Hamburg Brewing 11^th Anniversary Party

Hamburg Brewing is throwing it back to the 90s to celebrate their 11^th anniversary on Sept. 14 (12pm). The event will feature 90s fashion, live music from IOT Band (1pm), South City Band (4pm) and Nineties by Nature (7pm), multiple bars, food specials, and more, including Dunk the Brewer, a new carnival style dunking game features Hamburg Brewing’s brew staff. There will be a $10 cover at the door for the event.

Five & 20 Spirits and Brewing Release Summer Job IPL

Westfield’s Five & 20 Brewing has released a new India Pale Lager, Summer Job. This 4.5% beer is clean, dry and bready, a “perfect light and refreshing accompaniment to those summer jobs around the house or yard, or for kicking back and putting them off for later,” as the brewery says. Find cans of Summer Job at the brewery in 12oz. 6-packs ($13) or by the case ($52). The beer is also available on draft and for growler fills. Five & 20 holds Draft Nights every Thursday ($2 off drafts) through Thanksgiving and Customer Appreciation Nights ($2 off drafts) Fridays.

Bills-Themed Beers Returns Ahead of Start of Preseason 

Just in time for the start of the Buffalo Bills preseason this Saturday against the Chicago Bears, a number of Bills-themed beers have returned to brewery and store shelves across Western New York. In addition to staples such as Thin Man Pills Mafia and Community Beer Works Let’s Go Pils, Resurgence Brewing Circle the Wagons Pilsner & IPA, Ellicottville Brewing The Charge American Lager and Fan Zone IPA, Brickyard Brewing Number 17 West Coast IPA, Steelbound Brewery AllenTown Ale and 42 North Brewing Where Else Would You Rather Beer? Kolsch to name a few. Look for these beers wherever great beer is sold.

Dude’s Homebrew Competition 2024 at Resurgence Brewing

The 10^th annual Dude’s Homebrew Competition, which raises money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, will take place August 18 (12-3pm) at Resurgence Brewing, where homebrewers will serve samples of their beer to attendees, who will vote for their favorite beer, which will be judged by a panel of local brewers. For a $30 donation to blood cancer research, you can taste dozens of homebrewed beers and receive a free tasting glass. For tickets and more information, click here.

Buffalo Olde Brewery Releases First Two Cans

Buffalo Olde Brewery in Lovejoy has released their first two ever canned beers, Lovejoy Lager and Iron Island IPA. You can grab 16oz. 4-pack cans of Iron Island IPA ($14) and the fantastic Lovejoy Lager ($12) the next time you are at the brewery. Lovejoy is a light, clean and crisp Helles Lager made with German malt, hops, and yeast and Iron Island is a West Coast IPA with bold hop aromas and flavors of pine, citrus, and tropical fruit with an assertive yet balanced bitterness. Both cans are available at the brewery right now.

Local Brewery Lineup for Borderland Music & Arts Festival

The Borderland Music & Arts Festival has announced that local beermakers 42 North, Ellicottville Brewing, Community Beer Works, Hamburg Brewing, Thin Man Brewery and Southern Tier Brewing will serve as the official breweries this year. Among the selected beers are 42 North’s Borderland IPA, Community Beer Works Let’s Go Pils, Southern Tier 8 Days a Week, Thin Man Minky Boodle, Ellicottville Brewing Blueberry Wheat and Hamburg Brewing Oktoberfest. Borderland Festival takes place Sept. 13-15 at Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora. This year’s headliners include The Black Crowes and Caamp.

Rationales to Host Launch Party for 2024 Arc Erie County Ale Trail

Rationales is hosting a special launch party on Aug. 14 for the 4th annual Arc Erie County Ale Trail, a fundraising event benefitting The Arc Erie County New York, which will take place on Sept. 26. The launch party will feature 15% Ale Trail tickets and Rationales will donate $1 of each pint back to The Arc Erie County. The Arc Erie County Ale Trail will feature local beer, wine, cider and craft spirits on The Arc Erie County’s wooded walking trail in Williamsville.

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).

The post Buffalo Beer Buzz: Hamburg Anniversary, New Beer at Five & 20, Buffalo Olde Cans, Borderland, Bills Beers, Dude’s Homebrew Competition, Arc Erie County Ale Trail Party appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Borderland Music & Arts festival, WNY’s biggest end-of-summer music event, will feature a variety of Try-It Distributing’s Buffalocal brands in addition to over 25+ national and local bands during the three-day event this September 13-15.

The festival has announced that local beermakers 42 North, Ellicottville Brewing Company, Community Beer Works, Hamburg Brewing, Thin Man Brewery & Southern Tier Brewing will be celebrated throughout the weekend in addition to Labatt USA who also calls Buffalo’s borderland region home.

