New Mexico Beer Guide 2016 updated

I've been to Quarter Celtic a few times now. I walked away from my initial visit pleased but each following visit has been a let down. I haven't had quite the negative experience you did (I was always able to drink their offerings, including their IPA, which I actually thought was decent during my first visit) but am in no rush to head back there. And I literally work across the street from them. The food is underwhelming too, IMO.

And just tell me where to sign to get The Usual a year rounder. Favorite thing I have tried from them. I did love the Huell Melon SMASH too, but you just can't beat that Galaxy and Pilsner combo. That Azacca was very underwhelming, I am with you on that. Hops seemed to be MIA in that one.

As for Riverwalker, I was actually thinking of re-posting about that beer a little while ago. I had a pint of it at dinner the other night and I really enjoyed it. I have had it plenty of other times (more times than not) and been completely underwhelmed by it, but my experience the other night was shockingly great. Makes me wonder if they tweaked the recipe a little or just the wackiness that is my ever changing palette.

My current rankings for Bosque's SMASH series:

Huell Melon
Citra
Equinox
Mosaic











Azacca

 

Riverwalker recipe was recently tweaked. I don't know if you had that version yet as I don't think it has been available publicly. But look for some nice changes to Riverwalker. coming soon. Also The Usual fans should know that Bosque is toying with The Usual and will be making an amped up version in the weeks to come. Increasing the Galaxy hops while still utilizing the pilsner malts. Looking forward to that one.

 

Bummer. I still haven't had MorBuck IPA. Went twice and both times it was out. Unfortunately talk like this is not making me want to go get it.

 

Hopefully there will some kind of announcement when the new recipe hit the streets. Looking forward to checking it out.

 

Hey hey,

I'll be in ABQ tomorrow. Are the must hits still La Cumbre, Bosque, and Marble, or is there some new blood ripping it up?

Thanks.

 

Oh, and if I can only visit one Bosque location, which has the best beer selection for on premise and to go?

 

Thanks, man. Can you do me another solid and recommend your favorite spot for a green chili cheese burger, please?

 

Obrigado.

 

I haven't been going out much (too expensive buying $5 pints x2 at every place. Instead it's trips to Jubilation constantly for new and old retries). But I did stop in @ Marble DT for their rooftop deck weekend premier. A grade in my book. They already seem short on tables,chairs, and umbrellas. I want to say maybe 16 sets of 4 person tables/areas. The quality of the build seems seamless into the design of the other areas. From the rooftop, you can smell the constant wort/hop combo blowing in the breeze. Downtown has a view? From up there, you can sort of gaze and wonder.

Downside:
They were only sitting on seven beers (six core and saison #2). I have never seen it so baron of choices. Be cautioned if any out of towners go. It's a great space. I definitely get my 3 beer limit in with Pilsner (which got canned June 29th after about a month), double white, and either their Red or IPA. They mentioned 2 beers coming soon.
Also, not totally vibing with the bartenders/staff at Marble. Not sure what it is. Too cool for school sort of vibe from some. They need some older staff in there imho.

Upside:
Pilsner is back and has never felt so refreshing.
Growler prices remain the best value in town. Attached to that, a downside. Their pints/22 pricing doesn't quite make sense to me. I'm spending $24 any more on 2 pints for 2 people. A few years back, that would've been $14. So if you can get in and out with a growler, do it!
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The NM IPA challenge begins this weekend. Anyone going? There are 28 participating breweries, and for this first event, you are given 14 of them (split in two sets of trays), so you better take a loved one and try all 28.
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Boxing Bear is in expansion mode. They closed up their homebrew shop attached to the brewery (new location is pending I heard) and will use that space for the brewery. I guess they are doing alright. Good for them.
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Anyone else have any second or new impressions on Rio Bravo? They are canning and selling like 6 of their beers (admiral is picking up their distribution). They will be at or exceed both Marble and La Cumbre in portfolio cannage (made that word up lol). And this here will be the downfall of craft. They are already hogging up two taps at places like Sadies. Soon they will be in every grocery store. I saw they were out in Asia hocking their product too. Other beers/breweries quality of products seem way more worth the hassle than what I am seeing here.

 

Going to have to check out the patio at Marble. I was there last week and the taplist was extremely weak, same as you described. The one thing I think differently about is that the small taplist should not be a deterrent to out of towners, as their flagship beers are all great and I think are always the beers anyone who is unfamiliar with Marble should be trying, regardless of what else might be on tap.

And thought about the NM IPA Challenge, but doubting I do it. Curious and tempted so might still change my mind.

 

FUCK RIO BRAVO AS A STAFF, BREWERY LABEL, AND AS A MOTHERFUCKIN CREW. AND IF YOU WANNA BE DOWN WITH RIO BRAVO, THEN FUCK YOU TOO.

 

All kidding and tupac lyrics aside, I just can't support rio bravo. I will not support rio bravo. They will not receive one dollar of my money. (Not counting whatever tax dollars they steal from me/you). There's really nothing to like about them. I mean nothing. The beer is bad. The service is bad. Their business practices are questionable. Their radio ads are laughable (they seriously claim to have the best beer in Albuquerque) and their social media game is so incomprehensible that it comes off as a brewery parody account. Just goes to show that a man with strong political and local business ties can fool the populace into believing he has a product worth buying. But hey if trump has a shot at the presidency then rio bravo has a shot at being a marginally successful brewery.

 

Checked out the new rooftop patio at Marble. Very nice addition but its hot as hell drinking up there late afternoon in the middle of summer (not that that should be much of a surprise). Also got the Pilsner, which is tasting fantastic as has already been mentioned multiple times in this thread. They had 3 pilot beers on tap: 2 Pale Ales and an Oaked Aged Ale. I stuck with the Pilsner because the bartender could not give me any good information on what those pilot beers were like. I can't complain, though, because I can just about guarantee none of them would have been nearly as satisfying as the Pilsner.

Also hit up Boxing Bear and tried the Watermelon Gose. Surprising really good. I don't like gose's for the most part, I generally don't care for fruited beers, but this one worked. Well done, Boxing Bear.

Also Bosque has a new bottled release, a pilsner brewed with popcorn. I got to admit, it sounds absolutely disgusting. Wish they would have re-brewed that Simcoe Pilsner and bottled that instead. Next time I am at the brewery I will sample this new one, but popcorn beer just sounds terrible. Corn, in general, doesn't seem to work for me in beer.

 

The popcorn pilsner is nothing like it sounds. No buttery or corn-like flavors to be found. Yes, it was brewed with air popped popcorn but it still utilizes a pilsner malt mash. The hops are mandarina bavaria and czech saaz. I found this beer to be more like a golden ale or very malt mild barleywine. At 8% abv it was a tad boozy and sweet. While it may not be a traditional pilsner it's far from disgusting.

 

I agree. Very strange decision to bottle this one. While I was at the taproom yesterday I saw several bombers sold so it just may be interesting/gimmicky enough to sell.

 

Odell's Double Pilsner was good......but I could never get past drinking a pilsner that was not "sessionable."

While encouraging to hear it offers no corn (or butter) like flavors, its discouraging to hear its boozy and sweet. Still haven't tried this one, beginning to suspect I never do. The more I think and hear about it, the less appealing it becomes.