Tickets Remain for CollaBEERation Fest 2.0 at the Powerhouse

Members of the Buffalo Beer Geeks have teamed up with a number of Western New York breweries, cideries and meaderies for the CollaBEERation Festival, which will feature small batch creations from 34 breweries, 3 cideries, 2 meaderies and more that the Buffalo Beer Geeks group and breweries created specifically for this event. Among the participants are Belt Line Brewery, Big Ditch Brewing, Fifth Frame, Pantomime Mixtures and more. Along with other NYS breweries pouring beers, there will be vendors, food trucks and more. CollaBEERation 2.0 will take place February 20 (1-5pm). Limited general admission tickets ($55) remain for the event.

New Lilly Belle Mead Benefits Pennsylvania’s Upper Reach Meadery

Lilly Belle is lending a helping hand to fellow meadery Upper Reach of Perkasie, Pennsylvania, who lost all of their production equipment and product during Hurricane Ida and is not receiving any insurance benefits, by donating all proceeds from the sales of their new plum spiced mead aged in Black Button Bourbon Barrels, which was brewed in collaboration with Upper Reach owner Adam Crockett. The mead is available at Lilly Belle’s taproom in Lancaster and can purchased online. There is also a GoFundMe page for Upper Reach Meadery set up. 4-packs retail for $24.

42 North Brewing Taps 2 New Pilot Batches

Two new limited pilot batch brews are available right now on draft at 42 North Brewing. Pilot Brewberry Rhubarb, a 4.5% fruited gose featuring blueberry, rhubarb, graham cracker, a touch of vanilla and lactose for slightly tart, sweet and juicy notes, and Pilot Double IPA, an 8.5% DIPA brewed with Tango, Nectaron and Mosaic hops. Both beers are on tap now.

Thin Man Brewery to Release New Irish Stout, Belgian Saison

Thin Man is looking ahead to spring with their latest releases, Local Irish Stout, a collaboration with Syracuse’s Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub, and Captain Badass Belgian Saison. Local Irish is brewed with coffee and lactose lending notes of dark roast and vanilla and is inspired by a traditional Irish Coffee, and Captain Badass Belgian Saison is floral with notes of strawberry and bubblegum; it’s light, refreshing and dry with a solid bitterness. Both beers are available at all taprooms on February 18 on draft and in cans.

Southern Tier Brewing Drops New Double IPA Mixed Pack, 2X Haze

Southern Tier are upping their 2X Series with the release of The 2X Factor Double IPA Mixed Pack, which features cans of STBC’s traditional 2XIPA, 2XHAZE, brewed with Citra and Mosaic hops, 2XCITRUS, brewed with Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, Citra and CTZ hops for notes of orange, citrus and grapefruit, and 2XPERIMENTAL, brewed with Experimental hop HBC 735 for notes of lemon, citrus pine and melon. The 2X Factor Double IPA Mixed Pack will be available wherever great beer is sold soon. 2XHAZE will also be available on draft at Southern Tier in Lakewood.

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).