This will mark the sixth straight year the festival showcases local breweries giving festival goers a chance to sip the finest liquids from the area’s most respected beer companies. Among the selected beers are 42 North’s Borderland IPA, Community Beer Works’ Let’s Go Pils, Southern Tier’s 8 Days a Week Blonde Ale, Thin Man’s Minky Boodle, Ellicottville Brewing’s Blueberry Wheat and Hamburg Brewing’s Oktoberfest.

“Each year we make a point to celebrate the local craft beer scene in Buffalo,” says Borderland Festival Sales & Marketing Director Zachary Keller. “Buffalocal brands feature a great cross section of the best beer’s our Borderland region has to offer and our festival fans love to sip on their favorites and try new styles throughout a weekend of music.”

Labatt Blue will also make their return in addition to the Buffalocal lineup as another beer company headquartered right here in Buffalo, N.Y.

Borderland Festival takes place September 13-15 this year at its home – Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora, N.Y. This year’s headliners include rock legends The Black Crowes after a four-plus year hiatus and rising stars of the indie-folk scene, Caamp. The 2024 lineup also features southern-rocker Marcus King, big-band extraordinaire Cory Wong and the country’s most authentic Grateful Dead show, Dark Star Orchestra. Borderland Festival is proud to bring The Wood Brothers and The Sheepdogs black to East Aurora for the first time in 4 years to help celebrate the festival’s 6th year. Rounding out the can’t-miss lineup are reggae’s most famous backing-band The Wailers, alongside nationally-touring bands Houndmouth, Sierra Hull, Eggy, The Dip, Wilderado and many local acts.

Passes for Borderland Festival are on sale at borderlandfestival.com where fans can get Weekend GA, Single-Day GA and Weekend VIP passes. Hard tickets are also available at select retail partner locations Jack Rabbit, Terrapin Station, Wallenwein’s Hotel, Wayland Brewing & Britesmith Brewing.

For the second year in a row, Borderland Festival has partnered with Kissing Bridge Ski Resort to provide an inexpensive, fun and safe lodging alternative for the 3-day festival. Tent & RV camping options are available alongside the ticket on sale. Complimentary festival parking is included with an option to purchase a weekend shuttle pass to and from the camping area at Kissing bridge, located less than 20 minutes away from the festival. Learn more at borderlandfestival.com/camping and borderlandfestival.com.

The post Local Brewery Lineup Released for Borderland Music & Arts Festival appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Eli Fish Brewing to Hold Annual Oktoberfest in Batavia

Eli Fish Brewing will hold their annual Oktoberfest in Batavia on Sept. 16 (4pm). Eli Fish’s biggest celebration of the year features beer releases and a special Oktoberfest menu, including Oktoberfest and Festbier. Tickets are $15 at the brewery and at the door and include special Eli Fish trading cards. You can purchase a 2023 Oktoberfest t-shirt paired with your ticket for $30 or purchase an Oktoberfest mug for $10 (comes with one free pour, $5 refills through 9/15). There will be live music from The German American Musicians Association, stein hoisting contest, cornhole, keg racing, caricature artist, knoggle, and more.

Tickets on Sale for Second Annual Tap & Craft Festival

The second annual Tap & Craft Festival, coming to the Niagara Falls Convention Center on October 21, will feature craft brews from more than 40 craft breweries, wineries and cideries from Upstate New York, live music, food and a cornhole tournament. Tickets are $30 presale ($40 day of) and include admission, commemorative tasting glass and unlimited 3-ounce beer samples. Designated Driver tickets are $10. VIP tickets are $40 and include a special 1.5 hour tasting sessions curated by Brewed & Bottled and The Magic Bear Beer Cellar, commemorative pint glass and more. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite via www.tapandcraft.com.

Hofbrauhaus Kickoff Oktoberfest With Eric Wood

Hofbrauhaus will officially kick off the Oktoberfest season on September 16 (6pm) with former Buffalo Bill Eric Wood. This full bodied beer is brewed with special Bavarian hops and malt variations to create notes of toasted malt sweetness, fruity hops and spice. Die Haus Band will lead the Barrel Tapping Parade at 6pm before a ceremonial barrel of Oktoberfestbier is tapped. The party will continue into the night with DJ BUCKW!LD. Reservations can be made online at www.hofbrauhausbuffalo.com or by calling 716-939-BEER.

Hamburg Brewing Company 10^th Anniversary Party

On September 16, Hamburg Brewing Company will celebrate 10 years. The event will feature food and drink specials, live music all day starting at 1:30pm from South City Band, Breakaway, and Uncle Ben’s Remedy, and more. The party runs from 1 – 8pm. The event is free and open to the public.

