As Milhouse Van Houten once famously said, ‘we’re through the looking glass here people.’ And so we are, as today is finally the day – the official kickoff to the 2016 Buffalo Beer Week. And there are plenty, and we mean PLENTY, of things to do today.
First off, let us extend a massive thank you to Big Ditch Brewing for getting things underway last night at the 2nd Annual Brewers Shuffleboard Tournament. The team from 42 North won the trophy this year FYI, but the highlight of the night was the debut of the Wise PA, a fantastic memorial beer for the late Kevin Wise, a beer that he would have surely been proud of. It features big juicy citrus, potent hops and fragrant tropical fruits. You need to have this beer.
But anyways, we digress. On to tonight.
Come out and celebrate the official kick-off to Buffalo Beer Week at an intimate Meet the Brewer night at the Adam Mickiewicz Library & Dramatic Circle beginning at 5pm. Over 15 of your favorite WNY breweries will be on hand serving their latest offerings, including 12 Gates, 42 North, Big Ditch, Blackbird Cider Works, Chateau Buffalo Cider, Community Beer Works, Ellicottville Brewing, Flying Bison, Four Mile Brewing, Old First Ward Brewing, Gordon Biersch, Hamburg Brewing, Pearl Street, Resurgence Brewing, Rusty Nickel, Southern Tier Brewing and Woodcock Brothers, plus award-winning a-la-carte pierogi will also be available. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit Torn Space Theater. There is no cover for the event.
New York Beer Project is releasing their latest beer, a fresh wet-hopped ale named Beer Project Buffalo Ale, which is only available at the brewery. And speaking of beer releases, 42 North will have a special cask tapping at 7pm and Gordon Biersch will have a firkin of their Belgian IPA with Passionfruit.
The WNY Fall Beer Festival is going down at Woodcock Brother Brewing, which features 14 different fall seasonal brews from 13 local breweries and two local ciders. From 6-11pm, go out and drink your fill of Hamburg – Oktoberfest, 4 Mile – Wet Hop Ale, Southern Tier – Warlock, 12 Gates – Cherry Vanilla Wheat, Old First Ward – Coffee Oatmeal, Resurgence – Autumn Saison, Ellicottville – Fall Festival, NYBP – Wee Heavy, Flying Bison – Bisonfest, Big Ditch – Cinnamon Apple, Woodcock Bros – Cocktoberfest and Wet Hop IPA (IPA w/ WNY Chinook hops), Barker Brewing – German Feist Bier, Leonard Oaks Estate Winery – Steam Punk Cider and Blackbird Cider Works – Buffalo Bluegrass Bourbon Barrel Aged 8% Cider.
And finally, another e vent to sink your teeth into is the Calling Copenhagen Tap Takeover at Aurora Brew Works, featuring nothing but Copenhagen beers, including many offerings from Mikkeller, To OL, Beer Here and Amager. Grab more info here.
Keep it locked to www.buffalobeerweek.com for more daily blog posts regarding all of the beers, all of the events and all of the happenings going on throughout Buffalo Beer Week.
Brian Campbell is a co-founder/Brand Manager of the BNBA’s enthusiast arm, Buffalo Beer League, and writes the weekly Buffalo Beer Buzz column for The Public. He can be reached at buffalobeerleague@aol.com.
