Posts Tagged ‘Steel Bender Brewyard’

Weekend Beer-cap: From sours to salsa to the secret city of Oregon

Posted: August 7, 2018 by cjax33 in Weekend Beer-cap
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Any beer lover visiting Eugene would be remiss not to stop at ColdFire Brewing.

Welcome to the road version of Weekend Beer-cap. Yours truly is still up in Oregon for a little while longer, still bouncing around breweries.

I am currently down in Eugene, which is one of those towns that most people probably just pass through going between Portland and Bend. Yeah, it is a college town, but ignoring the ubiquitous Ducks merchandise everywhere, it also has a fair number of breweries.

Ninkasi is the big boy here, distributing its beers as far away as Arizona. Heck, Ninkasi even sponsors Sunday games for the Eugene Emeralds, the short-season Single-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs (for those that do not follow baseball, that is four levels below the Isotopes, mostly kids right out of college). Imagine Marble sponsoring Sunday games at Isotopes Park. Oh, we can only dream.

Since I had Ninkasi before, outside the ballpark I aimed to visit the smaller breweries. My favorites so far have been ColdFire, Elk Horn, and Falling Sky. They all have a nice mix of stouts, pilsners/kolsches, reds, IPAs, and the rest. Falling Sky also had a pretty solid menu, even if the chefs went way overboard on the pesto on the chicken-and-bacon sandwich. ColdFire is the only one without food, but its American Stout and Stylish Kolsch were worth two visits.

The next time you make it up to Oregon, take note that Eugene is worth a beer stop, or even an overnight beer visit. Most of the breweries are within walking distance of each other, too, since the weirdest thing about Eugene is that its government has kept Lyft and Uber out of town. (No place is perfect.)

Anyway, here is what a couple other Crew members were up to back home while I was away.

Bending towards a love of certain sours

Why yes, that is a blend of Raspberry and Tangerine Dynamite at Steel Bender.

Full disclosure, I am not typically a fan of sours. But, all summer I have been drinking Steel Bender’s Raspberry Dynamite, on purpose! This Sunday we went to Steel Bender to try the next in the Dynamite “series,” Tangerine Dynamite. While still good, to me it is a little more on the sour side than the Raspberry, or it feels that way. The beertender suggested mixing the two and she even poured a sample that way. I fell for it immediately because it looks so neat. I noticed quite a few going out to servers, so I think they struck gold with that. Next time, I will stick to straight Raspberry, but it was a lot of fun.

Cheers!

— AmyO

Dancing to a plethora of pints

A little 7K IPA goes well with salsa.

Unlike many in the DSBC, I suspect, I have a secret second life as a Latin dancer. Yes, it’s not pretty to see in my case, but at least it’s something that can be done while drinking good beer. (It’s practically a requirement, really.) Sunday evening, the New Mexico Salsa Congress held a fundraiser at B2B, the taco/beer joint near Uptown. The place has very good tacos and supposedly 60 NM beers on tap. This is a monthly event, so if this sounds interesting to you, stay tuned for future events!

(P. S. Nosotros, a popular local Latin band, will be playing at Marble downtown this Friday. Best of both worlds!)

— Reid

Brews in the Wild: La Cumbre and Steel Bender bring some citrus and berry goodness to your glasses

Posted: June 25, 2018 by Brandon Daniel in Beer Review
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Not sure of what beers to pick up for your BBQ? Unsure of how to quench your palate on that hike far into the mountains? We’ve got you covered! Here you will find some of the latest beers from around the state to pick up in cans, bottles, or bombers to take home. Find these offerings at their respective breweries or fine beer sellers around the state!

THE BEER: Raspberry Dynamite

THE BREWERY: Steel Bender Brewing

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ABQ Beer Week: Day Eleven wraps it all up for 2018

Posted: June 3, 2018 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2018
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And so it ends for another year!

This is it, the final day of Beer Week for 2018. We hope all of you have had as much fun as we did, even if we didn’t get out to as many events as in the past (work/family/metal shows in Denver got in the way).

There was also the NM Brewers Guild golf tournament earlier today, but since it had sold out in advance, we didn’t list it here. We do hope everyone had fun and that someone came within spitting distance of par 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: Le Cask Lunatique. Where: Steel Bender Brewyard. When: Noon. Cost: No cover charge.

