Woodcock Brothers to Celebrate Sixth Anniversary in Wilson

Woodcock Brothers Brewing are turning six, and are celebrating with, what else, a big party on November 17 (12pm). Their annual tradition of serving free chowder will continue on the patio starting at noon until supplies run out. Woodcock will also use the special occasion to tap this year’s version of Barrel Aged Stiff Mitten, their spiced winter ale brewed with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice aged 1 year in former Kentucky Straight Bourbon barrels that previously housed cider from Black Bird Cider Works. There will also be live music starting at 1pm, with Blue Rocket Trio performing at 7pm.

Community Beer Works, Brooklyn’s KCBC Team Up for Huge Can Sale

On November 18 (10am), Community Beer Works are welcoming Brooklyn’s Kings County Brewers Collective to town for a massive can sale. For the first time ever, CBW will be selling cans of The Whale (12oz. 6-packs), Thick & Sticky DIPA (16oz. 4-packs) and That IPA (now in 12oz. 6-packs), while KCBC will have Wolf Ov Sibieria DDH DIPA (collaboration with Behemoth), Hop-erol Spritz DDH Brut IPA with Hibiscus & Orange Peel (Root+Branch, Interboro & The Well collaboration), Robot Fish #13 IPA, Vital Juices: Strawberry/Mango Barrel-Aged Sour (Perennial Artisan Ales collaboration), Marble of Doom Blackberry Pomegranate Sour and Janiak Maniac Pilsner.

12 Gates, Buffalo Brewpub to Release Buffalo Breakfast Stout in Cans

12 Gates Brewing and Buffalo Brewpub have again teamed up to brew Buffalo Breakfast Stout, their annual collaboration sweet stout that combines all things Western New York. BBS features maple syrup from East Aurora, chocolate bark from Antoinette’s Confections in Depew, cold press coffee from Kornerstone Roasters in Kenmore, and bourbon from Five & 20 Spirits and Brewing in Westfield. The 6% seasonal treat will be available at both locations on draft, as well as in 16oz. 4-pack cans, starting on November 16. A limited amount of cans will hit distribution, so look for it wherever great beer is sold.

Five & 20 to Release New 12% Barrel Aged Stout, Commiseration

Five & 20 will release their latest barrel aged monster, Commiseration, a 12.8% bourbon barrel aged imperial stout just in time for the impending dreary winter ahead, on November 16. Brewed with Cascade and Chinook hops and aged seven months in freshly emptied Five & 20 bourbon barrels, Commiseration features rich chocolate aromas and notes of sweet bourbon, coffee, dark fruit, brown sugar and raisins. Commiseration will be released at Five & 20’s nex t Barrel Room Jam with Abby & Pat Doyle of Gem City Revival (5:30-8:30pm). The beer will be available on draft or to go in 22oz. bottles.

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. 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), Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague) and www.buffalobeerleague.com.

The post Buffalo Beer Buzz: Woodcock Turns 6, CBW/KCBC Team Up for Can Drop, 12 Gates / Buffalo Brewpub Buffalo Breakfast Stout, Five & 20 Commiseration appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Celebrate All Things Barley Wine at Old First Ward Brewing

Do you prefer your beers to be big? Like really, really big? Then you’ll want to get your ticket today to Old First Ward Brewing’s Barley Wine Festival, which takes place at Gene McCarthy’s on April 15, 2-4pm. For the price of $25, you will receive 10 3oz. pours of different barley wines from all around the country, a small artisan cheese plate with crackers as well as a commemorative glass. The Beer Messiah will be on hand to speak about the barley wine style and there will also be raffles. Tickets are limited and can be purchased at Eventbrite.com.

Third Times a Charm for Big Ditch Deep Cut Cans

Big Ditch’s Deep Cut Double IPA is returning to cans for a third time on April 15. Approximately 50 cases will be available this run (4-pack 16 oz. cans, $14.99). Additionally, the brewery is rolling out a trio of new small batch Innovation Series IPA’s to enjoy on draft – Trois IPA (brewed with Saccharomyces Trois, a wild strain of saccharomyces, and Azacca, Mosaic, Simcoe and Zeus hops), Non-Trois IPA (made with house yeast instead of Trois yeast) and Dave’s New England-style IPA 1.0 (Hallertau Blanc, Amarillo and Simcoe hops, from the mind of Dave O’Connor, 3rd shift Lead Brewer).