Queen City Meadery 5^th Anniversary Party

West Seneca’s Queen City Meadery is turning five and are celebrating on September 16 (2pm). The event will feature live music From Skinny G and the Meatballs (4-7pm), food from the Cheesy Chick food truck (3-6pm) and mead specials all day long. The event will also feature the release of their anniversary mead, Redrum, a 12% mead with honey, red currant and pomegranate aged of rum oak staves. Redrum will be available in bottles. The meadery also recently announced expansion plans at their current location at 290 Center Road in Wimbledon Plaza. Tentative plans call for the meadery to double the size of their tasting room and production area. The expansion should be done by the end of the year.

Ballpark BrewBash Takes Over Sahlen’s Field This Weekend

The 2023 Ballpark BrewBash returns to Sahlen’s Field this weekend on September 16. The unique beer festival, sponsored by Consumer’s Beverages, takes place all around the home of the Buffalo Bisons, from down on the field to the concourse and concession area, and features more than 50 breweries, including some from across the globe, local favorites and New York institutions. Tickets are on sale now at all Consumer’s Beverages locations. General admission tickets are $35 and VIP tickets are $75. For more information, visit https://www.consumersbeverages.com.

Borderland Festival Returns This Weekend

The 2023 Borderland Music & Arts Festival, which takes place September 15-17 at Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora, has announced its brewery lineup for this year, which is once again predominantly local. The lineup includes Community Beer Works, 42 North Brewing, Hamburg Brewing, Resurgence Brewing, Southern Tier and 12 Gates Brewing. This year’s festival features performances from Goose, Moe. and Trey Anastasio with Classic TAB. Purchase tickets at borderlandfestival.com.

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).

The post Buffalo Beer Buzz: Oktoberfest at Eli Fish & Hofbrauhaus, Anniversaries at Hamburg & Queen City Meadery, Tap & Craft Fest, Ballpark Brewbash, Borderland Fest appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

For the third year, 42 North Brewing & Borderland Music & Arts Festival have teamed up to release a special edition of 42 North’s Borderland IPA can art featuring the festival’s poster artwork by Colorado-based designer Shannon Kennedy.

The limited release can will be available starting this week along with a 2-Day VIP Pass Giveaway to the festival on September 18 & 19 for one lucky music & craft beer lover. You can find the beer and the giveaway at Tops Friendly Markets, 42 North Brewing & your favorite independent bottle shops & bars around WNY.

Fans will be able to scan a QR code where the special Borderland IPA cans are sold and enter to win two (2) 2-Day VIP Split-Rail Package Tickets that include an exclusive stage-front viewing areas at both (Main) and (Side) Stage, Access to private VIP Tent, commemorative stainless steel mug, commemorative laminate, VIP parking pass, culinary experience curated by local food partners & more.

Since the first Borderland Festival in 2018, the limited edition Borderland IPA can art has featured the festival’s poster artwork from various artists.

“We loved teaming up with designer Shannon Kennedy for this year’s label.” says 42 North Brand Manager Zach Keller, “it’s awesome to see how festival poster art can translate to a beer can especially when it captures the feel of Borderland Festival and Knox Farm State Park so accurately.”

Borderland Festival welcomes some of the country’s most popular touring acts this year to Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora, NY including Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, The Revivalists, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, The Infamous Stringdusters & many more. Check out the entire weekend lineup at borderlandfestival.com.

The post 42 North, Borderland Fest Team Up on Limited Edition IPA Can, Ticket Giveaway appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Buffalo Brewing Celebrates Their Third Anniversary

Believe it or not, but Buffalo Brewing Company are already turning three years old. They made it through the not so terrible two’s and it’s time to celebrate this weekend, August 3 (1pm).  The party will feature over 10 beers on tap, including a few special releases and casks, a special brewery food menu from Loose Cannon Food Truck, live music from Josh Geercken (4-7pm), raffles for limited edition brewery merch and beer, and on top of all of that, free cake! Crowler and growler fills will be available, as will cans of 1932 Galaxy Oat Cream IPA to go.

Buffalo Breweries Invade Rochester’s Flour City Brewfest

A number of Buffalo-area breweries are set to invade the 25th annual Flour City Brewers Fest in Rochester on August 16 (6pm), including 42 North, Big Ditch, Community Beer Works, Hamburg Brewing, New York Beer Project, Pressure Drop, Resurgence Brewing, Rusty Nickel and Thin Man. The festival will feature over 80 breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries. There will also be food, live music, custom-built lounge areas, a 25th anniversary beer from Rohrbach Brewing and more. General admission ($45) tickets are available at www.flourcitybrewersfest.com and include access to sampling, 6oz. glass and a $5 food voucher good for any food vendor.

