Cheers to the Big Screen
Suggesting a beer list for a new cinema beer bar
Recently, our local cinema and event center owner, Allan Saenz, asked me to help with suggesting a beer menu for his new beer bar. I had helped Allan get New Mexico laws changed to provide for an inexpensive beer-and-wine seller's license so that NM independent theaters like his could sell beer and wine. It took a while, but legislation passed last year, and he is now getting his beer-and-wine bar going. It isn’t a big operation, but I felt like I should recommend a solid range that includes a light beer, a cheap beer, a West Coast & a Hazy IPA, a golden or amber, a dark beer, and a non-alcoholic (NA) beer or two. Who knows? He might be able to blend in a seasonal or specialty beer occasionally.
The New Law
Like many places, New Mexico’s liquor laws are pretty "vintage". If you were a small, independent theater owner, getting a license to serve a drink usually meant competing for a limited pool of licenses that cost about as much as a private jet. Thankfully, some recent legislation caught up to the 21st century. It created a
special license for locally owned, independent theaters. The law now allows venues like Allan’s SALA Event Center to serve up to two 12-oz beers or two 6oz glasses of wine per customer per event. It’s a win for the "subtle adventures" of beer- & wine-loving movie lovers, and will hopefully add a revenue stream to help the theater stay viable. He also hosts many other events, both public and private, that will benefit.
Los Alamos Senator Leo Jaramillo led the effort at the NM legislature, and Rep. Christine Chandler also became an important supporter. Los Alamos MainStreet got NM MainStreet communities to speak up in support of the initiative. I worked with SALA to reach out to independent theaters statewide, who also lent support. Two years later, the legislation was signed into law, and a year later, Allan had an affordable license. No one said to expect anything to happen quickly.
The Science of the Beer Menu
I didn't want to just hand Allan a list of "Kevin’s Top Picks". Who knows if what I like would be interesting to anyone else? Thinking about a way to try to be somewhat objective and data-driven, popular rating apps like “Beer Advocate” and “Untappd” came to mind. BeerAdvocate (BA) ratings seem to lean toward technical competence, while Untappd seems all about popularity and how good the rater felt at the time they were drinking a particular beer. Which one tells you more? I’ve never been very satisfied with either one. The brewer’s art definitely matters to me, but I can’t just ignore what is liked by large numbers of beer drinkers.
My answer? I decided to derive a composite rating from the two systems' ratings. By blending two distinct data ecosystems—BeerAdvocate and Untappd—the composite rating is my attempt to balance an analytical rating of technical beer attributes (appearance, smell, taste, mouthfeel, etc.) with the real-world public appeal of a rating system based more on context and immediate enjoyment.
The Composite Rating I developed is a weighted-averaging model. The ratings from the two sources are not simply added together. I applied a 60/40 weighting to address the inherent biases and behaviors of each platform.
Composite Score = BeerAdvocate Rating * 0.60 + Untappd Rating * 0.40
Giving BeerAdvocate a 60% share comes down to style fidelity and rating integrity. BA users generally penalize beers that don't meet style guidelines, which provides a "sanity check" for technical quality. Because it requires more effort to log a review, BA is less susceptible to "hype-spiking," in which a popular brewery receives high marks regardless of beer quality.
Conversely, the 40% allocation to Untappd captures volume, freshness, and pure drinkability. Untappd has a much larger user base and captures how a beer is performing this week in a local taproom, providing a necessary update to BA’s often slower, legacy-driven data. Ultimately, if 10,000 people on Untappd love a beer that "experts" find too simple, that beer has a high "social value" that deserves to be reflected in the final score.
Addressing Bias
The system applies some thresholds to adjust for what I think are biases on both sites. First is the "Lager Penalty". Traditional styles like Pilsners or Blonde Ales are historically under-rated by “beer enthusiasts” (who generally prefer hoppy beers). To adjust for this, I consider 3.65 for a Lager to approximate a 4.10 for an IPA.
Second is the "Hype Cap". On Untappd, "Hazy" and "Pastry" styles often receive inflated scores. The 60% weight of BeerAdvocate serves as a "cap" to ensure a beer's technical merit justifies its social media buzz.
Finally, I use strict threshold requirements. To be included in my recommendations, a beer must have a statistically significant number of ratings (typically 100+ on Untappd) to ensure the average isn't skewed by a few friends of the brewer. Unfortunately, this means that some fantastic beers by smaller, off-the-beaten-track breweries aren’t on the radar. I apologize!
Understanding the Composite Score
Let’s use a score of 4 as an example. A beer that scores a four is often one where, after your first sip, you feel like telling someone, "You have to try this". Here are some thoughts about what a 4 says about a beer:
Decode Your Own Favorite Brews!