Five & 20 Brewing Rolls Out the Imperials

Five & 20 Spirits and Brewing are amping up the ABV with the release of two new imperial offerings, Double XING Imperial IPA (7.5% ABV) and Imperial Stout (10.5% ABV). The former is dry hopped with hops from local grower Hanover Hops in order to add bright citrus and grass flavor and aroma to the beer. This DIPA has powerful citrus and grass flavors and a slight malt note that lingers on the palate. The latter features rich aromas with notes of coffee, smoke and dark fruits like black currants with roasted coffee, dark chocolate and oats on the palette.

Gordon Biersch Gives Back with New Beer Release

Gordon Biersch is helping to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation with the release of their new Maibock (7.3% ABV) at a baseball themed fundraiser on Apr. 19 (6-8pm). Represent your favorite team at the event, which will take place in the bar & cocktail area. Tickets are $10 (cash only) and include two 21oz. Maibock beers (expect a very smooth, creamy mouthfeel with a light fruity sweetness), passed appetizers, live music from Flatland Fire and a silent auction. All proceeds will go directly to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Enjoy a great beer for a great cause.

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. If you have beer news that should be included in the Beer Buzz, Brian can be reached at buffalobeerleague@aol.com, on Twitter at @buffbeerleague, on Instagram at @buffalobeerleague and on Facebook at @thebuffalobeerleague.

The post Buffalo Beer Buzz: OFW Barley Wine Festival, Big Ditch cans Deep Cut again, Five & 20 go big, Gordon Biersch gets chairtable appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

There are so many options for what to drink this St. Patrick’s Day, which is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you have a seemingly endless selection of locally sourced, hand-crafted beer at your disposal, which presents a conundrum at the same time – what to drink? It’s a simple question; one without a simple answer.

And that’s where we come in. Well, this article at least.

If you need help deciding on your adult libations for this St. Patrick’s Day, let us, let these words, help put your mind at ease. We have compiled a list of over a dozen of the area’s best beer to enjoy on Patty’s Day.

12 Gates Brewing Irish Dry Stout (4.7% ABV): “You don’t need green beer to celebrate St. Patty’s Day,” 12 Gates says. “Instead celebrate with our Irish Dry Stout. With loads of soft roast, creamy texture, and at only 4.7% you can responsibly enjoy a few.”

42 North Brewing Fenian Raid Irish Stout (Nitro) (4.5% ABV) & Leann Dearg Irish Red Ale (5.5% ABV): The Fenian Raid Irish Stout is full of smoke and dark chocolate, while the Leann Dearg Irish Red offers everything you want in an Irish Red – toasted malts, slight roast notes and a dry finish.

Big Ditch Brewing Galaxy Red (7% ABV): “Not a traditional Irish Red by any means, although it does have a nice malt backbone,” Big Ditch says, “it mixes that maltiness with tropical hop flavors like pineapple, mango, and papaya from the Australian Galaxy hops used.  A nice hoppy alternative this St. Patrick’s Day!”

Buffalo Brewing Company 1841 Irish Red (6% ABV): BBC’s Irish Red is made with Irish malt and British hops. The Larkin brewery is offering pints of the new brew for $4 and crowlers for $8 (3/$20 crowler special, 1841 only) for St. Patrick’s Day (additional crowler specials – 3/$22 of all other beer and 3/$25 IPA).

Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing NY Stout (6.5% ABV): A traditional Irish stout that completely and utterly approachable – notes of rich dark chocolate and coffee beans. This beer is available in at Five & 20’s Westfield tasting room and at select retailers in Western NY. If you visit their Westfield location, you can pick up some Rye Whiskey while you’re at it.

Four Mile Brewing Red Arm Ale (6.4% ABV): This beer is dedicated to Mercy Flight WNY. Three years ago, Four Mile’s president and head brewer was medevac’d to Buffalo after suffering a brewing accident. They saved his life.

Flying Bison Aviator Red (5.25% ABV): Aviator Irish Red Ale is an obvious choice.  Aviator is one of Flying Bison’s original beers from 2000 when they opened on Ontario Street. It’s a tribute to one of their founders, Larry “Red” Mrozek who passed away before the brewery opened. The beer is modeled after Smithwick’s Barley Wine.

Hamburg Brewing Irish Red (4.8% ABV): Smooth, malty and just the right amount of roasted.

New York Beer Project Dublin the Funn Irish Red (6% ABV):  Funn is a lighter, more funn version of last year’s Irish Red, which NYBP called ‘Red Eye to Dublin,’ because on St. Pat’s Day it’s all about being able to drink more completely fresh Irish Red Ale.

Old First Ward Red Clover (5.5% ABV): “Our Red Clover is an Irish Red that breaks the mold of the mass-marketed malty beers you commonly see,” OFW says of the brew. “We balance a mild malt sweetness with a nice roastiness to make a very drinkable beer.”

