I consider myself blessed and truly lucky to do be able to do what I do – tell the stories of local craft beer and the people behind the glass – the people that make craft beer fun, my friends and colleagues. And because of that, I drink a lot of beer. And 2022 was a great year for it. From beer festivals to breweries to bottle shops to beers bars, I, we, imbibed a number of memorable brews these past 365 days and wanted to take the time highlight them. Because, how can we look forward without first looking back. I think that’s right at least, I saw it on a greeting card once.

If you’ve read any of my writing this year, you’ve more than likely been introduced to one or more of these beers in some form or fashion. Join me, along with the rest of the BBL – Scott, Mark and Jesse, as we take a look back at some of the best beers that found their way into our glasses in 2022.

Brian – “Thin Man Brewery Geography,  42 North Brewing A Little Spontaneous Coolship Blonde Ale, Eli Fish Brewing Double Barrel Steamy Grains Vaughan, Community Beer Works Summer Blockbuster IPA, Steel Leaf Brewing Company, Pumpkin Patch Ale, Ellicottville Brewing Tailgate Time IPA, Big Ditch Brewing x Pressure Drop Brewing Aqua Ponics, Belt Line Brewery Fruit Punch Brunch, Brickyard Brewing Top Shelf Cookies, Thin Man Golden Tear IPA, Soft Black Stars & Hellesfire Club Helles, Big Ditch Beer That Tastes Like Beer: Dark English Mild & Kolsch, Community Beer Works Double Interrobang IPA and Bourbon Barrel Aged The Snow Imperial Stout (2021), 1927 Brew House Grant St. Pilsner & North Atlantic NEIPA, 42 North Definitely Panic DIPA, Spotted Octopus Peach & Pepper Ale, BriarBrothers Public Secret & Yeah That’s…Citra”

Scott – “Big Ditch Brewing Bourbon Barrel Aged Double Barrel Aqueduct, Autark / BriarBrothers Brewing Auktobrofesty, Domhof Helles, Silver Lake Brewing Rauchbier, Mortalis Bourbon Barrel Aged Whams Above Whams Below”

Jesse – “Toppling Goliath Strawberry Shortcake Fandango, Hamburg Brewing Erie County Fair Beer Dark Mild (for obvious reasons), BriarBrothers Brewing Strawberry Banana Pineapple Mango Punch Bowl, Community Beer Works The Snow, Pressure Drop Space Monkey Episode 7, Other Half Poetry Snaps, Big Ditch Aardvarks vs. Anteaters New England IPA, Devil Chicken IPA, Thin Man Golden Tears, Corduroy Suit, Hellesfire Club”

Mark – “Thin Man Leap Bock, Big Ditch Beer That Tastes Like Beer: Dark English Mild, CBW Small Batch: Grisette, Resurgence Brewing Tragically Hip IPA series, Old First Ward Brewing Gene’s Lager”

Here’s to another great year of craft beer in 2023.

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).