Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl in Clarence Hollow

Clarence Hollow’s Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl takes place on Saturday, May 2 after the 2nd Annual Bob Lenz Memorial 5K Run/Walk. Enjoy festive themes plus food and drink specials at participating bars and restaurants in Clarence Hollow, including Shalooby Loofer Brewing, Morluski’s, This Little Pig, The Hollow Bistro and Brew and Humbert House. Shalooby Loofer will feature buy-one get-one 1/2 off pints and $5 marg-ALE-ritas and BREW-jitos. Bar Crawl Passports are required to redeem Cinco de Mayo food and drink specials at participating bars (all registered 5K Run/Walk participants receive a complimentary passport).

Southern Tier Drops Throwback Beers for One Night Only

Don’t Call It A Comeback, because for one night only, on May 2 (11 am), at Southern Tier Brewing’s homebase of the Empty Pint in Lakewood, the brewery is resurrecting a number of defunct beers from their catalog, including Lake Shore Fog, 2XStout, Gemini, Chautauqua Lager, PMX, Raspberry Wheat, and possibly even more. All of these beers will be available on draft for a limited time. There will be live music from Dark Water Duo (1-4pm) and Honky Tonk Heroes (6-9pm), special food features and more. The event is free and open to the public.

Cider Week New York Returns

Cider Week New York returns from Saturday, May 2 through Sunday, May 10, with events happening across the state. The event brings together cider lovers, cidermakers, chefs and retailers in a shared appreciation for the craft and culture of cider. New this year is the NY Cider Passport, a new interactive experience that features digital badges, in-depth cidery information, member perks and discounts at participating cideries and NY Cider events and more. The passport is $50 for the year, but there is a special discounted rate of $40 during Cider Week. The event is presented by the New York Cider Association. You can learn more at www.newyorkcider.org.

Hofbrauhaus Maibock May Barrel Tapping

Hofbrauhaus will host their May barrel tapping on May 7 (6 pm) with Maibock with Honorary Burgermeister Richard Pyszczek, commissioner of the Erie County 250th Commission and NYS250 Commission, alongside Chris Kramer, vice president of the General Pulaski Association. Maibock features wildflower honey and sweet malt aromas with strong malt notes, a smooth finish and a touch of hop acidity. All guests (21 & over) in attendance will receive a free sample of the beer. For reservations, visit www.hofbrauhausbuffalo.com.

Mortalis Brewing To Releases Beers For May The 4^th

Mortalis Brewing is celebrating May The 4^th with a pair of beer releases – Hydra (Blue Milk) and Mangolorian & Grogu (Double Milkshake IPA) – on Thursday, April 30. Hydra (Blue Milk) is fruited smoothie sour with blue raspberry, strawberry, pineapple, cream, and coconut, and Mangolorian & Grogu is a Double IPA brewed with Citra, New Zealand Cascade, and Mosaic hops, as well as mango puree, vanilla, and milk sugar. Mortalis will also release Allen’s Vacation Double IPA, Gaia (Krush) Double IPA and Second Breakfast New Zealand Pilsner. All beers will be available in 4-pack 16oz. cans.

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 brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on X (@buffbeerleague), Instagram, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).

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Ellicottville Brewing to Open Bemus Point Location April 24

In a surefire sign of spring and summer in Western New York, Ellicottville Brewing is opening their Bemus Point location on April 24. The taproom, located on Chautauqua Lake, will be open Friday, April 24 (4-9 pm), Saturday, April 25 (12-9 pm), and Sunday, April 26 (12-4 pm). And in honor of opening weekend, there will be live music with Jade Giambrone (6-9 pm on Friday), a bar-exclusive Happy Hour from 4-6 pm ($5 draft beer and wine) and EBC Seltzer tasting on Saturday (2–4 pm, 6–8 pm). EBC Bemus Point is located at 57 Lakeside Drive.

Limited Tickets Remain For This Weekend’s CollaBEERation Festival

One of the most unique Western New York beer festivals, CollaBEERation, takes place this weekend, Saturday, April 25, at The Powerhouse, and a limited amount of tickets still remain. The event features craft beer, cider, mead and more created by members of the Buffalo Beer Geeks community, who teamed up with more than 50 participating Western New York craft venues to create innovative beverages for the event. A number of those collaborative brews have been announced and can be found here. You can also find out more about the event on the official preview podcast with WNY Brews. General admission tickets ($70, includes unlimited pours and commemorative glass) can be purchased here.

