Beer Guide for visiting New Mexico

Behind Marble, Bosque has had the most interesting and unique beers being released in the last year (IMO). Especially in bottle formats, in the last 2 months they've released 5 different bombers. La Cumbre is constantly solid, but i feel like lately they've been lacking some creativity, and I'm sure it may just be bad timing, but it seems like to me, they have been overwhelmed with the new larger renovated brew-house and are trying to pump out quantity instead of focus on anything new or exciting.

As far as the new guys in the Market, I've had much better experiences at Boese than at Rio Bravo. I went to Rio Bravo way too soon, and they were not only far from impressive, but the quality of the beer made me question the whole operation. Granted time can change all things, and I don't want to see anybody fail, but Albuquerque has reached a point where there is enough consistent and quality breweries here, that if you don't start strong you may not make it, as competition will weed out the weak.

 

It's Boxing Bear.... Not Boxing Beer. Lol

 

@ONovoMexicano A week ahead in beer and general where about interviews is where my interest lies. Checking there as I may trek out to the west side or general downtown corridor is where my interest mainly lies. General interviews on a new place where a beer is "good" doesn't sell to Me. But I understand. Promotion has never sold me. Knowing exactly what's on tap is one thing that sells me personally.

I've only ever sat at the chama river Bar during lunch hours. The perceived prime time pricing does reek of over pricing. But I can get by in a bar setting for lunch with a tenderloin Cobb salad and a couple pints of beer. The vibe is a bit odd if you let it get to you. Go to where the tvs are. Rio bravo, I've gone twice upon opening and no incentive since. Marble is now a lost once a month visit. LA cumbre stays stable for me. Packaged beers is continually where my money is spent. These newcomers need to come quick with competing price wise with the likes of founders.

$5 pints of mediocre stuff is okay for most, and it tends to happen for awhile. Until you realize the greatNess that is in or entering our state.

 

I think Marble is great. Their taproom selection has proven to be the most underwhelming taproom selection I have probably come across from an established brewery (that bottles/cans their offerings), but I do think their beer is great. Plus, they are really close to me which makes things easy for me. I couldn't tell you who I prefer between them and La Cumbre.

You guys have convinced me to wait out visiting Rio Bravo. Until I start to hear some positive things, I will focus my time, energy and money on some of the other guys in town first.

 

The crowd can be iffy too. Not receiving a itemized receipt is one thing. Turnover does seem higher than other places @ marble. Not sure where they go. Maybe temporary and off with our money? Moving from tap to backroom is nice to see.. No complaints at la cumbre. Thousands spent there and it's nice. Nearly the same at marble and it's a hipster interagation most times. Second guessing bills or what not. Big shoes 2 fill as they prep up for their expansion. Last visit the shell was up. Would love to be a part of it. But a nice interrogation/talk with a 7% owner really let me down with marble. La cumbre, management and ownership wise seem like one of the only viable breweries I personally want to support

 

I know sfbc did a Pinon lightly aged brown beer for one of the feasts. I wish I could do this in it's entirety. I bought a Founders breakfast stout keg and basically Randalled some coffee beans, vanilla beans, cocoa nibs, cinnamon sticks, Chile peppers, and nutmeg. And what amounts to nothing more got a spectacular display of beer.

Boxing bears milk chocolate stout Is nice if you realize the abv. Price seems high at that point In time.

 

Was in the mood for some chicken & waffles so I just hit up Nexus. I think calling their beer standard run of the mill is being a bit generous. I checked out a couple of their beers and didn't finish either of my glasses, both beers felt, smelt, and tasted watered down. Worth the visit for the chicken & waffles though. I at least left complete stuffed.

 

OK, going to pull a 180 on Bosque. Visited their taproom this weekend and was very pleasantly surprised. Honestly, it was the first New Mexico taproom to provide what I want from a taproom, a nice collection of flagship and pilot beers. Tried a smoked red ale and their oatmeal stout and really enjoyed both. Enough so that I will definitely revisit the 2 beers I initially tried and didn't care for - Riverwalker IPA and Bosque Lager. I will definitely be back and pleased I gave them the second chance. I also grabbed a bomber of their Imperial Coffee (Oatmeal Milk) Brown Ale. Looking forward to try that....and i still haven't gotten around to their BBA RI Stout.

Also grabbed some Ryeot on Rye from La Cumbre and Reserve Ale from Marble this weekend. Been a pretty good weekend for beer in ABQ.

 

Imperial coffee brown on nitro was outstanding. Nitro added the exact creaminess I wanted in that style of beer. I wish the coffee was a bit bolder and more pronounced, but damn that beer is solid, and I believe that is what's in bourbon barrels aging til next holiday season. The sweetness in that beer will lend itself to barrels very well, I'm already looking forward to that beer, as it has the potential to be amazing!

Ryeot on rye on cask was a big let down for me. That beer was way way too hot, and I'm not normally one to mind a little boozey heat, maybe it was temperature or cask-carbonation but the creaminess from cask didn't help that beer out any personally. I'll have to buy a bottle and revisit it in the future

 

Drinking the Imperial Coffee Brown now and, yeah, this is quite good.

I definitely agree that nitro sacrifices flavor for mouthfeel and this one already has a nice fuller, creamy mouthfeel thanks to all those oats.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquer...-steers-new-taproom-toward-first.html?ana=twt

So....Marble's opening a new location focusing on pilot beers. Sounds like there will zero reason to bother with their downtown location once this place opens. If only this new place was the closer location to me....

 

Haha, i'm not complaining as it will be closer to me. But Sounds like that project may take a little while to get fully operational. The Heights is dry off any good bars let alone breweries.

 

Checked out Matanza last night after work.

For those like me looking to for a bar that spotlights local beer, this place hit the spot. Ton of taps and all stuff from New Mexico, which I thought was cool. Food didn't do much for me at that pricepoint, but was decent enough that I will continue to eat there when I drink there.