Buffalo Brews Podcast

Jason and Bri take a candid look at the current state of the craft beer industry—and why everything feels off right now. With recent brewery closures across Western New York and beyond, they reflect on beloved spots like Flying Bison, Fifth Frame, Froth, and the uncertainty surrounding fan-favorite K2. The conversation explores what’s driving this industry “course correction,” from economic pressures and rising costs to oversaturation and changing consumer habits.

The discussion dives deeper into generational shifts, health-conscious drinking, and why younger drinkers are consuming less alcohol—or skipping it altogether. Jason and Bri unpack the rise of NA beers, mocktails, THC alternatives, and the growing expectation that breweries offer more than just beer, including food, cocktails, and family-friendly spaces. Thoughtful, honest, and beer-in-hand as always, this episode is a heartfelt look at where the industry has been—and where it may be headed next. 

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In this Best Beers of 2025 episode, Jason and Bri break out the imaginary red carpet and count down the most memorable beers they drank all year — Golden Globes style, but with fuzzy socks and Buffalo wind chills.

From sipping a Yuzu Mango Golden Ale aboard a Norwegian cruise ship during a Bills playoff game, to discovering dessert-in-a-glass triple IPAs, cocktail-inspired sours, tropical island lagers, and a peanut butter stout that never misses, the duo revisits the beers that truly stood out in 2025. Along the way, they share travel stories from the Cayman Islands, brewery hopping across New York State, Collaboration Fest highlights, and one bittersweet honorable mention from a beloved brewery that closed its doors.

Featured breweries include Terrapin / 66 by Norwegian, Eli Fish Brewing, Cayman Islands Brewery, Frequentum Brewing, Scale House Brewery, Monster Beach Brewing, and Arkane Aleworks — each with a story, a setting, and a beer that earned its place on the list.

It’s a mix of laughs, memories, and genuinely great beer talk — proving that sometimes the best beers aren’t just about flavor, but where you were, who you were with, and the stories that came with the pour. 🍺🎙️

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As 2025 wraps up, Jason and Craig drop a quick bonus “secret track” episode of Bear-ly Getting Started to raise a glass to the journey so far. This Smokey Sips installment features Smoky Paws, a limited honey pawpaw wine from Three Bears Meadery, with a relaxed discussion on mead vs. honey wine, fermentation, flavor, and winter sipping vibes. A warm, reflective toast to 55 episodes and a prosperous 2026 — Cheers! 

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In this final episode of Smokey Sips, Jason and Craig wrap up by diving into Smoke & Dagger, the Smoked Black Lager from Jack’s Abbey Craft Lagers. They explore Jack’s Abbey’s dedication to old-world lager techniques, break down what defines a black lager, and compare how smoke interacts across different styles—from rauchbiers to smoked porters. Along the way, they dig into malt sweetness, perceived bitterness, IBUs vs. Scoville heat, and why balance matters more than numbers. The episode closes with reflections on the full smoked beer lineup, holiday beer season, and what’s ahead at Magic Bear as the year winds down. 

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Jason and Bri get festive as they break down Deck the Halls on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, a beloved holiday tradition they’ve now experienced four years in a row. They explore the event’s origins, share tips on pacing yourself across 17 wineries, and highlight standout stops, favorite wines, unique ornaments, and festive food pairings—all while sipping on a Dry Rosé from Toast Winery. If you’ve ever wondered what makes Deck the Halls so special, this episode captures the magic, wine, and holiday spirit behind the Finger Lakes’ most popular winter wine event. 

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In this third installment of the Smokey Sips series , Jason and Craig dive deep into a darker, richer side of smoked beer with Leaning Chimney — a smoked porter from Gray Sail Brewing Company of Rhode Island.

After exploring a Märzen and a smoked Polish wheat beer in earlier episodes, the hosts shift gears to examine how smoke interacts with a more robust base style. Craig breaks down how smoked beers can be created from nearly any grain bill, and how the malt recipe, hopping, carbonation, and base beer style shape the final flavor experience.

The discussion takes listeners on a sensory journey. Comparing different smoke types — Beechwood vs. peat — and how smoke expresses itself differently across beer styles. They touch on porter history, cigar comparisons, barbecue wood varieties, brewing techniques, and how their palates evolve across a horizontal tasting of smoked beers. 

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In this Thanksgiving-themed episode of the Buffalo Brews Podcast, Jason and Bri settle in for a laid-back conversation filled with holiday nostalgia, brewing excitement, and upcoming events in the Western New York craft beer scene.

They kick off with Thanksgiving traditions—old, new, and evolving—as Bri talks about ditching the classic dinner for a full-on Thanksgiving breakfast featuring a waffle bar and tater-tot casserole. From there, the conversation flows into memories of family gatherings, football, and how holiday customs shift over time.

