beer tasting event along with with Rowley Farmhouse Ales and Bow & Arrow Brewing. 

Among several in-house celebrations, Steel Bender has some surprises for us. On Saturday, they have teamed up with Bristol Doughnuts Co. (located in Nob Hill) for the “Breakfast of Champions” beer-and-donuts pairing. Head brewer Bob Haggerty, who is a former chef, and SBB Chef Jason Baczkiewicz met with the Bristol Doughnuts owners Sara and Coy Tremmel to decide what pairings would work best.

“All of us agreed we’ve never tasted such an incredible donut,” Shelby said.

The pairings are chosen to highlight the flavors the beer and the donuts together and individually.

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Blazin’ Brewfest lights up the Las Cruces night once again

Posted: May 15, 2019 by cjax33 in Blazin' Brewfest 2019
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Get thee to Las Cruces this Friday!

There are only a few beer festivals left in New Mexico that no one from the Crew has attended. One was the Blazin’ Brewfest, but I will be heading down this Friday since it is not falling on my birthday or opposite a metal show this year (it was rather uncanny how many times that happened in past years).

This annual celebration of craft beer takes over Main Street and Plaza de Las Cruces, starting at 5 and running until 9 p.m. Tickets are still available online. General admission is $15 and designated drivers get in for $5, and they typically sell out in advance (though Guild executive director Leah Black said a few will be held back for sale at the gate), so it would be wise not to risk showing up expecting a ticket unless you arrive at the outset.

Blazin’ is a New Mexico Brewers Guild event, and it has drawn 18 breweries from around New Mexico, including all five Las Cruces breweries. Pecan Grill Brewery will be in attendance, but it does not have any beers available as brewer David Allan is currently undergoing treatment for cancer. Eight other breweries are donating beers to be sold by the pint at the Pecan Grill tent, with proceeds going to help the Allan family. Marble will be sending Passionate Gose, while Canteen, La Cumbre, Little Toad Creek, Palmer Brewery, Santa Fe, Sierra Blanca, and Steel Bender will also contribute.

There will be music from DJ D-monic and a number of food trucks on site.

As for the beer lists for the 17 breweries, here is what we have so far. If any others update us between now and the start of the festival, we will share those here.

  • Bosque: Pistol Pete’s 1888, Bosque IPA, Elephants on Parade, Scotia Scotch Ale, Open Space Haze, Pale Ryder, Sour Songs (blood orange and cranberry kettle sour), Rebble Pebble (cocoa pebble brown ale)
  • Canteen: Cabana Lager, Radiohead IPA, La Luz Wheat, Dougie Style Amber
  • Cloudcroft: TBA
  • High Desert: Mango Gose, New England IPA, Cerveza, Ekuanot Pale Ale, Peach Wheat
  • Icebox: Frostbite IPA, Black Ice Lager, Rasp-brrry Wheat, Cold-Hearted Cream Ale
  • La Cumbre: Elevated IPA, A Slice of Hefen, Acclimated APA, El Jugo, Strawberry Gose
  • Little Toad Creek: Smart Blonde Ale, Grumpy Old Troll IPA, Pendejo Porter
  • Lost Hiker: TBA
  • Marble: Double White, Double White Triple Berry, Desert Fog, Cerveza
  • Picacho Peak: Munich Helles, Bitchin Brown, Hefeweizen, Saison, NEIPH, Twisted Windmill (DIPA)
  • Red Door: Unhinged Cider, New England IPA, Vanilla Cream Ale, Irish Red Ale
  • Santa Fe: Pepe Loco, 7K IPA, Happy Camper IPA, Social Hour
  • Sierra Blanca: Alien IPA, Cherry Wheat, Green Chile Cerveza, Desert Pilsner
  • Spotted Dog: TBA
  • Steel Bender: Skull Bucket IPA, Raspberry Dynamite, Lloyd’s 3 O’Clock Kolsch, Compa Los Ranchos Lager
  • Tractor: Haymaker Honey Wheat, Blood Orange Cider, Stonewall Brut IPA with grapefruit
  • Truth or Consequences: Hot Springs Lager, Buckhorn IPA, Paddleboard Pale Ale, Irish Red

Hopefully I will see many of you at the festival. Look for me roaming about or over at the Brewers Guild tent.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister

ABQ Beer Week returns in just 10 days so here is a not-too-early preview

Posted: May 13, 2019 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2019
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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It’s go-time, again, and we will help prepare you for all that is to come.

