A word of warning – do not throw out your PakTechs!
You’re probably asking, what on Earth is a PakTech? Well, the explanation is simple, they are plastic beer holders. You know the ones, right? Those can holders (they come in 4-pack and 6-pack varieties) that you just toss aside after ripping the beer off of? Yeah, those are PakTechs.
After you finish your beer, do not toss them in the recycling bin because you can save them and turn them in for FREE BEER. According to the manufacturer, returning PakTechs has kept over 46,000,000 pounds of plastic out of landfills and oceans.
Where do these magical return programs exist you ask? There are currently three breweries spread across Western New York where you can turn your left over PakTechs into more beer.
25 Pine St., East Aurora (805-7500)
East Aurora’s 42 North Brewing, one the first breweries in our area to adopt the PakTech Redemption Program, are offering one 4-pack per person, per day for every 50 or more Paktechs brought back to the brewery. The PakTechs must be in working condition, fully sanitized and can be either the 4 or 6-pack carriers.
202 E. Greene St., Olean (373-2337)
If you are in the Southern Tier and have a cache of PakTechs, then bring them over to Olean’s Four Mile Brewing, who is offering a free drink chip in return for 20 PakTechs. Just make sure that the PakTechs you bring in to trade are in good working condition.
733 US-20A, Strykersville (585-805-4006)
For those in Wyoming County, you do not have to go far to score some free beer for those PakTechs you have accumulating next to your beer fridge. Head up to Windy Brew and trade in 10 PakTechs for one can of beer with purchase. Limit one per customer. Again, make sure that your PakTechs are in good working condition.
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).
