As I sit here writing this, an article I’ve written a number of times in the past, while drinking a 12 Gates Brewing Anastasis Double New England IPA, I can’t help but feel thankful. Thankful for the opportunity to be a part of such a great beer scene as a mere keyboard warrior; thankful to be able to tell the stories of these people and these beers; just…thankful. As we put another Buffalo Beer Week to bed, a number of things are swirling through my head, I can’t help but feel anything but sincerely thankful, humbled and appreciative.

It’s that word – appreciative – that sticks out to me most of all. I love this beer scene. I love the people in it. And I’m truly appreciative of its supporters, that’d be all of you who are taking a few minutes to read the words I’ve put to paper. It’s because of you that our beer scene has grown to become a tourist destination on a national and international level with over 30 breweries, cideries and wineries. If you attended one of this year’s many Beer Week events, thank you. If you drank something local this year, thank you. On behalf of myself, the Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association, the Buffalo Beer League, thank you.

As I said last year, this is your last chance to dance, so take a look at what’s on tap for today, then go out and raise a pint to the end of yet another Buffalo Beer Week. We’ll see you all next year. The 2020 edition of Buffalo Beer Week takes place September 11-19, so save those dates my friends.

The second annual Borderland Music + Arts Festival, a two-day music and arts festival featuring over 22 bands, local culture, tastemakers, artisans and food at Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora, continues today with a bigger emphasis on the local craft beer community, with a 100% craft beer lineup. The fest will also host a panel discussion on the local beer scene featuring all local beer experts, samplings from local breweries and even a live brew that will happen onsite, held in conjunction with the Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association. Free beer samplings from 12-3pm today. 12 Gates, West Shore, Community Beer Works, Brickyard Brewing, Collective Arts and Five &20 will be on hand to sample beer.

Buffalo Beer Week ends with the Happy Ending Taproom Brunches, taking place at taprooms around the area, including 42 North, Belt Line, Brickyard Brewing and New York Beer Project, for the closeout event of Beer Week.

Elsewhere during Buffalo Beer Week, as has become custom, Buffalo Brewing Company will be open every single day. Pearl Street (seasonal beers with Beer Week booklet) and Lafayette Brewing are offering $3.50 pints all Beer Week long, and score $2 off pints at Pizza Plant (both locations) and $4 pints at Riverworks Brewing with coupons you can find in the official Beer Week book. Also, Blackbird Cider Works have daily specials, Hamm & Fattey’s and Fattey Beer Co. are running select $3 pint specials (check Buffalobeerweek.com for more details) and Five & 20 will be donating a portion of the proceeds from their specially priced Beer of the Month to Habitat for Humanity during the entire course of Buffalo Beer Week.

If you’re drinking something local during Buffalo Beer Week, post it on social media and tag the BBL – @Buffalobeerleague (Instagram), @Buffbeerleague (Twitter) and @Thebuffalobeerleague (Facebook). Also, use the hashtag #Buffalobeerweek.

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 ‘ten years of craft beer.’ For more information, please visit Buffaloniagarabrewersassociation.org and Facebook.com/BuffaloNiagaraBrewersAssociation.

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 for Step Out Buffalo. 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) and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).