Pan-Am Brewery Roosevelt Red (5.3% ABV): Pan-Am’s flagship house made red, which is also an Irish Red.

Pearl Street Brewery Street Brawler Oatmeal Stout (4.5% ABV): A full bodied stout sure to satiate the Patty in all of us.

Resurgence Brewing Irish Breakfast Ale (5.2% ABV) and Imperial Irish Breakfast Ale (9.5% ABV): Both feature a red ale with notes of maple, coffee and smoked meat. The imperial version has been aged to pump up those flavors. Its higher alcohol content makes it a perfect sipper. Both are available at our taproom and at local beer sellers, but supplies are limited.

Rusty Nickel Brewing Red Beer’D Irish Red (6% ABV): The brand new Red Beer’D Irish Red was brewed in the traditional style (yet just a little different) specifically for St. Paddy’s Day and named after Head Brewer Dave Johnson’s very red beard (also grown for St. Paddy’s Day).  It was designed to be slightly malty with a wildflower honey finish and completely crushable.  Perfect for leprechauns!

Woodcock Brothers Brewing Dry Irish Stout (Nitro) (5% ABV): “This brew is an obvious ode to Guinness and their genre defining Irish Stout,” the brewery says of the beer. “Our version is brewed in the traditional style, no additives or adjuncts. Just the hops and toasty malts to give it a naturally roasted coffee type flavor. It’s soft, smooth, creamy and delicious. We fly through it at the brewery every March. It’s served cold at 40 degrees in pint glasses, or as a mix with our Red Head Amber Ale as a Black and Tan.”

Slainte! Or in the words of a traditional Irish blessing, ‘May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.’

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. If you have beer news that should be included in the Beer Buzz, Brian can be reached at buffalobeerleague@aol.com, on Twitter at @buffbeerleague, on Instagram at @buffalobeerleague and on Facebook at @thebuffalobeerleague.

The post The Best Beers for St. Patrick’s Day appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

To properly review these beers, a number of Buffalo Beer League’s finest took up residence at Resurgence Brewing to pop a few corks. We also obtained a bottle of Five & 20’s Beethoven Commemorative Kölsch Ale (4.5% ABV), brewed as a partnership with the Erie Philharmonic to celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday, thanks to BBL co-founder Scott, for the occasion.

We kicked things off with the kolsch, which was quite enjoyable to make a long story short. It was saison-y in character with notes of grape must and bready malts. Easy drinking and effervescent, it opened with a typical kolsch sweetness before a rather dry finish. It was light and approachable.

Next up was the Barrel Aged Hawt Roxx (6.4% ABV), Lake Erie Ale trail’s collaboration stein bier that was aged five months in Five & 20’s own bourbon barrels. We were expecting a bigger body after the beer opened with a toffee and bourbon-laced nose, but this 6.4 percenter didn’t play out as such. There was an early burn followed by a smooth finish with boozy notes as well as vanilla, oak and smoke throughout. This one was good.

Third times a charm as they say, and in this tasting of four beers, the third, Rhiskey Business (7.1% ABV), was the best of the bunch by far. Aged 7 months in freshly emptied Five & 20 Rye Whiskey barrels, Rhiskey Business presented a sweet bourbon and oak nose, followed by vanilla, caramel, warming booze and rye spice. Even though the general feeling was that we wished there had been more spice, the group agreed that this was the beer of the night.

Unfortunately, Stout Lucia, Five & 20’s flagship stout aged for six months in five, seven and nine year old dark St. Lucian rum barrels, was the least popular of the group. The nose imparted strangely medicinal notes of black liqourice and Sharpie markers. The beer itself was reminiscent of a peaty scotch with hints of molasses and smoke, though an astringent white rum bite overpowered our taste buds for the most part. The consensus was that the base stout needs to be stronger to stand up to the aging or the aging process needs to be shortened. We’d be open trying this one again in the future.

In addition to these beers, Five & 20 have also released (Drink That) Funky Cherry (Whit Boy), an American Wheat Ale fermented with New York cherries then aged 10 months in red wine barrels inoculated with brettanomyces yeast. For more information on these, and all of Five & 20’s year round offerings, visit www.fiveand20.com.

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. If you have beer news that should be included in the Beer Buzz, Brian can be reached at buffalobeerleague@aol.com, on Twitter at @buffbeerleague, on Instagram at @buffalobeerleague and on Facebook at @thebuffalobeerleague.

The post Five & 20 Brewing ups the ante (and ABV) with new barrel aged beers appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.