New Mexico Cup Runneth Over

People love beer fests. I don't know if it's actually the beer or the chance to get their pictures taken wearing huge sunglasses and a hulu skirt while holding a tambourine, but they come out in droves. And so they did for the first New Mexico Beer Cup at the Albuquerque Convention Center. This event was more that your typical fest- ticketholders were given the opportunity to vote for the best beers in several categories. Also judging beers were local celebrity types (TV's Tom Joles, 104.1 The Edge's Baxter, Domino's Pizza's The Noid, etc.). There was also a professional judging event held Friday, where the really serious tasters could concentrate without being around people who were having fun.
I always wonder if we are reaching the tipping point of too many fests with the relatively small population we have in Albuquerque, but the New Mexico Cup showed that people will still come out if there is good beer to be had. Sure, there was wine there as well, but I don't think anyone came for that. Tasting highlight of the fest for me was the Ember IPA from Bosque Brewing. When it came to the judging, Il Vicino walked away with a ton of awards, including the coveted Best of Show for the BA St. Bob's Imperial Stout. Congratulations to all of the winners!




People’s Choice

Lager -Tractor Brewing Company Mann der Damn Lager
Pilsner, Kolsch & Light Hybrid -Tractor Brewing Company Pilsner
Belgian & Wheat -Sierra Blanca Brewing Alien Wheat
Pale Ale - Santa Fe Brewing Company Happy Camper
Other – Il Vicino Brewing Company Dougie Style Amber
Red - Marble Brewery Marble Red
Porter - TIE
Nexus Brewery Chocolate Porter
Bosque Brewing Olde Bosky
Stout- Il Vicino Brewing Company Dark & Lusty Stout
IPA -Il Vicino Brewing Company Wet Mountain IPA
Imperial Styles - Marble Brewery Imperial Red
Specialty - Marble Brewery Oaked DIPA


Celebrity Picks

Lager -Tractor Brewing Company Mann der Damm Lager
Pilsner, Kolsch & Light Hybrid -Nexus Brewery Cream Ale
Belgian & Wheat - Sierra Blanca Alien Wheat
Pale Ale - TIE
Tractor Brewing Company
Sierra Blanca Brewing Company
Other – Il Vicino Brewing Company Dougie Style Amber
Red - Marble Brewery Marble Red
Porter - Bosque Brewing Olde Bosky
Stout - Tractor Brewing Company
IPA - TIE
Broken Bottle Brewing Company
Il Vicino Brewing Company
Imperial Styles - Marble Brewery Imperial Stout
Specialty - Santa Fe Java Stout

Professional Judging

Lager & Light Hybrid
1. Tractor Brewing Co. Man Der Damm Lager
2. Nexus Cream Ale
3. Il Vicino Brewing Company Dark American Lager
Pilsner
1. Sandia Chile Grill German Pilsner
2. Il Vicino Brewing Company Pigtail Pilsner
3. Tractor Brewing Company Pilsner
Belgian & Wheat
1. ABQ Brew Pub Summer Saison
2. Marble Brewery Abbey Darkness
3. Il Vicino Brewing Company 28M American Wheat
Pale Ale & ESB
1. Sierra Blanca Brewery Sierra Blanca Pale Ale
2. Santa Fe Brewing Co. Happy Camper IPA
3. Sandia Chile Grill ESB
Other
1. Il Vicino Brewing Company Slow Down Brown
2. Il Vicino Brewing Company Sasquatch Scotch
3. Il Vicino Brewing Company Dougie Style Amber
Red
1. Il Vicino Brewing Company Irish Red
2. Il Vicino Brewing Company Odin’s Imperial Red
3. Tractor Brewing Company Farmer’s Tan Red Ale
Porter
1. Santa Fe Brewing Company State Pen Porter
2. Il Vicino Brewing Company Baltic Porter

Stout
1. Marble Brewery Oatmeal Stout
2. Il Vicino Oatmeal Stout
3. Il Vicino Brewing Company Dark and Lusty Stout
IPA
1. Rio Grande Brewery Rio Grande IPA
2. ABQ Brewpub Experimental Hop IPA
3. Bosque Brewing Ember IPA
Barleywine & Wood-Aged Beers
1. Il Vicino Brewing Company St. Bob’s Bourbon Barrel Aged
2. Marble Brewery Marble Reserve
3. Santa Fe Brewing Co. Barleywine
Sour & Specialty
1. Santa Fe Brewing Co. Lambic
2. Il Vicino Brewing Company Milk Chocolate Cherry Stout
3. Marble Brewery Old Bruin

Best of Show Beer
Il Vicino Brewing Company St. Bob’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout