I, we (the Buffalo Beer League), drank a lot of great craft beer in 2024. It was a year not without its warts and certainly not one without its peaks and valleys, a year in which brewery closings outpaced openings, sadly, which is a trend I sincerely hope does not continue. But it was a great year for beer releases and we drank a lot of them.

I say it time and time again; my memory is not what it used to be. Blame beer, blame age, blame whatever, but thank goodness for my unending need to photograph every single beer I drink and thank goodness for an app like Untappd, because I’m able to keep track of, and therefore remember, all the beer I drink, which makes year end lists like this possible.

Like I said, we drank a lot of great beer in 2024 and here are a few, well, outside of Big Ditch Brewing’s beloved Hayburner and Thin Man Brewery’s flagship Pills Mafia, the two beers I probably drank the most of last year. New York Beer Project Imperial Hazy Crush and The One V.62 were absolute bangers (John at NYBP OP Beer Lodge is making some of the best beer around right now), Resurgence Brewing/Old First Ward Brewing/Pressure Drop Brewing More Greener IPA is a beer I wait all year for, Frequentem Brewing Dark Mild was fantastic (I also loved their Do A Kickflip Light Yuzu Lager, a collaboration with Smoldered Society), Buffalo Olde Brewery Lovejoy Lager is one of my current favorite local lagers and a staple of my beer fridge and Smoldered Society Mass Delusion (Riwaka, Simcoe Cryo, Mosaic Cryo) was everything you want in a hazy IPA. Smoldered Society was one of my favorite breweries in 2024.

And the list goes on and on – Buffalo Brewing Company Simon Pure Beer, Froth Brewing House Black Lager, BriarBrothers Brewing Evolution 005 New England IPA, Mortalis Brewing Barrel Aged Pomona (Copper Wax), Wayland Brewing Jennings Hazy Pale Ale, Tree House Brewing Trail Fresh Hop Strata, Autark Brewhouse Cozy Dark Mild, Resurgence Brewing 10th Anniversary IPA, Belt Line Brewery Fresh Coat Double IPA, Meier’s Creek Something, Something Haze IPA, Ellicottville Brewing French Connection Saison Aged in Cabernet Barrels, Thin Man Brewery Friends with Boats, Other Half x Equilibrium Lab Nightmare Triple IPA, just to name a few more.

In addition to my favorite beers of 2024, I also asked fellow BBLers Scott, Jesse and Mark:

Mark – Pressure Drop Brewing Sticky Icky, Brazen Brewing Edelbrau, Other Half Mylar Bags, Big Ditch Black Light and WNY Eclipse, Resurgence Brewing Old Neighborhood Irish Red, Old First Ward Brewing Not A Pale Ale, Flying Bison Blackbird Stout, Community Beer Works Pride

Jesse – BriarBrothers Brewing 8 Hour Custom New England IPA, 42 North Nocturnus, Brazen Charlatan, Big Ditch 9th Anniversary Yuzu Rice Lager, Frequentem Italian Pilsner (Contessa), Schenker Dunkelbier, Bent Run X-Files IPA, Rohrbach Brewing Totality Black Lager

Scott – Broadway Brewing Batch 600 Double IPA, Hofbrauhaus Buffalo Pils, Burdock Deluxe Helles, Mortalis Brewing We Know Steve Imperial NEIPA, Frequentem Dark Mild, BriarBrothers 8 Hour Custom, Peacemaker Brewing 1000 Yard Stare, Vasen Brewing Smoldering Phoenix, Autark Czechy, Woodcock Rosetta Stoned

Here’s to more great beer in 2025.

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, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).

The post The Buffalo Beer League’s Favorite Beers of 2024 appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Living in Buffalo and being a craft beer fan is an embarrassment of riches. Each week, seeming each day, I’m blessed with an overabundance of great options each time I open my fridge and reach for a beer. Through the Buffalo Beer League, I am always looking for new ways to promote all of the delicious liquid being created right here in Western New York, so consider this column, The Best Thing I Drank This Week, just another vehicle to help spread the word of great local craft beer.