Curious about how your go-to beers stack up? Subscribe to Prime Passages today and you'll receive the exclusive companion PDF guide that gives you everything you need to crunch the numbers.
Inside the PDF, you’ll find:
Easy instructions for calculating the unique composite rating for your own favorite beers.
The Global & NM lists o the top-rated beers in NM and worldwide.
The "Off-The-Beaten-Path" Rankings: A fun ranked listing of New Mexico beers brewed outside of Santa Fe and the Albuquerque Metro area.
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It also shows a "Bi-Partisan" agreement. Because the score is a weighted average of two very different communities, a 4 suggests consensus. Beer nerds have found minimal flaws—the head retention is excellent, the aroma is true to style, and the mouthfeel is as intended. At the same time, the more casual beer lovers find it "crave-able". It isn't just technically correct; it’s delicious and memorable.
Finally, it marks the difference between "True to Style" vs. "Hype". A 4 means different things for an IPA and a lager because of what I think is a “hype factor”. If an IPA hits a 4, it means it is a hop-forward powerhouse that defines the category. If a Lager or Blonde Ale hits a 4, it is actually more impressive to me. These styles are subtle and "easier" to mess up, so a 4 indicates the brewery has achieved near-perfection.
To keep track, I use a basic Composite Rating "Cheat Sheet". For hoppy beers, a score of 4.25+ indicates "Unicorns: Rare, elite, and potentially life-changing," while a 4.00–4.24 marks "Iconic Beers: Technically excellent and widely loved". Lower down, 3.75–3.99 represents "The Staples: High quality; Highly drinkable and reliable," and 3.50–3.74 is "The Entry Point: Solid, dependable beers".
For lagers and light ales, the scale adjusts downward: a 4+ is a "Unicorn," 3.75–4.00 is "Iconic," 3.5–3.75 serves as "The Staples," and 3.25–3.50 is "The Entry Point".
A Quick Note To Beer Geeks And Purists: No, this wouldn’t be my personal list either. And nothing in this story is meant to imply any kind of universal truth. It is just one person’s idea for a crowd-sourced, data-driven composite approach to rating beers. Yes, I know that crowdsourcing has pitfalls, and that they carry over to this idea. There are many great beers out there that just don’t get on rating app radars. If I have offended you in any way, I apologize. Please relax… and have a beer!
Recommending Beers to SALA for their Beer Bar
So my job is easy now, right? All I have to do is give Allan a list of the top two or three beers to choose from in each of my categories, and my job is done. Right? NOT A CHANCE! SALA is a business, so there are other factors to consider, like refrigerator space, availability from New Mexico distributors, a preference for featuring New Mexico Beers, ease of serving, and the NM Independent Theater license, which limits Allan to serving two 12-oz servings per patron.
What if he could just pick from the highest-rated beers in the world, though? It makes an interesting list to ponder, and would look like this:
Light Beers: Pilsner Urquell | Plzeňský Prazdroj (Czech) | 3.94 | The world's original pilsner; the undisputed technical gold standard. Augustiner-Bräu Helles | Augustiner-Bräu (Munich) | 3.91 | The peak of Bavarian refreshment; incredibly clean and bready. Eureka - Citra | Tree House (MA, USA) | 3.88 | A blonde ale treated with the care of a world-class IPA.
West Coast IPA: Heady Topper | The Alchemist (VT, USA) | 4.70 | The beer that changed everything: aggressive, resinous, and legendary. Two Hearted IPA | Bell's Brewery (MI, USA) | 4.26 | A masterclass in balance using 100% Centennial hops. Elevated IPA | La Cumbre (NM, USA) | 4.22 | New Mexico’s contribution to the global IPA elite.
Hazy IPA: Julius | Tree House (MA, USA) | 4.64 | Like drinking a tropical fruit cloud, the definitive NEIPA. Focal Banger | The Alchemist (VT, USA) | 4.56 | Heady Topper's smaller, juicier, and arguably more complex sibling. King Sue | Toppling Goliath (IA, USA) | 4.48 | A massive Citra-hopped haze with incredible depth of flavor.
Golden & Amber: Zoe | Maine Beer Co. (ME, USA) | 4.19 | A sophisticated "Happy Amber" that smells like a pine forest. Amber Smashed Face | 3 Floyds (IN, USA) | 4.17 | An aggressive, hoppy red ale that hits like a heavyweight. Tocobaga Red | Cigar City (FL, USA) | 4.10 | Rich, caramel malts balanced by a sharp, citrusy hop finish.
