Buffalo Beer Buzz: Eli Fish Tours, Magic Bear Sour Beer Class, Barrel Jam, Batavia Brew Fest, Brewer’s Invitational

Eli Fish Brewing Now Offering Brewery Tours

Each Saturday, Eli Fish Brewery head brewer Adam Burnett will lead a personalized tour of their facility in Batavia. This 30-minute experience promises a deep dive into the art and science of brewing. During the tour, Burnett talks beer history and beer making, from the selection of premium ingredients to the dedication that defines each batch, and leads tour-goers through a guided tasting of Eli Fish beers. Tours of Eli Fish Brewing are $15 and take place Saturdays at noon. Once ticket is purchased you will be given a taster glass and brought back to the brewery door. You can register here.

Sour Power Class at Magic Bear Beer Cellar

Want to learn more about sour beer? Grab a seat to Magic Bear Beer Cellar’s Sour Power educational class on January 24 (6:30pm). Sample and learn about a selection of sour-style beers, including everything from traditional funky farmhouse sours to the smoothies. Ticket includes beer samples, snack board (includes meats & cheeses), and guided tasting (approximately one (1) hour long). This is a communal class and all guests will be seated together in our semi-private area. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased here.

5^th Annual Batavia Brew Fest at Batavia Downs

The 5th annual Batavia Brew Fest, Saturday, February 17 (4:30-7pm), will take place in the Park Place Event Center at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel. Early Access tickets are on sale until January 30 for $25 and General Admission tickets are $30 (each ticket includes a $15 Free Play voucher). Sample delicious beverages from a wide variety of local breweries, including Genesee Brewery, Rohrbach Brewing, Big Ditch, Hamburg Brewing, Southern Tier Brewing, Resurgence Brewing, and more, learn more about local brews and expand your palette. Hotel packages ($209, includes 1 night stay & 2 tickets) are available. You can purchase tickets here.

Beer List Announced for Barrel Jam IV at 42 North

42 North Brewing has the tentative beer list for this year’s Barrel Jam, set to take place Saturday, January 27. 42 North will tap Krupnik Barrel Aged Quad, Bourbon Barrel Aged Ben Nevis Scotch Ale and more, Community Beer Works will have Ring Modular Doppelbock and Bourbon Barrel Aged The Snow, and Ellicottville Brewing will have St. Jacob’s Imperial Barrel Aged Stout, Barrel Aged French Connection Saison and Barrel Aged Maple Blueberry Pancake. The line-up also includes Wild East, Eli Fish, Prison City, Meier’s Creek, Jack’s Abby, Brewery Ardennes, Clarksburg Cider, K2 Brothers, and Boulevard Brewing, as well as guest pours from Aurora Brew Works, 1911 Cider, Springdale and Buffalo Distilling. Tickets include three hours of beer tasting (4 hours for VIP), live music, and complimentary tasting glass. Tickets can be purchased here.

Participating Breweries Announced for Brewer’s Invitational

The participating brewery/cidery list for the 2024 Brewers Invitational, February 18 (2-5pm) at New York Beer Project, has been announced and this year the event is bigger than ever, featuring Froth, Brazen, Prosper Brewing, Big Ditch, Riverworks Brewing, 42 North, Old First Ward, Eli Fish, Britesmith Brewing, Rusty Nickel, Community Beer Works, Flying Bison, Pressure Drop, Woodcock Brothers, Donovan Orchards, Steal Leaf Brewing, One Eyed Cat Brewing, Spotted Octopus Brewing, Sad Boys Brewing, BriarBrothers Brewing, OSB Ciderworks, Shalooby Loofer, Hammer and Crown, Buffalo Olde Brewing, The Ridge at West Seneca, Marquee Brewing, Resurgence, Buffalo Brewing Company, Griffin Pub & Brewery, Hofbrauhaus, Ellicottville, Wandering Gypsy, Wayland Brewing, and Pod City Beer Labs. For $55.20 (including taxes and fees), you will receive a commemorative glass, food gift card, and three hours of unlimited sampling. Grab tickets 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 Twitter (@buffbeerleague), Instagram (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).