WNY Beer Week to Feature Special Beer Releases, Events

WNY Beer Week, which highlights the quality, diversity, and economic impact of local craft beer, returns September 23 – 30, and will feature a number of special beer releases, specials and events. Some new beers include Pressure Drop I’m A Local Grapefruit IPA, Big Ditch Beer Week Barleywine, Windy Brew Krupnik Barrel-Aged Blonde Stout, Rusty Nickel Apple Fritter Amber and Spotted Octopus Jim Murphy’s Wet Hopped Irish Red. Special events include a Brewer’s Cornhole Tournament at The Ridge West Seneca (Sept. 23), Ask The Brewer night at Brewed and Bottled (Sept. 25), a Q&A discussion featuring brewers and owners from Big Ditch, Hofbräuhaus, Pressure Drop, and brewery-in-planning Hammer & Crown, and more. Find more new beers, events, and specials at wnybeerweek.com.

Steel Leaf Brewing Extends Special Moe’s Pop-Up Tavern

Moe’s Pop Up has extended their stay at Steel Leaf Brewing due to popular demand. The iconic tavern from The Simpsons will now be in town September 23. The extended dates are Wednesday through Friday 5pm until 9pm, Saturday 12pm until 3pm, and a special “Trivia and Toasting Moe” Night on Sept. 23, 4pm until 9pm, which includes Simpsons trivia with prizes and the “Electric Marge” cocktail. This is a ticketed event and limited and timed tickets can be purchased online. Ticket packages start at $39 and include food, all photo ops, and a non-alcoholic drink. Costumes are encouraged. For more information, visit https://moespopup.com.

Community Beer Works Pig Roast, Lorem Ipsum Beer Release

As part of WNY Beer Week, Community Beer Works will release a new beer, Lorem Ipsum, an unfiltered, all-malt lager, on September 24 (1pm). The beer release event will feature a full pig roast, and the brewery will also be showing the Buffalo Bills – Washington Commanders game at 1pm. Lorem Ipsum will be available on draft and in limited quantity 4-pack 16oz. cans at the brewery.

Brickyard Brewing Presents Lewiston Harvest & Hops Festival

The Lewiston Harvest & Hops Festival, which takes place on September 23-24, features an artisan farmers market and food vendors set up outside on Fifth Street. The Tim Britt Band will perform at Brickyard Brewing (1-4pm) on Saturday, Farmer Tom Walsh will perform both days and Shenandoah Acres will have a petting zoo both days as well. Brickyard Brewing teamed up with Old First Ward Brewing, Wandering Gypsy Brewing and Brewed & Bottled on Fall Morning Blonde Ale, a new beer which will be available at the festival, and in different cask variations at each of the participating collaborators.

First Ever Okto-Purr-Fest at One-Eyed Cat Brewing

One-Eyed Cat Brewing are putting their own spin on Oktoberfest with the first annual Okto-Purr-Fest, on Sept. 23 (2pm), which will feature the release of two Oktoberfest beers, a Marzen and a Festbier, named Hans and Franz. The former is a marzen with sweet malt notes and a smooth, crisp finish, while the latter is a clean and balanced Festbier with notes of doughy bread and sweet malt. A Purr-fect Fit Animal Rescue will be on hand with adoptable cats, basket raffles and a 50/50 raffle, Pork Bellies BBQ will have their full BBQ menu available, as well as some German specialties, and live music will be provided by Molly Conrad. The event is free and open to the public.

Pumkingfest Comes to Southern Tier Brewing Buffalo

On Sept. 23, Southern Tier Brewing Buffalo will celebrate all things Pumking at Pumkingfest (12pm). The event will feature live music from Soul Committee (1-4pm) and Iron Eyes (6-9pm), limited edition Pumkingfest merch with embroidered patches (free Pumking character patches for the first 100 guests), games such as ministicks, football throw games, and more, and a special Pumking Flight, which features 5oz. pours of Pumking, Warlock, Caramel Pumking, Harvest Autumn IPA and a shot of Pumking Whiskey for $20. The first 100 guests to purchase a Caramel Pumking will also receive a limited-edition tap sticker. The event is free and open to the public.

Fall Fiasco Event, Beer Release at BriarBrothers Brewing

BriarBrothers Brewing are welcoming autumn with the Fall Fiasco, featuring live music by the Jugless Jug Band and a seasonal artisan market, on Sept. 23 (1pm). The event will also serve as a backdrop for the release of AuktoBrofest, a collaboration with Autark Brewhouse. This marzen is bready and biscuity with a touch of sweet malt balanced by herbal hops and a crisp finish. They will also debut a special edition 18oz. beer stein that features the BriarBrothers and Autark Octoberfest logos. It will be available for purchase at both locations for $18, which includes a fill of AuktoBrofest and can be brought to either location throughout the season for a refill in the larger mug. Doors open at noon.

11th Anniversary Mini-Fest (Blue Monk) Celebration at Cole’s

Remember the Blue Monk? If you’re a craft drinker of a certain age, of course you do. On Sept. 23, as part of the Buffalo Beer Geeks 11th Anniversary Celebration Week, head down to Coles and share stories of your favorite times at the Monk. Beer Geeks co-founder Paul Marko, along with Blue Monk/Coles owner Mike Shatzel, will curate a selection of hard-to-find beers, including DeRanke XX Bitter, De la Senne Jambe du Bois, Dieu du Ceil Peche Mortel, Ritterguts Gose, Garden Path Fermentation The Strong Fruit Ale, meads from Illumination Meadery and beers from 3 Sons, as well as other cellared bottles and surprises. For tickets, message Marko on Facebook or Venmo $30 (per person) to @Paul-Marko-1.

 

Windy Brew, Eli Fish to Release Pair of Collaborations

On Sept. 22 (4pm), Eli Fish Brewing and Windy Brew are teaming up to drop a pair of new barrel aged beers. The first release is Cold Hearted Blonde, a coffee stout aged in a Buffalo Distilling Krupnik barrel (notes of balanced honey and coffee with a smooth finish), and the second collab beer is Friends In Oak, a cream ale aged in a neutral oak cask with bacteria for over two years. The beer, brewed and released in honor of Windy Brew opening their second location in Batavia, was aged on aged on kiwi and orange. Both beers will be available at Eli Fish, as well as Windy Brew’s locations in Batavia and Strykersville.

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).