Details: Steel Bender is teaming up with Le Chat Lunatique for a mini cask festival on the patio. While the band plays from 1 to 3, the casks will be there until they run dry. There will be Cider with Cascade hops and raw sugar, Cider with maple syrup and cinnamon sticks, The Village Wit with pure honey and grapefruit, Sparkfitter Amber with molasses and ginger, Brickie Stout with raspberry puree, and Kettle Run with agave and the zest and juice of 12 limes. They will be paired with a special menu of sausage-centered dishes.

Why you should go: Food, beer, and some of the best mangy jazz around.

All the other great events

What: Level 5 Brunch Pairing with Marble. Where: Hotel Chaco. When: 11 a.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Marble beers will take over the taps as folks chow down on some of the best brunch items in town. Why you should go: Get your day started right.

What: Goose Island Brunch. Where: Nob Hill Bar & Grill. When: 11 a.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Once again, GI sours will be served during the traditional Sunday brunch. Why you should go: If you’re in Nob Hill and like to pucker up at brunch, go for it.

What: La Cumbre Bowling Tournament. Where: Silva Lanes. When: 1-3 p.m. Cost: $5 per person/$20 per team of four. Details: Grab three friends to form a team and head to the lanes to bowl against teams from La Cumbre. The $5 per person charge gets you two games and a pair of shoes. Enjoy some delicious LC beers while bowling, too. Why you should go: Because who doesn’t want bragging rights over the La Cumbre staff? You’re never gonna get those trying to out-brew them.

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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 Ten keeps it cool even in the sweltering heat

Posted: June 2, 2018 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2018
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Gear up for one last big Saturday before it all ends for this year.

As we approach the end of Beer Week for 2018, the temperatures are a rising, so staying cool in the shade with a good pint or two is a must. Thankfully, there will be plenty to try today at events across town, from special releases to food pairings to even a mini lager festival.

Take note, however, the Crafts, Crops and Hops Beer Farmer’s Market scheduled for Canteen today has been postponed until later this summer. The special beer release set for today is still on, thankfully.

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 Lager Fest. Where: Ponderosa Brewing. When: Noon-4 p.m. Cost: $15.

Details: Seven breweries are gathering at Ponderosa for this festival celebrating the (underrated?) style. Your ticket gets you a sample of all the lagers, plus a pint of your favorite and a commemorative pint glass. Choose between Bosque Lager, Bow & Arrow’s Denim Tux Lager, Dialogue’s Maibock, Kellys’ American Pilsner, Marble’s Dortmunder Export, the Steel Bender/Flix Brewhouse collaboration Schnitz N Giggle, and a TBA lager from the hosts. There may also be an eighth brewery on hand, though that was not yet confirmed.

Why you should go: Lagers are perfect in these hot, dry days. Now you can either confirm that your favorite is the best in town, or discover a new lager that demands to be kept in your fridge via bottle, can, crowler, or growler.

All the other great events

What: Steel Bender Tap Takeover and Wild & Sour Charcuterie Pairing. Where: M’tucci’s Market and Pizzeria. When: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: A slew of big, funky beers are heading to the restaurant, including Ingenio, The Judy, and Bullet’s Reserve. They will be paired up with charcuterie boards. Why you should go: Satisfy your craving for some perfectly paired beers and food items.

What: Lawn Ninja Collaboration Beer Release. Where: Quarter Celtic Brewpub/Palmer Brewery. When: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Lawn Ninja is a rice ale, an easy-drinking beer that’s perfect for summer. Why you should go: Keep encouraging more collaborations between breweries by drinking their combined offerings.

What: Zafado Groove Beer Release. Where: Canteen Brewhouse. When: Noon-3 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Enjoy this Belgian ale with passionfruit aged in chardonnay barrels with brettanomyces. Why you should go: It’s big, sweet, and funky. Perfect for the patio.

What: Third Annual Food Truck Battle. Where: Red Door Brewing (Candelaria). When: Noon-4 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Five food trucks will be going head to head for the title of the Best of Albuquerque. You try the food and decide the winner, all while washing it down with some delicious Red Door beers. Why you should go: Who doesn’t like a good competition where the audience is the biggest winner? Because that’s what this is.

