Cole’s is Celebrating Their Landmark 85^th Anniversary

Cole’s, the longtime staple of Elmwood Avenue nightlife, is turning a ripe old 85 years old this year, and want you to help celebrate their storied tenure on November 7 (6pm). For the special celebration, Cole’s will have a complimentary buffet throughout the night, drink specials, live music during the day and a live DJ set at night. “Thank you so much to all of our loyal customers, friends, and patrons,” the bar says. “Come dance, drink, and eat, joining us and the Shatzel Family for an amazing night on our 85th.” The event is free and open to the public.

Larkinville’s Hydraulic Hearth is Turning Five Years Old

If you blinked, you may have missed it – Hydraulic Hearth is already turning five! They are putting their best foot forward on November 9 (5pm) to celebrate the benchmark with beer specials (they’re home to a Community Beer Works satellite brewery if you didn’t know), pizza buffet and live music. All draft beers will be $5, there will be a $10 pizza buffet and a full slate of live music, including Borderland Music Fest alum Miller and the Other Sinners (5pm), Geno McManus & Frank Grizanti of The BlackRock Beatles (6:30pm) and Lazlo Hollyfeld (originals & Talking Heads covers)(8pm).

Cross-Border Collaborations Set For 2020 Canadian American Beer Festival

The cross-border collaborations for the 2020 Canadian American Beer Festival are now set. The collaboration lottery was held before the inaugural Can-Am Fest on October 29 at the Scotia Bank Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario. In total, 40 breweries (20 American, 20 Canadian) will take part. The collabs will take place on both sides of the border, with plans calling for ten beers to brewed in Ontario and the other ten to be brewed in Western New York. Find all of the brewery teams at http://canadianamericanbeerfestival.com/. The CanAm is organized by the Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association and Ontario Craft Brewers.

The Draft Room at the Labatt Brewhouse Celebrates One Year

It is truly hard to believe that the Draft Room inside the Labatt Brewhouse has already been in operation for one whole year, but it’s true, and the time to celebrate is November 15 (6pm). There will be live music courtesy of the Jamie Holka Band (6-10pm), as well as prizes, giveaways, birthday cake and $4 Labatt Brewhouse beers all day long, including their brand new Birthday Cake Stout, which will be on tap for the party. The party will also feature a limited release of LBH Imperial Mango Guava Sour in cans for the first time ever. Happy birthday!

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 Step Out Buffalo. 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) and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).

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The special collabs will take place on either side of the border, with plans calling for ten beers to brewed in Ontario and the other ten to be brewed in WNY. The lottery draw produced some exciting pairings, more than enough to start getting excited about.

The pairings are as follows:

Canadian Side

• Niagara Brewing – Belt Line Brewery & Kitchen
• Cowbell Brewing – New York Beer Project
• Niagara Oast House – Four Mile Brewing
• Railway City – Brickyard Brewing
• Avling Brewery – West Shore Brewing
• Lock Street Brewery – Rusty Nickel Brewing
• Shawn & Ed Brewing – Brite Smith Brewing
• Flying Monkeys – Five and 20 Spirits & Brewing
• Redline Brewhouse – Resurgence Brewing
• Four Fathers Brewing – Fat Heads Brewing (Cleveland)

American Side

• Big Ditch Brewing – 5 Paddles Brewing
• Flying Bison Brewing – Niagara College Teaching Brewery
• Community Beer Works – Breakwall Brewery
• Pressure Drop Brewing – LOW Brewing Company
• Steelbound Brewery – Midtown Brewing
• Lilly Belle Meadery – Nickelbrook Brewing
• Black Monk Brewing (Erie) – Whitewater Brewing
• 12 Gates Brewing – Royal City Brewing
• 42 North Brewing – Sawdusty City Brewing
• Other Half Brewing (Rochester) – Thornbury Village Cider House & Brewery

I am personally excited for a number of these combinations. Niagara Brewing and Belt Line, Oast House and Brickyard, Shawn & Ed and Brite Smith, a number are truly intriguing. On the other side, Big Ditch and 5 Paddles, Pressure Drop and LOW Brewing,

42 North and Sawdust City sound fun. And beyond that, whatever vaunted breweries like Other Half and Fat Heads come up with will be something to look forward to. I’m also happy to learn more about these breweries I’m not familiar with.

The Can-Am is organized by the Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association in partnership with the Ontario Craft Brewers, Niagara College Teaching Brewery, and is co-hosted by the US Consul General and the Canadian Consul General.

