1927 Brew House at Walden Galleria Closes

Santora’s has closed the 1927 Brew House at the Walden Galleria, opting not to renew their lease after five years. Owner Paul Santora made the announcement via social media citing recent changes in his personal life. He added that they are also choosing to not move forward with their planned brewery location in Clarence Center, citing life changes and rising costs. With the closure, Santora’s will move all brewing operations to their Transit location. Head brewer Rob Haag says he is grateful for his time spent brewing at the Galleria, which allowed him to dial in beer recipes.

Big Ditch Teams Up With YMCA on Turkey Trotter

Big Ditch Brewing has teamed up with the YMCA Buffalo Niagara for the fourth consecutive year to release Turkey Trotter, a beer brewed for the Buffalo Turkey Trot, the world’s oldest consecutively run footrace, a race that has been a Buffalo tradition since 1896. Turkey Trotter, described as a ‘perfect finish-line beer,’ is a blonde ale featuring crackery malt flavors and light fruity hops. Turkey Trotter is available on draft and in 6-packs of 12oz. cans at both Big Ditch taprooms, as well as wherever great craft beer is sold in Western New York. All cans feature a QR code that allows consumers to register for the race.

Buffalo Olde Brewery Releases Pumpkin Spice Mafia

Buffalo Olde Brewery has released Pumpkin Spice Mafia, a new beer that celebrates two of Western New York’s favorite seasons – football and fall. Pumpkin Spice Mafia is a Pumpkin Spiced Ale featuring a seasonal blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and clove, with caramel and toffee notes. “In addition to the traditional pumpkin spice flavors that everyone enjoys during the fall season, our Pumpkin Spice Mafia offers customers another beverage option that complements Buffalo Bills football, changing leaves, and the crisp fall air,” said Buffalo Olde Brewery co-owner Bill Anderson. Pumpkin Spice Mafia is available now.

Bottle Rocket Beer Mile Back For 2025

Bottle Rocket’s annual Beer Mile returns on October 12. What is a beer mile? It’s pretty simple – drink 4 beers and run 4 laps in alternating fashion as quickly as you can. It’s a 1-mile drinking event that combines running and speed drinking. It will take place on a 1/4 mile course surrounding Bottle Rocket. Space is limited and participation costs $30.26 (tax and fees included). There are three heats – 10 am, 10:30 am and 11 am. Beer served during the event will be Genesee Cream Ale. You can sign up for the Beer Mile here. The event is limited to a total of 90 participants.

Ellicottville Brewing Introduces New Hard Seltzers

Ellicottville Brewing has released a trio of new 4.8% hard seltzers, Cherry, Blueberry and Grape White Shark (concord grape), modeled after some of their popular beers. These pub-exclusive seltzers are all gluten free and are available at all EBC locations. These will also be available this weekend during Fall Fest, which includes live music, shopping, vendors, arts & crafts shows, and more. This year at Ellicottville Brewing, there will be live music from Darkwater Duo & Company on Friday, Tim Britt Band, Nerds Gone Wild, MayDay Buffalo, Vinny & The Mudflaps and DJ Gilroy on Saturday, then The Yachtfathers and The Strictly Hip on Sunday.

Pour Taproom Ellicottville 1-Year Anniversary Parking Lot Party

On October 11-12 (11 am), Pour Taproom Ellicottville are celebrating their 1-year anniversary with live music from Travis Happoldt, Kaley Lynch and Rico & the Stickman, food, craft beer, cocktails and wine, apple cider cocktail and mocktail station, games, crafts, champagne toast and more. Pour Taproom Ellicottville is located in the former Slopeside Restaurant at the Telemark Hotel. The space features a full bar with 30 self-pour taps and food menu. For more information, click here.

Woodcock Brothers Closes Wilson Location For Season

It’s that time of year, and with the colder weather and snow on the horizon, Woodcock Brothers Brewery has closed their Wilson location for the season and will reopen the taproom in March. “This isn’t goodbye forever, just our last night open in 2025 before we take a break until March,” the brewery said. “If you’ve got ideas for how we can make 2026 our best season yet, we’re all ears.” Woodcock Brothers will continue normal operations in North Tonawanda.

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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Pour Taproom Buffalo Closes After 4 Years

Pour Taproom, a self-pour beer, cider and wine bar located at 490 Pearl Street in Buffalo’s Theatre District, closed Wednesday after 4 years in business. Owners Matt Prime and Joe DiCenzo made the announcement on social media. Prime and DiCenzo say that they were hoping to have an official closing party in a few weeks, but were not able to make it work. Their other location, which opened last year inside the former Slopeside Restaurant at the Telemark Hotel, will remain open for business. Pour Taproom Buffalo opened in 2021.

