This time of year, the weather outside in Western New York may not be the most agreeable, but the beer (or cider, mead, seltzer, or what have you) in your glass always is. We are entering peak beer event season with a handful of can’t-miss events coming up, which means now is a great time to get out of the house, drink something new and exciting and raise a toast to the Western New York craft scene.
Drink some great craft, listen to live music, eat tasty local food and meet some new friends at these upcoming events. No two events are the same, so make sure you go to a few of them to experience everything they have to offer.
Barrel Jam VI, 42 North Brewing (25 Pine St., East Aurora)
Jan. 24
42 North will host the 6th annual Barrel Jam Festival on Saturday, Jan. 24, a beer festival that celebrates barrel-aged beers with beer samplings, live music and winter sports. A number of beers will be poured at the event, including from 42 North (Barrel Aged Baltic Asylum Porter, BA Blonde Ale), Drowned Lands (Volume 9 – Double BA Imperial Stout aged for 18 months in bourbon barrels and finished in a Ruby Port barrel for 8 months), Eli Fish Brewing (Madam Edna Brett Saison aged in Chardonnay barrels (Peaches and Cherries), Ellicottville Brewing (2025 BA Doppelbock, BA Raspberry Beret) and more. You can view an updated beer list here. Tickets are $40 (3 hours of tasting, complimentary tasting glass). Limited VIP tickets remain (early entry). Purchase tickets here or at 42 North.
Pro tip: If you’re going to go to Barrel Jam, opt for VIP. Not only do you get early access before most everyone else, you get your pick of the litter in terms of beer. Another tip? Start inside the 42 Below Barrel House – it tends to fill up quickly in there, especially once general admission begins and they normally have a number of great 42 North beers and some craft spirits as well.
Buffalo On Tap, Buffalo Convention Center (153 Franklin St., Buffalo)
Feb. 7
The 2026 edition of Buffalo on Tap will return to the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center on Feb. 7. A participating brewery list will be announced soon. The event will also feature live music, craft vendors and food. VIP tickets (12-4 pm, $63, including taxes and fees) include 4 hours of craft beer sampling, access to VIP area with exclusive beer, souvenir sampling glass and more, and General Admission tickets (1 – 4 pm, 5:30 – 8:30 pm, $43, including taxes and fees) include 3 hours of craft beer sampling and souvenir sampling glass. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.
Pro tip: Once again, I recommend opting for VIP. Buffalo On Tap has a special VIP section with a different beers (and its normally a pretty solid lineup), but beyond the beer, the VIP section offers additional space and table to relax and escape a bit when the event gets busy.
Kenan Wine & Beer Bash, Kenan Center Arena (195 Beattie Ave, Lockport)
Feb. 21
The 2026 Kenan Wine & Beer Bash is coming to the Kenan Center Arena on Feb. 21 (4-7 pm). The event will feature samplings from local craft breweries, wineries, distilleries, cideries and restaurants, along with live music from The Uptown Groove, food and more. This year’s event is being held in partnership with the Tap & Craft Festival, with a wine garden presented by The Lock Tender. General admission tickets are $45 and VIP is $65, and includes premier parking, an extra hour of tasting, exclusive wine and beer samples, free Blaster Ball and more. You can purchase tickets here.
42 North Brewski, Knox Farm State Park (437 Buffalo Rd., East Aurora)
Feb. 21
42 North will host the 2026 Brewski on Feb. 21 at Knox Farm State Park. Participants will traverse a two-mile course while sampling some of 42 North’s latest craft creations along the way. You will receive five beer samples, a complimentary beer at the brewery, and a commemorative tasting mug. Additionally, Brewski will feature a number of regional vendors offering demo equipment. Following the event, 42 North will host a post-party (4-7pm) with live music by The Blue Faces. A portion of ticket proceeds benefit The Friends of Knox Farm State Park for their continued maintainance and improvements to the park. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at 42 North or online.
Pro tip: This one is easy – if you want to go to Brewski, buy your tickets soon, like right now because this event sells out every year. And make sure you check the forecast and dress accordingly.
Brewer’s Invitational, NYBP Beer Lodge (245 Windward Rd., Orchard Park)
Feb. 28
The seventh annual Brewer’s Invitational will take place at the NYBP Beer Lodge in Orchard Park on Feb. 28 (2-5 pm). Tickets are $50 and include a commemorative tasting glass, a $5 food voucher, and access to over 50 brews from 30 local breweries, cideries and meaderies. Designated driver tickets are also available. An exclusive beer list, as well as a list of participating breweries, will be released closer to the event. You can purchase tickets here.
Pro tip: Plan accordingly. Check out the beer list beforehand and make a plan. I know that’s sounds more like something to do before a vacation and not a beer event, but still. There is normally a lot of beer at this event, so make sure you make a list of what you want ahead of time.
The Art of Beer, Niagara Arts & Cultural Center (1201 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls)
March 6
The 2026 Art of Beer will return to the Niagara Arts & Cultural Center on March 6. The 18th annual event will feature beer, wine, and cider tastings, along with culinary pairings, live entertainment on multiple stages, and more. Tickets include a commemorative beer glass, all beer, wine, and cider samplings, food, and more. The Art of Beer also serves as a fundraiser to support the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center. Ticket information will be released soon. You can find more information here.
Pro tip: Do not forget to eat. I myself have been guilty of this many, many times in the past at events and I always regret it. This is an event where you cannot afford to not eat. That made sense, right? The restaurant lineup at Art of Beer is normally stellar, so don’t miss out.
CollaBEERation, The Powerhouse (140 Lee St., Buffalo)
Apr. 25
The sixth annual CollaBEERation Festival will take place at the Powerhouse on Saturday, Apr. 25. The unique event brings together members of the Buffalo Beer Geeks community to partner with more than 50+ participating Western New York breweries, cideries, and meaderies to brew never-before-made libations. There will also be craft vendors, food trucks, and more. Attendees can vote on their top 3 collabs, with the winners taking home the Buffalo Beer Geek Championship Belt. General admission tickets ($70, including unlimited pours and a commemorative glass) can be purchased here. A limited number of VIP tickets ($90) is also still available.
Pro tip: Not to sound like a broken record, but have a plan going in. There is so much incredible beer at this event, many you might not be able to find anywhere else and even more you don’t want to miss out on. Make a list. It may sound dumb for a beer event, but it’s important. Also, make sure to get to the event on time if you’re driving because the parking lot at the Powerhouse fills up quickly. Or grab an Uber or a Lyft. That’s probably the better option.
New York State Craft Brewers Fest, Canalside (44 Prime St, Buffalo)
June 13
The New York State Craft Brewers Festival: Buffalo returns to Canalside on June 13. The New York State Brewers Association and Western New York Brewers Guild produce the annual event. This year, the event will feature fresh craft beer from over 50 breweries from every corner of the state. Attendees can meet the people who make the beer they love while enjoying live music, local food trucks, artisan vendors, and more. You can find more information here.
Pro tip: My pro tips for this event are pretty straight forward – buy VIP to beat the rush and make sure you drink enough water. Simple, effective and important.
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).