In this column, each week I will highlight the best beer I had the pleasure of imbibing the previous week, and will ask my BBL cohorts to submit their selections as well. So, not only will you get the best thing I drank this week, you will also be presented with further options and opinions from the rest of the guys as well. That way, if you’re looking for some new stuff to stock your beer fridge with (and you always should be), then you’ll have more than one item to add to your shopping list.

The Best Thing I Drank This Week: 42 North Brewing Raspberry Macaron Pastry Gose

One of the better sours I’ve had from 42 North Brewing recently, Raspberry Macaron Pastry Gose, a collaboration with Blue Eyed Baker, features tart jammy berries and a smooth, creamy sweet finish. It features a nice body without being overly thick and viscous. It’s in the vein of a smoothie-style sour, but you can drink more than one in a single sitting. It’s downright lovely.

• Mark – Flying Bison Brewing Fenian Ale
• Scott – 42 North Brewing Raspberry Macaron Pastry Gose
• Jesse – New York Beer Project Italian Ice Sour

For more information, visit https://42northbrewing.com.

To catch up on all of our past The Best Thing I Drank This Week beers, click here.

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).

The post The Best Thing I Drank This Week: 42 North Brewing Raspberry Macaron Pastry Gose appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Living in Buffalo and being a craft beer fan is an embarrassment of riches. Each week, seeming each day, I’m blessed with an overabundance of great options each time I open my fridge and reach for a beer. Through the Buffalo Beer League, I am always looking for new ways to promote all of the delicious liquid being created right here in Western New York, so consider this column, The Best Thing I Drank This Week, just another vehicle to help spread the word of great local craft beer.

In this column, each week I will highlight the best beer I had the pleasure of imbibing the previous week, and will ask my BBL cohorts to submit their selections as well. So, not only will you get the best thing I drank this week, you will also be presented with further options and opinions from the rest of the guys as well. That way, if you’re looking for some new stuff to stock your beer fridge with (and you always should be), then you’ll have more than one item to add to your shopping list.

The Best Thing I Drank This Week: Community Beer Works Strawberry Gold

Strawberry Gold marks Buffalo’s first foeder-aged ale, brewed to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Lexington Co-op. And, as they say, you only get one chance to make a first impression, and Strawberry Gold certainly one hell of one. Simply put – it’s fantastic; lightly tart berry notes with a smooth finish. It’s refreshing as can be with each sip. There’s a reason this beer went uber-quick in cans – I was sitting at the bar and can sold out right under my nose. Oh well, that ones on me. I did drink my fair share of drafts.

• Scott – Resurgence Brewing King Kong Stout
• Jesse – Pressure Drop Brewing Space Coyote IPA

For more information, visit www.communitybeerworks.com.

To catch up on all of our past The Best Thing I Drank This Week beers, click here.

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).

The post The Best Thing I Drank This Week: Community Beer Works Strawberry Gold appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Living in Buffalo and being a craft beer fan is an embarrassment of riches. Each week, seeming each day, I’m blessed with an overabundance of great options each time I open my fridge and reach for a beer. Through the Buffalo Beer League, I am always looking for new ways to promote all of the delicious liquid being created right here in Western New York, so consider this column, The Best Thing I Drank This Week, just another vehicle to help spread the word of great local craft beer.  

In this column, each week I will highlight the best beer I had the pleasure of imbibing the previous week, and will ask my BBL cohorts to submit their selections as well. So, not only will you get the best thing I drank this week, you will also be presented with further options and opinions from the rest of the guys as well. That way, if you’re looking for some new stuff to stock your beer fridge with (and you always should be), then you’ll have more than one item to add to your shopping list.

