Beer Guide for visiting New Mexico

I can only speak from my experience, which is primarily limited to Colorado, but the best and biggest beer bars there are primarily focused on taps with only a small selection of bottles to complement things. And, as @ONovoMexicano was focusing on, those bottles were generally not hop forward beers. I obvious don't know the numbers or anything, but from this outsider's POV, they appear to be doing quite well with that approach...and I always preferred it. I personally don't go to a bar to buy a bottle of anything. I honestly can not tell you the last time I bought a bottle/can of anything when going out for a beer.

 

Some random thoughts:

I'm noticing quite a few smaller breweries around the country bypassing distribution into stores and simply having canned releases of their "IPAs" every other weekend on the brewery site. They control it all. I think our states products can stand on their own with its quality (over time). But there is nothing wrong with a little hype factor to stir up some interest.

I hear of 5 month old breweries that are already canning their products. Canteen (not calling them out solely) has been around 22 years now and has never had a special release of a product in a can. Tractor has that mobile canning truck *which I think went down in SF at Second Street. Bosque and Boxing beer bottle bombers.

I guess its all about everyones goals and focus. Some newcomer breweries could produce a small 1BBL batch of beer to send out to 4 different beer bars in town. It feels like everyone wants their regulars (their money makers) to be everywhere. It seems consumers are past that. Special releases or slight variations are helpful. It would be even great to see some special edition (dry hopped with different hops) elevated IPAs show up at different beer bars in town. Maybe it starts from within the state, and then distributors want to showcase their own out of state products after the states breweries show everyone whats what..

Seeing as how many brewfests features straight core lineup beers (as everyone wants to showcase those shelf filler beers), maybe we are simply a couple years away from a point where more than 1 beer bar can thrive. It seems like every local brewery is so busy producing their normal beers, there is no time for the beer bar "geeks" who want some variety.

Does it come down to distributors or the breweries who are willing to send 1/4 kegs of some rare beers to beer bars constantly? Do they want their regular beers sold there too? I think everyone wants the unique stuff

 

We brewed and bottle conditioned what many thought was a very classic example of the style in 2014 and it was far and away the slowest seller of any of the bottled beers we have offered. Ted at Marble has said similar things about the style, and he's made some great ones. And the saisons that Jubi has carried normally sit on the shelves for quite a while. We have gotten Fantome and a few other Belgian saisons but they never moved...

Just not a style that has taken off here yet. Again, price point is a big driver here.

As far as Firestone Walker, a rep was in our brewery a month ago and it sounds like that should be happening here soon.

 

Damn, @erway, that is not what I wanted to hear. Saisons are my favorite style pale beer. Kills me to hear that style might not be sustainable in this market.

 

Not to hijack the thread, but I have a cousin who offered to ship me a box of stuff. He lives in Albuquerque so was looking for recommendations on what is available right now that wouldnt be hard to find. From reading thru this thread looks like La Cumbre Elevated and Dank/Project Dank and Marble Red and Oatmeal stout are good but dont know availability.

 

Everything you listed is available year round. Ask him to grab you a cafe con Leche from la cumbre as well. That's available right now at most package shops in ABQ right now.

 

Just noticed that project dank went up in price at total wine. Is it like that everywhere else? With boxing bear and Bosque setting their price at $10 on the majority of their bombers, and what looks like okay sales, I guess this may have been inevitable. For me it makes my choice to stick with elevated that much easier. It's tough not knowing what each batch consists of too. $9 has been the extreme norm for me for awhile. $10 is an easy pass

 

Oh man, missed this part initially. That would be awesome; Union Jack, Opal, and Parabola would make me very happy. As would DBA, Double Jack, Wookey Jack. And Pivo Pils, Succaba, Pale 51.

 

I'd love to try some Marble Saisons. I make it there at least 1x per month. Easy trip since its about a mile away. Have yet to come across any saisons, unfortuately.

 

Yep... When things don't move, a brewer usually doesn't rush to keep them on tap. While it's great being an artist, one cannot practice art if there are no walls to put it on and no one buying it.

 

Anyone familiar with Sidetrack Brewing?

 

Yeah, I totally get waiting out these new guys until they work out the kinks of learning the equipment and honing in on their recipes. That has been my MO with visiting new breweries for a while as well, with the rare exception for that special brewery that quickly proved they knew what they were doing from the get-go (i.e. Comrade, Horse & Dragon).

