Craft beer and food don’t just coexist well – they elevate each other. And nowhere is that more obvious than in the taproom, where the beer is fresh, the food is intentional, and the goal is simple: make everything taste better than it would on its own. If you’re ordering beers without eating, you’re leaving a lot of enjoyment on the table, literally.
Beer is uniquely built for food in a way wine and spirits just aren’t. Bubbles cut through fat, salt, and spice, so every bite feels like the first. Beer covers more flavor ground than any other beverage category, and most craft beers enhance food without overpowering it. In short, beer is food-friendly by design.
You can get fancy if you want, but the best beer-and-food pairings follow a few simple rules – balance intensity, contrast, and don’t overthink. And unlike white-tablecloth dining, taprooms encourage experimentation. You don’t need a sommelier to tell you what works.
The next time you’re at a brewery, don’t just scan the tap list; look for something to eat. Order something, take a bite, take a sip, and trust your palate. And remember – beer is better with food.
Buffalo Beer League (Brian, Scott, Jesse & Mark)
Where: Big Ditch Brewing
What: Hayburner and Breuben
Why: I feel like, after all of these years, this one is a no-brainer. Big Ditch’s Breuben sandwich has long been one of the absolute best brewery taproom dishes, and there isn’t much more I can say about Hayburner. If you’d like something a bit lighter, you can sub in a Dayburner. I won’t fault you for that. This is a Mount Rushmore pairing.
Where: The Ridge West Seneca
What: Bacon Jam Burger & The Ridge IPA
Why: If you know me, you know I love burgers, so that’s why this list is littered with them. And the Ridge has a great one. I love the jalapenos and raspberry bacon jam are elite on this burger and washing it down with the Ridge’s flagship hops, The Ridge IPA, takes it to the next level. The Ridge has solid food and solid beer – I could have gone a number of different ways here, but this is the pairing that stood out to me. They don’t offer that hot sausage pizza anymore, but if they did, you might be reading about that. Go order the Bacon Jam Burger.
Where: Resurgence Brewing
What: Chicago Street Burger & Bridge Pils
Why: A fresh half-pound burger, American cheese, onion, pickles, thousand island, and lettuce on a brioche bun, and one of my favorite lagers in Western New York. I remember the first time I ever had this burger, this pairing and I think about it often. I’m at Resurgence a lot, but don’t enjoy this pairing as much as I should. If burgers aren’t your speed, don’t sleep on their wings and nachos either. Bridge complements the Chicago Street Burger so well – this pairing just screams Resurgence Brewing.
Where: Belt Line Kitchen & Brewery
What: Wings (Medium) and Traditional Czech Pilsner
Why: I don’t think I have told more people about a taproom pairing more than Belt Line’s wings and Traditional Czech Pilsner. I first had this during a brewery crawl and instantly fell in love. Not only is the beer top-notch and the best lager Belt Line has produced yet, the wings are also excellent in their own right. And the best part about this pairing is that each works to make the other better. Oh, and it doesn’t have to be medium wings – that’s just what I had ordered last. Go ahead and go crazy with it.
Where: BriarBrothers Brewing
What: 8 Hour Custom IPA & Buffalo Deep Dish pizza
Why: While we miss Hen House at BriarBrothers, Buffalo Deep Dish has done an admirable job of filling that void when we’re feeling pecking down in the shadows of Buffalo’s historic grain elevators. 8 Hour Custom is one of the best BB beers we’ve had and their best haze – and it’s only made better with a fabulous pizza from Buffalo Deep Dish. Everyone is in on the Detroit-style, but I recommend the Chicago Stuffed Deep Dish. The last one we ordered had one of the most insane cheese pulls I’ve ever seen. Make sure to get to the brewery early to get your pie order in – they sell out quick.
