Welcome to Buffalo Beer Geeks 11th Anniversary, a weeks-long celebration of all things craft beer, filled with tap takeovers, happy hours, bottle shares, a mini-beer festival and, of course, the Buffalo Bills. The celebration runs September 7 – 23, climaxing with a perennial favorite – Mini-Blue Monk Festival at Cole’s on Elmwood.

New to the Buffalo Beer Geeks? This online community has become a gathering place for local beer aficionados, both novice and expert, to share their love for craft beer, swap recommendations, and foster camaraderie. The group is more than just a virtual gathering of beer enthusiasts; it’s a testament to the power of shared passion.

Things get under way on Sept. 7 at the BBG Anniversary Celebration Opening Gala at The Yelling Goat in Lancaster. Tickets are $25 and include first beer, door prizes, raffles and appetizers. From there, Rochester’s Strangebird Brewing will take over the taps at Depew’s Nickel City Brewz Friday night (6-10pm, free).

On September 9, the Beer Keep is turning two and they are celebrating all day long, starting at 11am. There will be special keg tappings throughout the day, free sample pours from specialty bottles every hour starting at noon, the 2nd Annual Twisted Tea Shotgun Competition, $2 corn dogs and beer shots, limited edition merchandise, late night DJ set from DJ Lisa Lux (10pm), raffle giveaway for a 9 liter bottle of Brasserie St-Feuillien Triple (free entry with every draft purchased), and more. The event is free and open to the public.

“The Buffalo Beer Geeks Anniversary Celebration is a collection of events to offer people who like fermented beverages a chance to try something or somewhere new to discover in Western New York,” BBG moderator and anniversary celebration organizer Chris St. Mary said. “Some of these places are well known and some are not, but this gives the general population a chance to discover their new “favorite.” I worked on this for a number of months to try and set up a virtual cornucopia of events and locations to try and show what is out there to enjoy in WNY.”

After taking Sunday off, things ramp back with the Buffalo Bills season opener on Monday, September 11. Pick your favorite local watering hole to watch the Bills destroy the New York Jets on Monday Night Football (8:30pm). The Beer Geeks are taking over Lewiston’s Brewed and Bottled on Tuesday, Sept. 12 with staff can selections (no opening fees), 2024 WNY Trail Pass giveaways (purchase of 6-pack or 2 pints gains entry) and special Mortalis Brewing IPA tappings. Elsewhere, Beer Geeks Happy Hour comes to Other Half Brewing Buffalo on Thursday, Sept. 14 (4:30pm), Batavia’s Eli Fish Brewing comes to Larkin’s Magic Bear Beer Cellar with special releases and a bottle share (5pm), Fatty Beer Company in Hamburg hosts a Founders Oktoberfest Party on Friday, Sept. 15 (6pm), and Moor Pat hosts a Canadian Invasion Tap Takeover with Blood Brothers and Godspeed from Toronto, along with Counterpart from Niagara on Sept. 16 (12pm).

“It’s the 11 year anniversary of the Buffalo Beer Geeks and we discussed doing something more significant than a one-off event,” Paul Marko, Buffalo Beer Geeks co-founder, says. “Plus, with there being so many great bottle shops in the area, we felt that the retailers needed some love from us. There are dozens of events / festivals for our brewery friends to shine, so we decided to shift the focus a bit.”

Then, finally, last, but certainly not least, the Buffalo Beer Geeks 11th Anniversary Celebration is headlined by the Mini-Blue Monk Festival on Sept. 23 at Cole’s Elmwood. Paul Marko and former Blue Monk owner Mike Shatzel will lead a curated share of limited and hard to find beers, many of which would have graced the taps and cooler of the legendary Elmwood bar. Wear your favor Blue Monk gear and share stories of all the time you sept at the Monk.

As it continues to grow and evolve, the Buffalo Beer Geeks stand as a shining example of how social media can bring people together, foster connections, and celebrate the art of craft brewing. Whether you’re a seasoned beer geek or just beginning your journey, this group is a must-join for anyone looking to explore the world of beer in Buffalo and beyond.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/buffalobeergeeks.