Dark Beer: Assassin (DBA) | Toppling Goliath (IA, USA) | 4.82 | A barrel-aged imperial stout that tastes like liquid fudge. Deth’s Tar | Revolution (IL, USA) | 4.44 | Silky, viscous, and brimming with deep bourbon and oak. Black Butte | Deschutes (OR, USA) | 4.17 | The world’s most consistent porter; chocolate, coffee, and roast.
Seasonal & Spec.: V.S.O.J. | Revolution (IL, USA) | 4.50 | A "Very Special Old Jacket" barleywine with immense complexity. Celebrator | Ayinger (Germany) | 4.34 | The world's best Doppelbock; rich, dark fruit and toasted malt. Oude Geuze Boon | Brouwerij Boon (Belgium) | 4.12 | A masterclass in traditional Belgian funk and its tart acidity.
NA Beers: Guinness 0.0 | Guinness (Ireland) | 3.65 | Remarkably close to the original; creamy, roasty, and stout-like. Trail Pass IPA (and series) | Sierra Nevada (CA, USA) | 3.58 | A non-alcoholic IPA that finally nails the hop bitterness. Upside Dawn | Athletic Brewing (CT, USA) | 3.51 | A crisp, clean golden ale that defines the modern NA movement.
Now to stop dreaming and get back to New Mexico
Only one New Mexico beer appears on that global list, and I will suggest that SALA carry it, along with all New Mexican-brewed beers, if possible. The La Cumbre Elevated IPA is an easy pick, but what does the list look like if I am trying to suggest all highly-rated New Mexico Beers?
Light Beer (NM): Helles Lager | La Cumbre (ABQ) | 3.89 | Technical perfection in a crisp, golden, easy-drinking package. Perle Haggard | Ex Novo (Corrales) | 3.82 | A snappy German Pilsner with clean, floral hop bitterness. Pistol Pete's 1888 | Bosque (ABQ) | 3.79 | The ultimate local blonde—approachable, refreshing, and widely adored.
West Coast IPA (NM): Elevated IPA | La Cumbre (ABQ) | 4.22 | A foundational NM classic; perfectly balanced pine and citrus. Scale Tipper | Bosque (ABQ) | 4.18 | A hop-heavy powerhouse that defines the "Desert IPA" style. Eliot | Ex Novo (Corrales) | 4.08 | Bright, tropical, and remarkably clean West Coast execution.
Hazy IPA (NM): Desert Fog | Marble (ABQ) | 4.01 | Soft, pillowy mouthfeel with a tropical juice-bomb finish. Scenic West | Bow & Arrow (ABQ) | 3.98 | Indigenous-inspired hazy featuring bright, desert-fruit hop notes. Tonal Bliss | La Cumbre (ABQ) | 3.95 | A sophisticated, low-bitterness IPA with a lush, hazy profile.
Golden & Amber (NM): Oktoberfest | La Cumbre (ABQ) | 3.94 | Rich, toasty malt depth that remains surprisingly drinkable. Marble Red | Marble (ABQ) | 3.88 | The state's standard-bearer for balanced, caramel-forward amber ales. Easy Cactus | Bow & Arrow (ABQ) | 3.81 | A Vienna Lager with crisp, toasted bread malt characteristics.
Dark Beers (NM): Imperial Java Stout | Santa Fe Brewing (SF) | 4.01 | Decadent coffee and chocolate notes with a silky finish. Malpais Stout | La Cumbre (ABQ) | 3.97 | A roasted, dry Irish stout that punches above its weight. Pendejo Porter | Little Toad Creek (SC) | 3.85 | Deep, malty complexity with a smooth, woodsy character.
Seasonal & Spec. (NM): Creatures of Infinite | Keeping Together (SF) | 4.21 | An artistic Belgian Saison with complex, farmhouse funk. Never More | Ex Novo (Corrales) | 4.14 | A massive, barrel-aged barleywine with deep, dark fruit notes. Strawberry Gose | La Cumbre (ABQ) | 4.05 | Tart, salty, and bursting with fresh, authentic berry flavor.
NA Beers (NM): Naked Porter | Santa Fe Brewing (SF) | 3.49 | All the roast and body, none of the ABV. Zero IPA | Ex Novo (Corrales) | 3.48 | Boldly hopped and aromatic; you won't miss the alcohol. Social Dropout | Santa Fe Brewing (SF) | 3.33 | A clean, light lager profile for effortless trail hydration.
Navigating the Distributor Maze
This is where brewery and distributor limitations began to thin out the possibilities. Given the 12-oz Limitation, it seemed best to zero in on beers available in 12-oz cans to meet SALA’s particular need (glass is too messy). Selling 18+oz cans isn’t out of the question, but customers would be limited to one beer. This may work out to be fine in practice – time will tell. The La Cumbre Elevated will test this out. For now, though, aside from Elevated IPA, I needed to find the highest-rated New Mexico beer available in 12-oz cans from a NM beer-and-wine distributor.
