While looking back and taking stock of your 2017 and making resolutions for 2018 are two
of the biggest tasks on your New Year’s Eve to-do list, the task at the top of that list is figuring out just where in the city you are going to celebrate the onset of the next 365 days. Luckily for you, you live in Buffalo, so the possibilities and options for reveling are nearly endless. And, even luckier for you, we have done all of the leg work and compiled the best parties that are going down on December 31 and put them all right here for your fingertips to easily peruse.
Whether you like craft beer (duh), craft spirits and cocktails, ball drops or keg drops, there is something going on for any type of reveler. Check out our comprehensive list below, and if you see a link, click it, because it will being you to an event page and/or page to purchase tickets.
42 North Brewing: Annual Keg Drop in either the brewhouse or the biergarten, live music with Falling Rock from 9pm-12:30am and Bier de Brut (Bier de Champagne) on tap. Free.
Big Ditch Brewing: Four drink tickets (beer, wine or mixed drinks), limited release beer releases throughout the night (The Tower 2017 American Barleywine, Tiramisu Milk Stout, Peanut Butter Brownie Milk Stout, DDH Hayburner IPA on cask), food stations & hand passed appetizers, DJ spinning all night, photobooth with free prints and party favors & noisemakers. $70. Designated Driver tickets available for $50, includes everything except the drink tickets. Wristband will get you unlimited soda and coffee all night.
Brewed & Bottled Craft Beer Shop: Stop in for a beer and watch the ball drop on TV. Complimentary snacks will be offered and beer will be flowing all evening. Free.
Buffalo Riverworks: Champagne toast, hats & noisemakers, hors d’oeuvre stations at 7pm, dinner stations at 8:30pm, cash bar from 7pm – 8pm, full bar included from 8pm – 12am, dessert Station at 10pm, live music. $75 single or $135 couple.
Lockhouse Distillery: Entertainment provided by DJ Rick Jameson. Music, champagne toast at midnight, light appetizers, and more balloons than is reasonable, special cocktail menu and champagne / sparkling wine glass and bottle specials all night and more, with a champagne station for quick refills. Black tie optional. $5.
New York Beer Project: Dance the night away as NYBP’s resident house DJ plays the best music of 2017 in the Floor Two Indoor Biergarten & Party Bar, which will be open until 2am. Free.
Resurgence Brewing: Open bar from 9pm-1am (including beer, wine and cocktails), exclusive beer release, a Belgian Blonde Ale, light buffet with passed hors devours, s’mores station, champagne toast at midnight, complementary cigars in the biergarten (limited quantity), Polaroid photo station, cornhole, games and more. $100.
Rusty Nickel Brewing: Music, games, and fun for everyone at this 50’s themed party. Fully catered, open bar includes RNBC beer, NYS wine, NYS mixed drinks, cider, mixologies, a full line of non-alcoholic beverages including craft sodas, specialty toast at midnight, one of a kind keg drop, 50’s music and recent hits jamming all night. $60.
SATO Brewpub: $7 pours of Elyx Rose Gold Geisha Punch, $7 Elyx Mules, $2 off any cocktail with Absolute Elyx, $1 off SATO’s Kantan Sour and Shudo-In dubbel (kick either beer and win a prize), late night food menu including ramen. Wear your best copper/rose gold attire, mention this event and get a free drink. Free.
West Shore Brewing: Live music will be provided by AJ “AppleJack” Tetzlaff between 7-10pm. They will also be tapping a new session IPA at 6 before the music starts and will have their newest IPA, the Green Flyer, a New England inspired DDH IPA that comes in at 6.85% and uses heavy amounts of Citra, Mosaic and Vic Secret. December 30. Free.
Make sure you get out and grab something locally made to celebrate the New Year, but above all else, please drink responsibly and be safe. And if you drink, please don’t drive. If you need a ride home, try Lyft. New users can download the Lyft app and use the promo code ‘BNBA’ to receive four $5 credits towards rides.
From all of us here at the Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association and the Buffalo Beer League, happy new year and thank you for a killer 2017. Let’s make 2018 even better, shall we?
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.