Thin Man To Brew New Blue Raspberry Minkey Boodle

Thin Man Brewery recently held a March Madness-inspired tournament to choose the next variant of their popular Minkey Boodle fruited sour and Blue Raspberry was the flavor that reigned supreme of the field of sixteen possible flavor combinations. Blue Raspberry beat out Raspberry Grapefruit, Raspberry Blackberry, Raspberry Kiwi, Raspberry Vanilla, Raspberry Kumquat, Raspberry Blueberry, Raspberry Lemon, Raspberry Peach, Raspberry Cherry, Raspberry Plum, Raspberry Strawberry, Raspberry Apricot, Raspberry Mango, and Raspberry Guava. Blue Raspberry Minkey Boodle will be available on cans and in draft at Chandler Street Breweries in May.

Cabin Fever Beer & Wine Fest This Saturday

The Cabin Fever, Beer and Wine Festival returns to the Buffalo Ski Center/Tamarack Lodge in Colden on April 25 (4-7 pm). The event features tastings from breweries such as Resurgence Brewing, Hamburg Brewing, Big Ditch Brewing, 42 North Brewing, Southern Tier, New York Beer Project, Ellicottville Brewing, Pressure Drop Brewing, Rusty Nickel, Mystic Hills, First Line Brewing and more, as well as meaderies, wineries and distilleries, live music from The Young Relics, raffles, giveaways, auctions, food and more. Tickets are $40 presale and $50 day of and include a commemorative tasting glass, access to all tastings and more. Tickets can be purchased here.

Zwanze Day Returns to Buffalo at Moor Room April 25

As if there wasn’t enough great beer happenings on Saturday, April 25, Zwanze Day, the ultimate day of appreciation for the Lambic beer style, is making a return to Buffalo at Moor Room (3 pm). The event was created by world-renowned Brasserie-Brouwerij Cantillon, who are featuring two very special brews this year – Artemis La Blanche, a blend of gentian, coriander, rhubarb root, juniper, sage, Angelica, wormwood and more, blended with Lambic, and Artemis La Rouge, a blend of verbena, marjoram, rose, apple, curry plant, wormwood and other herbs, blended with Kriek. Both beers will be available at Moor Room, along with Cantillon’s Classic Gueuze, Cuvee Saint-Gilloise, Saint Lamvinus and Vigneronne, along with other special brews from around the country. Tickets still remain for $75, which includes a large pour of both Zwanze beers, a 5oz pour of Cantillon Gueuze and Cantillon Vigneronne and a Zwanze day glass.

Five & 20 Brewing Drops New Beers, Launches Mug Club

Westfield’s Five & 20 Brewing has released a trio of draft-only releases at the their taproom, including a Mint Chocolate Cookie Imperial Stout, Spring Fling, a Berliner Weisse with melon-infused black tea, and (I Like It When You Call Me) Big Hoppa, a hazy 5.4% East Coast IPA brewed with wheat and oats, as well as Cascade, El Dorado, Jaryllo and Galaxy hops.

The brewery has also launched a new mug club – open to 50 members. The club costs $75 (plus tax) and you can sign-up online or in the taproom. Perks include discounts on draft beer, 16oz. ceramic mug, extended hours, discounts on packaged beer, spirits, and wine, Mug Club Party invitation, special club renewal price and more. The Mug Club will kick off on May 28.

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 brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on X (@buffbeerleague), Instagram, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).

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Steelbound to Open Niagara Falls Location on May 12

Steelbound Brewery & Distillery are expanding their Western New York footprint with a new location in Niagara Falls at the Sheraton Niagara Falls on Old Falls Street, which is set to open May 12. The brewery and distillery will take over the former TGIFridays space with indoor seating for more than 120 and patio seating for 80 outside on Old Falls Street. Steelbound plans to hire 80-100 employees for the new space. While they will feature wings, burgers and other handhelds, on-site brewing isn’t expected to begin in time for its first season. Steelbound has locations in Ellicottville, Dunkirk, Springville, Williamsville and Las Vegas.

Buffalo Beer League CollaBEERation Ticket Giveaway

The Buffalo Beer League has teamed up with the Buffalo Beer Geeks to give away a pair of general admission tickets (a $140 value) to the sixth annual CollaBEERation Festival, which takes place April 25 at the Powerhouse. To enter, simply watch or listen to the latest WNY Brews podcast, a CollaBEERation preview episode hosted by Buffalo Beer Geek Scott Panfil, and answer this question – what two breweries did Paul and Scott collaBEERate with for 2026? Post your answer in the comments to the contest post on BBL’s social pages and a random winner will be chosen on Monday, April 20. The deadline to enter is noon. If you don’t win, general admission tickets ($70, including unlimited pours and a commemorative glass) can be purchased here.

