October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a trio of local breweries are using their best asset – their beer – to help give back. Lockport’s New York Beer Project and Wilson’s Woodcock Brothers Brewing are donating a portion of proceeds from beer sales to further cancer research all month long. Community Beer Works are also doing their part to give back with a number of events this month.

Woodcock, along with their distributor Certo Brothers, will donate $1 from every sale can sold of Jubilation, an American IPA infused with grapefruit, to the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

In 2015, one of Woodcock’s owners, Andrea Woodcock, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thanks to early detection via a routine mammogram and to the dedication of the staff at Roswell Park, she is now cancer free.

“Jubilation is a salute to the joy we felt at hearing the great news,” the brewery says. “We brewed it to commemorate all those affected by breast cancer. To give back to the amazing medical industry that works tirelessly to help those that are diagnosed. And to bring awareness to the fact that a yearly mammogram and early detection are the keys to breast health.”

New York Beer Project are putting their signature pink beer, Walter’s Jelly Donut Raspberry Kolsch, to work and are donating $1 from each pint sold at participating venues to the American Cancer Society. You can currently grab a pint and help the cause at Jack Astors, Deep South Taco, Panorama on Seven and Gramma Mora’s. More venues will be added soon.

“Pink beer? Ummm – unapologetically ‘Yes,’” NYBP Owner Kelly Krupski says. “We were one of the first breweries in WNY to brew something pretty, thanks to the addition of 550lbs of fresh raspberries. This beer is actually good for you with copious amounts of Vitamin K and antioxidants. In our constant attempt to #MakeADifference, because we all truly can if we try, New York Beer Project is thrilled to team up with American Cancer Society for Drink Pink October. NYBP and ACS kicked off their serendipitous partnership in August with the uber-fun Celebrity Bartending event that raised over $2,500 for the WNY American Cancer Society. Now, for Breast Cancer Awareness month and the Cancer Society’s #MakingStrides716 campaign, New York Beer Project and ACS are excited to announce that they are continuing their partnership by #MakingADifference drinking local craft beer.”

“We make beer for a living – how fun is that- so we feel really great about being able to spread the good vibes. You know, it’s like the proverbial pebble and the ripples extending way beyond – yada yada – but we really feel it, and live it every day,” the brewery adds.

Not one to be left out when it comes to giving back to their community, Community Beer Works have a pair of charitable events on their calendar this month. First up, on October 17 (5-8pm), the brewery is putting their Frank Pale Ale to work once again, this time for Arts Access, which provides residents in WNY receiving public assistance with an Arts Access Pass, which gives them and their family free admission and transportation to museums and theaters. During the event, CBW will donate $5 the Arts Access for event $5 Frank purchase.

A few days later, on October 18 (6-9pm), CBW is hosting a fundraising happy hour to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association WNY. The Association will be on-hand to collect donations and further their mission to end Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementias. Receive $1 off pints of core beers when you donate at least $10 in CBW’s taproom.

CBW has led a true grassroots charge to foster a communal change through sales of their beer in the past, having raised and donated $750 to Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York Action Fund, $2,775 for Journey’s End Refugee Services of Buffalo, $1,335 for Gay and Lesbian Youth Services of WNY, $770 for Pinball EDU Charity, $833 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northtowns and have also worked to donate to TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), WNY Crisis Services and Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER.

If you know me, or have read my writing, it’s no secret that I’m passionate about beer, particularly when local breweries use it to give back. I am especially passionate about donating to breast cancer research as my family has been stricken by the disease and I have lost loved ones to it. As soon as I heard what Woodcock was doing, I immediately purchased cans of Jubilation to help out in some small fashion. I’ll be doing the same with Walter’s Jelly Donut soon. If you have the means, I sincerely hope you do the same. You’ll be making a bigger difference than you think and together we can showcase the true power of our beer scene. Thank you in advance.

Brian Campbell is a co-founder/Brand Manager of the BNBA’s enthusiast arm, 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 buffalobeerleague@aol.com, on Twitter (@buffbeerleague), Instagram (@buffalobeerleague), Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague) and www.buffalobeerleague.com.