Lafayette Brewing Company to Reopen June 2 

Lafayette Brewing Company will officially reopen to the public on June 2. The brewery plans to reopen with a new food and cocktail menu, as well as a number of new beers. New Head Brewer Jason Dunshie, who replaces Chris Herr, explains their new beer lineup includes Louise Blonde Ale, Bethune American Brown, Still A Rockstar Sour (Raspberry, Blackberry, Pink Guava), Good News NEIPA, Curfew Lifted Session IPA, Industrial Sunset IPA and Ctl+Alt+Delete Wheat.

New Hazy IPA coming to Community Beer Works

Community Beer Works are releasing a new hazy IPA and are bringing back a favorite on May 21 (3pm). Broken Hammer IPA is double dry-hopped with Mosaic, Amarillo, and Cascade Cryo hops for aromas of soft tropical citrus and passion fruit. Simple is a double dry-hopped sour ale with a clean, lemon-like acidity, notes of tropical fruit, citrus and ripe mango flavors and aromas. Pre-order at www.communitybeerworks.com.

First Line, 12 Gates to Release Summer-Ready Sour

First Line Brewing and 12 Gates Brewing have teamed up on Sun Kissed, a 4.5% strawberry lemonade sour, that will make for the perfect summer sipper. The beer will be released in 6-pack cans at 12pm at 12 Gates on May 22.

Shot and a Chaser Vaccine Program Continues at More Breweries

Big Ditch Brewing and 12 Gates are the latest breweries to join Erie County’s Shot and a Chaser program, which gives free beer to those who receive a COVID vaccine dose. The Erie County COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic will be on-site at 12 Gates May 20 (2-8pm) and you’ll receive a free pint glass to take home and a beer voucher. Pre-registration link: bit.ly/erievax. The clinic heads to Big Ditch on May 25 (11am – 7pm), where you will receive a gift card and a glass. To register, click http://bit.ly/0525bigditch.

Hamburg Brewing Plans Double Can Release

There will be a double release this weekend at Hamburg Brewing with the return of Juice Box Boy, a DDH IPA with vanilla, mango, tangerine & passion fruit, and the debut of Juice Box Girl, a sour with pink guava, papaya and blackberry. The beer will be available at the brewery on May 21 (12pm), on tap and in 16oz 4-packs, and wherever great beer is sold afterwards.

Thin Man to Release Stout, Pilsner This Weekend

Thin Man Brewery are bringing back an old friend in Nib Nut, a 14.4% barrel aged imperial stout with coconut and cocoa nibs, on May 21. This beer is aged in Blanton’s bourbon barrels for flavors of milk chocolate, coconut, toasted nuts, warming spices, dark honey and vanilla. The brewery will also release Che Notte! Italian Style Pilsner, which features aromas of sourdough bread and candied ginger with flavors of pear, lemon zest and fresh bread. Preorder through Oznr app.

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).