The 5th annual New York State Pint Days, a statewide event where $1 per pint glass sold at participating breweries directly supports the New York State Brewers Association, returns May 8-11. Each year the NYS Pint Days Glass features a unique design that celebrates NYS craft beer.
This year’s commemorative glass will be designed by Em Sauter, an award-winning cartoonist and founder of Pints and Panels, a site dedicated to visual beer education. The design showcases a “vibrant array of New York’s state emblems, from the state mammal – the beaver – to the state seal, making this glass a quintessential celebration of New York.”
“Em Sauter is known throughout the craft beer world not only as a professional cartoonist, but she’s also an expert in all things craft beer having traveled the world as a beer judge and author. We chose New York emblems as our theme this year to celebrate the state we live in, plus, it was a lot of fun watching Em create those emblems in her very special way,” said Paul Leone, executive director of the New York State Brewers Association.
In addition to being the founder of Pints and Panels, Sauter is an Advanced Cicerone®, BJCP-certified international beer judge, host of the All About Beer podcast, and contributor to Forbes, Craft Beer and Brewing, and Vinepair. She is also the author of four books on beer.
“It’s an honor to contribute to an event that highlights the creativity and community of New York’s craft beer scene,” said Sauter. “This design is a toast to the state’s brewing heritage and its passionate beer lovers.”
You can purchase a glass this year at Big Inlet Brewing, Hamburg Brewing, Resurgence Brewing, and Steel Leaf Brewing. You can find a complete list of participating breweries here.
“This year we moved Pint Days to the spring to coincide with New York Craft Beer Day, warming weather, and to help breweries bring more craft beer fans to their taprooms after the typically slower winter months,” said Leone. “There are 68 breweries selling these and only 4,000 glasses were made, so these are truly a limited edition glass. On a side note, each glass we’ve designed throughout the years has a fun little added element that only a few people will see or find, this year is no different.”
A portion of proceeds from each glass sold will go to benefit the New York State Brewers Association and its sub-guilds’ (Western New York, New York City, and Long Island Brewers Associations) mission to unify, protect, and propel the state’s more than 500 independent craft breweries through advocacy, education, and promotion.
“We are extremely excited to bring Pint Days back in 2025! Moving it to the spring allows craft beer fans to get back out to their local brewery and support them after the slower winter months,” Leone said. “The uniqueness and limited quantity of this glass featuring New York emblems, makes this year even more special, so people shouldn’t wait long to visit the participating breweries to get theirs before they are gone.”
Craft beer for a good cause – it’s as simple as that. Buy a pint glass and foster change. The beer in your glass can help to create a better community around you.
For a list and map of participating breweries and to learn more about NYS Pint Days, visit www.thinkNYdrinkNY.com/nys-pint-days. Enthusiasts are encouraged to share their Pint Days experiences on social media and tag @NYScraftbeer #thinkNYdrinkNY.
More than 40,000 glasses have been sold over the last four years. Both the 2021 & 2022 glasses (designed by NYSBA) were awarded Gold Crushies in the International Craft Beer Marketing Awards.
Brian Campbell is the 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).
