Sour powered: Fête de la Funk celebrates saisons, goses and more

Rozanna M. Martinez, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
·3 min read

Mar. 29—Pucker up for Fête de la Funk.

The event, focusing on sours, saisons and funky style beers, will make its debut from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Rowley Farmhouse Ales, 1405 Maclovia St. in Santa Fe. Live music by Zaphica will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Guests can bring their own camping chairs to enjoy the show.

Early bird general admission tickets are $30 per person, with sales ending on March 31. General admission tickets are $40 with sales ending on April 12. The ticket price includes samples of each beer and a full-size pour in a commemorative Fête de la Funk glass. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.com.

"There are 15 breweries participating and Rowley is one of them," said Ebbie Edmonston, executive director of the New Mexico Brewers Guild. "But, they're just the host, because they approached the guild about this event a couple years ago wanting to get it off the ground, and me being new to the position, I was like alright we've got to give it some time before I take on new ventures."

Edmonston has since settled into her new role with the guild and decided to launch the event this spring.

"I love these styles of beer, so I'm really excited for it," Edmonston said. "I hope that there are other people out there, other beer lovers, who also love these kind of niche styles. That way we can keep doing it year after year."

Participants are Bathtub Row Brewing Co-Op, Bow & Arrow Brewing Company, Canteen Brewhouse, Ex Novo Brewing Co., Flix Brewhouse, Flock of Moons Brewing Co., Marble Brewery, Nuckolls Brewing Co., Rio Bravo Brewing Co., Rowley Farmhouse Ales, Starr Brothers Brewing Co., Steel Bender Brewyard, Thirsty Eye Brewing Co., Three Rivers Brewery and Turtle Mountain Brewing.

"When I sent out the email to the breweries, I gave them examples of what I would like to see," Edmonston said. "I'd love to see goses and gueuzes and American wild ales and Brett beers. There's so many beers that could fit into this kind of event, but sours tend to take a little more time, so I started throwing this idea out to breweries back in January ... I know they all have brewery schedules and it just has to line up."

Edmonston does not expect to see a gueuze which takes a long time to make.

But Edmonston said there are plenty of styles that the participating breweries can create that take less time.

"Obviously, Steel Bender they have that great Dynamite line, so I'm sure they're going to do something fun," Edmonston said. "Bow & Arrow is participating. There's a lot of good beers that are going to be had that day."

In addition to the sours, saisons and funky style beers, attendees can try digestive bitters from Underberg.

"It's a herbal digestif," Edmonston said. "It helps to settle the stomach. It is very popular in Europe. You tend to see Underberg commonly with these types of sour beers because they have a higher acidity, so you can drink an Underberg afterward and it helps settle the stomach. It's kind of like a sexier version of Pepto-Bismol, but it's not bright pink and creamy. It's very herbaceous."