After taking a year off, the Buffalo Niagara Brewers Invitational is making a triumphant return in 2018, with the second iteration of the intimate festival shaping up to be both bigger and better than the first. The event will take place Saturday, February 17 at New York Beer Project (3-7pm General Admission, 2-7pm for Buffalo Beer League members).

The goal of the Brewers Invitational is to bring together the very best the Buffalo-Niagara region has to offer via dozens and dozens of rare, one-off beers you won’t find anywhere else, many of which were brewed specifically for the BNBI. Representatives from each brewery will also be on hand to answer all of your pertinent beer questions.

This unique event will feature beer from 12 Gates Brewing, 42 North Brewing, Big Ditch Brewing, Community Beer Works, Ellicottville Brewing, Five and 20 Spirits and Brewing, Flying Bison Brewing, Four Mile Brewing, Gordon Biersch, Hamburg Brewing, New York Beer Project, Pan Am Grill & Brewery, Pearl Street Grill & Brewery, Resurgence Brewing, Southern Tier Brewing, Woodcock Brothers Brewing and more.

The tentative beer list has been announced (subject to change) and is as follows:

12 Gates: My Aching Bock Eisbock, DDH West Coast Style IPA (cask)
42 North: Rambler Barrel-Aged Brett Saison, Barrel Aged Ben Nevis Scotch Ale
Big Ditch Brewing Company: Innovation Series Beer: Daves New England IPA, Citraburner
Blackbird Cider Works: Buffalo Bluegrass Bourbon Barrel Aged Semi-Dry Cider, Dabinett
Brickyard Brewing Company: White Bronco NE IPA, Stained Glass No. 1 Belgian Quad
Buffalo Brewing Company: DDH Rye IPA, Oatmeal DDH Session IPA
Community Beer Works: Jeanie’s Table Beer (Belgian Table Beer), Beer is for Closers Espresso Milk Stout
Ellicottville Brewing Company: St. Jacob’s Oak Aged Stout, Somethin’ Hazee NEIPA
Five and 20: Rhiskey Business Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Rye Pale Ale, Imperial Stout
Flying Bison: Bourbon Bean Stout, Thundersnow IPA
Four Mile Brewing: Russian Imperial Stout, Pale Ale #13
Gordon Biersch: Roggenbier, Provocative Porter
Hamburg Brewing Company: No Lux, Hamburg Lager
Lafayette Brewing Company: Teddy’s Tripel
New York Beer Project: Farmhouse/Saison, Belgian Quad
Pearl Street Brewery: Sabre’s Edge DIPA with Grapefruit
Pressure Drop Brewing: Sticky Trees IPA, Death Lettuce DIPA
Resurgence: R&D 10 New England IPA, Peanut Butter Porter
Rusty Nickel: Hometown Heroes IPA, TBD
Southern Tier: Brett Barrel Aged Cherry Gose, 2017 Manhattan Barrel Aged Strong
Stillhouse Brewery: Alpha Ralpha IPA, Fat Porter
Thin Man Brewery: Mulled Belgian Ale, Apple Brandy Imperial Stout, Dark Mild Brown Ale
West Shore Brewing Company: Green Flyer New England IPA, Paczki Day Belgian Dubbel
Windy Brew: Farmer’s Juice, Chocolate Cherry Stout
Woodcock Brothers: Saving Private Rye’n Ale, Lake Town Brown Ale

Tickets for the Buffalo Niagara Brewers Invitational are on sale now for $45 and can be purchased at Eventbrite (Designated Driver tickets are also available for $10). This will be a limited attendance 3 hour event (4 hours for card carrying BNBA Enthusiasts) where guests will be treated to a VIP style event experience the entire duration of the event. Guests will receive a commemorative festival glass, a $5 voucher (good for any beer themed plates from NYBP’s menu) and access to all beer. Only 400 tickets will be on sale.

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.