Malt, one of the true lifeblood’s of beer, will be on full display at the second annual Malt Fest, which takes place Saturday, September 29 (4-8pm) at Rusty Nickel Brewing Co. The event celebrates malt-centric libations from New York State breweries and distilleries, timing perfectly with the fall harvest and highlighting the origins of beer and spirits – malted grains.

Sip, taste, learn and enjoy at this one of a kind experience. From brown ales and marzen’s to lagers and stouts, Malt Fest will showcase malt’s role as a key determinant of the strength and flavor of beer. Malt also helps to color the beer in your glass, so if brewers use darker malt, then your beer will be darker.

Enjoy live music, a pig roast, games and adult libations from Community Beer Works, Ellicottville Brewing, Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing, Four Mile, Fulton Chain Craft Brewery, Old First Ward Brewing, Gordon Biersch, Hamburg Brewing, Lafayette Brewing, Old First Ward Brewing, West Shore Brewing and WINDY BREW. There will also be spirit tastings from Lockhouse Distillery and Niagara Craft Spirits.

Malt Fest beer list (subject to change):

Brickyard Brewing Company – Octoberfest Lager
Community Beer Works – The Whale Brown Ale
Ellicottville Brewing – Fall Festival Marzen
Five & 20 Brewing – Brown Ale
Four Mile Brewing – Pre-Prohibition Cream Ale
Fulton Chain Craft Brewery – Travel Ban (Collaboration with Rusty Nickel)
Gordon Biersch – Festbier
Hamburg Brewing – Oktoberfest
Lafayette Brewing Co. – Octoberfest
New York Beer Project – Rum Raisin Belgian Dubbel
Pearl Street Brewery – Oatmeal Stout
Rusty Nickel Brewing – Maltster Mash, Sproktoberfest, Paczki Milk Stout (Jelly Doughnut), Cafe Mocha Latte Milk Stout, Chocolate Milk Money Milk Stout, Girls Girls Girls Belgian Tripel
West Shore Brewing – Munich Dark
Windy Brew – Harvest Fest

Tickets can be purchased online at EventBrite. Malt Fest pre-sale tickets, which include a tasting glass, are $18 for the tastings alone or $24 for tastings and a pig roast dinner. The ticket price for the festival will increase at the door on the day of the festival.

Malt Fest takes place as part of Rusty Nickel’s Harvest Fest, which happens all weekend long. Harvest Fest includes live music, a pig roast, games, magic, face painting, pumpkin painting/carving, cider pressing, yoga, football, and more. Harvest Festival entry is free, though entrance to Malt Fest is 21+.

For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/566964297070113/.

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.