IPA Challenge 2016: Boxing Bear takes slim lead after one round

More than 160 patrons packed The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing on Saturday afternoon to cast their votes in the first of the three main rounds of the 2016 NM IPA Challenge. The initial tallies suggest this is going to be a close one, though a lot can change between now and the final votes…

Nob Hill becomes beer epicenter of this weekend and beyond

Oh, Nob Hill. You wonderful little place, except for your lack of parking. Home to three taprooms, several beer bars, and that place with the nice patio. This Saturday, it will also be home to one small-but-awesome event, and one very large event. Then comes Tuesday, with another small-but-awesome. First up, Ballast Point will be…

The Week Ahead in Beer: Things to do in ABQ when you’re not a hophead

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 four breweries and one down in Socorro and the other in Los Alamos also joining the party. The preliminary round of the IPA Challenge is this Saturday…

Pork & Brew tops list of beer-centric events for July 4 weekend

It is another Fourth of July weekend, which means it is once again time for Pork & Brew. The 13th annual edition of this Rio Rancho-based event will take place this Saturday through Monday at the Santa Ana Star Center. Just like last year, there will be quite a bit of craft beer on tap….

ABQ Beer Week Recaps: Beer Premier brings in sophisticated crowd

Friday night’s New Mexico Brewers Guild Beer Premier and Matanza was a unique event and it was my first time attending this festival. It turned out to be my favorite event of Beer Week. As is the case with any event, there were some bumps in the road, but overall it was fantastic. All the…

ABQ Beer Week 2016: Aiming for a perfect Day Ten

The party isn’t over yet, so it’s time to gear up for one last Saturday full of events. There are two big fundraisers today, one at Tractor Wells Park and the other at Marble Westside. Throw in some more beer releases, special tappings, sampling events, and more, and you should stay plenty busy as we…

Pajarito Summerfest: An alternative to Beer Week

So, you guys down in Albuquerque seem to be having a lot of fun with your “Beer Week” thing.  Lots of events all over town, lots of beer … I can appreciate that. But, some of us don’t get down to Albuquerque very often as we are stuck up in the mountains. Well, we don’t…