Well, here we go again. Buffalo Beer Week is back for its ninth year and we’re back in the cut pouring over the dozens and dozens of events planned each day. Over the course of these next 10 days, we will be highlighting all of the events you need to attend, all of the beer you should have in your glass and all of the bands you should see live.
First and foremost, congratulations are in order for 42 North Brewing on taking home their third consecutive title at the Brewers Shuffleboard Tournament last night at Big Ditch. Now that that is out of the way, let’s get onto the good stuff.
The Buffalo Beer Week Opening Gala at Flying Bison Brewing, which is ticketed this year, will feature beers from all Western New York breweries, as well as food trucks and live music. Tickets are $20 at the door and include a special Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association tasting glass as well as tasting tickets. The Leroy Townes Band and the Panfil Family Bluegrass Band will provide live music and food comes courtesy of Lloyd’s and Lomo Lomo food trucks. 5-9pm.
Rum Raisin Belgian Dubbel, New York Beer Project’s latest collaboration with Perry’s Ice Cream, hits taps at NYBP. This old-time favorite, Rum Raisin, is a perfect flavor profile for a Belgian Dubbel, a style that originated in the Middle Ages. $1 from every pint sold at NYBP Lockport goes to Oishei Children’s Hospital, so #makeadifference while enjoying this classic flavor. They also released a new Papaya Gose last night, so look for that on tap as well. 5pm.
There’s plenty of live music to catch tonight, including Ade Adu at Four Mile Brewing (6pm), Jessika and the Feels at Hamburg Brewing (7pm), Bob Schiele at 12 Gates Brewing (8pm), Rebel Posse at Eli Fish Brewing (9pm), Brendan & the Strangest Ways (with special guest Timothy Alice) at Thin Man (10pm) and Hundred Plus Club at Mr. Goodbar (8pm).
Happy Hour at Gordon Biersch brings $3 16oz. drafts from 4-7pm and a number of tastings are taking place as well, including Big Ditch at Wegmans (Amherst St) (4-6pm), Ellicottville Brewing at Consumer’s Beverages Abbott Road location (4:30-6:30pm) and Community Beer Works at Premier Gourmet (5-7pm).
Elsewhere during Buffalo Beer Week, as has become customary, Buffalo Brewing Company will be open every day and even have a new projection screen to watch Bills games on Sundays. Pearl Street and Lafayette Brewing are offering $3.50 pints all Beer Week long, and score $2 off pints at Pizza Plant and $4 pints at Riverworks Brewing with coupons you can find in the official Beer Week book.
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. To see all the events that are happening over the next 10 days and to read the official Buffalo Beer Week book, visit http://www.buffalobeerweek.com. The theme this year is ‘beer education.’ For more information, please visit Buffaloniagarabrewersassociation.org and Facebook.com/BuffaloNiagaraBrewersAssociation.
These next 10 days are about beer yes, but above all else, drink responsibly and be safe. If you need a ride home, try Lyft, Uber or Liberty Cab’s Ride Local. There are plenty of options to both drink and get home responsibly.
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. If you have beer news that should be included in the Beer Buzz, Brian can be reached at buffalobeerleague@aol.com, on Twitter (@buffbeerleague), Instagram (@buffalobeerleague), Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague) and www.buffalobeerleague.com.