Farmcraft Brewery Releases First Beer

Strykersville’s Farmcraft Brewery has finally released their first beer – Ripe IPA. This 6% hazy IPA features notes of fresh-squeezed citrus, ripe peach, melon, and tropical fruit. It’s brewed with oats and wheat for a soft mouthfeel, then double dry-hopped with Citra Cryo, Mosaic, Riwaka, and Simcoe hops. Ripe IPA is available in 16oz. 4-packs cans to go and on draft at the taproom.

Flying Bison Homecoming at Mr. Goodbar

After a successful relaunch at Hamburg Brewing, Flying Bison is bringing their Homecoming Tour to Mr. Goodbar on April 23 (4pm). Flying Bison’s Buffalo Lager and Rusty Chain Vienna Lager will be available on draft, there will be an exclusive cask feature, a limited, brewery-exclusive pour, at 4 pm, free pint glasses to everyone who orders a Flying Bison draft beer (while supplies last) and a prize raffle for a Flying Bison Prize Pack, which includes a Flying Bison cooler, 5 Buffalo Bisons flex tickets, gift card, t-shirts, pint glasses, koozies, and stickers. The event is free to attend and open to the public.

Brickyard Brewing Brews IPA, Lager for Wingnutz

The next time you stop into Wingnutz Bar & Grill (1402 Millersport Hwy., Williamsville) for a few orders of chicken wings, make sure you grab pints of Wingnutz IPA and Lager, both brewed by Brickyard Brewing, to go with them. Wingnutz IPA is a hazy IPA that features big notes of juicy tropical fruit and sweet citrus and Wingnutz Lager is crisp and bready with herbal, citrusy hop notes. Both beers are brewed to pair with wings. Wingnutz IPA and Lager are available on draft and in cans to go.

Perry’s, Southern Tier Sip & Scoop Cheat Day Giveaway

Perry’s Ice Cream and Southern Tier Brewing are joining forces on the Sip & Scoop Cheat Day Giveaway, which features prizes such as six pints of Perry’s Cheat Day Ice Cream, Perry’s ice cream scoop, two Perry’s pilsner glasses, $50 Southern Tier gift card and Southern Tier merchandise ($100 value). Entering is free and all you have to do is follow Perry’s and Southern Tier on Instagram, like the contest post and tag a friend. The contest ruins through April 21 and the winners will be notified on or after April 22 via the official Perry’s Instagram account. Cheat Day is the latest collaboration between Perry’s and Southern Tier – an 8.6% dessert beer that features notes of vanilla, brownie batter, cookie dough and brown sugar.

New Thin Man Lager Benefits New York Waterways

Thin Man Brewery has teamed up with Trout Unlimited-Northeast on River Bank Lager, a collaborative new beer brewed with New Zealand-grown Waimea and Motueka hops, to “raise awareness and encourage action in making our water cleaner, our communities healthier and our fisheries stronger.” The beer will be released April 18 (3 pm) at Chandler Street Breweries with raffles for fishing gear, guided trips, books and more, and proceeds supporting the conservation efforts of WNY Trout Unlimited. River Bank Lager is “incredibly light and drinkable,” according to the brewery.

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 brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on X (@buffbeerleague), Instagram, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).

The post Buffalo Beer Buzz: Steelbound Niagara Falls, CollaBEERation Giveaway, Brickyard x Wingnutz Beers, Farmcraft Beer, Flying Bison Homecoming, Thin Man Collab Lager, Cheat Day Contest appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Steelbound Brewery & Distillery are expanding their Western New York footprint with a new location in Niagara Falls at the Sheraton Niagara Falls on Old Falls Street, which is set to open May 12.

The brewery and distillery will take over the former TGIFridays space with indoor seating for more than 120 and patio seating for 80 on Old Falls Street.

Steelbound plans to hire 80-100 employees for the new space.

While they will feature wings, burgers and other handhelds, on-site brewing isn’t expected to begin in time for its first season.

Steelbound has locations in Ellicottville, Dunkirk, Springville, Williamsville and Las Vegas.

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 brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on X (@buffbeerleague), Instagram, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).

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Resurgence Brewing will host a grand opening weekend of its Fort Myers taproom, beginning Friday, April 17.

After a soft opening in early March, Resurgence is ready to celebrate in full force with a fun-packed opening weekend featuring live music, special programming, and its complete food and beverage offerings.

