Number of Local Breweries Giving Back to Charity During October

If you’ve read my work in the past, you know I’ve often talked about the power of craft beer, especially local craft beer. Not only is craft beer a market mover in Western New York, its integral to community. In essence, craft beer is more than just beer. The liquid itself is great, but it also allows many to make a living, puts money back into the local economy, brings joy to many, and supports the very community that, in turn, supports it.

That leads me to the crux of this very article you are reading. A number of local breweries are using their beer and the month of October to give back to local charities. So, case in point, if you want to experience to true power of craft beer (and yes, I know it tastes great), just simply read these words, drink these beers and let the fresh, cold pint in your hands make a difference in our community.

First Line Brewing is giving a percentage of sales this month to Veterans One-Stop Center of WNY, who “empower veterans to achieve economic success, housing stability, and emotional health and well-being by offering a wide holistic range of social and health services needed to complete the transition from military to civilian life.”

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a cause incredibly near and dear to my heart, New York Beer Project is donating $1 from every pint sold of their Walter’s Jelly Donut to The American Cancer Society. NYBP Victor will also be donating a portion of beer sales to the Rochester ACS chapter.

“This will be the third year for this campaign in Lockport,” NYBP Owner Kelly Krupski says. “The month usually includes fundraising events which assist the American Cancer Society, such as celebrity bartending events, auctions, raffles, and trivia events, and even though we are confident these can be done maintaining social distancing and wearing masks, we unfortunately can’t hold them given Governor Cuomo’s state mandates. I really love being there for our community, and being able to help charities that are there for our people. And donating is fun when you can contribute by enjoying a delicious pink beer, such as Walter’s Jelly Donut.”

A number of breweries, Big Ditch Brewing (October 19-25, $1 from every pint of Cinnamon Apple Amber, Fall Black and German food specials), Britesmith Brewing (Through October 25, $1 from Oktoberfest pints and $2 from Oktoberfest crowlers), Ellicottville Brewing, Hamburg Brewing (Through October 25, $1 from Oktoberfest pints, 6-packs and growlers), NYBP ($1 from Grasshopper Pie Porter) and Flying Bison Brewing (Through October 23, 100% of cash purchases of cask beer each Friday) are all donating a portion of proceeds to Oishei Children’s Hospital.

“We were approached by some folks from the Children’s Hospital Foundation looking for creative ways to help do some fundraising for the hospital. They had a fall theme in mind, so we landed on using some fall beer to help out,” Hamburg Owner John Russo says. “The reality is that Children’s Hospital runs on really thin margins and relies heavily on donations to balance their budget. After a lengthy time of minimal income with the loss of things like elective surgery, the hospital needs all the help it can get. The good news is that we are one of several local breweries in the area participating in this and hopefully we can generate enough together to move the needle for the hospital. We all know someone who has benefitted from the existence of the hospital, let’s hope this can help out the ones we don’t know.”

“In the 4 years since New York Beer Project has been open, they are so pleased to have been able to donate over $20,000 to Oishei Children’s Hospital,” Krupski adds of NYBP.

Russo explains the brewery chose their Oktoberfest as their charity beer because, quite frankly, its his favorite beer the brewery makes.

We are proud to support John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital with the Fall Fest FOR Children’s campaign!

🍂September 28 – October 25

🍻$1.00 of every pint, 6-pack and growler of Hamburg Oktoberfest sold at the brewery will be donated to John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital pic.twitter.com/3vvUdeq32Y

— Hamburg Brewing (@HamburgBrewing) September 30, 2020

“This year I think it’s the best one we ever produced,” Hamburg Taproom Manager Matt Piazza says of their Oktoberfest. “And we have been making for the past seven years and I think we have it dialed in right where it needs to be. And we have been hearing the same thing from our guests this year as well. It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t really let it shine at our anniversary party this year. But we know that it will just be bigger and better than ever next year.”

Please help us collect cleaning supplies for donation to Response to Love Center in the city’s East Side. Stop in during business hours the next few weeks & drop your donation off at the bar.

All donations get you FREE beer…just how much depends on how generous you are! pic.twitter.com/lE4UUIWs2y

— Flying Bison (@flyingbison) October 1, 2020

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 buffalobeerleague@aol.com, on Twitter (@buffbeerleague), Instagram (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).