Buffalo Beer Buzz: Brewer’s Invitational, Steel Leaf Closing, Resurgence Another Caucasian, Gary, Big Ditch, The Ridge & Golf Expo Giveaways, Ellicottville Brewing Hard Teas

Tickets Remain for This Weekend’s Brewer’s Invitational

Tickets are still available for the seventh annual Brewer’s Invitational, which returns to the New York Beer Project Beer Lodge on Saturday, Feb. 28 (2-5 pm). Some beers that will be poured at the event include Mortalis Brewing’s Beholder | Yogurt Parfait Fruited Smoothie Sour, Oldmanbearma | Nectaron Double IPA and BA Eos (Metallis Purple Wax) Imperial Stout, as well as Other Half’s Dankest Dad Imperial IPA, Big Ditch’s Boysenberry White Water and Ellicottville Brewing’s Barrel Aged Chocolate Cherry Stout, to name a few. 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. You can purchase tickets here.

Big Ditch Brewing, The Ridge West Seneca Giveaways

Step Out Buffalo is teaming up with Big Ditch Brewing and The Ridge West Seneca for a pair of giveaways – Big Ditch Taps & Apps Experience, which includes a $100 gift card to Big Ditch, and The Ridge Beers & Bites Experience, which includes a $100 gift card to The Ridge West Seneca. To enter for Big Ditch, click here and enter your name and email, and to enter for The Ridge, click here. The deadline for the Big Ditch Taps & Apps Experience is Thursday, Feb. 26 and the deadline for The Ridge Beers & Bites Experience is Monday, March 2.

Resurgence Brewing Another Caucasian, Gary Release Party

Resurgence Brewing is throwing a release party for Another Caucasian, Gary, a White Russian-inspired stout created by homebrewer Scott McMillan that won the 2019 Dude Hates Cancer Homebrew Contest and a silver medal at the 2025 NYS Craft Beer Competition. Drop by the taproom on Feb. 26 at 6 pm to sample the beer, meet Scott and more. “The Big Lebowski” will be playing in the taproom, there will be Wii bowling contests for prizes, White Russian drink specials and special cask versions of the beer – Maple and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. “Yeah, well. The Dude abides.” The event is free and open to the public.

Steel Leaf Brewing Liquidation Sale, Drain The Bar Party

Steel Leaf Brewing Company will close this weekend on Saturday, Feb. 28 and need your help to drain the bar before they turn the lights off. The event will feature live music from DJ Looney Tunes and more. “Cheers to the good years and help us drain the bar one last time,” the brewery says. “We’re raising our glasses to every memory, every pint, and every one of you who made Steel Leaf what it is.” Steel Leaf Brewing will host a Liquidation Sale on Feb. 27 (10 am – 7 pm) and will be selling select furniture, fixtures, décor, and brewing-related items as we wind things down. According to the brewery, everything must go.

Ellicottville Brewing Announces New Line of Hard Teas

Ellicottville Brewing has introduced a new line of flavored hard teas, EVL Tea House, brewed with real tea. These 4% hard teas include flavors such as Half & Half, Raspberry, Original, Blueberry and Chai Tea Lemonade. “Introducing a new family of hand crafted hard teas – EVL Tea House,” Ellicottville Brewing says. “Four distinct flavors, brewed amongst the scenic rolling hills of Ellicottville, NY – often colloquially referred to as “EVL”. Brewed to transport you to wherever your “happy place” may be. Take the scenic route. Try EVL Tea House today.” Cans of EVL Tea House can be found in all EBC pubs as well as select local beer retailers soon.

Ticket Giveaway for Golf Expo at Pearl Street Brewing

Golf Buffalo and Tap & Craft are teaming up to give away two free tickets ($70 value) to the Golf Buffalo Expo at Pearl Street Grill & Brewery on March 14 (3-6 pm) with a beer and spirits tasting, a market of local golf brands and a Players Championship Viewing Party. To enter the giveaway, click here. Tickets are $35 and include beer and spirits tastings from 10 craft brands, commemorative tasting glass, local golf market and more, and can be purchased here.

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).