WNY Brews

Buffalo Beer Buzz: West Shore, Rusty Nickel Merge, New Beer At 12 Gates, West Shore & Big Ditch, Pints In The Park, Brickyard Can Sale, NYSBA Design Contest

to see the full stories, go to: https://buffalobeerleague.com/buffalo-beer-buzz-west-shore-rusty-nickel-merge-new-beer-at-12-gates-west-shore-big-ditch-pints-in-the-park-brickyard-can-sale-nysba-design-contest/

This week we talk about:

After closing their Clarence taproom, West Shore Brewing Company announced that they are merging with West Seneca’s Rusty Nickel Brewing Company. The new partnership will expand distribution for both breweries, according to Rusty Nickel president Jason Havens, who made the announcement at their 8th anniversary party.

On June 10, West Shore’s Lake to Rail Citrus Lager will serve as the centerpiece for a fundraising event for the Flour-by-Rail Legacy Project at Duende Silo City. The event features tours of the grounds and boxcar, West Shore beers, live music, and more. Tickets for unlimited beer are $25 online and at the door, or you can just show up and enjoy the day a la carte.

Leshen, the latest release in 12 Gates’ Monsters & Myths Hazy IPA series, will be released on June 9 (12pm). The hazy IPA is 6% and is brewed with Azacca, Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops. Taken from ancient Slavic mythology, the Leshen is depicted as a malevolent and powerful woodland spirit believed to have control over the forest and its inhabitants, including animals and lesser forest spirits.

Resurgence Brewing and 42 North Brewing will once again take part in the Erie County Parks Department Pints in the Park Program, which features pop-up beer gardens across the Erie County Park System throughout the summer and fall.

Big Ditch Brewing and Explore Buffalo have teamed up on History Buff, a German-style Kolsch, to celebrate Explore Buffalo’s tenth anniversary tour season. The beer is slightly fruity, slightly bready, and refreshing. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Explore Buffalo.

The New York State Brewers Association is hosting an artwork contest for the design of the 4th Annual New York State Pint Days Glass. Each year’s glass features a unique design that celebrates NYS craft beer. Entries will be accepted until June 18 before being narrowed down to the top 2-3 designs. Then, a public vote will take place to determine the winning design.

To make room for more beer, Brickyard Brewing is holding a special can inventory clearance sale at their Lewiston taproom. As part of the sale, the brewery is offering $10 4-packs of Fiji Mermaid, a guava, pineapple and coconut sour, BerryBerry NannerNanner, a berry, guava and banana smoothie sour, Under the Bridge, a dry-hopped West Coast IPA brewed with El Dorado, Amarillo, and Chinook hops, and Irish Goodbye Red Ale. 

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In this week's Buffalo Beer Buzz and The WNY Brews podcast, we talk about:

Resurgence in the Park, Resurgence Brewing’s seasonal pop-up at the Parkside Lodge in Delaware Park, is now open for the season. Also, Resurgence’s annual Pints in the Park campaign returns June 2-3 at Chestnut Ridge Park. It is the first event of their near weekly pop-up beer gardens in different parks throughout Western New York. Get the full schedule here

On June 3, you can help Rusty Nickel Brewing celebrate 8 years with 8 beer releases, live music from UnderCover, food by Yankee BBQ, drink specials, including beer slushies, lawn games and more. This event is free and reservations can be made for the seating area under their covered pergola with views of the band, here.

Batavia’s Eli Fish Brewing will host The Heaviest Days of Maple on June 3, a special tap takeover which features 2022 Barrel Aged Heavy Maple (10% Waterless Wee Heavy with Maple Sap & Syrup) and Rauchy Maple (10.5% Smoked Waterless Wee Heavy with Maple Sap & Syrup), along with 2023 Autumn Maple (limited release until fall).

Hofbrauhaus Buffalo will tap their Hopfen Weizen on June 1 (7pm). If you’re new to this style, expect a hazy beer with a thick white head, super fruity and tropical aromas, slight pithy orange / pineapple juice taste and clean bitterness on the end.

New York Beer Project’s Walter’s Jelly Donut will make a return June 2 (11am) just in time for National Donut Day. 

