Latest Buffalo Beer Buzz:

Big Ditch Brewing to Open New Taproom in Lockport

Big Ditch Brewing has announced plans to open a new brewery and taproom in the Historic Post Office Building, located at One East Avenue, in the city of Lockport. The Lockport taproom will feature seating for 250 guests over two levels, along with a large bar, main dining area, outdoor covered patio, and private event space. The venue will also include a small brewery for making experimental beers. It is anticipated that the new Big Ditch Brewing taproom will open by mid-2024. Big Ditch will soon begin hiring staff for the new taproom with available positions at bigditchbrewing.com/jobs.

Local Breweries Unite for VIP Night at Mr. Goodbar’s Cask Fest

Mr. Goodbar’s annual tradition of showcasing local cask beer returns Thursday, December 7. Tickets are $30 and include unlimited tastings of limited edition cask beers from Autark Brewhouse, Big Ditch Brewing, Community Beer Works, Flying Bison, Old First Ward Brewing, Pressure Drop Brewing , 42 North Brewing, Thin Man Brewery, Mortalis Buffalo and OSB Ciderworks. Tickets also include a complimentary tasting glass and Hanzlians sausage. Tickets can be purchased at Mr. Goodbar right now.

Small Business Saturday & Small Brewery Sunday This Weekend

Small business owners and brewery owners are one in the same, hence the need for, and the importance of, Small Business Saturday, November 25, and Small Brewery Sunday, November 26, a weekend that encourages support for local breweries, brewpubs, taprooms, and small businesses that contribute to local communities and economies during the holiday season and beyond. According to the Brewer’s Association, overall U.S. beer volume sales were down 3% in 2022, while craft brewer volume sales remained on par with 2021 with retail sales of craft increasing 5%, to $28.4 billion. Craft now accounts for 24.6% of the $115 billion U.S. beer market.

42 North’s Barrel Jam Returns January 27, 2024

42 North Brewing Company will host its annual Barrel Jam on Saturday, January 27 (2-5pm). The festival celebrates the art of barrel-aging beers with samplings, live music, and winter sports activities. Over a dozen breweries and cideries will join 42 North to feature their barrel-crafted offerings for festival goers. This year’s lineup includes Brewery Ardennes, Eli Fish Brewing, K2 Brewing, 1911 Hard Cider, Clarksburg Cider, and more. VIP tickets feature an additional hour of tasting. Tickets can be purchased via EventBrite or at the brewery.

Pressure Drop Brewing to Celebrate 6^th Anniversary

In honor of their 6th anniversary on November 25, Pressure Drop Brewing is throwing a party, a day of beer-driven fun. Not only is the brewery releasing a pair of new beers, 6 Freakin’ Years West Coast IPA, brewed with Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, Chinook and Aaaroma hops, and Low Earth Orbit Schwarzbier, a new collab with Tokyo Aleworks, a 4.9% black lager with notes of chocolate and coffee, at 11am, they are tapping a cask of 6 Freakin’ Years (4:20pm) and popping magnums of Blackalicious Imperial Stout for an exclusive beer share (8pm). There will also be a new food menu and a brunch and Bloody Mary bar.

Eli Fish Brewing Black Friday Barrel Release

To celebrate Black Friday, Eli Fish Brewing is rolling out the barrels. Beers include Barrel Aged Heavy Maple (11.5% waterless wee heavy aged in Van Brunt Stillhouse Apple Brandy casks), Barrel Aged Autumn Maple (12.8% fall spiced waterless wee heavy aged in Van Brunt Stillhouse Apple Brandy casks), Where Wasn’t It? (16.4% imperial stout aged 16 months in a Black Button bourbon barrel, 8 months in a maple bourbon barrel, and 6 months in a Van Brunt Stillhouse Apple Brandy barrel), and The Truuf (6.2% mixed ferm saison rested in chardonnay casks with brett and then in apple brandy casks from Van Brunt Stillhouse with shaved black truffles). The event begins at 11am.

Other Half Brewing, Brewed & Bottled, Aurora Brew Works Collab Release

Other Half Brewing, Lewiston’s Brewed & Bottled Craft Beer Shop and East Aurora’s Aurora Brew Works have teamed up on a new beer, Deep Orbit: Budde & Howe, a barrel-aged imperial stout with vanilla, cacao nibs, and cinnamon, named in honor of Brewed & Bottled owner Chris Budde and ABW owner Darryl Howe. The beer will be on draft and in bottles at both locations, while supplies last, on Black Friday, November 24, at 11am.

Advent Beer Boxes on Sale Around Western New York

If you want to ring in the holiday season in style, consider picking up an Advent Calendar Beer Box. Each box includes 24 craft beers in a variety of styles, such as lagers, ambers, stouts, IPAs, sours and more. Cans are individually numbered and are meant to be enjoyed on each of the 24 days leading up to Christmas Day, beginning December 1. You can purchase Advent Beer Boxes at BTR Brews ($119), Fattey Beer Co. ($124.99), Bottle Rocket Beer Reserve ($120), New York State Brewer’s Association ($149), Magic Bear Beer Cellar ($119), Consumer’s Beverages ($89.99), and Premier Gourmet ($99). Brian Campbell is co-founder and Brand Manager of the 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 brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on Twitter (@buffbeerleague), Instagram (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).