I suggested that Allan choose one in each category from the following options (he probably won’t carry any specialty beers to start with, unless he gets lots of requests):
Light Beer: Pistol Pete's 1888 (Bosque, Albuquerque; 3.79) – The ultimate local blonde—approachable, refreshing. Alternatively, Corrales Lyte (Ex Novo, Corrales; 3.61) – Crisp, technically flawless light lager built for high-altitude refreshment.
West Coast IPA: Elevated IPA (18-oz exception) (La Cumbre, Albuquerque; 4.22) – Bright, tropical, and remarkably clean West Coast execution. Also Eliot (Ex Novo, Corrales; 4.08) – Bright, tropical, and remarkably clean West Coast execution. Or Mass Ascension IPA (Ex Novo, Corrales; 4.03) – A top-shelf IPA featuring bright citrus and pine notes.
Hazy IPA: Desert Fog (Marble, Albuquerque; 4.01) – Soft, pillowy mouthfeel with a tropical juice-bomb finish. Also Hazy IPA (Santa Fe Brewing, Santa Fe; 3.84) – A juicy, approachable rendition.
Golden & Amber: Marble Red (Marble, Albuquerque; 3.88) – The state's standard-bearer for balanced, caramel-forward amber ales. Alternatively, Marblefest (Marble Brewing, Albuquerque; 3.72) – Rich, festive, and traditional bready masterpiece boasting deep amber hues.
Dark Beers: Java Stout (Santa Fe Brewing, Santa Fe; 4.01) – Decadent coffee and chocolate notes with a silky finish. Also Oatmeal Stout (Marble, Albuquerque; 3.86) – Luxuriously smooth with deep notes of roasted grain and cocoa. Or Pendejo Porter (Little Toad Creek; 3.85) – Deep, malty complexity with a smooth, woodsy character.
Seasonal & Spec.: Strawberry Gose (La Cumbre, Albuquerque; 4.05) – Tart, salty, and bursting with fresh, authentic berry flavor. Or Sun Fade (Ex Novo, Corrales; 3.92) – A seasonal rotating hazy that consistently hits elite notes. Or Adobe Igloo (Santa Fe Brewing, Santa Fe; 3.74) – A winter warmer with cacao nibs and red chile heat.
NA Beers: (I didn’t find an NM NA yet that I wanted to recommend). I suggested Trail Pass IPA (Sierra Nevada, CA, USA; 3.58) – A non-alcoholic IPA that finally nails the hop bitterness. Also Trail Pass Brewveza (3.58) – Mexican-style blonde with a distinct, zesty hint of lime. Or Trail Pass Golden (Sierra Nevada, CA, USA; 3.55) – Crisp, crackery malt with bright floral and lemon-citrus notes. Or Trail Pass Hazy (Sierra Nevada, CA, USA; 3.53) – Juicy Mosaic and El Dorado hops with a smooth, balanced body.
The Final "Draft"
Are my suggestions to SALA the "perfect" list? Probably not. But it’s a list rooted in data, respect for what the crowd is saying, and a lot of love for beer and our local scene. In five of six of SALA’s categories (Light, West Coast, Hazy IPA, Golden or Amber, Dark, and non-alcoholic), SALA will be serving one of the top three rated beers made in NM. My top choices are all rated as iconic New Mexican beers. Only in the non-alcoholic beer category is an NM beer missing, but I have suggested the highest-rated available NA beer. Using the same rating system, I have suggested SALA serve Montucky Cold Snack and Pabst Blue Ribbon as less expensive “value beers” for patrons who aren’t seeking beer excellence.
Last night I went to the movies and enjoyed a Marble Desert Fog and a slice of gourmet Pi-239 pizza while watching the show. I had never heard of Desert Fog before this exercise, but I have to say, it fully lived up to its 4.01 composite rating. So far, so good! Next time you're at SALA, grab a cold beer, enjoy the show and the event, and remember: supporting your locally owned theater has never tasted this good.
Decode Your Own Favorite Brews!
Curious about how your go-to beers stack up? Subscribe to Prime Passages today and you’ll receive the exclusive companion PDF guide that gives you everything you need to crunch the numbers.
Inside the PDF, you’ll find:
- Easy instructions for calculating the unique composite rating for your own favorite beers.
- The Global & NM lists o the top-rated beers in NM and worldwide.
- The “Off-The-Beaten-Path” Rankings: A fun ranked listing of New Mexico beers brewed outside of Santa Fe and the Albuquerque Metro area.
Already a subscriber? Drop me an email at primepassages@gmail.com, and I’ll gladly send you a copy.
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