After taking a few years off, Thin Man’s summer street festival, Summer Solstice, returns to Elmwood on June 17 (12pm). General admission tickets ($25) include access to festival grounds and first floor of taproom, as well as a commemorative glass and first beer, VIP tickets ($75) include access to festival grounds, first and second floors of taproom, commemorative glass, first beer, food ticket, and three beer tickets, and Executive VIP tickets ($150) include access to festival grounds, first and second floors of taproom, private second floor patio, commemorative glass, open bar (noon-8pm), and open food package. You can purchase tickets here.

42 North Brewing is hitting the road this summer at regional parks and outdoor venues with events featuring the 42 North Tap Trekker, as well as food trucks and musicians from throughout the region. The tour will visit Erie County Parks with a series of “Pints in the Park” events, the first event of which will take place June 3 at Sprague Brook Park. There will also be a weekly concert series at Cazenovia Park. More information and a full-schedule can be found at www.42northbrewing.com or by following 42 North on Facebook.

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In this week's Buffalo Beer Buzz and The WNY Brews podcast, we talk about:

CLARKSBURG CIDER TO THROW 2ND ANNUAL CIDER FEST 

Clarksburg Cider is hosting their second annual Cider Fest, an afternoon of cider, spirit, beer and mead tasting, live music, and food, on May 13 (2-6pm). 

This weekend, Pressure Drop Brewing will bring back Mosaic Screamer, a Mosaic hopped variant of their Citra Screamer Cream Ale. The Mosaic version is as crushable as its Citra counterpart; a light-bodied, crisp and clean hopped cream ale with notes of overripe grapefruit, a touch of dank and low bittering.  

WAYLAND BREWING COMPANY OPENS IN ORCHARD PARK

Wayland Brewing, a new campus-style brewery located in Orchard Park at 3740 N. Buffalo Street, is now open. We talk about the campus which we visited for the first time on Thursday.

BUFFALO OLDE BREWERY OPENS IN LOVEJOY

Housed in the former Olde Theater Building and HopfStar Theater originally built in 1890, Buffalo Olde Brewery is Buffalo’s newest brewery, located at 1221 E. Lovejoy St. 

BUFFALO BREWING COMPANY OWNER WINS PRESERVATION AWARD

Buffalo Brewing Company owner John Domres has won the 2023 Emerging Preservationist Award from Preservation Buffalo Niagara for his work to preserve and renovate the former Schreiber Brewery building.

Resurgence Brewing and SPoT Coffee have collaborated on Resurgence SPoT Hefeweizen, which will be available in cans at Resurgence and other participating retailers, as well as on tap at select bars.

BIG DITCH BREWING 8TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY

Big Ditch is turning 8 and is celebrating on May 18 (5pm) with beer, food and cocktail specials, live music, prizes, giveaways and more. Along with their regular draft list, there will be 4 anniversary beers on tap, including 8th Anniversary French Toast Imperial Stout (10% ABV), Strawberry Vision Sour Fruit Beer, Basically Juice Double IPA (9% ABV), Salted Watermelon Cucumber Seltzer and Double Dry Hopped Little Waves Lager (Nelson Sauvin hops). There will be free limited edition t-shirts for the first 75 guests, raffles (one entry with every beer) and live music from JJ Moscato. The event is free and open to the public.

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In this week's Buffalo Beer Buzz, I talk about:

NEW BEER AT SOUTHERN TIER & 12 GATES, CBW ELMWOOD TAPROOM, NYS CRAFT BREWERS FEST, KEGS & EGGS, STEELBOUND ANNIVERSARY, THIN MAN DESIGN CONTEST

SOUTHERN TIER BREWING TO RELEASE NEW SUMMER VARIETY PACK

Southern Tier Brewing is thinking about the warmer weather with their new Summer Variety Pack, which features four new wheat ales with flavors of mango, raspberry, grapefruit and blueberry. Read More Here

COMMUNITY BEER WORKS TO OPEN NEW TAPROOM ON ELMWOOD

Community Beer Works has announced plans to open a second location at 976 Elmwood Avenue later this year. The new location will be located on the corner of Elmwood and Bidwell Parkway.  Read More Here

