The Lock Tender to Open in July in Lockport

The Lock Tender Bottle Shop & Tap Room will officially open in Lockport at 4 Lock St. this month. The space will feature indoor seating for around 100 patrons, as well as outdoor space for games and live music. The Lock Tender plans to offer 10 taps of New York state craft beer, wine, cider and mead, both on tap and bottles and cans to go. They will also have a limited food menu featuring local produce and vendors, in partnership with Lockport’s Terroir General Store. The grand opening will feature live music, Save Me A Slice Pizza pop-up and more. For more information, click here.

Big Ditch Dayburner Wins Silver, Announces Inflation Buster Menu

After winning gold in the Session IPA category last year at the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Big Ditch’s flagship session IPA, Dayburner, won silver in the same category this year. They bested Low & Hazy from North Carolina’s Appalachian Mountain Brewery, which took bronze. Nectaron Machine from Benchtop Brewing Company took home the gold. Breweries from throughout North America sent in more than 9,000 beers representing over 150 different styles to the 2024 U.S. Open Beer Championship. New categories included Breakfast Stout, Barrel-Aged Breakfast Stout, collaboration beers and non-alcoholic hop water. For a complete winners list, click here.

Big Ditch has also announced a new Summer Inflation Buster Menu, which features daily specials at relatively affordable prices. Monday is $0.75 wings (orders of 10), Tuesday is $10 pizzas, Wednesday is $12 burgers, Thursday is $5 drafts and $10 appetizers, Monday-Friday (11am-3pm) features a $10 sandwich/salad combo, and Sunday is $5 mimosas.

New Hofbrauhaus Lunch Hours, Crowler Specials

If you’re looking for some fresh German lagers for lunch, you’re in luck because Hofbrauhaus Buffalo is now open for lunch. They are serving lunch Monday – Thursday, 12-4pm with a new lunch menu consisting of soups, salads, sandwiches, like a Reuben, Beef on Weck, Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, and Smashburger, bratwursts, pretzels, desserts and more. Hofbrauhaus is also offering a new crowler special. You can get one 32oz. crowler of Hofbrauhaus beer to go for $10, 3 for $25 or 6 for $30.

11th Annual Bricks & Brews at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House

Enjoy craft brews, food trucks, and live music on the grounds of the Martin House estate at the 10th annual Bricks & Brews, which returns on July 12 (6pm). The event will feature beer sampling from 25 Western New York breweries and cideries, including Brazen Brewing, Pod City Beer Labs, Big Inlet Brewing, Wayland Brewing Company, and Donovan Orchards Estate Ciders, who are new to the even this year, live music from A Girl Named Genny, and food trucks. Proceeds from the event will go to support tours and programs at the Martin House. You can purchase tickets ($75 for non-members / $60 for members) at http://martinhouse.org. This is a rain or shine event.

Frequentem Brewing and Friends Day Party

Frequentem Brewing Buffalo is getting all of their friends together for a Day Party on July 21 (12pm). The event will feature a local tap takeover with beers from Resurgence Brewing, Smoldered Society, Community Beer Works, BriarBrothers Brewing, and Old First Ward Brewing, as well as Fat Bob’s Smokehouse food truck (2-4pm), live DJ spinning vinyl (2-5pm), beer pong, raffles, giveaways and more. The event will take place at Frequentem Brewing Buffalo at 225 Louisiana Street.

Hounds & Hops “Pick of the Litter” Variety 12 Packs

Hounds & Hops, a doggy day care and craft beer experience located at Seneca Tower, is now offering “Pick of the Litter” craft beer variety 12-packs, which features 2 lagers, 2 IPAs, 2 ciders, 2 sours, 2 dark beers and 1 non-beers (cider, seltzers, wine, etc.), as well as a beer for your dog and a Hounds & Hops travel folding dog bowl. A portion of proceeds from the sale of these Pick of the Litter packs will go to benefit local dog rescues and animal shelters. These mixed packs are available now at Hounds & Hops.

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).