For more information on the first ever Canadian American Beer Festival, and to purchase tickets online, please visit https://canadianamericanbeerfestival.com/.

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.

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The original event, which was scheduled for April 7, 2018 at the Conference and Event Center in Niagara Falls, NY has been postponed to April 13, 2019 at the Conference & Event Center in Niagara Falls USA. The event was pushed back as a result of an issue regarding bringing product over the border that could not be resolved in a timely manner.

Tickets for the Canadian BETA Edition of the event are $50 Canadian and include exclusive samplings of all Ontario-made Can-Am collaborations, food, a commemorative beer stein and the chance to interact with the brewers who made the beers. As well, the week after the event select Can-Am collabs will be on tap at both the Winking Judge as well as at the tap rooms of each producing brewery.

The beers set to be tapped for the special event offers something for every kind of beer drinker, from IPA’s, both hazy and clear, to light drinkers such as kellerbier and kolsch, to all things sour, including gose, kettle sours and even a sour hopfenweisse. Among some of the more special beers set to be featured are Belgian Waffles w/ Blueberries, a Golden Strong Ale from Five & 20 Spirits and Brewing and Lock Street Brewing that clocks in at nearly 10%, Squeeze Across the Border, a New England IPA from Redline Brewing and Thin Man Brewery and O.P. Imperial Pilsner, a heavy hitting 8.4% pilsner from Community Beer Works and Shawn & Ed Brewing Co. Find a tentative list below.

Beer list (subject to change):

• Brimstone & Rusty Nickel –  Mountie & Buffalo Walk into Bar, Belgian IPA 6.3%
• Beau’s & Flying Bison – Great Planes, Biere de Garde, 7%
• Block 3 & Resurgence – Angels & Apricots, Oak Aged Gose – 4%
• Cowbell & New York Beer Project – Crazy Hazy IPA, NEIPA 7.5%
• Grand River & 12 Gates – Life on Marzen, Märzen, 5.7%
• Collective Arts & Hamburg – Maybe Next Year, Citra-Denali DDH Kettle Sour 5%
• Flying Monkeys & Woodcock Brothers – Slam Dunkel, Dunkelweizen 4.75%
• Niagara Teaching Brewery & Buffalo Brewing Co – Salt & Pepper Gose, 4.4%
• Oast House & Southern Tier – Mixed-Ferment Farmhouse Mosaic IPA 6%
• Nickel Brook & Ellicottville Brewing Company – Only Nerds Will Know, Kettle Soured Hopfenweisse, 4.9%
• Shawn & Ed Brewing Co & Community Beer Works – O.P. Imperial Pilsner, 8.4%
• Railway City & West Shore Brewing Company –  Border Crossing, Galaxy Kolsch, 5.5%
• Redline Brewhouse & Thin Man Brewing – Squeeze Across the Border, NEIPA, 6.4%
• Royal City & 42 North –  New World Saison
• Wellington & 4 Mile – Walk 4 Miles, Dry Hopped Kellerbier, 5%
• Lock Street &  Five & 20 –  Belgian Waffles w/ Blueberries, Golden Strong Ale, 9.5%

Augusta’s Winking Judge craft beer bar is located at 25 Augusta St in Hamilton Ontario (1-905-524-5626). For more information on the Can-Am Fest, please visit https://canadianamericanbeerfestival.com/.

The Can-Am is organized by the Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association, with the assistance of the Ontario Craft Brewers, Niagara College Teaching Brewery, the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, and Consumers Beverages as well as event partner, Lyft.

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.

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Canadian American Beer Fest Beta Comes to Pizza Plant

With the Canadian American Beer Festival postponed to 2019 (April 13) over an issue regarding bringing product over the border, the Can Am Beer Fest – WNY Beta will now take place on April 8 at Pizza Plant Transit (12pm). The free event will feature WNY-made Can Am collaboration beers, a la carte food, and the chance to interact with the brewers. Afterwards, select WNY – Can Am brews will be available the following week at both Pizza Plant locations and brewery taprooms. Can Am Beer Fest – Ontario Beta will then take place May 5 at Augusta’s Winking Judge in Hamilton, Ontario.

5 Beer Releases, One Event at Resurgence Brewing

On Thursday, March 29 (4pm), Resurgence Brewing are releasing not one, not two, not three, but five beers in one epic beer release. The event will see the return of seasonal favorites Blood Orange Saison (notes of fresh orange rind, tangerine and mango), Cucumber Saison (made with all local malt from WNY Craft Malt in Batavia and locally grown cucumbers), and Coconut Porter (notes of sweet brown sugar and coconut) as well as the debut of a brand new American Kettle Sour and Experimental Saison. Try them all in a flight or take a few crowlers to go for later.

