Land of Enchantment

OK, I am back-went with my better half to Albuquerque, NM for 4 days. Yep, it is opening day-or was yesterday. Cardinals started season with a whimper and I can say that this is the first year since 2008 that I am indifferent and unexcited. I don't have much hope for the Redbirds, even less now they signed, and wasted money, on Greg Holland,  and still have a terrible manager. I am out for now.

SO on to my other favorite B word, beer. We had a great trip visiting one of our wonderful friends and her adorable son. We love the ABQ and if we could retire tomorrow we would probably head there to live.  We hit two breweries directly from the Airport-Palmer Brewery & Cider House and Drafty Kilt. Palmer's house beers and cider were very solid and Drafty Kilt's beers were even better-at the DK we listened to a couple of musicians jamming some 70s folk rock, singer songwriter tunes-and they were off the hook good. Then we ended the night with a feast at Sadies of New Mexico-which if you haven't had NM food you are missing out-Red and Green Chile-or both-you can't really go wrong. Under the tons of stuff is a stuffed sopapilla with brisket.  Living in the People's Democratic Republic of California I forget how redunk prices are in the PDRC. What a bargain!

Before and after.

ABQ is 5,000 feet above sea level and dry, rule number one-hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Water at breweries was provided without asking or was readily available to patrons. We met our friends at the Quarter Celtic Brewery and really enjoyed very well made beer. I had a conversation with the co-owner and that was nice. Then on to my favorite of the trip, and unfortunately the one we spent the least amount of time at-Boxing Bear-solid IPAs and Double Reds.

The following day we headed with our friends to the Acoma Pueblo which is about an hour outside the ABQ. It was an incredible visit but really brings home the poverty and hardships still faced by Native Americans. Not to go beerless for the day my wife and I hit Starr Brothers Brewing (beer and mountains and sunset) a punt away from the hotel-enjoyed some pozole  which with chile is the state's dishes. Enjoyed a wonderful purple sunset just a few miles from the Sandia Mountains. Opps I almost forgot that before then we hit two other breweries-Dialogue Brewing and Bow & Arrow Brewing (no picture)-cool vibe-Dialogue (second picture) more so. Beers were hit or miss, but I can see they are trying to be different.

Monday saw us hit the Nob Hill area of town next to the U of NM campus-home of the Lobos. Since we were waiting to meet with our friend who took half a day off to spend with us-I said she was wonderful.  The shops weren't open yet-so we "wasted" a few minutes till she got off at the satellite tap room for Bosque Brewing-every beer was spot on to style and stellar. After a crazy good lunch at Frontier which is a place that is an institution across from the university. I had the red and green chili double cheese burger-hey I WAS on vacation.

We finished the day beer strong-and I was frankly getting to the beered out stage but we still hit Rio Bravo Brewing-the least successful of the breweries we visited-nothing really interesting and no picture takin. A short drive toward our friend's parent's house we hit Pondarosa Brewing (first picture below) which was beautiful inside and beers were pretty solid-nothing off the wall exciting but very solid. Are we done yet? Not yet. We ended the day at Nexus Brewery (second picture) which is one of the few breweries owned by an African-American and the menu was a fusion of NM staples, Southern Comfort food, and burgers. Beer was good, but food was crazy good-fried catfish, greens, and dirty rice anyone?

OK,  the ABQ does have a brewery branded eatery in the airport-so I couldn't resist more beer and chile-so yes one more beer-a Rio Bravo Green Chile beer. Yes, that is a wrap. Ten breweries-I have a wonderful wife who loves great beer and is very accommodating.

The Rockies have their AAA team, the Isotopes-yes named after the Simpson's episode, in the ABQ-of course the season didn't start yet. The Memphis Redbirds will be visiting in June. I picked up a couple of pocket scheds. The Isotopes are the former Duke's who were the Dodger's AAA team for several years.

When we checked out we made reservations to return in October for the Ballon Festival! I will hit the few breweries not hit this time and/or exciting new ones. The beer scene in ABQ really rivals other places like Portland, San Diego, etc. Their beers aren't overall to that level but they are on their way. They have over 20 breweries in a metropolitan area of 750K.