ABQ Craft Beer Drinkers ABQ Beer Week Plan of Attack
Every year ABQ Beer Week brings not only a large number of events, but events that cover the entire spectrum of craft beer enthusiasm! This year is no exception, with events from tastings to special releases; beer dinners and food pairings to games. Within our group we also have a broad spectrum in our membership, and there are events for everyone. The following compiled itinerary for the most epic ABQ Beer Week ever comes from our group organizer Monica Mondragon, but there will be many of our members at a number of events all over town!
· Thursday, May 21st
o 505 Collaboration Special Beer Release. An ABQ Beer Week favorite and one I hit every year. This year is a session IPA I can’t wait to try.
o Wild Beer Co Somerset Wild Sour Ale Release at Sister Bar. Kicking off the week with a sour ale release at great venue with knowledgeable staff and great atmosphere.
· Friday, May 22nd
o Stouts & Stogies with Picobrouwerij Alvinne Podge Belgian Imperial Stout at Imbibe. Not only do I love a good cigar, but excited to try Picobrouwerij Alvinne Podge Belgian Imperial Stout! The wort is divided into four parts, fermented with four different yeasts and then blended!
o Abita Brewing Co Bourbon Street Imperial Stout Tapping at Anodyne. Not only is this my first taste of this beer on draft, it’s the first event at Anodyne for ABQ Beer Week!
· Saturday, May 23rd
o Nexus Brewery Anniversary Party – wouldn’t miss it having been to every one since they opened. Congrats to Ken and everyone at Nexus for another great year!
· Sunday, May 24th
o Blues & Brews at Sandia Resort & Casino. Another ABQ Beer Week tradition for me. Always a great time and I get to hang out with all my favorite people in one place for an entire afternoon!
· Monday, May 25th
o Battle of the Beer Geeks. Our beer against the best beer groups in town!
· Tuesday, May 26th
o Music For What ALES You – With Special Grilled Cheese and Beer Pairing at Tractor Brewing Co Wells Park. Grilled cheese and beer flight..uh, yes please!
o Goose Island Bourbon County Stout Tapping at Two Fools Tavern. If Bourbon County is tapping I have to be there. One of three tappings of this great beer, get to any one of them if you can.
· Wednesday, May 27th
o Santa Fe Brewing Co. Cask and Widmer Brothers Brewery Special Tapping at Nob Hill Bar & Grill. Surprise, surprise I’ll be at an SFBC cask event!
o Canteen Brewhouse 2012 Barleywine Release. Love that Brady is a powerhouse of small batch/experimental styles. Excited to try their barleywine aged three years!
· Thursday, May 28th
o Odell Brewing Co Tap Invasion at Nob Hill Bar & Grill. Not only am I excited to try the Barrel Thief Oak Aged DIPA, I also can’t wait to taste the French (Hop) Connection. It is a saison/farmhouse collaboration with Alamo Drafthouse!
· Friday, May 29th
o 3rd Annual Tower of Sour at Back Alley Draft House. Another annual favorite I always attend given my love of sour beer.
· Saturday, May 30th
o From Beer to Whiskey. A great event that is not only educational, but you get to meet with NM Distillers Association and all of our local distilleries!
o Stone Special Tapping NHBG. Some really great beers pouring at this event, especially Red Wine Barrel Aged Cali Belgique!
o SFBC Collab with Rock & Brews. This collaboration is an IPA hopped with Amarillo and El Dorado. Can’t wait to see how this collaborative brew turned out!
o Odell La Cumbre Collab at Sister. Another collaboration that can’t be missed!
· Sunday, May 31st
o Canteen Aged Stock Ale Release. I always have to try any beer that the guys over at the Canteen decide to age and archive. Hoping to get some of the Hoppiness Envy collaboration with Bosque Brewing Co if there’s any left!
o Joe S. Sausage Super Sunday Sausage Fest Sampler and Beer Bliss Extravaganza at Marble Brewery. Joe S. Sausage and beer pairings, of course I’ll be there for that! Not only will the sausages be paired with Marble beers, but most of the sausages are prepared with local craft brews as well.
o Sierra Nevada Narwhal NHBG. Having never had this imperial stout on draft, I will be heading to Nob Hill Bar & Grill to grab it before it’s gone!