What: “Breakfast with the Boiz” Beer Release and Bash. Where: Santa Fe ABQ Taproom. When: Noon-3 p.m. Cost: $12. Details: Come enjoy brunch with two of Santa Fe’s top brewers, Bert and Dave, as they present a new beer made in the style of a traditional brass monkey. There will also be a Bloody Mary beer bar. For the ticket, you get a pint glass, one beer, and either a breakfast burrito from Chumlys or a stuffed, beer-battered jalapeno from Rockin’ Taco. Why you should go: Beer, bloody beer, food, and a chance to talk with the brewers. Sounds like a good start to the day.

What: 90s Beer Prom. Where: Tractor Wells Park. When: 8 p.m.-midnight. Cost: $25. Details: The theme is Under the Sea, dressing up 90s style is highly encouraged, and dancing like a fool is pretty much a requirement. It all supports TEDxABQ. Why you should go: Oh, just get goofy and let loose. Though the first of you to say “how old were people who went to prom in the 90s” gets dragged out and shot in the parking lot. (Kidding, just kidding. … Maybe.)

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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 Nine brings the funk straight from Barrelworks

Posted: June 1, 2018 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2018
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There are only four events to choose from, so choose wisely today.

It’s kinda weird that a Friday would end up being the quietest day of Beer Week, but here we are.

There are just four events today, and one of those is actually just a monthly event that happens to fall during all of these festivities. At least each of the four looks fun, especially for those of you like your beers a little tart and funky.

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: Firestone Walker Barrelworks Tap Takeover. Where: Nob Hill Bar & Grill. When: 5 p.m. Cost: No cover charge.

Details: Barrelworks in Buellton, Calif., is a magical place. Now a few of its finest aged beers are arriving here on tap. Take your choice between Agrestic (American Wild Red Ale), Bretta Rose (Wild Ale fermented with raspberries), Bretta Weisse (Berliner Style Wheat Beer), Krieky Bones (Wild Ale fermented with sour cherries), and UnderCurrants (Wild Ale fermented with black currants). Pucker up, people!

Why you should go: Unless you’re planning to visit Barrelworks itself just off the 101 in Central California, this is your best chance to try these beers on draft.

All the other great events

What: La Cumbre Beer Tap Takeover and Cheese Tasting. Where: Whole Foods Academy. When: 1-3 p.m. (tasting), 1-close (tap takeover). Cost: No cover charge. Details: La Cumbre is taking over the taps at the Sandia Saloon inside Whole Foods all day, but for the first two hours there will be a special beer and cheese pairing featuring Blackberry Briar, Miles from Cologne, Mosaic SMASH, Elevated IPA, A Slice of Hefen, and more. Why you should go: Delicious beer paired with delicious cheese. It’s been a theme this year, but you haven’t had LC beers with that cheese yet.

What: Sour Funk Beer Tasting. Where: Jubilation. When: 4-6 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Rowley Farmhouse Ales, Steel Bender, Cascade Brewing, and more will be on hand to offer up samples of some of their funkiest, strangest, and most creative concoctions. Why you should go: Free beer. Free sour beer. Just keep those elbows down, beer geeks, and form a single-file line.

What: First Fridays Comedy Contest Beer Edition. Where: Tractor Wells Park. When: 8-10 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: It’s standup comedy with a beer theme to the jokes. Why you should go: Come for the seasonal beers, stay for the Budweiser jokes.

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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 battles for supremacy

Posted: May 31, 2018 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2018
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Beer dinners, special tappings, archived beers, a movie event, and a brewing grudge match highlight this busy day!

If you are reading this, it means we survived the Insomnium show in Denver last night. As you read this, we will be flying back down Interstate 25, because there is beer business to take care of in ABQ.

After all, we’ve got Battle of the Beer Geeks to attend, but it’s not the only option today. If we weren’t at Tractor, we might be at one of two beer dinners, or perhaps the screening of Beerfest at Flix, or diving into that archive tapping at Marble Westside, or … well, you get the point, it’s gonna be a fun day.

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: Battle of the Beer Geeks V. Where: Tractor Wells Park. When: 5-8 p.m. Cost: $10 for tray and pint.

