Sam Hoyt, regional director of Empire State Development, speaking about the 2nd annual Buffalo Brewers Festival at Canalside at the kick off press conference on Tuesday, June 16, 2015.
The Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association (BNBA) will host its second annual Buffalo Brewers Festival on Saturday, June 20, from 3 to 7 p.m. The event will once again be held at Canalside and it is the only festival in Western New York hosted by and for local craft brewers. The festival will feature more than 30 New York State breweries and local food-to-table vendors, as well as live entertainment by local headliners Skiffle Minstrels, Steve Johnson and Corey Kertzie, Flatbed and Steam Donkeys.
Participating breweries in this year’s festival include: Big Ditch Brewing Co., Community Beer Works, Ellicottville Brewing Co., Flying Bison Brewing Company, Four Mile Brewing, Gordon Biersch, Hamburg Brewing Co., Old First Ward, Pearl Street & Pan American Grill, Resurgence Brewing Company, Southern Tier Brewing Co. and Woodcock Brothers Brewery.
“Our second annual Brewers Festival at Canalside will once again showcase the best of Western New York’s craft beer and food producers,” said Willard Brooks, chairman of the BNBA board of directors. “This event is one of the only festivals in the region that truly celebrates locally-produced craft beer and farm-to-table products, aligning with the BNBA’s mission to promote sustainability and buying local.”
“Part of Governor Cuomo’s Taste New York Initiative is to promote agribusiness across the state,” said Sam Hoyt, regional president of Empire State Development. “The Buffalo Brewer’s festival at Canalside is a unique event in which it showcases the local breweries and farms. These local breweries are instrumental in not only improving our local economy and creating jobs, but also in providing a boost to the state’s agricultural and tourism industries.”
“The craft beer industry is another component of the continuing resurgence of our city,” said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. “I thank our local brewers for their commitment to downtown Buffalo and our beautiful waterfront by hosting the 2nd Annual Buffalo Brewers Festival at Canalside, where people from all over Western New York and beyond can experience the vibrancy of Buffalo.”
“The growth of the micro-brewing industry in the Buffalo Niagara region is another unique quality of life asset and business opportunity that has captured national attention while shining a very positive light on the community and we are pleased to actively promote it,” said Paul Pfeiffer, Director of Investor & Public Relations at Buffalo Niagara Enterprise.
There are various types of tickets available for purchase at www.BuffaloBrewersFestival.com. The ticket options are as follows:
Brewer’s Fest Ticket – $40 each
Includes ALL beer tastings from 30+ New York State Breweries from 3 to 7 p.m. Live music by regional bands from 3 to 7 p.m.
Brewer’s Fest Ticket (Early Admission) – $49 each
Includes all beer tastings from 30+ New York State Breweries from 3 to 7 p.m.
Best of Buffalo – VIP Ticket – $75 each
Includes early entry and all beer tastings from 30+ New York State Breweries from 3 to 7 p.m. VIPs are allowed access to the VIP tent and VIP-only brews and pairings.
Meet the Brewer – Session 1
Join brewers from 4:30-5:30 p.m. as they collaborate on pairing their brews with courses of various purveyors. $5 tasting ticket is required. Only 75 tickets are available and can only be purchased on site.
Meet the Brewer – Session 2
Join brewers from 5:40-6:40 p.m. as they collaborate on pairing their brews with courses of various purveyors. $5 tasting ticket is required. Only 75 tickets are available and can only be purchased on site.
Designated Driver Ticket
Designated Driver admission is valid from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Ticket price includes admission to the event and a free bottle of water. Tasting glasses are not provided to designated drivers. $10 ticket is required. Must purchase tickets at the gate.
The Buffalo Brewer’s Festival is a 21 and over only event. There will be no outside food or beverages are allowed into the festival area. Tickets are non-refundable.
Tickets are available online at buffalobrewersfestival.com and at the following breweries: Aurora Brew Works, Big Ditch, Community Beer Works, Consumers Beverages, Flying Bison, Hamburg Brewery, Kegworks, Niagara Tradition, Pearl Street, Premier Gourmet and Resurgence Brewery.
For more information, please visit buffalobrewersfestival.com.
About The Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association: The Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association exists to unify the Buffalo Niagara craft beer community in order to increase regional sales of craft beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness, consumer education, and to monitor and assure a thriving craft beer and brewing industry within the Buffalo Niagara Region. For more information about the BN Brewers Association, including membership, please visit https://buffalobeerleague.com.
About Canalside: Canalside is a growing regional destination and entertainment district, situated on 21 historic acres along downtown Buffalo’s emerging waterfront on the Buffalo River. Canalside earns its name from its storied past, when the Erie Canal Harbor was built in 1825 as the western terminus of the Erie Canal. Until six years ago, the land was barren and inaccessible, but the area has been reclaimed by the state’s Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. and developed with public and private investment. With more than 1,000 yearly events, Canalside is fast becoming the go-to place for in- and out-of-towners of all ages to learn, play and relax. For more information, visit www.canalsidebuffalo.com.
