In Buffalo, two things we love and hold most dear are the city itself, and hops. I mean, 716 Day (July 16) is a local (unofficial) holiday for a reason. It’s a day to appreciate all things Buffalo – the culture, people, businesses and traditions that make this city we call home truly unique. It’s a celebration of everything we cherish as proud Buffalonians – especially local craft beer. From neighborhood pubs and corner watering holes to beer bars and craft breweries, and everywhere in between, 716 Day is especially meaningful to the local craft scene.

716 Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate not only the liquid in your glass, but also the brewers, brewery staff and everyone else that helped get it there. This year, Big Ditch Brewing is putting hops on the menu for 716 Day this year with the inaugural 716 IPA Dy, which will take place simultaneously at both their Buffalo and Lockport taprooms.

The brewery hosts Stoutsgiving each fall (and if you haven’t been to this event, you need to go this year), so they thought that adding a day centered on their hoppier creations over the summer just made sense, Big Ditch president Matt Kahn told me. And the stars aligned this 716 Day.

“We obviously make many IPAs at Big Ditch,” Kahn says. “The general manager of our Buffalo taproom, Connor, thought it would be fun to do a Stoutsgiving-like event six months later, in the summer. 716 IPA Day just sort of made sense. 716 Day is a weird local holiday that no one really knows how to celebrate. We thought we could piggyback (pun full intended) on it to turn it into a beer holiday. Is this a good idea? We’ll find out in two weeks!”

The brewery will tap five new small batch IPAs on draft (and limited single cans):

  • Piggyback West Coast IPA (6.3%) – This clone of Russian River’s Blind Pig IPA features a bevy of old school hops and amped up bitterness. A classic west coast IPA in every sense.
  • Leisure Suit Cold IPA (5.0%) – The most refreshing option on the menu, this is a rework of the once-brewed Paisley Pockets IPA, featuring Nelson, Simcoe, and Motueka hops, and has been cold conditioned like a lager to produce a clean finish. (Single 16oz. cans available)
  • Third Degree Burner – 12% Hayburner – You know what this is. No one asked for this, but here it is. More Mule than Rocket Mule. Served in 9 oz glasses. (Single 16oz. cans available)
  • Alora Krush Hazy IPA (7%) – A hazy IPA that features some new school hops on this menu. The Alora and Krush hop combo results in flavors of peach, mango, guava, and fruit cocktail. (Single 16oz. cans available)
  • Tile Breaker Honey Double IPA (9%) – The only beer made (once) before. This double IPA is brewed with local wildflower honey, Mosaic and El Dorado hops. The aroma and flavor is bursting with flavors of fresh cut melon, stone fruit, and a subtle floral honey note in its long lasting finish.

All beers will be available at 11 am.

To me, these sound like an excellent lineup of hops. I will be trying all of them, but I am probably most looking forward to the Piggyback because I am a stan for local West Coast IPAs. It’s one of my favorite beer styles, one I am constantly on the lookout for. I am most intrigued by Third Degree Burner. I love any and all variants of Hayburner and at 12%, I can’t wait to see how this beer turns out. Alora Krush sounds interesting to me because I love both of those hop varietals on their own and am looking forward to tasting the combination. Also, I can’t tell you the last time I had a good Cold IPA, so I am looking forward to Leisure Suit as well. Like I said, I will be trying them all.

Kahn agrees.

“Probably the Piggyback,” he says of the beer he’s most looking forward to. “I’m most intrigued with how this one will come out – I have a pretty good idea of how the others will taste. Although I’ll probably drink a lot more of the Leisure Suit.”

716 Day is less about an area code and more about the shared identity of being proudly from the 716. It’s one of the best days of the year to experience the city’s brewing culture while supporting small, independent businesses. We aren’t called the City of Good Neighbors for nothing.

If you haven’t been paying attention to the local beer scene over these last few months and years, these breweries need our support now more than ever. It’s no secret that breweries are struggling. I find myself reporting about more closures than openings as of late, which is not a trend I want to see continue. We can do our part to help. Go out somewhere locally owned this 716 Day – order a pint or two, maybe a flight, grab something to eat and take some beer home, because our friends behind the bar and in the brewhouse could use the support.

“Challenging, in every way,” Kahn says of the current state of the local beer scene. “There are pockets of success, but they’re getting harder to find.”

If you need me come Thursday, July 16, you can find me saddled up to the bar at Big Ditch (I’ll be downtown if you must know) with a full flight of hops in front of me. Pull up a stool alongside me and let’s raise a toast to this great city of ours with some great beer in our glass for one hell of a 716 Day. Embeer Buffalo!

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).