BuffaloBeerInfluencer (Emily Sorokes)
Where: Belt Line
What: Wings (Buffalo Bay and Saucy Boy) & First Loop Hazy IPA or Honey Kolsch
Why: In recent years, I’ve been having a lot of fun re-introducing myself to Buffalo’s best chicken wing spots and Belt Line quickly made their way towards the top of my list for not only the best brewery wings, but some of the best wings in the city. They have a way of getting their wings saucy AF and so flavorful while maintaining crispiness, and they even introduce a special flavor every week. My top favorite Belt Line wing sauces are Buffalo Bay, a spicy buffalo sauce with Old Bay seasoning, and Saucy Boy, their 716 sauce mixed with blue cheese and topped with parmesan.
For beer pairings, I like to get two half pours – partly because I love both beers so much, and partly because they both pair with the wings so differently. I love a hazy IPA and can never resist the First Loop. Its hoppiness makes the spice of the wings even bolder. I also love to pair my wings with Honey Kolsch, a crisp and drinkable beer with a touch of sweetness from the local honey. Where the First Loop intensifies the flavors of the wings, the Honey Kolsch cools it.
Four Bites (Andrew Galarneau)
Where: Wayland Brewing
What: Smoked Cashew Dip & Especial Mexican Lager
Why: Taproom menus usually have plenty of deep-fried whatnots, chockablock with hearty helpings of meats and cheeses. But vegans drink beer too, even though taproom pickings are often limited to French fries. So here’s to Wayland’s smoked cashew dip, served with tortilla chips and cashew guajillo salsa.
Richer than hummus, husky with notes of campfire and chile hum, Wayland’s smoked cashew dip plays especially nicely with Wayland’s Mexican lager, on the lighter side alcohol-wise, at 4 percent. Bitterness and icky-stick dankness have their rightful and honored places at a taproom in this, the Year of Our Beer 2025. But this satisfying vegan snack calls for a crisp and clean partner whose main goal is simply refreshment.
Content on Draft (Morgan Culhane)
Where: Brazen Brewing
What: Barbie World Fruited Sour & Fish Tacos
Why: Full disclosure: I love tacos, but don’t usually order fish tacos (or any seafood). But I DO love a fruity sour. Brazen Brewing’s Barbie World is tart, sweet, and refreshingly light and I’d happily drink it any day of the week. But in this instance, the beer might have been the reason I actually enjoyed these fish tacos so much.
The tacos themselves were super crispy and crunchy and stacked with toppings, including my personal favorites aka pickled red onions and jalapeños. Then sriracha aioli and lime crema drizzled on top sealed the deal.
The beer somehow brought out all those flavors so well that I honestly forgot I was eating fish. This pairing was bold, fun, and totally unexpected for me. It’s proof that sometimes the most surprising combinations end up being the best ones.
P.S. While this might scream summer to some, I’d argue it’s the perfect way to add a little sunshine to your day, even in the dead of winter.
WNY Beer Trail (Tom Whitmarsh)
Where: Big Ditch Brewing
What: Cheddar Bacon Burger & Turkey Trotter Blonde Ale
Why: The light hoppy flavor of the beer went perfectly with the juicy burger. The savory flavor from the beef, bacon and cheddar was a delicious addition to the light fruit flavor of the beer.
Where: Brazen Brewing
What: Chicken Wings (Medium) & Edelbrau Oktoberfest
Why: The Edelbrau has a light maltiness that pairs well with the wings. The wings were big and juicy and came with their delicious house blue cheese. They made for a perfect lunch on a beautiful day. I also got the side of truffle fries that comes with its own side of truffle dipping sauce. You don’t want to miss out on these.
WNY Brews (Scott Panfil)
Where: Gene McCarthy’s
What: Sheffield wings & Black Power Schwarzbier
Why: One of my favorite local beer and food pairings comes from Gene McCarthy’s and Old First Ward Brewing. My son really enjoys the Sheffield wings, so when we’re in the First Ward and get a chance to stop, I make sure to order a double. The Sheffield wings, if you’ve never had them, are an herbal dry-rubbed wing with only a hint of spice that goes really well with their homemade blue cheese. I like to pair that with Old First Ward’s Schwarzbier. It’s one of my favorite traditional styles, and you can’t find it in many places. Beer and wings are an obvious pair, but when you go to Gene McCarthy’s, you get wings you can’t get anywhere else and a beer style that’s rarely made in Buffalo—and both of them are made exceptionally well.
