Dark Side Brew Crew ABQ Beer Week Plan of Attack

We here at the Dark Side Brew Crew believe in many things. Heavy metal, hockey, and the power of imperial stouts are just a few. We also believe in Uber, taxis, cashing in that favor with a friend or family member to be a designated driver, making future promises to friends/family to get them be a DD right now, and so on. So when Marne asked us to come up with a plan of attack for ABQ Beer Week, we realized we could not limit our suggestions to just one event per day. And since we are rather chatty creatures, we figured we would throw in a little “why” in addition to just listing events. 
So without further adieu, here are our picks for how to handle Beer Week. In most cases, we would hope that you, beer fan, are ultimately not the one driving. Because this year it’s either go big or stay home. 

Thursday, May 21
Noon: Hit up Canteen Brewhouse for the release of Hopspitality IPA. Then walk (yes, walk, you need the exercise) down the road to La Cumbre and enjoy a pint of the 505 Collaboration beer. Grab some food before leaving Canteen or from the food truck outside LC. Hey, you need to spare your palate and fill your belly. 
4 p.m.: Go downtown to Marble for the Beer, Cheese, & More. Just make sure to get your tickets in advance. This one sells out. 
6:30 p.m.: It’s splurge time, and what better way to splurge than the ABQ Beer Week Beer Dinner at Chama River? Again, get your reservation in early. 
8:30 p.m.: If you are in need of relaxing, hit up Tractor Wells Park for some live music with their Thirsty Thursday series, enjoy a final pint, and catch a ride home. 
 

Friday, May 22
Noon: Get your day off to a proper start with some chicken and waffles at Nexus as part of their 4th Anniversary celebration. They will be tapping Beam Me Up Scottish as well. 
4 p.m.: Make your way downtown to Anodyne, where they will be tapping Abita Bourbon Street Imperial Stout. Get in a game of pool while you are there, or just chill out at the Star Wars table. 
6 p.m.: Nob Hill Bar & Grill should be your dinner destination. In addition to some tasty food, you can also choose from three Goose Island exclusive beers, including Bourbon County Coffee Stout. 
8 p.m.: Head over to Silva Lanes to join Tractor for Beer and Bowling. Just don’t overdo it on the “Big Lebowski” quotes. 

Saturday, May 23
7 a.m.: Get up early and head to the Santa Ana Golf Club for the annual NM Brewers Guild Golf Tournament. Just don’t forget the sunscreen. And “Caddyshack” quotes are always more appropriate than “Happy Gilmore.” 
Noon: The folks at Marble are hosting a fundraiser for The Harwood. Head downtown and give some back. 
2 p.m.: Catch a ride to the Heights and enjoy some Colorado breweries’ offerings at O’Niell’s on Juan Tabo. 
5 p.m.: At first glance, German food and Belgian beer might not seemingly go together, but we bet they do, and so do the folks at Heimat House. Enjoy a Belgian Beer Dinner. Then go home and rest, because you will need it. 

Sunday, May 24
2 p.m.: It’s time for Blues & Brews at Sandia Casino. We highly recommend VIP tickets for that extra hour. Remember, Ballast Point and Upslope were just added to the list. So yes, there will be new beers this year! 

Monday, May 25
2 p.m.: Sleep in, you’ve earned it. Now that you are awake, get to Red Door for a good old fashioned Food Truck Battle. 
5 p.m.: It’s time for Battle of the Beer Geeks II. Last year, you all rocked and picked the Brew Crew’s Hammer Smashed Stout as your favorite. This year we unleash Donutbrau, an imperial breakfast stout fit for the elder gods. Join us and the other beer groups for this epic event. And yeah, we may just enter the building to “We Are The Champions” before we switch over the house music system to a serious onslaught of metal. Hey, winners get to pick the music. (Right, Skye? Please? Pretty please?)

Tuesday, May 26
4 p.m.: It’s back to work for most people, which sucks, but you need the money to pay for beer. So take some of that hard-earned cash and head back to Nob Hill Bar & Grill for a special Lagunitas firkin tapping. We don’t know what it will be yet, but we expect awesomeness. 
6 p.m.: Walk over to Two Fools for a special tapping of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. It goes great with Fish & Chips. Trust us. 

Wednesday, May 27
4 p.m.: Make a quick stop at Nob Hill Bar & Grill to see what special cask Santa Fe Brewing is bringing down. Save your appetite, however. 
5 p.m.: M’Tucci’s Italian Kitchina will welcome Tractor for a special beer release. Stick around and chow down while you are there. 
6:30 p.m.: All right, now it’s time to work off some of those calories. The folks at Duke City Pedaler are holding their Beer Bike 5K multiple times during the week. Meet up at Civic Plaza and then pedal over to Marble, Tractor, and Back Alley. 

Thursday, May 28
11 a.m.: Ponderosa will be holding Rauchfest, a celebration of smoked beers. Grab a bite to eat for an extended work lunch. 
4 p.m.: Chama River will released the next in its series of seasonal saisons with Plum Saison. Expect some food pairings to go with the new beer. 
6 p.m.: Head back to Nob Hill and stop at O’Niell’s for the Sierra Nevada Sausage & Cheese tasting. 
8 p.m.: Kick back at Tractor Wells Park for the pLOUD Music Series. 
 

Friday, May 29
Noon: Another working lunch beckons as Marble will have firkins on the bartops at both downtown and Westside. 
4 p.m.: It’s a double special tapping at Nob Hill Bar & Grill as Avery and Green Flash will have beers available. We don’t know what they will be, but we’re betting on delicious times two. 
 

Saturday, May 30
Noon: It’s the home stretch! Canteen will release Hoppyweizer, their collaboration with the guys from ABQBeer.com. Grab a pint and a Piggly Wiggly for lunch on what we should basically just dub “Collaboration Day.” 
2 p.m.: Get your education on by heading to Distillery 365 for the From Beer to Whiskey class. Learn how little difference there is between beer and spirits. And enjoy some while you are at it. 
6 p.m.: Rock out at Rock & Brews as they and Santa Fe Brewing have collaborated on a special beer. 
8 p.m.: Trek back downtown to Sister Bar where the new Odell/La Cumbre collaboration be will be released. 
 

Sunday, May 31
11 a.m.: Nothing says Sunday like a good brunch. Nothing says a Beer Week Sunday like a brunch with beer. Boulder Beer and Nob Hill Bar & Grill are teaming up for just that. 
2 p.m.: The Joe S. Sausage food truck will be parked outside Marble downtown for the Super Sunday Sausage Fest and Beer Extravaganza. Man, we’re all gonna be spending extra time at the gym or on the running/bike trail after this week is done. 
4 p.m.: Go back to Nob Hill Bar & Grill for a special tapping of Sierra Nevada Narwhal Imperial Stout. 
5 p.m.: Bid a fond farewell to Beer Week by watching a movie about beer, with beer on tap. Tractor Wells Park will screen “Blood Sweat and Beer” on the projector. 

That’s all from us for now! Check our site every day for a full listing of all Beer Week events, with previews of the big stuff and reviews of the many, many beers we will be trying. And if you have ever wanted to become a beer writer, even if for just a day, you can send us an application at nmdarksidebrewcrew@gmail.com.