Details: Once again, five local beer enthusiast groups (us included) went and each brewed up a beer at Tractor. Now you get a tray filled with all five beers to try, with a pint of your favorite awaiting you at the end. It’s a blind taste test, and in the end all the public votes will count for 50 percent of the vote, with the other half coming from a judging panel. The winner gets an awesome Rock Em Sock Em Robots trophy, plus bragging rights. This year’s beer theme is single hop.

Why you should go: The Babes in Brewland have won enough times in a row. Come help us or one of the other groups dethrone them at last!

All the other great events

What: Sierra Nevada Special Sampling. Where: Jubilation. When: 4-6 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Brewery representative Keith Hymes is bringing Pale Ale, Sidecar Orange IPA, Otra Vez with lime and agave, Sierraveza Lager, German-Style Kolsch Ale, and Hoptimum DIPA. Why you should go: There’s hoppy, malty, and a bit of tart to perk up your afternoon, and the best part is, the samples are free.

What: Exodus IPA on Nitro Release. Where: Canteen Taproom. When: 5-10 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Enjoy one of the classic IPAs in a different format. Why you should go: Hey, if you’re already up in the foothills and have no desire to drive back down anywhere, then this is just the beer for you.

What: Marble Archive Tapping. Where: Marble Westside. When: 5-11 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Enjoy any of a quartet of archived beers that the Marble staff have pulled out of storage — Cherry Brune, From the Wood Saison, Quad, 2017 Reserve Ale. Why you should go: Quad and Reserve? First you had our curiosity, now you have our attention.

What: Odell Double Sour Tapping. Where: Nob Hill Bar & Grill. When: 5-7 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Pucker up for a double blast of Sunny Rain Golden Tart and Green Coyote Tomatillo Sour. Why you should go: If you love sours, you gotta try these two, plus you can grab dinner.

What: Canteen Beer Dinner. Where: Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. When: 6-8 p.m. Cost: $80. Details: This elegant five-course meal will be paired with some of Canteen’s finest beers, including High Plains Pilsner, Dougie Style Amber, and more. Call (505) 884-3350 to make your reservation. Why you should go: If you’ve been saving up for an ultimate feast, this is the time you cash in.

What: Beer Pairing Dinner. Where: Ponderosa Brewing. When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost: $40 ($35 for mug club members). Details: A four-course meal will feature some of Ponderosa’s finest beers. A sweet pepper salad is paired with Big Belgian, French onion soup is paired with Rip Saw Red, roasted orange marmalade pork loin is paired with Blood Orange Wit, and a finishing course of fine cheeses and truffles are paired with Tart Cherry Chocolate Porter. Why you should go: If you haven’t been saving up for an ultimate feast, then this is a more affordable beer dinner option.

What: Beerfest Movie Party and Collaboration Beer Release. Where: Flix Brewhouse. When: 7-10 p.m. Cost: $7 for movie ticket. Details: Come celebrate a special screening of the cult comedy classic Beerfest, which was filmed here in Albuquerque. Flix is throwing a party starting at 7, with screenings at 8 and 8:30. Expect games, trivia, and more, plus the release of Schnitz ’N Giggle, a Dortmunder lager brewed in collaboration with Steel Bender. Why you should go: A hilarious movie, a new beer, and all sorts of shenanigans that we’ll miss while at Battle of the Beer Geeks. Honor us with your best efforts.

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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 Six is all about bites and brews

Posted: May 29, 2018 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2018
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Beer pairs so well with tacos, grilled cheese, and just about everything else today.

It’s back to a full slate of events today, with food pairings being the biggest theme.

There’s beer and tacos, beer and grilled cheese, beer and whiskey and food, and so on. Basically, fill your belly, fill your soul, and have some fun.

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: Two Fools and Canteen Whiskey and Beer Pairing. Where: Two Fools Tavern. When: 6-8 p.m. Cost: $25.

Details: Get three Canteen beers paired with three whiskies and three food items. Irish Red is paired with Tamdhu 10-year and whisky BBQ shredded duck. Exodus IPA is paired with Teeling and pork belly jicama taco. Dark ‘n Lusty Stout is paired with Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban and sea salt caramel truffle.

Why you should go: Well, um, gosh, that just looks ridiculous. If you love beer, whiskey, and food, then this might be pretty close to your idea of heaven.

