Two things Buffalo is known for – snow and drinking. The two often go hand-in-hand, because what is better during a snowstorm than hunkering down with a fresh, cold beer, or three? So it would make sense that it has become customary that winter storms here in Western New York are named after local beers.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz looked to Hamburg Brewing this time for the namesake for this latest storm, naming it Winter Storm OMS. He took to Twitter to relay the tasty news.
“Our @ErieCountyDPW names snow storms after local microbrews. Tonight’s storm is named after @HamburgBrewingCompany’s OMS (Oatmeal Milk Stout) beer. Sounds like an appropriate drink for a cold winter’s night (just don’t drink and drive),” Poloncarz tweeted.
Our @ErieCountyDPW names snow storms after local microbrews. Tonight’s storm is named after @HamburgBrewing Company’s OMS (Oatmeal Milk Stout) beer. Sounds like an appropriate drink for a cold winter’s night (just don’t drink and drive).
— Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) February 15, 2021
OMS, short for Oatmeal Milk Stout, is Hamburg’s flagship stout, a “flavorful beer with a roasty stout backbone that’s smoothly balanced by the sweetness of oats and milk sugar. Don’t be fooled, this beer is hearty, yet very drinkable,” according to the brewery.
You can find cans of OMS at the brewery or wherever great beer is sold right now. You can also find the Coconut & Chocolate variant at the taproom.
I recently found a bottle of 2018 OMS in the back on my beer fridge and, after thinking it was going to be a drain pour, it was quite good. It basically tasted like adult chocolate milk, and was so smooth. So, if you have any old cans or bottles kicking around, drink them before you dump them.
For more information on Hamburg brewing, visit https://www.hamburgbrewing.com/.
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).