12 Gates to Celebrate Dyngus Day with Party, Beer Release

12 Gates Brewing are doing their part to continue the time honored Buffalo Dyngus Day tradition with party in their taproom on April 2 (2pm), which will feature a beer release, live music and traditional Polish foods. The beer is a Grodziskie, a historic polish style made from 100% smoked wheat with a low ABV, while the food features a Polish sausage special from 12 Gates, and Ru’s Pierogi food truck will be there from 5-8pm (or while supplies last). Half a Heard (part of Heard of Buffalo) performs 7-10pm. 12 Gates Polska t-shirts will also be available. Na Zdrowie!

Erie County Fair, Flying Bison Announce 2018 Home Brew Competition

You can have your beer brewed at Flying Bison Brewing Company, distributed by Try It Distributing and served at the 2018 Erie Country Fair. All you have to do is win the 2018 Home Brew Competition. To enter, brew a beer and then take it to Flying Bison (12-8pm) on April 5-6. Bring an empty growler and have it filled for $5. Entries can also be dropped off to the Erie County Fair Main Office April 2-7 during business hours. Past winners include an American Pale Ale (John Crossett & Brian Milleville), Hefe-Rye-zen (Mark Zambron), and Imperial Porter (Sean Wall).

Buffalo Brewing Company’s Grodziskie Returns

Buffalo Brewing Company’s 1976 Grodziskie makes its triumphant return this week, just in time for Easter and Dyngus Day. This smokey treat clocks in at a light, clear and crushable 3.5%. “This traditional smoked beer will pair perfectly with your Easter brunch or Dyngus Day festivities,” the brewery says. “Twoje Zdrowie.” Might we recommend a side of ham, rye bread and mustard. 1976 Grodziskie will be available on draft and for growler/crowler fills.

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.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      

2018 CAN AM FESTIVAL POSTPONED DUE TO IMPORT ISSUES AT BORDER

Separate CanAm tasting events to take place in U.S. and Canada featuring the all CanAm 2018 collaboration beers

CanAm Beer Festival to take place in Niagara Falls USA April 13 2019

BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association (BNBA) regretfully announces that the 2018 Canadian American Beer Festival scheduled for April 7, 2018 at the Conference and Event Center in Niagara Falls, NY has been postponed to April 13, 2019 at the Conference & Event Center in Niagara Falls USA.

The event has been postponed as a result of an issue regarding bringing product over the border that despite everyone’s best efforts could not be resolved in a timely manner. All tickets that have been sold will be refunded.

“We are extremely disappointed to have to postpone the Can-Am festival, but given that we discovered an insurmountable issue with our 2018 import method only a few weeks away from the event, we thought it was best to postpone for this year,” said BNBA president Willard Brooks. “The good news is that we have sourced a very experienced Import Agent that has agreed to enter into discussions with us to facilitate and resolve the border issues for 2019 – this gives us complete confidence that we will have a solid partner to advise us as we move forward to 2019 and beyond.”

So as not to miss the opportunity to taste the cross border collaborative efforts of Canadian and American brewers, there will be separate tasting events on each side of the border being billed as the “Can Am Beer Fest – WNY BETA” in Buffalo on April 8th featuring WNY-made CanAm Collabs and the “Can Am Beer Fest – Ontario BETA” in Hamilton, ON on May 5th featuring Ontario-made CanAm Collabs.

In the U.S. the event will take place as a tap takeover on April 8th (12pm) at Pizza Plant at 7770 Transit Rd. Admission is free with special flight pricing to be published closer to the event. The event includes exclusive samplings of the WNY-made CanAm collabs, a la carte food, and the chance to interact with the brewers who made the beers. Pizza Plant Canalside & Transit will also make select WNY-CanAm brews available on tap the week after the event as well as at the taprooms of each producing brewery.