The weekend kicks off Friday morning with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 am, attended by local dignitaries, community partners, and members of the media. Immediately following the ceremony, invited guests will be welcomed to a private reception to toast the occasion.

The public festivities continue throughout Friday afternoon. Guests will be treated to live acoustic music and the opportunity to chat with Resurgence’s own brewers about the craft behind their beer inside the brewhouse. Friday evening will also feature live music.

Saturday brings a family-focused atmosphere, with daytime programming designed for guests of all ages. Activities will be offered throughout the day, as well as continued sampling and live music. Additional programming details will be announced in the coming days.

The grand opening weekend also marks the debut of Resurgence’s full food and beverage menu, a milestone the team has been working toward since the taproom’s soft opening. Guests can expect the same quality and creativity that has made Resurgence a staple of the Buffalo craft beer scene, now available in full here in Fort Myers.

“This opening is the culmination of an enormous amount of work and passion from our entire team,” said Jeff Ware, owner and CEO of Resurgence. “We’ve built something truly special here, and we can’t wait to share it with everyone in Fort Myers. This weekend is about celebrating great craft beer and we couldn’t be happier to be joining the Southwest Florida beer scene.”

For more information, visit Resurgencebrewing.com.

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Tap That Tap Room is closing at the end of May, but, as they say, they are not going out quietly. They will be hosting a Tap Room Funeral, or as they call it, “one wild weekend to say goodbye,” May 29-31.

There will be an “open casket viewing,” a Book of Regrets guest book to share your favorite memories of Tap That, beer specials, the coffin cooler and more. Black attire is encouraged, but not required.

“It is with mild emotional confusion and very full kegs that we announce the untimely passing of our beloved taproom,” Tap That said. “Cause of death: none—we’re just not going out quietly. After one final wild run, we officially close our doors on May 31. We’re embracing the end of an era the only way we know how… loud, proud, and slightly unhinged.”

“Come raise a glass, say your goodbyes, and help give this place the sendoff it deserves. RIP to the taproom… gone but never forgotten (or sober).”

Tap That Tap Room opened in April 2023 in Tonawanda at 363 Delaware Ave. They were the first self-pour taproom in town and featured 30 self-serve taps of beer, wine, cider and seltzer, including a variety of local brands.

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 brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on X (@buffbeerleague), Instagram, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).

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New York Craft Beer Day Returns on April 11

New York Craft Beer Day, a day to celebrate and honor New York’s more than 500 independent craft breweries who support 22,000 jobs and generate a $4.8 billion economic impact, returns on April 11. It is the perfect opportunity to head to your local brewery or visit a new spot on your bucket list and grab a pint and food and take home some beer. “From this year forward, April 11th will be New York Craft Beer Day, we are honored that the governor created the proclamation in support of the industry,” New York State Brewers Association Executive Director Paul Leone said. You can commemorate the special day with the 2026 Collector’s Glass, available at participating locations while supplies last. For every glass sold, $1 benefits the New York State Brewers Association.

CollaBEERation Announces New Round of Collab Beers

The latest batch of collaborations for the sixth annual CollaBEERation Festival, which takes place at the Powerhouse on Saturday, Apr. 25, has been announced. They include Mountain Roads Brewing Double Jump Juice (Double Dry Hopped IPA), Strangebird Ocarina of Time (Thyme Infused Barrel Aged Saison), Pearl Street Rumbana Rampage (Banana and Rum Pak Aged Dark Lager) and Mystic Hills Finish Him! (Cherry Lime Sour). General admission tickets ($70, including unlimited pours and a commemorative glass) can be purchased here.

Hofbrauhaus Royal Export Barrel Tapping With Buffalo Beer League

Hofbrauhaus is tapping their Royal Export Lager on Thursday, April 2 (6 pm) with the help of the Buffalo Beer League, who will serve as the honorary Burgermeisters. There will be a traditional parade, barrel tapping with members of the Buffalo Beer League and The Sabrehood, as well as live music from Die Haus Band. There will also be a $20.26 Game Day Buffet and Buffalo Sabres puck drop at 7 pm, followed by a viewing party at the brewery of the game against the Ottawa Senators. Royal Export is a golden lager with fruity hop notes and a light bitterness. Reservations are not required, but are recommended.

