Albuquerque Beer Guide - 2018

Tumbleroot opened in april I believe

 

thanks for the info!

 

Dafuq? Nothing mediocre about Second Street at all.

 

Tumbleroot, they of the $12.99 bottle of IPA with honey? Pass. I agree with ONovoMexicano about Second Street. Though their core styles may not be exciting (Rod's ESB is not going to get me to drive 50 miles), their IPA specials are some of the best in the state. Had a Slightly Hazy at Sister last night. Though it was not hazy in the slightest bit, it was a great IPA. I also voted for their offering in the blind NM IPA Challenge.

 

Except most every beer I've ever had there. I dunno. I used to go religiously (circa 2008-2012) before I really got into beer, because the food's pretty good and it's a nice place to hang out, but their beers are just so meh. I used to get nasty hangovers from just a couple of their beers, too.

The pilsner I had the last time I was in town (this spring) was wildly off, the kolsch is meh, the sour I had wasn't sour. The IPAs can be ok, I agree (I actually kinda liked the Crystal one?) and I actually like their ESBs, but there are so many better breweries out there. Santa Fe Brewing has its own issues (consistency would be the big one, and I sure do remember the scotch ale I got that was definitely an inadvertent wild ale), but Second Street doesn't have anything as good as the Java Stout or Chicken Killer.

To each his own, I guess.

 

Tumbleroot is good, btw. Still new and finding their feet, but they've put out some very nice beers (the farmhouse from their core lineup is especially good).

 

flying into Albuquerque tomorrow night around 7:30 pm and would love to grab a pint and some food before driving up to Santa Fe. It doesn't look like any of the "Tier 1" breweries have a full kitchen. Can anyone recommend somewhere to grab some tasty food with a good tap list that is more or less on our route from the Airport toward Santa Fe. Since it'll be about 8 pm would prefer not to go too far off our route. And if their is a decent store on our route to stock up on some beers, that would be great too. Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

 

Jubilation is going to be your best bet for packages beer and is not far from the airport. Nob Hill Bar and Grill is a good option for a bite to eat and they usually have decent things on draft. But Bosque Brewing in Nob Hill has good food and good beer. I’d recommend eating there. Also not far from the airport and pretty close to Jubilation.

 

perfect, thank you.

 

Agree with what Aaron wrote but it's a shame: there's a bar right by Bosque called Matanza that has 100 taps of only New Mexico beers. The problem is the service has always sucked when I've visited and they charge a lot for their food, with mediocre reviews. I've never had the food so I'm only going off what others have said. It is the best place in ABQ to get the most local variety of beers, so if you can suffer through the service...hell, I've had to deal with Toronado SF bartenders when the tap list was only Belgian Christmas beers so things could always be worse.
Also, keep in mind Jubilation closes at 9.

 

If you don't make Jubilation's closing time, there's a Total Wine that's open till 10.

 

Oh, god, I went to Matanza once and it was awful. We showed up near opening time (for brunch) and they looked hung over and said they were opening late. The food was just awful. I think I had a Bloody Mary (again, brunch), so I can't comment on the beer. But I love New Mexican food (live with a New Mexican who keeps us stocked on chile year round). I have never eaten food in the state of New Mexico that was as bland as what they had at Matanza. Some of it was just disgusting. They really don't live up to their name, at all (for the uninitiated, a matanza is the New Mexican version of pit bbq, except they actually do it in a pit).

New Mexico (a place I love, btw) is usually a little behind the times (partly why I love it). That means they're still fairly gaga over too-hopped beers. What makes Elevated from La Cumbre good is that it's heavy on the malt, which balances the hops. You can see where my beerpinion lies. Offerings from many breweries like Marble are going to be your standard (imo) overhopped APAs. I recently had "Wet Hopped" Elevated from La Cumbre (I think it's made from wild hops or something), and it was just a hoppier version of Elevated. I'm sure hopheads love it. I think it just made the beer worse. I don't think I've ever had a sour in New Mexico (haven't been back in a year or so), but I imagine somewhere in ABQ someone must be catching up to this trend.

 

@walterfredo Throwing my two cents

Y'all are recommending nob Hill? I think he wants to get out on the freeway and find something along the way. I avoid parking and that area at all costs and I live in the metro.


I see three sensible options.

Never had any issues with food at Bosque San Mateo. Decent selection. Looks to close at 11pm. Before that Alameda exit, Sprouts grocery will have some local products. Prices may be iffy.

Heck, it may even be feasible for a la Cumbre visit. Grab some stuff to go and maybe wander to canteen, where they have a smaller food menu. Not sure how all out you wanna go with the food at that hour. A la Cumbre then Bosque San Mateo may be feasible along i25.

Other options would be green jeans with a Santa Fe brewing taproom and food options. It is somewhat of an outdoor space and weather has been iffy lately. Hours of each place varies. Across the highway is a whole foods with a solid selection too.

Reviews for these places may be helpful for other opinions.

Nexus has always been solid for me. New Mexican soul food. Look at reviews etc. Beer has been iffy lately. Food is their appeal

Just throwing this out there. There's a place called craft republic. Never been but it's along the way. Untappd has a relatively new verified menu. Can't say anything about food or service but local variety of core products is there.

Starr brothers is along the way as well. They seem to have some food. Can't comment on them but just throwing out ideas and names you may have missed.

 

Hey thanks for the awesome input @oktoberfiesta I think you have the right idea in that we don’t want to spend too much time, want to grab a pint, quick bites and head to Santa Fe, but at the same time would love to make it happen at a decent brewery or a place with quality taps. Also want to grab a few packaged beers, which if any of these recommendations have crowlers to go that’d work too.

Also, noticed there’s an event called oktoberfiesta this weekend at Santa Fe Brewing. Looks like maybe you’re the one to inform me if it’s worth stopping in?

 

Yale Blvd. runs from the airport right into UNM/Nob Hill area. I don't know which CA airport he is coming from but i can say with absolute certainty that the ease of getting out of our airport and to Nob Hill and from there to the freeway will be a breeze compared to LAX, San Diego, San Fran, John Wayne, etc.
Bosque has a parking lot. A cold Wednesday night there will be no issues parking there or anywhere else in Nob Hill. He could probably get a good meal, hit multiple breweries, and be on the road to Santa Fe in less time than he thinks he needs to budget for it.

 

Thanks all. As our flight is currently delayed 1.5 hours (and counting) this is all likely a moot point.

 

Agreed. I've been going there for 16 years so maybe I am biased. That being said, I can say unequivocally that the beer coming out of their new brewery is the best they've ever brewed and I was happy to have multiples of their pils last time I was there.