Four New Mexico breweries received high honors recently by placing in the World Beer Cup, an international competition to recognize the year’s best beers and breweries.
Canteen Brewhouse, Ex Novo Brewing Company, Starr Brothers Brewing Company and Quarter Celtic Brewpub all received awards in a competition that featured more than 2,000 breweries.
“New Mexico’s craft brew scene, overall, it’s one of the best in the country,” Zach Guilmette, the head brewer at Canteen Brewhouse in Northeast Albuquerque told KRQE News. “We love being kind of under the radar. We definitely get accolades. We get recognized for craft beer here, but oftentimes you hear other cities mentioned before you hear Albuquerque.”
The secret is apparently out. Canteen Brewhouse’s “Work of Heart” beer earned second place out of more than 50 entries for sweet or cream stouts.
“When we first tapped it, it was just smooth, balanced, just beautiful stout flavors of roastiness,” Guilmette told KRQE News.
Having four New Mexico breweries honored is exceptional, considering the competition consists of 10,213 beers from an estimated 2,376 breweries across the globe.
“It’s so hard to win,” Guilmette said. “So every time you do, you appreciate it more. It was exciting for the crew here. The World Beer Cup, it’s definitely a prestigious competition. One of two that, in the industry, we really look at for a standard for how well we’re doing.”
Guilmette said the brewery industry in the state is a "tight-knit" group that is genuinely happy for each other’s success. Recognition for one means recognition for all.
“I think what makes Albuquerque unique, when other breweries succeed, we are just as thrilled for them as we would be when we win for ourselves,” he said. “We should be really proud of the craft brew [because] we’re creating and representing New Mexico.”
Guilmette is humbled that his passion is being recognized.
“I think brewing, to me, is the best [thing] between being an artist and a scientist,” he told KRQE News.