2026 Buffalo Flight Tour Now Available

The 2026 Flight Tour, which gives you a beer or cocktail flight at seven local breweries, distilleries and bars, is now available for purchase. Each purchase includes seven certificates, each valid for a flight of beer or cocktails (one certificate for each establishment) at Hamburg Brewing (Flying Bison Brewing), Brazen Brewing, Frequentem Brewing, Hamburg Tap Room, Buffalo Distilling, BriarBrothers Brewing and Resurgence Brewing. The cost is $45 (plus $3.50 processing, $48.50 total) and can be purchased here. The 2026 NY Buffalo Flight Tour is a $105 value and less than 200 are available.

Other Half Buffalo Drops New Sabres-Inspired Beer

In case you’ve been living under a rock, the Buffalo Sabres are good again and all in right once again in Western New York. Other Half Buffalo, one of the breweries in closest proximity to KeyBank Center, where the Sabres calls home, are celebrating the team’s resurgence with the release of Swords on Swords, a 6.5% hazy IPA brewed with Citra, Motueka, Krush Cryo, Enigma and Anchovy hops. “This hazy IPA is good, scary good, brewed with massive amount of hand-selected hops giving notes of bright sweet citrus juice, watermelon candy, lychee and tart red berries,” the beer description reads. Swords on Swords in available now on tap and in cans at the brewery.

Kleinhans Rhythm & Brews Fundraiser Returns May 8

Kleinhans Music Hall’s annual fundraiser Rhythm and Brews returns on Friday, May 8 (6 pm). Proceeds from the event will benefit Kleinhans programming, including the Global Grooves music series, as well as building upkeep. The event will feature tastings from local breweries and cideries, food from Schutte Hospitality Group eateries such as Oliver’s, Britesmith, Creekview Restaurant and Marcato by Oliver’s and live music from Dominic Missana & Friends. Tickets include music, all beer and cider tastings, food, commemorative glass and a donation to Kleinhans. General admission tickets ($65) are available online, at the Kleinhans box office, or by calling 715-885-5000.

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 brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on X (@buffbeerleague), Instagram, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).

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Kleinhans Music Hall’s annual fundraiser Rhythm and Brews returns on Friday, May 8 (6 pm).

Proceeds from the event will benefit Kleinhans programming, including the Global Grooves music series, as well as building upkeep.

The event will feature tastings from local breweries and cideries, food from Schutte Hospitality Group eateries such as Oliver’s, Britesmith, Creekview Restaurant and Marcato by Oliver’s and live music from Dominic Missana & Friends.

Tickets include music, all beer and cider tastings, food, commemorative glass and a donation to Kleinhans.

General admission tickets ($65) are available online, at the Kleinhans box office, or by calling 715-885-5000.

Visit Bpo.org for more information.

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 brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on X (@buffbeerleague), Instagram, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).

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In Western New York, summer is something to be celebrated. The return of warm weather calls for friends, sunshine and raising a cold pint – that’s where beer gardens come in. They are more than just a place to drink; they’re a place to reconnect after a long winter or to bring the dog on a sunny afternoon.

If you’re reading this, you know that seasons here are earned and good weather should never be taken for granted. Once our long winters finally loosen their icy grip, we head out in droves to enjoy a well-made pint under an open sky. That’s where beer gardens come in. These spaces aren’t just places to drink—they’re places to reconnect, to exhale, and to remember moments shared over a cold beer.

Brewery beer gardens hit a sweet spot that’s hard to replicate anywhere else—they turn drinking a beer into an experience, not just a transaction. You’re not tucked into a corner like in a bar; you’re part of something shared. Even if you show up alone, it rarely feels that way for long. Beer gardens also slow things down. They are places you can show up and stay a while – you can actually talk, hear yourself think and nobody’s rushing you out the door.

Beer gardens serve a multitude of purposes and offer diverse experiences for craft beer enthusiasts. From seemingly endless rolling fields of green and lush sunsets at Mystic Hills Brewing in East Concord and Five & 20 Spirits and Brewing in Westfield to an inviting concrete jungle in the shadow of Sahlen Field at Other Half Brewing to some of the best views of downtown on the New Orleans-style copper-roofed patios of Pearl Street Brewery to unparalleled views of the water at Hamburg Brewing, Johnson’s Landing and Buffalo Riverworks, there’s a better than good chance there is a beer garden or patio for you at a local brewery.

One of my favorite outdoor spaces, and perhaps one of the more underrated in the grand scheme of things in Western New York’s craft beer scene, is Buffalo Brewing Company. It’s simple and understated, welcoming and contemplative, a great spot to grab a fresh lager on side pull and just relax.