NEW YORK STATE CRAFT BREWERS FEST RETURNS TO CANALSIDE JUNE 24

The New York State Craft Brewers Festival: Buffalo returns to Canalside on June 24. Read More Here

12 GATES BREWING TAPS EXCLUSIVE NEW PORTER IN ELLICOTTVILLE

12 Gates Brewing has tapped their first exclusive beer at 12 Gates of EVL, Peruvian Porter, made with Organic Peruvian Coffee Beans from Ellicottville Coffee Company. Read More Here

STEELBOUND BREWERY 5TH ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND CELEBRATIONS

Steelbound Brewery & Distillery are taking the entire weekend, May 5-6, to celebrate their fifth anniversary. The brewery will introduce two new tequilas for Cinco de Mayo on May 5, Blanco and Reposado, will be giving away free margarita glasses and will have food and drink specials. Read More Here

CINCO DE MAYO KEGS & EGGS AT RESURGENCE BREWING

Spend your Cinco de Mayo with Resurgence Brewing at their Cinco de Mayo Kegs & Eggs on May 5 (10am). Read More Here

DESIGN THE NEXT GREAT THIN MAN BREWERY BEER CAN

Want to have your artwork featured on Thin Man’s next release? The brewery has teamed up with art collective Leftern to offer a shot at having your work on display at their Elmwood taproom and on an upcoming beer label. Read More Here

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We are joined by Jason of The Buffalo Brews Podcast and the guys from The Buffalo Beer League on a walk around the recent CollaBEERation 3.0 Festival. The festival, which took place on March 25th at The Powerhouse, served beers that were conceived and brewed in collaboration between the Buffalo Beer Geeks Facebook group and local breweries.

Although the podcast couldn't possibly hit every beer, we talk about a few that tickled our fancy.

This podcast also exists as a video on YouTube.com/WNYBrews

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Flying solo this week, but still had to let you know about the week's Buffalo Beer stories! As always you can find them in the Buffalo Beer Buzz

Community Beer Works is turning the ripe old age of 11 and they are celebrating with a day filled with fun and games, live music, great beer and food on April 22 (12pm). 

Flying Bison will release their new Buffalo Kush IPA on, not so coincidentally enough, 4/20 (4pm). As you might expect, Buffalo Kush is big, dank and hoppy, clocking in at 8% and 80 IBUs, with notes of tropical fruit and hop bitterness from the heavy additions of American hops. The beer will be available on draft and in 16oz. 4-pack cans and kegs to go.

A limited amount of tickets are still available for Thawfest, which returns to Buffalo Riverworks on April 21. Over 50 local breweries, cideries, distilleries, and wineries will be on hand to samples their newest and most popular brews. Visit http://thawfest.com/ for more information.

On April 22, the Pink Boots Society will release their International Women’s Day brew, Pink Boots Buf Roots Session IPA, at Woodcock Brothers at Wurlitzer (2-6pm). Pink Boots Buf Roots is an easy drinking, citrusy and tropical IPA that features Cascade and the Pink Boots special hop blend. The release party will feature a woman-owned business vendor market to sip, shop and celebrate all Western New York women. A portion of proceeds from Pink Boots Buf Roots will be donated to the Pink Boots Society, a nonprofit organization focused on women in the fermented beverage industry.

With more and more nonalcoholic adult beverages hitting the market, what’s all the hype about? The Buffalo Museum of Science is looking to find out at their next Science After Hours event on April 21 (6-9pm). 

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, WNY Beer trail will host the third annual Summit Buffalo fundraiser at Resurgence Brewing on April 22 (12pm). This event is free and will feature live music from Nico Zarcone and raffles for prizes, including autographed Bills jerseys, autographed 8×10’s (Alex Tuch, Stevie Johnson, Taron Johnson), gift baskets, gift cards and more. There will also be a silent auction for a signed Damar Hamlin #3 full size helmet. There will be a special beer for the event as well, Believe in Summit Pilsner, and Resurgence will donate $1 of each pint to the cause.

Allentown’s Spotted Octopus Brewing will celebrate their first anniversary on April 22 (7pm). The party will feature live music from Davey O (7-9pm), food will be available from Under Fire Pizza (3-7pm), drink specials throughout the night and more. 