The Nittany Epicurean (Michael Chelus)
Where: 42 North Brewing
What: Fat Bob’s Two Meat Combo (brisket and pulled pork) & Asylum Porter
Why: 42 North is a long-time favorite. They’ve been one of Buffalo’s best breweries for years. Their beer selection is diverse, top-notch and readily available across the region. They’ve tried several concepts for food at their East Aurora taproom, but none have been as successful as their collaboration with Fat Bob’s Smokehouse. My go-to is Fat Bob’s Two Meat Combo with brisket and pulled pork paired with either their Asylum Porter or flagship IPA – Borderland.
Where: Britesmith Brewing
What: Breakfast Pizza & Billie Haze
Why: Another great local brewery that now boasts two taprooms is Britesmith Brewing. My family and I have enjoyed many meals over the years there, and their brunch can’t be beat. You can never go wrong with the wood-fired pizza at Britesmith, as it’s some of the best around, but that Breakfast Pizza that Chef Ross Warhol created as a nod to the best you can find made at a local, well-known supermarket is exceptional. Topped with garlic cream, scrambled eggs, sausage, potato and two types of cheese, it goes perfectly with Billie Haze, a double dry hopped New England IPA.
Where: Hamburg Brewing
What: Detroit Style Pizza, Buffalo Lemon Pepper Wings & Louie IPA
Why: The food in the taproom at Hamburg Brewing Company has continued to evolve over the years. They now offer a wide variety of dishes with some very dialed in pizza and wings. My favorite pizza on the menu is the Detroit-style with classic cheese and pepperoni. Tack on some of their Buffalo Lemon Pepper dry rub wings paired with my usual choice – Louie IPA – and you’ve got yourself a good day.
The Buffalo Brews Podcast (Jason Ettinger)
Where: Britesmith Brewing
What: Meat Street Pizza & 1811 Kölsch
Why: I have a few go-tos if I end up at a particular brewery. Some of my favorites include Britesmith Brewing. If I am going, the choice is almost always the Meat Street Pizza. The combination of the house sausage, pepperoni and pancetta with the chili honey makes for a satisfying marriage of flavor. Pair that with the 1811 Kölsch to enhance the spice and honey sweetness. If the sausage is the focus, then the beer of choice is Britesmith IPA. Of course, any trip to Britesmith is incomplete without the Garlic Parmesan Fries.
Where: Brickyard Brewing
What: Brisket/Ribs & Procrastinator Dopplebock
Why: Another is Brickyard Brewing. I enjoy a nice smoke ring and sweet BBQ sauce from their brisket and ribs. You need caramel and malt to complement it, so I order the Procrastinator Dopplebock. It hits hard at nearly 9%, but brings the tastes home.
Buffalo Beer Geeks (Paul Marko)
Where: Gene McCarthy’s
What: Stuffed Pepper Hoagie & König Pils
Why: Being a vegetarian can be a challenge when pairing food and beer at our local taprooms. First off, brewery taprooms are often quite limited in their available options, which cuts down the possibilities straight away. This being said, when my belly-up-to-the-bar comfort food cravings hit, I head to Gene’s for their delicious stuffed-pepper hoagie – with their house-made coleslaw on the side, of course. Sitting next to my plate will be a tall glass of König Pils, OFW’s world-class German-style, hopped-up pilsner.
Where: Pod City Beer Labs
What: Spinach Bread-Bowl Antipasto & Inferno Pod Ale.
Why: When eating healthier, I opt for the spinach bread-bowl antipasto from Pizza Plant, paired with their wonderfully hoppy and balanced Pod City Inferno Pod Ale.
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 X (@buffbeerleague), Instagram, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).
