In Western New York, summer is something to be celebrated. The return of warm weather calls for friends, sunshine and raising a cold pint – that’s where beer gardens come in. They are more than just a place to drink; they’re a place to reconnect after a long winter or to bring the dog on a sunny afternoon.
If you’re reading this, you know that seasons here are earned and good weather should never be taken for granted. Once our long winters finally loosen their icy grip, we head out in droves to enjoy a well-made pint under an open sky. That’s where beer gardens come in. These spaces aren’t just places to drink—they’re places to reconnect, to exhale, and to remember moments shared over a cold beer.
Brewery beer gardens hit a sweet spot that’s hard to replicate anywhere else—they turn drinking a beer into an experience, not just a transaction. You’re not tucked into a corner like in a bar; you’re part of something shared. Even if you show up alone, it rarely feels that way for long. Beer gardens also slow things down. They are places you can show up and stay a while – you can actually talk, hear yourself think and nobody’s rushing you out the door.
Beer gardens serve a multitude of purposes and offer diverse experiences for craft beer enthusiasts. From seemingly endless rolling fields of green and lush sunsets at Mystic Hills Brewing in East Concord and Five & 20 Spirits and Brewing in Westfield to an inviting concrete jungle in the shadow of Sahlen Field at Other Half Brewing to some of the best views of downtown on the New Orleans-style copper-roofed patios of Pearl Street Brewery to unparalleled views of the water at Hamburg Brewing, Johnson’s Landing and Buffalo Riverworks, there’s a better than good chance there is a beer garden or patio for you at a local brewery.
One of my favorite outdoor spaces, and perhaps one of the more underrated in the grand scheme of things in Western New York’s craft beer scene, is Buffalo Brewing Company. It’s simple and understated, welcoming and contemplative, a great spot to grab a fresh lager on side pull and just relax.
The outdoor space at Gene McCarthy’s in the Old First Ward has long held a special place in my heart – it’s not the biggest, nor the most glamorous, but I love grabbing a beer and an Adirondack chair and taking in the industrial views of the surrounding neighborhood. Not to mention, they have a beer window, so you don’t need to go inside for the next round.
Britesmith’s beer garden is a must as well, given its proximity to Ellicott Creek. I love grabbing a meal and a few brews on the waterfront whenever I am in Williamsville – you should too. Get the Double Smashburger and a Wills’ Pils and thank me later. Don’t want to drive to Williamsville – head down to Niagara Street and grab a beer, a burger, and a spot outside on Britesmith Buffalo’s beer garden. This is a beer garden I personally cut my teeth in, albeit when it was Resurgence Brewing Company, so I am intimately acquainted with it. You should be, too.
Buffalo Olde Brewery in Lovejoy offers quaint and cozy beer garden nestled in a community setting – a backyard atmosphere surrounded by wooden fence with the taproom on one side and brew house on the other. They often host live music out there as well, and it’s a great place to gather for a beer before heading out on a communal pedal tour, which the brewery recently launched. I have yet to do this, but I plan to.
One of the true jewels of the Western New York craft beer scene can be found out back behind Rusty Nickel Brewing in West Seneca. The brewery has put a lot of effort into upgrading their backyard, making it a great place to enjoy a pint. Look for live music, seasonal brews and cocktails, yard games like cornhole, fire pits and s’mores to enjoy.
Beer gardens around the area offer so many different experiences – the outdoor space at New York Beer Project Beer Lodge in Orchard Park sits in the shadow of the 219, BriarBrothers Brewing’s beer garden features an outdoor stage at the foot of old grain silos, the beer garden at Hofbrauhaus emulates a traditional German biergarten and 42 North Brewing’s beer garden speaks for itself, just to name a few. I could go on and on because, really, each local brewery beer garden is special in its own right.
Beer gardens are moment-based – a perfect summer evening, a crisp fall afternoon – those settings stick in your memory. The beer becomes tied to the weather, the people you’re with, and the moment itself. Make some new memories this year and your crew.
Brian Campbell is co-founder and Brand Manager of the Buffalo Beer League, and writes the weekly Buffalo Beer Buzz column. If you have beer news that should be included in the Beer Buzz, Brian can be reached at brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on X (@buffbeerleague), Instagram, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).