The Best Thing I Drank This Week: Community Beer Works Let’s Go Pils Grapefruit Radler

While I continuously bang the drum for the return of CBW’s Meyer Lemon Let’s Go Pils, my favorite summer beer of 2020 and one of the best overall beers I drank last year, the grapefruit version is a fine replacement. It’s smooth and light with a pleasant subtly sweet grapefruit flavor. At a proper radler ABV of 3.5%, it drinks incredibly light and works perfectly well for chugs – not that I would know from experience or anything (*wink*). And best yet, it tastes just as good in cans as it does fresh off the tap at the brewery. Which reminds me, I need more.

• Mark – Three’s Brewing Back to Reality IPA
• Scott – Froth Brewing Ridin’ Low in My 64 Pale Ale
• Jesse – Big Ditch Brewing x Pressure Drop Brewing Aqua Flying Spaghetti Monster IPA

For more information, visit https://communitybeerworks.com.

To catch up on all of our past The Best Thing I Drank This Week beers, click here.

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).

The post The Best Thing I Drank This Week: Community Beer Works Let’s Go Pils Grapefruit Radler appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Living in Buffalo and being a craft beer fan is an embarrassment of riches. Each week, seeming each day, I’m blessed with an overabundance of great options each time I open my fridge and reach for a beer. Through the Buffalo Beer League, I am always looking for new ways to promote all of the delicious liquid being created right here in Western New York, so consider this column, The Best Thing I Drank This Week, just another vehicle to help spread the word of great local craft beer.

In this column, each week I will highlight the best beer I had the pleasure of imbibing the previous week, and will ask my BBL cohorts to submit their selections as well. So, not only will you get the best thing I drank this week, you will also be presented with further options and opinions from the rest of the guys as well. That way, if you’re looking for some new stuff to stock your beer fridge with (and you always should be), then you’ll have more than one item to add to your shopping list.

The Best Thing I Drank This Week: Resurgence Brewing Green Heart IPA

While we had a lot of memorable and noteworthy local offerings at this past weekend’s Buffalo On Tap Festival (welcome back beer fests, we missed you), Resurgence Brewing’s Green Heart IPA stood out for us. We’ve told anyone who’ll listen that Resurgence’s IPA game was essentially reborn during the pandemic (their Social Distancing Series is legendary) and Green Heart is no exclusion. It presents notes of melon, ripe tropical fruit and citrus, to balance out a slightly drier finish. This IPA is ultimately refreshing. And its now available in 12oz. cans, which we love.

• Mark – Resurgence Brewing Killer Whale Tank NEIPA
• Scott – Community Beer Works Dancing Sunflowers / Other Half Brewing Wangies DIPA
• Jesse – Shiner Country Peach Wheat

For more information, visit https://resurgencebrewing.com.

To catch up on all of our past The Best Thing I Drank This Week beers, click here.

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).

The post The Best Thing I Drank This Week: Resurgence Brewing Green Heart IPA appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Living in Buffalo and being a craft beer fan is an embarrassment of riches. Each week, seeming each day, I’m blessed with an overabundance of great options each time I open my fridge and reach for a beer. Through the Buffalo Beer League, I am always looking for new ways to promote all of the delicious liquid being created right here in Western New York, so consider this column, The Best Thing I Drank This Week, just another vehicle to help spread the word of great local craft beer.

In this column, each week I will highlight the best beer I had the pleasure of imbibing the previous week, and will ask my BBL cohorts to submit their selections as well. So, not only will you get the best thing I drank this week, you will also be presented with further options and opinions from the rest of the guys as well. That way, if you’re looking for some new stuff to stock your beer fridge with (and you always should be), then you’ll have more than one item to add to your shopping list.

The Best Thing I Drank This Week: Pressure Drop Brewing Cross Faded Hazy IPA

If you’ve read this column in the past, then you know Pressure Drop IPAs are no stranger to finding a home in this space. Cue Cross Faded Hazy IPA, one of their latest hoppy creations, a true homage to West Coast IPAs that clocks in at a beefy 8%. Cross Faded features all of the resinous mouthfeel, overripe tropical fruit, citrus and dank hops that you’ve come to expect from West Coast IPAs, which have become Pressure Drop’s bread and butter. Be warned though, I speak from experience when I say; this beer will sneak up on you, especially if you plan on enjoying a few in one session.

