Spotted Octopus Brewing Company will open April 22 at 41 Edward Street in downtown Buffalo. Partners Ken Shaw, Domenic Nicotera and Barbara Priore will focus on experimental brews and constantly rotating flavors and styles. The brewery offers 12 taps.
“I’ve been homebrewing for 27 years. It was a fun hobby,” says Nicotera. “But during the pandemic, I started considering if it could be an occupation.”
Nicotera and Shaw began visiting breweries throughout New York State. They met many fellow brewers willing to give advice and share their experiences.
“We imagined lots of possibilities but a small, farm-brew operation was a good fit for us,” says Shaw. “When Barb joined in, we were able to get the plan moving.”
Shaw is a well-known scenery and costume designer in Buffalo theatre. He and Priore worked together as part of the production team at Theatre of Youth. Nicotera is a senior vice president at M&T Bank.
Shaw’s theatre talents put him in charge of the Spotted Octopus overall design from logo to décor. He says the look for the brewery was sparked when he brought in a working 1940s-era refrigerator.
“It fit the space like a kitschy stage prop,” he says. “I painted it orange and kept adding in fun, comfortable items. Each table, like Barb’s old dining room set, has a story. We ended up with a one-of-a-kind setting where people can relax and enjoy good beer.”
Spotted Octopus is a nano brewery, which limits brewing to three barrels or less of each beer.
“We are set up to experiment and frequently rotate beers,” says Nicotera.
Spotted Octopus will eventually host four guest taps.
The opening lineup of beers are: light and fruity selections are 202 Feet, a Czech Pilsner, Ella, a Blonde Ale and Peach & Pepper, a Golden Ale. Hopped choices are Darkness Calls, a Black IPA, Julia’s Splendid Daydream, a NEIPA and Double Dynamite, a Double IPA. Dark choices are Meditative Brew, a Scottish Ale and
Chocolate Vanilla Porter.
A light food menu, keeping with New York State products, will be added soon.
There’ll be New York state cheeses with locally sourced vegetables and Top Seedz Crackers. They will also have a variety of flavors from What’s Pop-In Gourmet Popcorn.
Hours for April and May are Fridays, 4-11 p.m., and Saturdays, noon–11 p.m.
Spotted Octopus can accommodate 50 patrons inside and 30 on the patio. The upstairs room can be booked for small parties.