Sidetrack caught my attention because they are a few blocks away from my place, easy walking distance. Just like with Boese Brothers, their convenience will probably get me into their doors at least once to check out. Just want to set my expectations realistically.

 

Sidetrack definitely has a nice cool, urban spot... but the beers were still very-very homebrew-esque, in my opinion. I Shared 2 flights with friends, so I had the opportunity to try every thing they were pouring, and unfortunately nearly everything I tasted from them needed help- with some issues being minor things like carbonation, to some major flaws like off flavors. There wasn't a single beer that I tasted that I imagined I would enjoy a full pint of. Granted I drank Side track beers after V@S day, so I was far from sober, so take this review of them how ever you want. I do think the taproom was nice with a cool low-key vibe, and friendly staff. I will give them another shot in the future, but not for a while...

 

First off, thanks @gyoungit, for the info on Side Track. Probably won't change my plans for walking over there one of these days, but now I know to temper my expectations. I have managed a few trips to Boese now despite their young/home brew'ish quality beers and been fine with my decision, hopefully I can at least share a similar experience with Side Track. It's so close and convenient, might as well....

Scale Tipper on tap at Bosque. Going to try to hit them up this weekend to give it a try given the love for it. I did try the Scale Tipper IPL when that was around a month or so ago, which I didn't really care for personally.

Marble's Brett IPA was also just released going to grab a pour and/or bottle of that this weekend too.

 

I'll definitely give that Simcoe Pils and Grange's Session a try. I always see Grange's on tap at LC but have yet to check it out. If the Imperial Porter is on tap then, I will definitely check tha out as well.

Not sure about the Milk Chocolate Cherry Stout though....only fruited stout/porter I tried was a Raspberry Porter from a brewery I trust (the Grimm Brothers from Loveland, CO) and I didn't like combo of dark, roasted malts and sweet and tart fruit. I trust Grimm enough to assume that my issue with that beer was personal taste towards the style and not the quality of the beer.

 

I finally got back to visiting some local breweries.

Bosque simply does not disappoint on a hop front for me. I had to return there for some Scale Tipper. Special trip status. Some say too hoppy, or too piney. I did not get that at all. I felt Scale Tipper was juicy as heck. Nearly perfect. I feel I don't need to seek out any NE beers because of what we have here. They have a red chile brown ale that seemed to be a general hit for most non hop heads. Took home a growler of their X ipa.

Chama River- They have a DIPA and another IPA on their seasonal board. The first IPA felt a bit sweet citrus and malt heavy. Nothing too crazy. But a bit average. The DIPA felt more like an imperial red. Hop aromatics missing on both imho. Class VI lager never disappointing. I guess it was before the brewer switch around but I had felt Chama was making a turn for the fresher hoppier variety of beers. Now it feels like they will continue to excel at the lower ibu heavy beers.

La Cumbre- Latest batch of Project Dank is back to being less ibu heavy, and leaned toward some tropical notes. Maybe I still had Scale Tipper on my mind, but this latest dank was one of their better batches. Heard the great news about BEER being back for good. That GABF winner needs more shine.

Second Street- These guys know how to do ESB and bitters in general. Their Anniverisary ESB felt like a really clean oktoberfest type beer. Impressive that they serve pitchers of select beers.. Then in a surprise, their 4 hour IPA felt like a scale tipper clone. It feels like each brewery in and around ABQ needs to have that IPA or specialty IPA that draws in a crowd.

I don't get out as much as I used to. So the time I do spend is usually at places I have been to before.

Anyone been to Firkin or Bow & Arrow yet?

@denver10 The Canteens cherry chocolate milk stout is more of a dessert cherry flavor. Think of it like a extract type additive flavor. There was nothing weird, or tart about it. Think of those chocolate covered candies you buy at the grocery store. @ONovoMexicano Was the old brewer a part of the panama joe coffee stout? That was awhile back when I went. Their Cherry chocolate milk stout is not bad. I tend to be more excited about those one off stouts they do than any other beer. Core lineup (despites GABF winners) doesnt really do it for me... I may need to give them a shot. I cant remember the last time I went and had a IPA from them. But I do trust you when you say they 'suck' or have been lacking. Maybe subconsciously, I am drawn to La Cumbre when in the area.

 

Planning a trip to Santa Fe/ABQ for my birthday the last week is June, hopefully we can meet up Clayton!