Buffalo Beer Buzz: Golf Buffalo Expo, Woodcock Homebrew Session, Buffalo Home Show, Thawfest, St. Patrick’s Day, New Beers from Genesee, Big Ditch, Strangebird, Southern Tier

Genesee Ruby Red Kolsch is Back, New in 24oz. Cans

Genesee Brewing’s annual summer staple Rudy Red Kolsch is back for 2024 and new this year, the iconic brew will be available in 24oz. single cans. You’ll still be able to find the grapefruit kolsch in traditional 12oz. can 12 packs, but now you’ll be able to find the beer in bigger cans as well. Ruby Red Kolsch is a bright-golden ale boasting tart grapefruit flavors with a bready malt body and mild hop bitterness. Genesee Brew House Brewmaster Dean Jones created this summer brew for its German heritage and fun taste profile. Look for Ruby Red Kolsch wherever great craft beer is sold soon.

The Golf Buffalo Expo at Resurgence Brewing

On Mar. 17, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the Golf Buffalo Expo at Resurgence Brewing with a beer and bourbon tasting, outdoor cigar lounge, the Links Golf Mobile Simulator, a market of local golf brands and the final round of the Players Championship. Tickets are $30 (Designated Driver tickets are $10) and include unlimited beer tasting, bourbon/spirits tasting with Three Chord Bourbon and Hartman’s Distilling, commemorative tasting glass, Players Championship Watch Party, 10% off Resurgence food orders, opportunity to shop with local golf brands and vendors, access to a special outdoor Bandwagon Cigars Mobile Lounge, access to Links Golf Simulator, memorabilia auction and more. Purchase tickets at www.golf-buffalo.com.

Homebrew Sessions No. 1 at Woodcock Brothers Brewing

Woodcock Brothers Brewing in Wilson is hosting a homebrew day demonstration on Mar. 16 (9am), featuring samples of beers, Q&A with the brewers, and more. At 9am, they will begin their first small batch brew (5 gallons) and then, at 1pm, they will be featuring a second demonstration of another brew (5 gallons). They will be brewing an American Wheat Ale with tangerine and also a California Common (steam beer). The beer brewed will be available for sampling at the next brew session. Stay tuned for more dates to come. The event is free and open to the public.

Thawfest 2024 Coming to Buffalo Riverworks

Believe it or not, it will soon be time to raise a toast to the end of yet another long Buffalo winter and what better place to do so than at Thawfest at Buffalo Riverworks on April 26. Over 50 local breweries, cideries, distilleries, and wineries will be on hand to samples their newest and most popular brews. Participating vendors will be announced closer to the show. There will also be live music, craft vendors and more. A wider selection of rare and limited beers, as well as finger foods, will be available in the VIP section. Stay tuned to http://thawfest.com/ for more information.

97 Rock Home Show Happy Hour at Buffalo Home Show

This is the final weekend for the Buffalo Home Show at  the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center (Mar. 15-17), which means it’s the final chance to attend the 97 Rock Home Show Happy Hour. The event, hosted by Tom Ragan from Shredd & Ragan In The Morning, features craft beer from Big Ditch Brewing (Hayburner, No Punts Intended) and Hamburg Brewing (Irish Red, Blueberry Peach Cider), cider, wine, games, trivia and a special building contest, each Friday night (5-7pm), free for all attendees 21 and over. There will be craft beer tastings from local breweries, as well as Clarksburg Cider and Merritt Winery, Cabot Cheese samples and more. Use our special code BLEAGUE to get 50% your tickets. Go to BuffaloHomeShow.com, drop that code into the Promotional Code field and you’ll get tickets for $6.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at a Local Brewery

Our craft breweries take St. Patrick’s Day seriously and this year, anyone can be Irish for a day! On Mar. 16, all pints are $6 at BriarBrothers Brewing, including Molly’s Gate Irish Red and their green beer, Charmed, Sad Boys Brewing is hosting the Sad Lads St. Patrick’s Day Party, featuring two limited beers, trivia, discount for kilts ($1 off all drinks), games and more, the 2nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Steel Leaf Brewing will feature a vendor fair, traditional Irish food and drink, and the Luck Wheel, and Old Neighborhood Parade After Party at Resurgence Brewing ($25 ticket includes first drink and a buffet). On Mar. 17, Windy Brew will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with live music from Dave Hurlburt.

Big Ditch x Strangebird to Release Strangeburner IPA

Big Ditch Brewing and Rochester’s Strangebird have teamed up on Strangeburner IPA, a new blend version of Big Ditch’s flagship Hayburner IPA and Strangebird’s Gouden Boom Belgian Strong Ale, which will be released Mar. 15 at Big Ditch. The end result is a beer that is Belgian golden, elegantly tart, moderately bitter, and gently sweet, with a lingering sour. Strangeburner will be available in 4-packs to go and on draft.

Southern Tier Brewing, Perry’s Ice Cream Team on New Beer

Southern Tier Brewing Company has once again collaborated with Perry’s Ice Cream on Orange Twist, an 8.6% ABV Imperial Ale that features notes of orange sherbet swirled with Perry’s signature vanilla ice cream flavor. In addition to being on tap at Southern Tier’s five Taproom locations, the new craft brand will be arriving on shelves wherever great craft beer is sold. Orange Twist will be available at Southern Tier Buffalo on Mar. 15 with $5 pours.

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).