Back before the final round of the 2025 New Mexico Brewers Guild IPA Challenge, the Crew got all sentimental because it was going to be held at Canteen, the site of the first NMIPAC that we attended as a Crew back in 2012.
Well, lo and behold, it was actually the 2016 NMIPAC that was truly the reference point to the past, as for the first time since then the final tally came down to a single vote. And, just like back then, Boxing Bear Brewing came out the winner, slipping past Downshift Brewing by a total of 53 votes to 52 Saturday evening.
“I think honestly it was just the fact it was just a huge team effort to get this in,” said Boxing Bear head brewer Eddie Dominguez. “We tried to do something by ourselves and it came down to the entire team to actually produce a great beer. It’s evident that Albuquerque loves our beer and we’re going to try to keep it going.”…