Some mornings you glance at the old beer calendar and try to figure out what to write about. Well, at least that’s how it works for us, and our glance today brought us to the stark realization that ABQ Beer Week 2019 is just 10 days away. Guess we should probably get our annual early preview up, right?

Most of these events can be found here at the official site, but if we list any below that do not appear there, fear not, someone just has to upload the final details. For each day we picked at least one event to highlight. When Beer Week starts next Thursday, we will have a daily preview for each and every day, plus some breakout features on certain events.

As we do every year, we seriously advise saving up some money for Lyft/Uber usage, or take this opportunity to cash in any owed rides from friends/family.

Thursday, May 23

This is definitely a double-event day, at minimum. Start your day at Marble Heights for the annual Beer, Cheese & More. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online. It sells out, so get ’em early. You get a tray of delicious Marble beers paired with select cheeses and other foods from Whole Foods Market. The event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. When you are done, grab a ride down to Tractor Wells Park for Sour Hour with Rowley Farmhouse Ales. This one also starts at 5 but runs until 10, so they should have plenty of beer left after you are done at Marble. Grab a tray of select RFA and Tractor sours and enjoy the sounds of McMahon & Littlebird, who perform at 8.

Other events to consider: Firestone Walker tasting at Stone Face Liquors, 4 p.m.; Bell’s Brewery tasting at Jubilation, 4 p.m.; Laid Back Lager Jogger 5K at Canteen Brewhouse, 5 p.m.; Beer Making 101 Class at Casa Vieja Brewery, 6:30 p.m.; Drinking Songs Themed Karaoke at Red Door Candelaria, 7 p.m.

Friday, May 24

The opening weekend is pretty packed, in case you have not looked at the schedule yourselves. Once again, we have two events in two different parts of town that are both worth checking out. The order you go in is up to you, but for these two, we definitely recommend you do not drive. Nob Hill Bar & Grill is hosting the 21 and Over event this year (it was at Sister last time), which features a collection of national craft breweries that are 21 years old or older (get it?). Each will be offering up some of their rarer one-offs rather than just the same old stuff. The one that has us the most excited is Firestone Walker’s Maple Parabola Imperial Stout. We will unveil the other seven entries soon. Meanwhile, at the same time over at Tractor Wells Park, Truth or Consequences Brewing is engineering at tap takeover and bomber sale. If you have not made it down to T or C to try this excellent brewery, now is your chance, plus you can take home beers like Truth Serum Barleywine.

Other events to consider: Social Capital Key-Lime Pie release at both Canteen locations, noon; High and Dry Brewing and Taos Energy Bar collab release, noon; Wild & Sour Beer Tasting with Steel Bender, Rowley Farmhouse Ales, and Bow & Arrow at Jubilation, 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 25

This day is nice, as the events are more spread out across the day. Start your day off with the Mini-Cask Fest at Quarter Celtic, which starts when it opens at 11 a.m. Four select QC beers will be served in firkins, and you can sample all for just $5, and/or grab a pint of your favorite. Don’t fill up too much on food, though, as the Annual Food Truck Battle is going down at Red Door Candelaria at 1 p.m. After a potential afternoon siesta, head downtown to Sister for the Ex Novo Brewing Release Party at 6 p.m. If you have not been lucky enough to try the beers from the original in Oregon, enjoy the first tasty offerings from the new Corrales brewery.

Other events to consider: Donuts & Beer Pairing with Bristol Doughnut Co. at Steel Bender Brewyard, 11 a.m.; Cider Day Night Fever at Tractor Nob Hill, all day

Sunday, May 26

There’s really just the annual Blues & Brews Festival at Sandia Casino. We will have a full preview of that one soon.