• Mark – Trumer Pils
• Scott – Gene McCarthy’s / Old First Ward Brewing The Mangolorian
• Jesse – Community Beer Works x Gun Hill Brewing Laces Out, Dan DIPA

For more information, visit https://www.pressuredropbrewers.com.

To catch up on all of our past The Best Thing I Drank This Week beers, click here.

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).

The post The Best Thing I Drank This Week: Pressure Drop Brewing Cross Faded Hazy IPA appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Living in Buffalo and being a craft beer fan is an embarrassment of riches. Each week, seeming each day, I’m blessed with an overabundance of great options each time I open my fridge and reach for a beer. Through the Buffalo Beer League, I am always looking for new ways to promote all of the delicious liquid being created right here in Western New York, so consider this column, The Best Thing I Drank This Week, just another vehicle to help spread the word of great local craft beer.

In this column, each week I will highlight the best beer I had the pleasure of imbibing the previous week, and will ask my BBL cohorts to submit their selections as well. So, not only will you get the best thing I drank this week, you will also be presented with further options and opinions from the rest of the guys as well. That way, if you’re looking for some new stuff to stock your beer fridge with (and you always should be), then you’ll have more than one item to add to your shopping list.

The Best Thing I Drank This Week: Resurgence Brewing Company Legend of the Cone IPA

This choice is biased because the beer was served by the legend himself, Conehead, at Sahlen Field while real live major league baseball was on the field. This Buffalo-style IPA is brewed with Mosaic hops with a floral citrus nose, minimal bitterness and notes of orange rind. And if the Blue Jays do, in fact, fly back up north to Toronto soon, I’ll never forget watching an MLB game in downtown Buffalo. It’s something we can cross of our bucket list. Thank you Blue Jays. And thank you Resurgence for this beer.

• Brian – Community Beer Works Summer Playlist
• Scott – Big Ditch Brewing Dayburner IPA
• Jesse – Big Ditch Brewing Dayburner IPA

For more information, visit https://resurgencebrewing.com.

To catch up on all of our past The Best Thing I Drank This Week beers, click here.

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).

The post The Best Thing I Drank This Week: Resurgence Brewing Company Legend of the Cone IPA appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Living in Buffalo and being a craft beer fan is an embarrassment of riches. Each week, seeming each day, I’m blessed with an overabundance of great options each time I open my fridge and reach for a beer. Through the Buffalo Beer League, I am always looking for new ways to promote all of the delicious liquid being created right here in Western New York, so consider this column, The Best Thing I Drank This Week, just another vehicle to help spread the word of great local craft beer.

In this column, each week I will highlight the best beer I had the pleasure of imbibing the previous week, and will ask my BBL cohorts to submit their selections as well. So, not only will you get the best thing I drank this week, you will also be presented with further options and opinions from the rest of the guys as well. That way, if you’re looking for some new stuff to stock your beer fridge with (and you always should be), then you’ll have more than one item to add to your shopping list.

The Best Thing I Drank This Week: First Line Brewing Mr. Nice New England IPA V.2

While the first iteration of Mr. Nice, a collaboration between First Line Brewing and Buffalo Bills long snapper Reid Ferguson, featured guava, lemon and pineapple, the second version of the beer features  blueberry, lemon and citrus, and it’s one of the best beers I’ve had from Mike, Shane and crew. There are big pops of blueberry and citrus in the new version; it’s smooth, fruity and flavorful, and before you know it, you’ll be onto your second pint. Trust me, I know from experience.

• Mark – Flying Bison Aviator Red on Cask
• Scott – Triple Crossing Baby Falcon Session IPA
• Jesse –OFW Streaker Pale Ale

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/firstlinebrewing.

