CollaBEERation Fest 3.0 Returns to The Powerhouse
Members of the Buffalo Beer Geeks have once again teamed up with a number of Western New York breweries, cideries and meaderies for the CollaBEERation Festival, which features experimental, small batch creations from 36 breweries, 3 cideries, 2 meaderies and more that the Buffalo Beer Geeks group and brewers created specifically for this event. Among the participants are Brickyard Brewing, Big Ditch Brewing, Thin Man Brewery, Strangebird, Brewery Ardennes and more. Along with other NYS breweries pouring beers, there will be craft vendors, food trucks and more. CollaBEERation 3.0 will take place March 25 (1pm) at the Powerhouse. General admission tickets are $65 and are on sale here.
Brickyard Brewing to Hold 6th Annual 1812 Night, Release New IPA
Brickyard Brewing will host their sixth annual 1812 Night on March 10 (5pm), a candlelit night full of old world beer, food, music, and merrymaking. The event will feature historical interpreters from Fort Niagara, including special guest Jordan Smith, who will offer music and insight from the Indigenous American perspective, cask ales, including Cock of the Walk, a traditional brown ale conditioned on maple syrup, and Cunning Use of Flags, an English IPA conditioned on honey, and a traditional menu. The event is free and seating is first come, first serve.
The Lewiston brewery is also releasing Under the Bridge West Coast IPA on March 10 on draft and in 16oz. cans. Brewed with El Dorado, Chinook and Amarillo hops, Under the Bridge is 7.2% and features big resinous notes of mandarin, grapefruit and sweet tropical fruit while having a classic IPA finish.
Buffalo Bisons Offering New Craft Beer Game Ticket Pack
Like craft beer? Planning to catch a Bisons game this season? If you answered yes, then the Southern Tier Craft Beer Pack is for you. This ticket pack features 2 undated game tickets and 4 craft beer vouchers, for $53. Sahlen’s Field regularly features a number of local craft beer options from the likes of Resurgence Brewing, Southern Tier Brewing, Hamburg Brewing, Big Ditch Brewing and more. You can purchase your Craft Beer Pack here. The Bisons kick off their 2023 season on March 31 against the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees.
Pizza Plant Transit to Host Imperial March of Stouts
On Sunday, March 12 (12pm), Pizza Plant Transit will host a number of heavy-hitting stouts for their inaugural Imperial March of Stouts. The event will feature Founders KBS (2018, 2019) and CBS (2019), Aslin Moonshield (2019), Perennial Abraxas (2021), Omnipollo In Plenty (2020), Founder KBS Fudge (2019), Goose Island Bourbon County (2019, 2021, 2022), De Molen Heaven and Hell, Grimm Onement (Basil Hayden), Lagunitas High Westified (2017), Westbrook Mexican Cake (2019) and more. Pizza Plant will also tap their own Pod City Beer Labs Pandemonic for the event. Flights will be available. Anyone who wears Star Wars gear will receive $5 off a flight.
Big Ditch Brewing Introduces Innovation Thursdays
This week, Big Ditch Brewing is launching Innovation Thursdays at the taproom, where they will debut a new chicken wing flavor and small batch beer each week. “We’re constantly trying new things in both our brewery and our kitchen, so we decided it’s time to share some of these creations with you!” the brewery said. “Each week we’ll have a brand new small batch beer and a brand new wing flavor that will be available for one day only.” This Thursday, March 9, the brewery will release a Cryo-hopped Hazy IPA and Sunkist Orange hot wings. Look for new flavors each week moving forward.
RationAles Now Open On Main Street in Williamsville
The craft beer scene in Williamsville continues to grow as RationAles, a new restaurant and craft beer bar, is now open at 5444 Main Street. The new space features ‘elevated pub food’ such as hot sandwiches, fresh-cooked meats, house made soups and salads and sharable plates, along with a heavy focus on local craft beer flowing from 20 taps, as well as wine options. RationAles features bar and table seating for 90 inside and another 50-100 outside on their two-story patio. Customers will have the option of ordering at the bar, from their tables through a server, or from their tables by scanning a QR code. They will be open Monday & Tuesday (kitchen: 4pm – 9pm, bar: until 11pm) and Wednesday – Sunday (kitchen: 11am – 9pm, bar: until 11pm).
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 Twitter (@buffbeerleague), Instagram (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).
