I'll be in Albuquerque and Santa Fe from Tue-Fri of next week and am looking for watering holes in both cities as well as beer to take home back to Minneapolis. I'll definitely head to La cumbre but open to other brewery suggestions as well. Anything specific I should try at la cumbre this time of year? Is it better to pick up stuff at the brewery or do liquor stores carry most of their beers? Thanks in advance for the recommendationsame Cheers!
I think I can help with some quick hitting answers. La Cumbre, Bosque, Marble, and Boxing Bear are must trys IMHO. In SF, I would give Rowley Farmhouse Ales a try. They've only been open a month or so and may have just one or two house beers, but you won't find a better unique guest tap list anywhere in SF. I would also say to give Second Street brewery a try over even the likes of Santa Fe Brewing. This time of year is wet hop season. La Cumbre has/had a Monson wet hopped ale. They also released their Nelson Sauvin DIPA last Friday, which may or may not be available at the brewery. I still see bombers around town though. Bosque has their silver medal GABF winning Acequia in bombers. Boxing Bear just took home two gold medals at the GABF. I think they won the Mid size brewpub of the year this year for that feat. Mostly everything you can find in package form at La Cumbre is also available at places like Jubilation and even places like TW. Average price for elevated 4 packs is right around $10 everywhere you go. Elevated is likely everywhere you go, along with Slice of Hefen, and their Malpais Stout. The rest may be a give or take game at various places. So really, no better or worse if bought at the brewery vs. other places. It's not uncommon for La Cumbre to be out of a beer like Monson, or Full Nelson, but then a random place like Kelly Liquors will have it. Nob Hill Bar and Grill is on taphunter. Maybe the best sort of non local beer centric spot around. Both Marble and La Cumbre have some smaller pilot systems they just got up and going recently. Many brews that seem to come and go within days. So It's tough to say what will be on tap this coming week. Marble's regular core offerings are all really solid. But their experimental stuff has been some hard hitting quality stuff as of late. Marble posts whats on their tap for the day at their three locations http://www.marblebrewery.com/draft/ Pint Last Seen, a citra pale ale was really really aromatic and tasty. People were really falling for their Hop Fudge Sunday, a cherry cocoa nitro milk stout. Both are shown at NE heights location but not the main one. So take that as you may when visiting.
I should add. Bosque has a 6.5% IPA called Scale Tipper that has won back to back National IPA challenge awards. It released initially late October and just had an encore batch release on the 4th of October. That may or may not be available by Tuesday. I've seen random bombers at various places in town as well. It may be worth a slight hunt. They posted on their website/blog of all the locations that got bombers of it initially. I saw a check in for Scale Tipper at a place in Santa Fe called Draft Station. They tend to have about 12 beers from 3-5 various local breweries. So I feel that to be a worthy stop in Santa Fe for sure. La Cumbre, Marble, Bosque, Chama River, and Blue Corn seem to get represented the most there.
I'm visiting Santa Fe at the end of the month, can you make a recommendation of the best bottle shop in town (staying at Las Palomas). Thanks. I tried to read through the other thread.
Correction on Scale Tipper. It initially released late August, with an encore batch last week. ------------- @Karibourgeois , I cannot confirm the true variety, but it has been recommended by others. While visiting Santa Fe, there are pretty much only two valid options for bottle type shops. Susan's Fine Wine & Spirits, and Whole Foods. Here is what Bosque listed as stores initially getting Scale Tipper bombers in late August. Santa Fe and Surrounding Areas Kelly's Liquor Barn (Santa Fe) Kokoman (Pojuaque) Susan's Fine Wine & Spirits (Santa Fe) Parcht (Taos) Whole Foods (Cerrillos) ----- Since they got Scale Tipper, a pretty specialized pricey bomber, these places may have other craft options. But really just an assumption. I know Kokoman is basically a gas station type place that sells a lot of macro, but has a solid craft selection.
I just hit the four recommended breweries in Albuquerque and I was most impressed by La Cumbre of course followed by boxing bear. Marble was unremarkable and their double ipa and specialty ipa were borderline un drinkable. Pilsner was too harsh on the finish. Ipa was good though. Bosque was only slightly better. Ipa and milk stout were good. Imperial stout was all hops and Scotch ale was too boozy and too much dark fruit without any roast notes.
I have enjoyed the Marble Pilsner in the past. In April I will be trying it again. i will look for a harsh finish, don't remember that, but I really love German Pils with a long dry assertive finish like Jever or Flensburger.
Marble Pilsner is my favorite NM beer. I have not noticed any harsh finish to it, personally. Bosque's Lager has really grown on me as well.
Susan's is the best in Santa Fe. Ask for Gary. Also Rowley Farmhouse Ales has a solid onsite bottle list with Cantillon regularly available. Also, Kokoman up in Pojoaque (about 20 minutes north of town on 285/84 N) has a solid selection and the locals up there are all Bud Light folks so there are some great sleeper bottles there on the shelves from time to time.
Good to know about Pojoaque. We pass by it on our way to my friend's place in Carson National Forest south of Taos. I think we've bought gas there a few times. I'll make a point to check for beer.
Had a Marble Pils last night at the brewery. I remember it as clean, crisp, and flavorful. It was none of those. More of a poor Kellerbier. What happened? A rushed beer? Has the brewer who made the one I remember changed jobs?
Hit up Bosque and grab a pint of their Lager. I love Marble Pilsner and while I haven't had it at the brewery all that recently, I drink the cans all the time and it tastes how I have come to expect it.
Also, a slightly different styled lager, but La Cumbre has Ein Beer Bitte Helles on tap....that beer is great, IMO.
I'm slightly spoiled with some of the excellent pilsners we have here in San Diego. Alesmith's new pilsner is delightful in cans, Burning Beard's pilsner is always delicious, and Fall's Pilsner as well.