AMERICAN->CANADIAN COLLABORATIONS

• 4 Mile is hosting Grand River
• 5 & 20 is hosting Oast House
• 12 Gates is hosting Nickel Brook
• 42 North is hosting Shawn & Ed
• Big Ditch is hosting Beau’s
• Buffalo Brewing Co is hosting Railway City
• Community Beer Works is hosting Redline Brewhouse
• Resurgence is hosting Collective Arts
• Ellicottville is hosting Flying Monkeys
• Flying Bison is hosting Great Lakes
• Hamburg is hosting Brimstone
• New York Beer Project is hosting Royal City
• Southern Tier is hosting Wellington
• Thin Man is hosting Block 3
• Westshore is hosting Niagara Teaching Brewery
• Woodcock Brothers is hosting Cowbell
• Rusty Nickel is hosting Lock Street

In Ontario, the event will take place Saturday, May 5 (2-6pm) at Augusta’s Winking Judge craft beer bar at 25 Augusta St in Hamilton Ontario (1-905-524-5626). Tickets can be purchased directly at the Winking Judge. Tickets are $50 Canadian and include exclusive samplings of all Ontario-made CanAm collabs, food, a commemorative beer stein and the chance to interact with the brewers who made the beers. As well, the week after the event select CanAm collabs will be on tap at both the Winking Judge as well as at the tap rooms of each producing brewery.

CANADIAN->AMERICAN COLLABORATIONS

• Brimstone is hosting Rusty Nickel
• Beau’s is hosting Flying Bison
• Block 3 is hosting Resurgence
• Cowbell is hosting New York Beer Project
• Grand River is hosting 12 Gates
• Collective Arts is hosting Hamburg
• Flying Monkeys is hosting Woodcock Brothers
• Niagara Teaching Brewery is hosting Buffalo Brewing Company
• Oast House is hosting Southern Tier
• Nickel Brook is hosting Ellicottville Brewing Company
• Shawn & Ed are hosting Community Beer Works
• Railway City is hosting Westshore Brewing Company
• Redline Brewhouse is hosting Thin Man Brewing
• Royal City is hosting 42 North
• Wellington is hosting 4 Mile
• Lock Street is hosting 5 & 20

For more information, please see the CanAm website as the beer list will be updated continuously as the final details of the collaboration beers become available

About The Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association

The Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association exists to unify the Buffalo Niagara craft beer community in order to increase regional sales of craft beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness, consumer education, and to monitor and assure a thriving craft beer and brewing industry within the Buffalo Niagara Region. For more information about the Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association, including membership, please visit https://buffalobeerleague.com.

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Tickets on Sale Now For Inaugural Can-Am Beer Festival

Tickets for the first ever Canadian American (Can-Am) Beer Festival, which takes place on April 7 (3-7pm) at the Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls, are on sale now ($10-$50). The unique cross-border beer fest will see reps from 40 craft breweries from Ontario and Western New York collaborating on special one-off craft beers. Can-Am will also feature Canadian dishes paired with Can-Am brews as Chef Krista van Wagner will coordinate Meet the Brewer taste sessions and international experts like world renowned beer writer Stephen Beaumont and culinary expert Gary Toraville will also be on hand. Purchase tickets at Eventbrite.

Flying Bison Spot Coffee Stout Is Coming Back This Week

Spot Coffee Stout, one of Flying Bison’s more beloved seasonal releases, will make its 2018 debut on February 24 (12pm) on draft and in bottles. This year’s version features Papua New Guinea Kunjin beans roasted by SPoT Coffee’s roastery at the corner of Delaware & Chippewa. Spot Coffee will be on hand at the beer release party serving cups of coffee brewed from the same batch of beans, bags of whole beans will be available to purchase and take home and 13 ounce hot/cold glass mugs with both Spot & Flying Bison logos will be available for purchase as well.

Beers Meets Breakfast at Resurgence Brewing’s Kegs & Eggs

Resurgence Brewing are back this month with Kegs & Eggs on February 25, 12-5pm. If you don’t know how Kegs & Eggs works, it’s pretty damn simple. Resurgence expands their beer board to include a number of one-off limited brews, and pairs them with breakfast food. IPA’s, fruited beers, barrel aged goodness and maybe even a cask offering or two – everything is fair game when it comes to Kegs & Eggs. Breakfast garbage plates will again be served while you enjoy flights of experimental brews that will be rolled out for the event. Don’t miss out on these limited brews.

Community Beer Works Beers and Craft Cocktails Collide at Hydraulic Hearth

On February 22 (4-10pm), Community Beer Works is taking over the taps at Hydraulic Hearth, but this isn’t your ordinary tap takeover. Each CBW brew will be featured in a cocktail with a purpose to push the boundaries of what beer can do in a cocktail glass. For example, a martini (Beertini perhaps?) made with CBW Dreizehn Pilsner could be among the beer cocktails. Original bar manager Chris Guilmet will return as guest bartender. Make reservations at HydraulicHearth.com. CBW will also have a cask of Citra dry-hopped Interrobang IPA conditioned on sweet orange peels at the brewery on February 21 (3pm).

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.

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