Gowanda Brewing at the Wicked Glen is officially open to the public. The brewery, located at the Wicked Glen in Gowanda, features a 3.5BBL capacity and 7 taps serving their own beer.

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HAMBURG BREWING RELEASES BIG LOU DIPA IN 19.2OZ. CANS

Hamburg Brewing is the latest Western New York brewery to join the 19.2oz. arms race with their new Big Lou Double IPA, which is available at Consumer’s Beverages now. Read more here

PRESSURE DROP TO RELEASE NEW WEST COAST & HAZY IPAS

Pressure Drop Brewing is set to drop a new hazy IPA, Auto Flower, on April 15 (11am), and have also teamed up with Brooklyn’s Wild East Brewing on Trouble in Paradise, an 8.7% West Coast-style Double IPA brewed with Simcoe and Citra hops for notes of citrus, pine and tropical fruit. Read more here

SOUR POWER RETURNS TO PIZZA PLANT TRANSIT

Sour Power, Pizza Plant’s annual celebration of all things sour ales, returns to their Transit Road location on April 16. Read more here

12 GATES WILL NOT HOLD ROCK THE GATES FESTIVAL IN 2023

Rock the Gates, 12 Gates Brewing’s annual summer celebration of craft beer, food and live music, will not take place in 2023. Citing the recent opening of their second taproom in Ellicottville, 12 Gates explains that opening a new site requires a lot of time, energy, and attention. Read more here

HOFBRAUHAUS BUFFALO LAUNCHES NEW REWARDS PROGRAM

Hofbrauhaus is the latest Western New York brewery to officially launch an in-house rewards program. After you sign up, you will receive 1 point for every dollar spent at the brewery, and once you hit 100 points, you can redeem your rewards to unlock a $5 bonus. And right now, for a limited time only, you can receive 25 bonus points when you sign up. You will also receive a special birthday bonus after joining. Read more here

LAST CALL FOR BIG DITCH BREWING GALAXY RED IPA

Galaxy Red, Big Ditch’s unique and popular seasonal offering, is going away for good, the brewery announced, adding that “something just as delicious will take its place.” Galaxy Red is a 6.8% India Red Ale brewed with Galaxy hops for notes of sweet malt, pineapple, mango and papaya. Read more here

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO THAWFEST AT BUFFALO RIVERWORKS

Step Out Buffalo is giving away a pair of general admission tickets to Thawfest 2023, an annual celebration of New York’s breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries, at Buffalo Riverworks on April 21. To enter, all you need to do is head to Step Out Buffalo’s Instagram page, follow Buffalo Riverworks on Instagram, like the contest post and tag a minimum of three friends in the comments (extra tags are extra entries (unlimited comment tags allowed)⁠). Visit stepoutbuffalo.com/giveaways for more chances to enter this giveaway. The deadline to enter is Monday, April 17.

If you don’t win those tickets, limited amounts are still available for purchase. VIP tickets are $65 (includes buffet-style food, additional bottle and can pours) and general admission tickets are $45. You can visit http://thawfest.com/ to purchase yours today.

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Buffalo Beer Buzz: New Releases At Resurgence, Southern Tier & Hamburg, Kegs, Barrels & Crafts, Dyngus Day Celebrations:

Resurgence Brewing has once again teamed up with OnCore Golf and PGA Hope WNY on Smash Factor, a sessionable 5.5% IPA. The beer returns to Resurgence on April 8 (11am) Read more here

Limited tickets still remain for the second annual KBC – Kegs, Barrels, and Crafts, a beer, wine and whiskey event that features more than 40 vendors from Western New York, which takes place April 8 (4-8pm) at 500 Pearl. Read more here

Southern Tier Brewing is doing their best to will on an early summer with the release of Mango Rays Wheat Ale, a light, crisp and refreshing ale that features notes of mango up front with lingering tropical fruit notes, that clocks in at 5%. Mango Rays is available in 6-pack 12oz cans wherever great craft beer is sold. You can also find it on draft at any one of Southern Tier’s taprooms.

