Four local breweries (Rusty Nickel Brewing, Eli Fish Brewing, Spotted Octopus, Pressure Drop Brewing) and one meadery (Lilly Belle Meads) have joined forces on Open Bags #6, a massive collaborative fruited sour.
They teamed up with a number of other area breweries and wineries (Stoneyard Brewing, Brindle Haus Brewing, Heritage Hill, Keuka Brewing, Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, McGraw Box Brewing, Nine Maidens, Noble Shepherd, Stumblin’ Monkey, Swiftwater, Willow Rock) on the new collab, which was brewed at Stoneyard Brewing for the first time ever.
Brewery collaborations are fertile ground for innovation and creativity. These partnerships between breweries are not just about creating unique brews, they are about fostering community, sharing knowledge, and pushing the boundaries of what beer can be.
Collaborations allow breweries to share their passion for brewing with others who have similar values and goals. This camaraderie helps strengthen the craft beer community, making it more resilient and supportive.
“The Open Bags Project found a new home at Stoneyard, and for their inaugural version we went BIG. We brought in 15 other breweries and used a total of 14 different fruits for this fruited sour,” the beers’ Untappd post read.
Open Bags #6 is brewed with banana, blackberry, grape, lime, mango, papaya, passionfruit, peach, plum, raspberry, rhubarb, soursop, strawberry, tangerine, vanilla, milk sugar, and ice cream powder.
“The beer came out pretty cool,” Eli Fish head brewer Adam Burnett says. “[It’s the] first one we haven’t brewed at Eli Fish, as it’s just gotten too popular. It started a few years ago as us, West Shore Brewing, and Lilly Belle, burning through odd boxes of fruit we didn’t know what to do with. Now we’re here, nearly 30 breweries deep, doing the same thing. I guess we were on to something. I have a feeling it’ll keep growing. People like finding a use for that one random box of fruit sitting on a skid in the back of the brewery.”
Brewery collaborations are a vital and enriching aspect of the craft beer industry. They embody the spirit of community, drive innovation and creativity, facilitate knowledge sharing, and offer substantial marketing benefits.
“It was a really awesome experience of hanging out all day with multiple other breweries and just swapping war stories,” Pressure Drop head brewer Karl Kolbe said.
As the craft beer market continues to grow and evolve, these collaborative efforts will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping its future, ensuring that the industry remains dynamic, inclusive, and continually inspiring.
“Brewing collaborations are a dynamic exchange of passion, expertise, and creativity, especially for small breweries,” Spotted Octopus Brewing head brewer Domenic Nicotera said. “By uniting their talents and resources, breweries, particularly smaller operations, can push the boundaries of flavor and innovation, crafting extraordinary beers that captivate beer lovers. These partnerships foster a rich environment for learning and growth, as brewers share knowledge, techniques, and insights. Collaborations empower small breweries to expand their reach, strengthen their brand identities, and forge deeper connections with beer enthusiasts, ultimately enriching the local craft beer scene.”
You can find Open Bags #6 on draft and in 16oz. 4-pack cans to go at select breweries and retailers.
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).
