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Buffalo Beer Buzz: NYS Craft Beer Day, Other Half Sabres Beer, Rhythm & Brews, Hofbrauhaus Barrel Tapping, CollaBEERation, 2026 Buffalo Flight Tour
New York Craft Beer Day Returns on April 11
New York Craft Beer Day, a day to celebrate and honor New York’s more than 500 independent craft breweries who support 22,000 jobs and generate a $4.8 billion economic impact, returns on April 11. It is the perfect opportunity to head to your local brewery or visit a new spot on your bucket list and grab a pint and food and take home some beer. “From this year forward, April 11th will be New York Craft Beer Day, we are honored that the governor created the proclamation in support of the industry,” New York State Brewers Association Executive Director Paul Leone said. You can commemorate the special day with the 2026 Collector’s Glass, available at participating locations while supplies last. For every glass sold, $1 benefits the New York State Brewers Association.
CollaBEERation Announces New Round of Collab Beers
The latest batch of collaborations for the sixth annual CollaBEERation Festival, which takes place at the Powerhouse on Saturday, Apr. 25, has been announced. They include Mountain Roads Brewing Double Jump Juice (Double Dry Hopped IPA), Strangebird Ocarina of Time (Thyme Infused Barrel Aged Saison), Pearl Street Rumbana Rampage (Banana and Rum Pak Aged Dark Lager) and Mystic Hills Finish Him! (Cherry Lime Sour). General admission tickets ($70, including unlimited pours and a commemorative glass) can be purchased here.
Hofbrauhaus Royal Export Barrel Tapping With Buffalo Beer League
Hofbrauhaus is tapping their Royal Export Lager on Thursday, April 2 (6 pm) with the help of the Buffalo Beer League, who will serve as the honorary Burgermeisters. There will be a traditional parade, barrel tapping with members of the Buffalo Beer League and The Sabrehood, as well as live music from Die Haus Band. There will also be a $20.26 Game Day Buffet and Buffalo Sabres puck drop at 7 pm, followed by a viewing party at the brewery of the game against the Ottawa Senators. Royal Export is a golden lager with fruity hop notes and a light bitterness. Reservations are not required, but are recommended.
2026 Buffalo Flight Tour Now Available
The 2026 Flight Tour, which gives you a beer or cocktail flight at seven local breweries, distilleries and bars, is now available for purchase. Each purchase includes seven certificates, each valid for a flight of beer or cocktails (one certificate for each establishment) at Hamburg Brewing (Flying Bison Brewing), Brazen Brewing, Frequentem Brewing, Hamburg Tap Room, Buffalo Distilling, BriarBrothers Brewing and Resurgence Brewing. The cost is $45 (plus $3.50 processing, $48.50 total) and can be purchased here. The 2026 NY Buffalo Flight Tour is a $105 value and less than 200 are available.
Other Half Buffalo Drops New Sabres-Inspired Beer
In case you’ve been living under a rock, the Buffalo Sabres are good again and all in right once again in Western New York. Other Half Buffalo, one of the breweries in closest proximity to KeyBank Center, where the Sabres calls home, are celebrating the team’s resurgence with the release of Swords on Swords, a 6.5% hazy IPA brewed with Citra, Motueka, Krush Cryo, Enigma and Anchovy hops. “This hazy IPA is good, scary good, brewed with massive amount of hand-selected hops giving notes of bright sweet citrus juice, watermelon candy, lychee and tart red berries,” the beer description reads. Swords on Swords in available now on tap and in cans at the brewery.