All the other great events

What: Cask Release of Two Fools Whiskey Barrel-Aged Obey the Darkside. Where: Canteen Brewhouse. When: Noon until it runs out. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Yes, Canteen saved some of the Obey that we helped brew and put it in a barrel. Some of that barrel-aged beauty will be in a cask for us all to enjoy. Why you should go: If you don’t go early, the Crew will drink it all. We’re not kidding about this.

What: Special Tapping of Boxing Bear Sucker Punch. Where: High and Dry Brewing. When: 2-10 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: It can be hard to find the Bear’s big IPAs east of the Rio Grande, so take advantage of it being on tap at High and Dry. Why you should go: If you still haven’t been to High and Dry, this is as good a time as any to visit.

What: Ultimate Taco Tuesday. Where: Ponderosa Brewing. When: 3-9 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: For $15 plus tax, get four special tacos (fish, beef & green chile, carne adovada, twice-burnt stuffed) paired with four beers (Crosscut Kolsch, Ghost Train IPA, Brewers Beard Bock, Hop-Mosa 2.0). Why you should go: Tacos!

What: Beer & Grilled Cheese Pairing. Where: Tractor Nob Hill. When: 5-10 p.m. Cost: $13. Details: Once again, Tractor teams up with Cheesy Street for this delicious event. Get four mini-grilled cheeses — Yo Mama’s (classic cheddar), The Dubliner (aged Irish Dubliner cheese with Granny Smith apple slices), Uber Cheesy (German-style with grilled onions and brown mustard), New Mexico’s Favorite (cheese, green chile, bacon) — and a dessert (Raspberry Cinnamon Cheesecake), each paired with a different beer (Almanac IPA, Double Plow Oatmeal Stout, Apricot Wheat, New Mexican Lager, Berry Cider). Why you should go: It’s like the other beer and cheese events, only the cheese is all melty and gooey and wonderful.

What: Tri Tuesday Beer and Taco Pairing. Where: Canteen Taproom. When: 6-10 p.m. Cost: $13. Details: Three tacos are paired up with three 5-ounce beer pours to bring you total happiness. Why you should go: They’re leaving the identities of the beers and the style of tacos a mystery. We like mysteries.

What: Collaboration Beer Dinner with Bell’s Brewery and Steel Bender Brewyard. Where: TFK Smokehouse. When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost: $55. Details: Indulge in a five-course meal with six beers, three from each brewery. Bell’s Oberon opens it up, followed by Steel Bender’s Raspberry Dynamite with a Brazilian salad. Then it’s Bell’s Lager of the Lakes with smoked pork firecrackers and Steel Bender’s Ingenio with margarita shrimp tacos. Finish it off with Steel Bender’s Red Iron Red with smoked beef short ribs and Bell’s 30th Anniversary Cherry Stout Reserve with Mayan chocolate mousse. Call TFK at (505) 639-5669 for reservations. Why you should go: If you’re not hungry and thirsty just reading that, we need to have a talk.

What: Hops and Beer Talk with Tom Brewer and Matt Meier. Where: Red Door Brewing (Candelaria). When: 7-8 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Our own AmyO will preview this event in full later today, but basically you get the chance to sit down and listen to Red Hat Hops owner Tom Brewer and Red Door head brewer Matt Meier discuss the fledgling hop farming industry in New Mexico and what it can mean to the future of craft beer in our state. Why you should go: It’s educational and it’s free, plus you can enjoy some of Matt’s new beers, including the ESB, English IPA, and New England IPA.

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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 gratitude before feasting

Posted: May 28, 2018 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2018
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Take your pick between smoked meats, local music, trivia, and a whole lot more.

Oh, what to do with a day off?

First, take a moment to be thankful for every member of the military, be it recent or years ago, who gave their lives for all of us.

Then, if you do not have a gathering to attend at the house of a friend or family member, or aren’t hosting one yourself, then get thee to the breweries today. Just be extra careful getting home afterwards.

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. until the food runs out. Cost: No cover charge.

Details: It is time to feast! The smokers will be churning out heaping amounts of spare ribs, brisket, and pulled pork, served with all of your favorite side dishes. Throw in all the great beers on tap, and this should satiate you for, oh, about a week or so. Just remember, get there early, because the food supply is not without limits.