The pair crack open “I Got Your Six,” the American IPA Jason helped brew at First Line Brewing. They dive into the beer’s veteran-crafted hop blend, its light citrus profile, and the special can artwork featuring the names of the veteran brewers involved. They also recap the First Line Veterans BBQ with Buffalo Bills long snapper Reid Ferguson, plus some favorite finds from local vendors like Q42 BBQ and I Got Your Six Candle Company.

Next, Jason and Bri reveal their next big brewing collaboration for the 2025 Buffalo CollaBEERation Festival, for a video-game-themed beer. 

As the beers keep flowing—including Big Ditch’s new Turkey Trotter Blonde Ale—the hosts wander into running stories: the Buffalo Turkey Trot, Disney races, trail-running surprises, and their own race plans for 2025 (including Tunnels to Towers and the Buffalo Marathon 5K).

They wrap up with early holiday spirit, Deck the Halls plans, Buffalo weather gripes, and plenty of laughter as the season ramps up.

A cozy, beer-filled, holiday-ready episode perfect for Thanksgiving week.

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In this installment of Bear-ly Getting Started, Jason sits down with Craig for the second entry in the “Smoky Sips” mini-series. Broadcasting from Larkinville, the duo dives deep into one of Buffalo Brewing Company’s most unique offerings: the 1976 Grodziskie, a traditional Polish smoked wheat ale affectionately known as the “Polish Champagne.”

Craig shares the story of how brewing this very style led him to meet brewer and Buffalo beer historian John Domrez, and how that connection shaped Craig’s hands-on path toward becoming a Cicerone. Together, Jason and Craig explore the Grodziskie’s origins, its subtle yet distinctive smoked wheat character, and its crisp, low-ABV drinkability that makes it an ideal “table beer.”

They break down the style’s flavor profile, the role of Polish ingredients like Lubelski hops, and why some drinkers lovingly (or not so lovingly) refer to it as the “kielbasa beer.” From pairing ideas—like grilled hot dogs, smoky cheeses, or pan-seared kielbasa—to the beer’s rich cultural history spanning centuries, the conversation highlights what makes this niche style both surprising and memorable.

As the pair wrap up beer two of the four-part series, they cleanse the palate and tease the next shift in smoked malt styles coming in the following episode.

Cheers—and get ready for another pour of smoke when you tune in next time.

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In this lively episode of The Buffalo Brews Podcast, Jason and Bri kick things off with a little technical drama as their trusty Old Reliable Zoom PodTrak P4 fills in for the temperamental P8. From there, the duo dives into a cozy, conversational recap of their autumn adventures — blending humor, storytelling, and that unmistakable Buffalo energy.

They chat about Halloween and daylight savings woes, swapping stories about mornings and early sunsets. Then it’s on to October camping tales, where the weather at Allegheny State Park refused to cooperate — rain, rain, and more rain — but the fun still flowed with Viking costumes, turkey legs, homemade mead, and even a first attempt at Viking bread.

The journey continues through Hikemania 2, exploring Genesee County Park’s haunted history, hidden graves, and birdwatching with the Merlin app, before heading to Letchworth State Park — the “Grand Canyon of the East.” Between cider donuts, Porsche sightings, and fall foliage, Jason and Bri find beauty (and beer) in every detour.

Their road trip wraps up in Rochester with an impromptu craft beer crawl — cider donut sours at K2 Brewing, autumn sunshine in Fairport, and hearty German fare at Faircraft Brauhaus (including a legendary German garbage plate).

Full of laughter, local flavor, and a few soggy hiking boots, this episode perfectly captures the Buffalo Brews spirit: great company, great beer, and great stories — rain or shine.

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Hosts Jason and Craig kick off their thirteenth series, “Smoky Sips,” exploring the world of smoked beers and their deep roots in brewing history. The inspiration for the series came from Craig’s discovery of several smoked beers in his personal collection — enough to spark an entire new theme focused on rich, smoky flavors perfect for colder weather.

The episode centers around Rauchbier (pronounced “Rauk-beer”), a traditional German smoked Märzen known as one of the most iconic and historic beer styles. Craig, drawing on his expertise as a Certified Cicerone, walks listeners through the evolution of smoked beers — from the primitive malting processes that unintentionally infused grains with smoke to the 19th-century innovations that refined roasting and kilning. Jason adds fascinating historical notes, including the fact that January 23rd is celebrated as Smoke Beer Preservation Day, honoring the long legacy of Bamberg’s Schlenkerla Brewery, the legendary home of Rauchbier.

Featuring Rauchbier from Dovetail Brewery of Chicago, IL.

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