Road to Borderland Event Series Coming to Local Breweries

In advance of the second annual Borderland Music and Arts Festival, a two-day festival featuring over 20 bands on September 21 and 22, the Road to Borderland Summer Event Series will feature live music, local artisans and the chance to purchase no-service-fee tickets. The special preview will take place August 1 (Blackbird Cider Works), August 8 (Community Beer Works), August 10 (West Falls Center for the Arts), August 10 (Flying Bison), August 14 (Resurgence), August 16 (Collective Arts), August 17 (12 Gates), August 22 (Lockhouse Distillery), August 23 (Buffalo Distilling) and September 5 (Rohrbach Brewing). For more information, visit www.borderlandfestival.com.

Celebrate National IPA Day at New York Beer Project

Hopheads unite! August 1 is National IPA Day and you can celebrate with New York Beer Project (5pm). In honor of the very special day, NYBP are rolling out their hoppiest offerings, including The One v.7 New England IPA, Destination IPA, Righteous Dude Double IPA and Hawaiian Destination (hibiscus flowers, fresh ginger, and mango puree). The event will also mark the debut of Pineapple Milkshake IPA, their newest milkshake IPA brewed with pineapple puree, lactose, vanilla, Centennial, Cascade, Falconer’s Flight, Citra, Topaz and Idaho Gem hops. The beer was brewed at NYBP’s Victor location by their Head Brewer Ben Elford.

Brian Campbell is a co-founder/Brand Manager of the BNBA’s enthusiast arm, Buffalo Beer League, and writes the weekly Buffalo Beer Buzz column for Step Out Buffalo. 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).

The post Buffalo Beer Buzz: Buffalo Brewing’s Third Anniversary, 25th Annual Flour City Brew Fest, Road to Borderland Series, National IPA Day at NYBP appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

While Borderland will feature over 20 national and local acts on three stages, it will also showcase the region’s growing craft beer industry with a 100% craft beer lineup for the festival. The Borderland Festival also wraps up Buffalo Beer Week, scheduled from September 14-23.

“The Buffalo Niagara region has experienced tremendous growth in craft beer. And, right now, the quality stands up to anyone in the country. We felt that the Borderland Festival would be the ideal environment to showcase our region’s great craft beers and, by doing so, introduce more people to the diverse offerings from our region,” stated festival co-founder, John Cimperman.

During the two-day festival, the ” will feature 20 taps with a line-up of signature and seasonal beers from participating breweries. Breweries include Big Ditch, Community Beer Works, Resurgence, 42 North, Ithaca Brewing Company, Blackbird Cider Works, and Canada’s Collective Arts.

The beer line-up is as follows:

• Big Ditch – Cinnamon Apple, Low Bridge Hoppy Ale
• Community Beer Works – Frank, The Whale
• 42 North Brewing Company – Borderland IPA, Oatmeal Cookie Brown Ale
• Ithaca Brewing Company – Apricot Wheat, Brew York Pale Ale
• Resurgence Brewing Company – Cosmic Truth, Oktoberfest
• Collective Arts – Mash Up T he Jam (sour), Life in the Clouds IPA
• Blackbird Cider Works – Estate Reserve

Additionally, the Borderland Festival will host a “live brew” on-site on Saturday. In partnership with the Buffalo Niagara Brewer’s Association (BNBA), local brewers will brew with open fermentation in a traditional “coolship”, a brewing process that dates back hundred of years. On Sunday, the festival will also host a ‘State of Buffalo Brewing” roundtable with regional brewers and brewery owners.

Headlining the inaugural festival is American roots rock band The Revivalists. Burgeoning acts Dr. Dog, acclaimed country female recording artist Margo Price, Oteil Burbridge from the Allman Brothers Bank and Dead and Company, and rock n’ roll hall of famer, John Oates and the Good Road Band. The festival stays true to its local roots by featuring some of Buffalo’s thriving music acts, Upstate, PA Line, Folk Faces, Leroy Townes Band, 10 Cent Howl, and The Observers.

A list of all participating breweries and more information on the Borderland Music + Arts Festival can be found at www.borderlandfestival.com. Find everything you need to know about the festival in the Digital Guide.

Where is the Borderland?

The Buffalo Niagara region has a unique identity, surrounded and influenced by the Great White North, the Great Lakes, and its great industrious spirit. These influences combine to create a strong foundation for our music, our food, our drink, and our arts.

The post Inaugural Borderland Festival to Feature 100% Craft Beer appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.