To catch up on all of our past The Best Thing I Drank This Week beers, click here.

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).

The post The Best Thing I Drank This Week: First Line Brewing Mr. Nice New England IPA V.2 appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Living in Buffalo and being a craft beer fan is an embarrassment of riches. Each week, seeming each day, I’m blessed with an overabundance of great options each time I open my fridge and reach for a beer. Through the Buffalo Beer League, I am always looking for new ways to promote all of the delicious liquid being created right here in Western New York, so consider this column, The Best Thing I Drank This Week, just another vehicle to help spread the word of great local craft beer.

In this column, each week I will highlight the best beer I had the pleasure of imbibing the previous week, and will ask my BBL cohorts to submit their selections as well. So, not only will you get the best thing I drank this week, you will also be presented with further options and opinions from the rest of the guys as well. That way, if you’re looking for some new stuff to stock your beer fridge with (and you always should be), then you’ll have more than one item to add to your shopping list.

The Best Thing I Drank This Week: Pressure Drop Brewing Space Monkey Episode VI: Return of the Space Monkey Double IPA

Space Monkey Episode VI is just the latest memorable installment of the fantastic Pressure Drop IPA series, any of which could really deserve a spot in this column. Return of the Space Monkey is dangerously smooth for 8.5%, with big notes of citrus and tropical fruit and a touch of dank. Don’t let this soft DIPA fool you though, because, while Pressure Drop is pretty adept at hiding boozy ABVs, this one will creep up on your after a couple. I may or may not know have first-hand knowledge of that.

• Mark – Other Half Brewing x Fifth Frame Fabled Aquarium NEIPA
• Scott – Resurgence Brewing The Legend of the Cone IPA
• Jesse – Big Ditch Brewing Dayburner Refreshing IPA

For more information, visit https://www.pressuredropbrewers.com.

To catch up on all of our past The Best Thing I Drank This Week beers, click here.

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).

The post The Best Thing I Drank This Week: Pressure Drop Brewing Space Monkey Episode VI: Return of the Space Monkey Double IPA appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Living in Buffalo and being a craft beer fan is an embarrassment of riches. Each week, seeming each day, I’m blessed with an overabundance of great options each time I open my fridge and reach for a beer. Through the Buffalo Beer League, I am always looking for new ways to promote all of the delicious liquid being created right here in Western New York, so consider this column, The Best Thing I Drank This Week, just another vehicle to help spread the word of great local craft beer.

In this column, each week I will highlight the best beer I had the pleasure of imbibing the previous week, and will ask my BBL cohorts to submit their selections as well. So, not only will you get the best thing I drank this week, you will also be presented with further options and opinions from the rest of the guys as well. That way, if you’re looking for some new stuff to stock your beer fridge with (and you always should be), then you’ll have more than one item to add to your shopping list.

The Best Thing I Drank This Week: Big Ditch Brewing Pineapple Burner

Looking back, it’s sort of hard to believe that I haven’t already had this beer as the best thing I drank this week. Now granted, I’ve included a lot of Big Ditch beers recently in this column (hey, they make quality beer if you haven’t heard), but this has yet to be one of them – until now. Banger thy name is Big Ditch Brewing’s Pineapple Burner, aka Pineapple Hayburner. This beer is fantastic – bright and hoppy with notes of fresh pineapple juice. This beer is lovely and crushable with more a juice than flesh note. Has there been a bad variant of Hayburner?

• Mark – Community Beer Works The Kviek and the Dead Farmhouse Ale
• Brian – Thin Man Brewing x Slopp Brewing x Seven Islands Brewery Thin, Pink Flamingoes NEIPA
• Jesse – Pressure Drop Brewing Space Monkey: Episode VI IPA

For more information, visit https://www.bigditchbrewing.com.

To catch up on all of our past The Best Thing I Drank This Week beers, click here.

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).

The post The Best Thing I Drank This Week: Big Ditch Brewing Pineapple Burner appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.