The outdoor space at Gene McCarthy’s in the Old First Ward has long held a special place in my heart – it’s not the biggest, nor the most glamorous, but I love grabbing a beer and an Adirondack chair and taking in the industrial views of the surrounding neighborhood. Not to mention, they have a beer window, so you don’t need to go inside for the next round.

Britesmith’s beer garden is a must as well, given its proximity to Ellicott Creek. I love grabbing a meal and a few brews on the waterfront whenever I am in Williamsville – you should too. Get the Double Smashburger and a Wills’ Pils and thank me later. Don’t want to drive to Williamsville – head down to Niagara Street and grab a beer, a burger, and a spot outside on Britesmith Buffalo’s beer garden. This is a beer garden I personally cut my teeth in, albeit when it was Resurgence Brewing Company, so I am intimately acquainted with it. You should be, too.

Buffalo Olde Brewery in Lovejoy offers quaint and cozy beer garden nestled in a community setting – a backyard atmosphere surrounded by wooden fence with the taproom on one side and brew house on the other. They often host live music out there as well, and it’s a great place to gather for a beer before heading out on a communal pedal tour, which the brewery recently launched. I have yet to do this, but I plan to.

One of the true jewels of the Western New York craft beer scene can be found out back behind Rusty Nickel Brewing in West Seneca. The brewery has put a lot of effort into upgrading their backyard, making it a great place to enjoy a pint. Look for live music, seasonal brews and cocktails, yard games like cornhole, fire pits and s’mores to enjoy.

Beer gardens around the area offer so many different experiences – the outdoor space at New York Beer Project Beer Lodge in Orchard Park sits in the shadow of the 219, BriarBrothers Brewing’s beer garden features an outdoor stage at the foot of old grain silos, the beer garden at Hofbrauhaus emulates a traditional German biergarten and 42 North Brewing’s beer garden speaks for itself, just to name a few. I could go on and on because, really, each local brewery beer garden is special in its own right.

Beer gardens are moment-based – a perfect summer evening, a crisp fall afternoon – those settings stick in your memory. The beer becomes tied to the weather, the people you’re with, and the moment itself. Make some new memories this year and your crew.

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 brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on X (@buffbeerleague), Instagram, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).

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It was a truly banner year – one of the best ever – for Western New York breweries at the 2026 New York State Craft Beer Competition as craft beer from the region once again showed up and showed out at this year’s awards, which took place Friday night (March 20) at the Albany Capital Center as part of the New York State Brewers Conference.

In total, 1,142 beers were entered by 178 breweries across 32 categories and 101 medals were awarded.

New York Beer Project and Eli Fish Brewing led the way with three and two medals each, respectively. NYBP won gold for Hazy Train (Hazy IPA) and silver for Righteous Day Drinker (Hazy DIPA) and Hazy Crush (Experimental IPA). Eli Fish grabbed gold for The Red Ale (Strong Ales & Lagers) and a silver for Tiga Spon (Experimental).

Rusty Nickel Brewing won gold for Pumpernickel Porter (Porters – Non-Imperial), Resurgence Brewing won silver for Bridge Pilsner (American Lager), Pearl Street Grill & Brewery won silver for Mangia, Mangia! Italian Pilsner (Light Lager – Modern and Contemporary), Brickyard Brewing won silver for Magnetic North (Belgian Farmhouse) and Griffon Brewing grabbed bronze for Oregon High Five (Pale Ale).

In what has become quite the common occurrence over the last handful of years, the NYS Brewery of the Year Award was presented to Grimm Artisanal Ales (Brooklyn, NY), marking their fifth win of the title (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026).

The 2025 Governor’s Craft Beer Cup given out each year to the beer that is deemed the best in the state, was awarded to Wild East Brewing out of Brooklyn for their Hexenkessel in the Dark Lager Category.

Last year, Resurgence Brewing won a silver medal for their White Ale (Wheat Beers), Pearl Street Grill & Brewery won gold for Saber’s Edge DIPA (one of my all-time favorite local beers) in the American DIPA category, Hamburg Brewing scored gold for OMS in Stout (Non-Imperial) and New York Beer Project Irish Coffee Stout took bronze in Specialty Beers (Stouts & Porters). WNY breweries swept the Experimental category, with Eli Fish Brewing scoring bronze for Chateau Tropicale, Resurgence’s Another Caucasian, Gary nabbing silver and Big Ditch Brewing going gold with their Carrot Cake Winter Ale.

There is remarkable beer being brewed on the daily right here in our backyard – all you have to do is look. These awards are simply further proof of that.

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

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