tasty beer

[dparsons]

I'm between batches in my brewing, and decided to go tasting some of the local and available craft brews here in New Mexico. Among them I found one Santa Fe Nut Brown Ale that I thought was a cut above. Very smooth. Malty but not too malty. No off flavors in any of the various flavor stages. Nice clean finish. I'm planning on taste testing their other varieties in the near future.

[Seymour]

Do they bottle, or is it a brewpub? I'll be out that way soon (I hope), and I'll keep an eye peeled for the brew. And for Cabezon. And for Rio Grande...:D

[dparsons]

It is bottled. I don't know where it is on tap.

[dparsons]

I looked. It is available in many stores and on tap in pubs. Check their web site.

http://www.santafebrewing.com/

I got some of their pale ale today (as well as more nut brown. It is very good as well. The pale ale is on the malty side of the pale ale style, but it doesn't loose the hop contribution and is obviously a quality product. I believe I'll have a 2nd.

[Seymour]

You might look for Sierra Blanca beers (Carrizozo). Their nut brown is the best of their bottled beers, but the pale ale is REALLY good on tap, and the IPA is ONLY on tap.

[dparsons]

I've tried the Sierra Blanca too. Its good. I like the Santa Fe better.

[dparsons]

I got another 6er of the Santa Fe Nut Brown. This time it tastes like garbage. I even got it at the same store. I'm bummed. It was so tasty - and that was less than a week ago.

It has carbonation but no head, and an off flavor or two. My only guess is that it is a new beer flavor and the thing just isn't ready yet. I'll try one in another few weeks and see if its at all improved. Somehow I don't really expect it.

[dparsons]

Another post here to update. After sitting in the fridge for 3 months, I gave them another try. They've gone from garbage to good in that time. Conditioning. Perhaps the brewery is a bit too quick to market.

[Seymour]

Interesting you updated this post. I just got back from Austin, where I found the Santa Fe Pale and the Nut Brown. I was going to update this thread, but you did it for me.

I wasn't blown away by the pale. Pretty average, IMO. Based on what you say, I may just put the sixer of the Nut Brown in the back of the fridge and try them in a month or two; might do the same with what's left of the pales, to see what they'll do.

[dparsons]

I guess it depends on how long they've been sitting on the shelf. Letting them sit will certainly prevent you from drinking one to find out they aren't ready.

I tried the Pale and wasn't impressed either. Now I'm curious if a month or two makes a difference. Really, it shouldn't. Santa Fe shouldn't put their product on the shelf before its ready.