Why you should go: Smoked meats. Beer. Someone else will clean up afterwards. Go. Win. Woots!

All the other great events

What: Memorial Day Fest. Where: Marble Brewery Downtown. When: 3-8:30 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: If you are more about the music than the meats, head to Marble for this annual bit of fun featuring four local bands, Gershom Brothers, Stan Kee and Step In, Sol De La Noche, and The Dirty Shades. Plus, if you ride your bicycle, then you get Mug Club discounts, and the team from Bike Works will be on hand to help make your ride even better. Why you should go: Support local music, drink local beer, get some exercise. Triple win.

What: Food Pairing. Where: Red Door Heights. When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Cost: $10. Details: We looked for but could not find any details. Fear not, we will keep chasing this one right up until the time it’s supposed to start. Why you should go: We’re working on this.

What: Paint Your Own Stein. Where: Tractor Four Hills. When: 6-9 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Kiln It! is hosting this fun event where patrons get to, well, paint a stain and then take it home. It costs $35 and to RSVP call (505) 433-8969. Your first pint is on the house. Your second pint can be served to you in your stein when you’re done. Why you should go: Not everybody can go to Germany and buy an official stein, so why not make your own?

What: Brain Gang Trivia Beer Edition. Where: Canteen Taproom. When: 7-9 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: The weekly trivia event goes with a full beer theme (of course). You can win anywhere from $10 to $25 in Canteen house cash, and it’s free to join. Why you should go: Win beer trivia to get beer money. What a brilliant concept.

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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 One fun begins with sours, cheese, collaborations and more

Posted: May 24, 2018 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2018
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Day One will see the return of Beer, Cheese & More at Marble, Sour Hour at Tractor, and more!

All right, people, it’s go time! Again!

Make sure you have your Lyft and/or Uber accounts up to date, and then start checking off the events you can’t miss. The Crew will be here for you every day with info on every single event.

Look for one or more of us at Nexus, Steel Bender, Marble, and (hopefully) Tractor Wells Park today. We’re going all-out to start this year’s series of 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: Beer, Cheese & More. Where: Marble Brewery Downtown. When: 5-8 p.m. Cost: $25.

Details: A tray of five specialty cheeses from Whole Foods Market, plus other delicious munchies, are paired up with five Marble beers — BBBerry Gose, Tickle Factory, Chillsner, Red Ale, and Cholo Stout. Get your tickets at the taproom ASAP before they run out.

Why you should go: This is always a fun event to challenge your palate with some truly terrific pairings. Aren’t you just curious as to what cheese could stand up to the gold-medal-winning Cholo Stout? Also, The High Desert Playboys will provide the music starting at 7 p.m.

All the other great events

What: Homegrown Pils Collaboration Release and Food Pairing. Where: Steel Bender Brewyard. When: All day. Cost: No cover charge. Details: The Homegrown Pils is back, this time made with a new malt from the Colorado Malting Company. To celebrate, it will be paired with a special turkey sausage dish. Why you should go: Delicious food and beer always go together.

What: Nexus Notorious BUN (Big Ugly Nasty) IPA Release. Where: Nexus Brewery. When: All day. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Owner Ken Carson wanted new brewer Randy King to create a heck of an IPA. So, he did. Why you should go: Enjoy this new hop bomb before the joint gets packed for the anniversary party on Saturday and Sunday.

What: Boxing Bear and Rio Bravo Sampling. Where: Jubilation. When: 4-6 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: Before stocking up for the weekend on beers, make sure to stop by this double brewery tasting, featuring Boxing Bear’s Chocolate Milk Stout, Red Glove, Sucker Punch DIPA, Barrel-Aged Standing 8 Stout, and Coffee Chocolate Stout, plus Rio Bravo’s NM Pinon Coffee Porter and Snakebite IPA. Why you should go: That’s a whole lot of different beers to try and enjoy, plus, they might make your shopping decisions easier.

What: Beer Walk, Run or Crawl. Where: Rio Bravo, Dialogue, Tractor Wells Park, and Bow & Arrow. When: 4-7 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: This fundraising event starts and ends at Rio Bravo, with stops at the other three breweries. Get a commemorative T-shirt and $1 off pints at all locations. Wrap it up with a concert at Rio Bravo. Why you should go: With all of the food events going on, you can use the exercise.

