Western New York Beer Week Starts September 25
The 2026 Western New York Beer Week, presented at the WNY Brewers Guild, will take place Sept. 25 – Oct. 4. The weeklong event celebrates our local craft beer scene and is headlined by Harvest Fest at Rusty Nickel Brewing (Oct. 3), which features samplings of seasonal brews from 15 area breweries, as well as live music from Todd Mertens, Porcelain Train, The Funkensteins, and more, BBQ, seasonal beer releases, including the Apple Fritter Amber Ale, family-friendly fall activities, stein hoist competition, apple cider slushies, local vendors and more. A full event guide will be released soon. You can find more information at wnybeerweek.com.
Flying Bison Aviator Red To Return At Hamburg Brewing
Flying Bison’s flagship brew, Aviator Red, is making its return to taps at Hamburg Brewing’s 13th anniversary party on Oct. 3. It will be available for a limited time as a draft-only release at Hamburg’s taproom. The beer, which debuted in May 2000, was first brewed by Buffalo beer godfather Tim Herzog and business partner, the late Larry “Red” Mrozek, in 1995, originally as a cask ale. Aviator Red pours ruby red, with a strong malt flavor, medium body, and a spicy hop signature that balances it all out. Hamburg’s anniversary party will feature live music from Gimmie Buffet, AllyKat and Mayday Buffalo. Admission is $10.
Wayland Brewing Drops New Hazy IPA, Spectra
Wayland Brewing has released a new “extra hazy, extra pale IPA,” Spectra, in cans and on draft. This new IPA clocks in at 7% with aromas and flavors of candied citrus, strawberry, tropical fruit and a little background note of dank hops. “We made this slightly stronger hazy IPA with heavy doses of our selected Citra and Strata hops, then layered in some thoughtfully chosen, citrus-forward Columbus from our friends at Yakima Chief Hops,” Wayland said of Spectra. Spectra is available at both Wayland Brewing locations.
Oktoberfest Events Continue This Weekend
Oktoberfest celebrations and parties continue this weekend all across Western New York. Oktoberfest is coming to Chandler Street Brewing on Sept. 26, featuring a cask of Oktoberfest, liter tankard and first fill for $25, bratwurst eating competition (winner takes home a Buffalo Bills Game Day watch party package and Thin Man swag bag). Pumkingfest 2026 at Southern Tier Brewing Lakewood and Buffalo features Pumking doughnuts, all Pumking variants on draft, live music and more. Wayland Brewing is hosting Oktoberfest and Pugtoberfest this weekend – Oktoberfest features stein holding competitions, German food and beer, live music and more, while Pugtoberfest features German beer, basket raffles, 50/50 and dogs with all proceeds benefitting the Buffalo Pug and Small Breed Rescue. Prost!
Other Half, Parish Brewing Collabs Return To Buffalo
Other Half has again teamed up with Parish Brewing Company on a trio of collaborative brews – TDH Space Ghost Imperial IPA (8.6%), brewed with Galaxy, Mosaic, Nelson Sauvin and Motueka hops for notes of passion fruit, white wine, tropical fruit and gooseberry, Ghost In The Code (8.0%), an extra hazy Imperial IPA with notes of tropical fruit, peach concentrate, citrus and passionfruit, brewed with Citra Incognito, Nectaron Cryo, Nelson Sauvin and Riwaka hops, and Beignets with Cream (8.0%), a hazy Imperial Oat Cream IPA brewed with milk sugar oats and a blend of hand-selected Citra, Citra Cryo and Nelson Sauvin hops for notes of candied orange and ripe tropical fruit. There beers are available on tap and in cans to go.
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).