Dyngus Day this year is Monday, April 10 and a number of local breweries are celebrating. Read more here

Along with a refresh and rebrand in honor of their 10th anniversary this year, Hamburg Brewing are bringing back a pair of fan favorites to their lineup – Small Town White Ale, a refreshing and approachable unfiltered white ale, and Blackberry Gose, a slightly sweet and extremely crushable sour ale that’s brewed with blackberries, sea salt, and coriander. Both beers are available in 12oz. 6-pack cans wherever great craft beer is sold and on draft at the brewery.

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In this weeks Buffalo Beer Buzz and The WNY Brews podcast, we talk about:

6 WNY BREWERIES WIN 9 MEDALS AT 2023 NYS CRAFT BEER COMPETITION

We did a whole WNY Brews episode talking about the local winners this past Tuesday. Find it in your podcast feed or here

TAP THAT TAP ROOM SET TO OPEN IN TONAWANDA

Tap That Tap Room, Western New York’s first female-owned self-pour taproom, will open April 1 in Tonawanda at 363 Delaware Ave. Tap That will offer 30 self-serve taps of beer, wine, cider and seltzer, including a variety of local brands, an “elevated” bar food menu that will focus on shareable plates, space to seat 60 people at 15 tables and additional space at a bar rail. Plans also call for a dog-friendly patio out front. The self-pour system allows customers to pour as little as an ounce, and will offer malt beverages and mixed drinks. Owners hope to have a soft opening by late March, with a grand opening April 1. Click here for more

CONSUMER’S BEVERAGES OFFERING FREE BUFFALO BISONS TICKETS

Like craft beer? Planning to catch a Bisons game this season? If you answered yes, then you’re going to want to head to any Consumer’s Beverages location soon. With any purchase of $10 or more, you will receive a free pair of tickets to the Bisons April 4 home opener against the Worcester Red Sox (while supplies last). New this season, the team will offer the Southern Tier Craft Beer Pack, which features 2 undated game tickets and 4 craft beer vouchers, for $53. You can purchase tickets here.

NEW 12 GATES’ MONSTERS & MYTHS IPA COMING

12 Gates latest beer series, Monsters & Myths, which will consist of 6 new hazy IPAs that will be released in collectors’ art cans, continues March 31 with Siren, a 7.1% Hazy IPA packed with Azacca, Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops. Click here for more

HAZELNUT DELUXE IS SOUTHERN TIER’S NEW BLACKWATER SERIES BEER

Southern Tier Brewing’s Blackwater Series continues with the release of Hazelnut Deluxe Imperial Stout, a 10.2% brew with rich nutty notes, chocolate and roasted malts. Look for Hazelnut Deluxe soon wherever great craft beer is sold, at all Southern Tier taprooms, or on tap at your local bar in 4-pack 12oz. bottles and on draft.

HOFBRAUHAUS TO TAP NEW ROYAL EXPORT GOLDEN LAGER

On April 6 (6pm), Hofbrauhaus Buffalo will tap their new Royal Export lager as only they know how – with a traditional parade, barrel tapping and live music. The cast of Drunk Theatre Buffalo will lead the parade, while Die Haus Band takes the main stage (6-9pm). All guests (21+) will receive a complimentary Royal Export pour after the barrel tapping. Royal Export is a golden lager with fruity hop notes and a light bitterness.

SPRING FEVER IN PENNSYLVANIA COMES TO THE BEER KEEP

The best breweries and craft beer from Pennsylvania is taking over all of the taps at The Beer Keep on April 1 (11:30am), including Human Robot, Voodoo Brewing, Imprint Beer, Dancing Gnome, 2SP, Evergrain Brewing, Antifragile Brewing, Forest and Main, Kingview Mead and Grist House. You can find a complete beer list here. There will be plenty of limited release and specialty packaged offerings to consume on site or to-go. This event is free to attend. Limited event poster prints will be available day of for $5.

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The NYS Craft Beer Competition, produced by the New York State Brewers Association and Raise a Glass Foundation, is the largest state-level competition in the US and a celebration of the New York State craft beer community. Judging took place in Rochester, NY over the course of 2 days in February. This year 1,350 entries from 189 breweries were judged in 29 categories by qualified industry professionals.

Listen to find out who in Buffalo took home the medals...or...

Read the article here!

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