What: Sour Hour with Rowley Farmhouse Ales. Where: Tractor Wells Park. When: 5-8 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: The good dudes from RFA in Santa Fe are bringing five sours down for your sampling pleasure, including three new Ab Initios made with blueberry and pomegranate, merlot grapes, and methley plums. Why you should go: Pucker up for this rare and wonderful chance to try some RFA beers without having to drive 60 miles.

What: Canteen Social Capital Beer Release. Where: Canteen Taproom. When: 5-10 p.m. Cost: No cover charge. Details: This batch of Social Capital was made with pink guava, kaffir leaf, and dry-hopped with Citra. Why you should go: Get funky in the Foothills, all while chilling out far, far away from the rest of the madness.

* * * * *

Got any questions, comments, or 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 gets in on the fun this year

Posted: May 23, 2018 by cjax33 in ABQ Beer Week 2018
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Steel Bender is diving head-first into ABQ Beer Week.

When ABQ Beer Week rolled around last year, Steel Bender Brewyard had only been open for a couple months. Knowing that it was better to ease into things, the owners waited until this year to go full-bore into the annual madness. To follow up on our stories on all the events going on at Tractor Brewing and Marble Brewery, I sat down with Steel Bender’s Shelby Chant to go over what she and the staff have planned out.

Thursday

The brewery is bringing back a favorite seasonal with a new twist and a food pairing.

“We are opening Beer Week on Thursday with the Homegrown Pils Collaboration Release,” Shelby said. “We’ve already released our Homegrown Pils, which did really, really well, it’s a great beer, but we brought down the guys from Colorado Malting and used a malt that’s never been used in America. We got to do that, so that is going to be a phenomenal beer. We’re doing the release of that that day, along with a food pairing. Our new chef is doing a turkey sausage with leek, apple, green chile, roasted peppers, et cetera.”

The beer and the pairing will be available from open (11 a.m.) to close, so long as the food lasts.

Two other non-Beer-Week-related goings on for Steel Bender that day will involve a charity and an off-site tap takeover. Thursday is Red Nose Day, so $1 from every pint sold of Red Iron Red will go to the charity. Meanwhile, up in Santa Fe, Steel Bender will be doing a tap takeover at Violet Crown Cinema, including the release of a new beer, Kettle Run: A Solo Hop Sour made with Wakatu hops. That was made, naturally, for the release of Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Sunday

Steel Bender will be among the many breweries in attendance at ABQ Blues & Brews at Sandia Casino from 2 to 6 p.m.

Monday

The patio should be packed on Memorial Day.

Bring your appetite if you do not have a prior engagement for Memorial Day.

“Probably what will be our biggest event, at least that’s the plan, is the Memorial Day Bender Smoke-out,” Shelby said. “What we’ve been doing is we’ve purchased two smokers — we have two more coming but they may not be here in time for Memorial Day — but we are really playing around with doing a lot of smoked meats. Our whole thing when we opened this place and put that patio back there was we want you to feel like you’re at a backyard neighborhood barbecue when you’re out on our patio. All of our chefs kept begging for us to get smokers and we finally did it.”

Brace yourselves for delicious offerings of smoked spare ribs, smoked brisket, and smoked pulled pork. Shelby said Steel Bender has been running test batches of each over the past several weeks, and they have sold out every time. Side dishes will include coleslaw, salads, beans, french fries, mac-n-cheese, Hawaiian bread dinner rolls, and more, most of which will be made in house.

The band Royal Hills will provide the music from 1 to 3 p.m.

As the meats have sold out quickly in the past, Shelby said she recommends people show up as close to the doors opening at 11 a.m. as possible.

Tuesday

This one happens off-site, but Steel Bender is joining forces for a beer dinner of epic proportions.

“Tuesday is our beer dinner with TFK Smokehouse combined with Bell’s Brewery,” Shelby said. “They’re doing a five-course menu. We’re taking three beers, the (Raspberry) Dynamite, the Ingenio, and the Red. I think we’ve got three and they’ve got an opening and then they’ve got two more on the menu. They opened that up about two weeks ago; they capped it at about 40 people. That’ll be a lot of fun. The menu looks phenomenal.”

