Latest Buffalo Beer Buzz:
Buffalo Beer Buzz: 42 North Northern Light Lager, Beer For Cats, CollaBEERation V, First Line Burnin’ Rubber Pils, Santas of Swig, Magic Bear Anniversary, Falls Brewery
42 North Brewing Launches New Affordable Lager
42 North Brewing is introducing Northern Light Lager, a 4.2% domestic-style lager brewed with Pilsner and Munich malt, with a hint of German Magnum and Perle hops. Northern Light Lager will be sold at a very approachable price as well. Both 42 North taprooms are offering draft pints for $5 and will be selling pitchers for the time ever of Northern Light Lager for $17. Northern Light Lager is available on tap right now.
Ten Lives Club “Beer for Cats Christmas” at Mr. Goodbar
Put on your ugliest Christmas sweater and head down to Mr. Goodbar to drink beer to help the rescued cats of Ten Lives Club as they host their Beer for Cats Christmas fundraiser on Friday, Dec. 13. The event runs from 4-7pm and will feature a silent auction, wine pull, basket raffle and more (winners will be drawn at 6:15pm). Choose from three local craft beers on draft with drink tickets for 10oz. specialty drafts available for purchase with the option of 2 for $12 or 4 for $20. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, email bglover@tenlivesclub.com.
Tickets Now on Sale for CollaBEERation Festival V
Tickets are now available for the fifth annual CollaBEERation Festival, which takes place at the Powerhouse on Saturday, Apr. 5, 2025. The unique event brings together members of the Buffalo Beer Geeks community to partner with more than 50+ participating Western New York breweries, cideries, and meaderies to brew never-before-made libations. There will also be craft vendors, food trucks, and more. Attendees can vote on their top 3 collabs, with the winners taking home the Buffalo Beer Geek Championship Belt. Bloomfield’s Noble Shephard has won the last two years. General admission tickets ($70, includes unlimited pours and commemorative glass) can be purchased here. DD tickets are also available.
Drink Homebrew For A Good Cause at Santas of Swig Fundraiser
The 2024 Santas of Swig Fundraiser, presented by the Sultans of Swig Homebrew Club and Santas of Swig, which raises money for the Matt Urban Hope Center, takes place Dec. 8 (1pm) at Buffalo Iron Works. A $20 donation buys samples of a number of beers made by area homebrewers. Vote for your favorite beer and the winning homebrewer will receive prizes. Baskets from local breweries will be raffled off (donations of new, unwrapped toys gets you $10 in tickets). Tickets will be available at the door. More information can be found at SultansofSwig.com. Over the past 9 years, the event has helped to raise more than $23,000 and collect more than 1,200 new unwrapped toys.
Magic Bear Beer Cellar 3rd Anniversary Party
Larkin’s Magic Bear Beer cellar is turning 3 and will celebrate the occasion on Dec. 6. Starting at 5pm, the first 50 guests will receive a commemorative cookie from Buffalo Girl That Bakes, Nick Spacone will perform from 5:30-8:30pm and Tim McAllister and Marty Snyder will perform 7:30-9pm, there will be drink specials all night and more. Owned by Certified Cicerone® Craig Altobello, Magic Bear seeks to promote the elevation and education of beer through educational and informational classes and events including beer tastings, pairings and opportunities to meet brewers.
New First Line Pilsner to Benefit Former Sumitomo Employees
First Line Brewing has released a new lager to benefit the former employees of the Sumitomo Rubber Plant in Tonawanda, which abruptly closed last month. Burnin’ Rubber Pilsner, a 4.2% lager brewed with Saaz and Hallertau Blanc hops, is available on tap now at First Line’s taproom in Orchard Park. A portion of proceeds from beer sales will be donated to the employees to help fund their annual reunion party one last time. In early November, Sumitomo Rubber USA announced plans to close their manufacturing facility in Tonawanda and lay off 1,550 employees, citing “mounting material and logistics costs, dated infrastructure, intermittent financial performance, and changing market conditions.”
