Well, we’ve made it to the second day of Buffalo Beer Week. It’s our hope that everyone made it here with us at least. Anyways, there’s a plethora of events to get to, so let’s get to it.
Before you make your way over to the Ballpark Brewbash, head down and dunk Willard Brooks at Old First Ward Brewing/Gene McCarthy’s. There’s a good chance that if you know Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association President Willard Brooks, or have ever met him, you’ve envisioned dunking him in water at one point or another. Well now you have your chance. From 12pm-2pm, try your hand at dunking Brooks at the Willard Brooks Dunkfest, and while you’re waiting in line to knock Brooks into the dunk tank, you can enjoy two dozen steamed clams, corn and a pint for $20. Proceeds from the event go to a good cause – the OFW Community Center.
The 2016 Ballpark Brew Bash then takes place at Coca Cola Field (GA admission, $25, 4-7pm). The event, sponsored by Consumers Beverages, features over 50 breweries from across the globe, including Allagash, Firestone Walker, Flying Monkeys and Stone, local favorites like Resurgence, 12 Gates Brewing and Pearl Street and New York institutions like Genesee, Southern Tier and Ommegang. Tickets are available at Consumer’s Beverages, the Buffalo Bisons ticket office and online at Tickets.com. For more details, visit www.ballparkbrewbash.com.
Southern Tier Brewing Company will hold the first ever Pumking Festival in honor of the annually anticipated imperial pumpkin beer. The event, which goes down from 12pm-6pm on the grounds of Southern Tier in Lakewood, will play host to a number of special features built around the fall beer favorite, including Pumking & Warlock beer floats and Pumking & Warlock brewery exclusive variants. There will also gourd bowling, seasonally inspired cuisine, live music from the Keith Shuskie Band and last, but not least, the return of Rum Barrel Aged Pumking. Buy it at the Pumking Fest first!
12 Gates Brewing will debut their Ales for ALS Double IPA, which features Cascade, Centennial and Columbus hops. Proceeds will benefit ALS education and research.
Woodcock Brothers’ Cocktoberfest is an all-day event, featuring live traditional German music from German American Music Association (2-5pm) and The Auslanders (6-10pm), authentic style German food specials, like House-made beer bratwurst with kraut and potato pancake, Weiner schnitzel with braised red cabbage and potato pancake and Sourbraten with spatzle and braised red cabbage. Cocktoberfest Lager will be featured on draft as will several other house beers.
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.