Monday, May 27

Double up on the Memorial Day activities with Marble’s annual music festival at 2 p.m. You can also hit the all-day Smoke-Out at Steel Bender, though that only goes until the delicious smoked meats run out. We would honestly recommend you fatten up at Steel Bender first, then dance it off at Marble later.

Other events to consider: Tamarind Sour Release and Karaoke at Cantero Brewing, 11 a.m.; Karaoke for a Cause at Red Door Downtown, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, May 28

Things start slowing down a bit now that the holiday weekend is over. If you missed Ex Novo at Sister, head over to Jubilation at 4 p.m. for a tasting of their packaged offerings. Then motor down to Canteen Brewhouse for a Scholarly Happy Hour with Asa Stone at 6. She is the only certified advanced Cicerone in the state, so she might have some insight into taking your love of beer to the next level.

Other events to consider: Special Release of Mangose at Quarter Celtic, all day; Beer and Grilled Cheese Pairing with Cheesy Street at Tractor Westside, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, May 29

Another relatively quiet day, so kick back and relax with the Rebel Donut and Beer Pairing at Tractor Four Hills at 4 p.m. This one ran out of donuts in a hurry last year, so while more will be on hand this year, do not expect them to last. Then you can head down to Red Door Candelaria for a lecture on hops and climate in New Mexico at 7 p.m.

Other events to consider: Steel Bender Tap Takeover at M’tucci’s Market & Pizzeria, all day; Founders Barrel-Aged Beer Dinner at the Salt Yard, TBA

Thursday, May 30

This is another busy day. Start it off at any time at Steel Bender for the Saison de Luxe release party. This collaboration with Ex Novo is a barrel-aged brett saison. There’s a Bell’s Brewery Tappening at O’Niell’s Heights from 5 to 7 p.m. You can also sign up for two beer dinners featuring La Cumbre at Nob Hill Bar & Grill and one at Toltec Brewing on the westside, starting at 6 and 6:30, respectively.

Other events to consider: Upslope Brewing tasting at Jubilation, 4 p.m.; Odell Pint Night at Billy’s Long Bar, 5 p.m.; The Great Gatsby Edition of Gin & Jazz at Tractor Wells Park, 5 p.m.

Friday, May 31

Close out the month of May with all sorts of beer-and-food-pairing events. Marble will have a beer and cheese pairing at Jubilation at 4 p.m. Canteen Brewhouse is hosting a beer and taco pairing at 6 p.m. Dialogue Brewing is hosting at beer and food pairing with M’tucci’s at 6 p.m.

Other events to consider: Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout tapping at Two Fools Tavern, 5 p.m.; Drag Queen Bingo: Pride Edition at Tractor Wells Park, 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

The new month begins with Kaktus Brewing hosting the Farm House Ale Event at Loretto Park in Bernalillo from noon to 6 p.m. We will have a full preview of this mix of beer, food, live country music, and more.

Other events to consider: Worthogs Homebrew Club Demonstration at Casa Vieja Brewery, 1 p.m.; Pop Fizz Paleta Pairing with Rio Bravo and host High and Dry, 2 p.m.; Beer, BBQ and Bites Pairing with Asa Stone at Canteen Brewhouse, 6 p.m.; Steel Bender Beer Dinner at Artichoke Cafe, 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 2

It all wraps up, finally, with plenty of concluding events. If you still have a hankering for cask beers with some mangy jazz, hit up Le Cask Lunatique at Steel Bender at noon and enjoy some brews with Le Chat Lunatique.

Other events to consider: Hoppy Birthday to Us! anniversary party at Casa Vieja Brewery, noon; Bike Part Drive benefiting Esperanza Bike Shop at Canteen Brewhouse, 2 p.m.; Green Jeans Farmery Beer Week Event, TBA

* * * * *

That is all from us for now, but look for a lot more info starting next Thursday. We will see you all out and about during Beer Week.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister

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