How does Albuquerque Beer Week compare to other beer weeks?

All valid points. From the day we started on this four years ago, I emailed contacts from breweries who I thought would be eager to send us special kegs, set up tap takeovers, etc. What I got was lukewarm responses for the most part...and an understanding of how things work, somewhat. Money talks. Not that we would have to put money up to get these things, but it works soooo much better to have a bar owner/manager go to their distributors (National, Admiral, Premier) and say, "Hey! We sell a lot of your beer. We want to get something great for Albuquerque Beer Week. What can you do for us???"

Obviously, it hasn't gotten us what we wanted as much as we would have liked, but it did help in some cases. It comes down to this: We just don't have the number of beer enthusiasts that other cities do, according to sales data that "those who would be in charge of allocating rare kegs to beer weeks" use to decide who is worthy of what. Or, if you are a glass half full kind of person, we do have that number, but those people are busy buying the great beer that local breweries produce. I know from your reviews that you get around to all the special releases and you appreciate what kind of scene we have going on here...but I realize that part of a truly fantastic beer week is getting in special beers that we can't get here all the time. Believe me, I would love that too. But just the hassle of kiss-ass emails to Goose Island last year to get the two kegs of BCBCS last year was enough to sour me on the process. And plastic cups are for frat parties, not beer weeks, I totally understand that. But there are constraints that have kept it from being what we truly would want it to be. That being said, Marne and other people involved have put enormous effort into making the best they can of the situation. And there are plenty of fun events, to be sure. I hope to see you at some of them.

I think the future may end up focusing more on what local breweries can produce for the week, which could be a considerable amount taking into account the seven+ breweries slated to open here in the next year.

 

Our distribution sucks in general. So I can see how it can be a challenge.. But that's when local breweries need to step up. Make it one of your own. A true joint collobaration of events. Marble had a Septemberfest a couple years back. It was was 10-12 local breweries with a selection of their draft beers that you could buy at their breweries.. It was like having a pub crawl all in one place. If they can expand that to maybe some sort of IPA challenge like event with other beer styles, that would be great.. Who wouldnt want to try a stout from every brewery in NM in one place. Or each brewery brews a specific beer for the main event ( I realize Il Vicino is doing this with a IPA. I want them all in one place).

I was at the first two blues and brews. Maybe I outgrew what they were offering. It's a great event for the beginner who wants to sample Sierra Nevada torpedo or Sam Adams Boston Lager poured out of a glass bottle... Local brewery participation seemed to have decreased. Many have their own agendas and reasons why these events arent feasible. But somethings gotta change to make them feasible and fun.

The side events seem to be taking some shape. But for me its always been about the main festival events. Most side events I just don't want to have to travel to each place EVERY night..

I would really like to see how other cities or states do theirs. Maybe ours isnt so bad?

 

At least you guys get some good release's here in Santa Fe they treat us like a step child. Susan's fine wine and spirits probably sells more craft beer than half the store's in Abq they always screw us on special release's. For example Premier told susan's that the goose island version class of 88 collab beer was a total wine exclusive, then why in the hell did they give Jubilation any cases of it. Also for BCBS they only gave us coffee then have the nerve to take kokoman's in Pojoque a case of BCBS backyard those fockers. You guys get everything a week before we do except the local breweries they are the only solid distributors F!@k the three tier system.