The menu has been revealed on Facebook. Bell’s Oberon will be the welcoming beer, while Raspberry Dynamite is paired with a Brazilian salad, Bell’s Lager of the Lakes is paired with Smoked Pork Firecrackers, Ingenio is paired with Margarita Shrimp Tacos, Red Iron Red is paired with Smoked Beef Short Ribs, and Bell’s 30th Anniversary Cherry Stout Reserve is paired with Mayan Chocolate Mousse.

Interested? RSVP with TFK Smokehouse at (505) 639-5668. The cost is $55 per person.

Clearly, if anyone thought that they were getting out of Beer Week with a slimmer waist, you are sadly mistaken.

Thursday, May 31

Steel Bender and Flix Brewhouse have teamed up on a beer for a special movie screening.

Steel Bender and Flix Brewhouse are teaming up with a special beer release to coincide with the screening of Beerfest, a ludicrous comedy from the Broken Lizard gang that was filmed in Albuquerque.

“This whole thing started out with (us asking) ‘wouldn’t it be cool to do something for a cult movie release?’ They’re able to get those rights to do those screenings,” Shelby said. “We’re hoping that this is successful and this becomes a regular Beer Week event for us and we keep going through different movies.”

The movie starts at 7 p.m., with tickets now available online at the Flix website. For an hour prior to the screening, there will be games and other fun activities in the main lobby.

“Also, in combination with that, Flix came out here and we did a collaboration brew, Schnitz and Giggles, it’s a Dortmunder lager,” Shelby said. “It will be released up there and it will be released down here the same day.”

Friday, June 1

Sales rep extraordinaire Adam Auden will be taking some of Steel Bender’s finest beers across town.

“We’re doing a Wild and Sour Tasting at Jubilation,” Shelby said. “That’s also with Cascade, Rowley (Farmhouse Ales) and then some other Favorite Brands (breweries) will be there apparently as well.”

The tasting will last from 4 to 6 p.m. and is free.

Saturday, June 2

Meanwhile, on the west side of the Rio Grande, Steel Bender will be joining forces with one of our favorite restaurants.

“We are doing a tap takeover at M’tucci’s Market and Pizzeria,” Shelby said. “Adam is finalizing what beers to take over there, but for sure all three bottles. We still have Ingenio available right now, but we held back from of The Judy and Bullet’s Reserve. We’ll have all three bottles there and whatever other stainless (steel kegs of) sours that we’ve got ready to take over there. (It’s) going to be mostly charcuterie pairings and it will be going on all day.”

In addition, Steel Bender will be one of the breweries in attendance at the Mini Lager Fest hosted by Ponderosa Brewing. We are working on getting full information from Ponderosa about this event, which begins at noon and costs $20 per person. Look for that preview as we get closer to the event.

Sunday, June 3

May the skies be clear and the winds be calm to finish Beer Week.

The Steel Bender staff is hoping to catch a little luck with the weather for the final event.

“We hope this one goes better than our last-day anniversary event,” Shelby said. “Our anniversary for four-and-a-half days went really, really well, then we got nailed with that really bad wind. We had all the sours out there. We’re hoping the weather holds.”

This event has been dubbed “Le Cask Lunatique,” as it will combine the tapping of six specialty casks with a performance by the local jazz legends, Le Chat Lunatique. The band will perform from 1 to 3 p.m., but the casks will be tapped before that. So what’s in the casks?

  • Cider with Cascade hops and raw sugar
  • Cider with maple syrup and cinnamon sticks
  • The Village Wit with pure honey and grapefruit
  • Sparkfitter Amber with molasses and ginger
  • Brickie Stout with raspberry puree
  • Kettle Run with agave and both the zest and juice of 12 limes

“The plan right now is we want to put them out on the bar on the patio,” Shelby said. “We actually have to build something for this. Then Jason, our chef, is going to do, he thinks right now, some sausage specialty pairings.”

After all is said and done, Shelby said she and her husband Ethan have one plan.

“And then we’re all taking a vacation until the Lavender Festival (on July 7),” she said.

That sounds like a great idea. A big thanks to Shelby for the interview, lunch, and that crowler of Brickie (a belated birthday present).

Beer Week starts tomorrow. For those about to drink, we salute you.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister

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