Erie County Fair Homebrew & Cider Making Competition Returns

The 2025 Erie County Fair Homebrew and Cider Making Competition is accepting entries beginning April 1, with a deadline of April 30. The judging is based on creativity and not necessarily by style, and while all BJCP styles can be entered, the main criteria will be “creative relevancy” or the most fun beer/cider to enjoy at the fair. The winning homebrew beer will be brewed at Hamburg Brewing, while the winning cider will be brewed by BlackBird Cider Works. Both will be available on tap at the fair, Hamburg Brewing and Resurgence Brewing, as well as in cans. Entries can be dropped off at Resurgence or Hamburg’s taprooms, or at the Erie County Fairgrounds Main Offices. There is a $25 entry fee.

WNY Breweries Win Big at 2025 NYS Craft Beer Competition

It was a solid showing for local breweries at the 2025 New York State Craft Beer Competition, which took place Friday, March 21 at the Albany Capital Center as part of the NYS Brewers Conference. Resurgence Brewing grabbed a silver medal for their White Ale (Wheat Beers), Pearl Street Grill & Brewery won gold for Saber’s Edge DIPA (American DIPA), Hamburg Brewing won gold for OMS (Stout (Non-Imperial)) and New York Beer Project Irish Coffee Stout took bronze (Specialty Beers (Stouts & Porters)). Western New York breweries also 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 Carrot Cake Winter Ale.

Wayland Brewing Dinner at Rationales

Rationales will host Wayland Brewing for their next beer dinner, Thursday, March 27 (6pm). The dinner will feature four courses, each paired with a Wayland beer. The menu includes Strawberry Field Salad, paired with Case Study IPA, Cuban Crostini paired with Waylander Pilsner, Mineo and Sapio Italian Sausage and Smoked Cheddar Mash paired with Super Deluxe American IPA and House Made Peanut Butter Pie paired with Old Growth Schwarzbier. Tickets are $65 and include tax and gratuity and can be purchased here.

42 North Brewing Re-Release Beyond Boundaries Pils

42 North Brewing has re-released Beyond Boundaries, a West Coast Pilsner that combines the crispiness of a pilsner with the citrus hop flavor of a west coast IPA. The beer, which was originally released to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Buffalo’s business startup incubator, 43North, last fall, features Simcoe, Chinook and Tonatiuh hops. Beyond Boundaries will be available at both 42 North’s East Aurora and downtown Buffalo taprooms, as well as wherever great craft beer is sold, including Consumers Beverages, Wegmans, select Tops and select bottles shops.

CollaBEERation Festival Announces More Collabs

CollaBEERation Festival, which takes place at the Powerhouse on Apr. 5, has announced another round of collab beers that will be poured at the event. Among the recently announced collaborative brews are Mystic Hills Brewing Miami Weisse (Florida Weisse with papaya, tangerine, and pineapple make up the tropical beach flavor), Beer Kind Brewing Jason Mimosa! (Mimosa Hazy IPA), Smoldered Society – World Police DIPA (Fermented with over 90lbs of pink grapefruit, double dry hopped with Nelson Sauvin, Citra Cryo, and Riwaka and conditioned on marshmallow), Noble Shepherd – Concessions (Sour Apple Berliner Weisse), and more. You can find an updated list here. General admission tickets still remain and can be purchased here.

Wild Game & Beer Dinner at Griffon Gastropub in Lewiston

Griffon Gastropub in Lewiston is hosting their first ever Wild Game & Beer Dinner on April 1 (6pm). There will be a welcome reception with beer and passed hors d’oeuvres before the beer dinner, which features five wild game courses paired with Griffon Brewing beer. The wild game dishes will be prepared by Celebrity Chef Chaz Bulera. Tickets are $79.99 per person (plus tax/gratuity) and space is limited. Tickets are available for purchase at https://griffongastropub.com/game-dinner.

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, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).

The post Buffalo Beer Buzz: Pour Taproom Closes, Wayland Dinner at Rationales, Griffon Beer Dinner, NYS Craft Beer Competition, Erie County Fair Homebrew Competition, 42 North Beyond Boundaries, CollaBEERation appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Pour Taproom, a self-pour beer, cider and wine bar located at 490 Pearl Street in Buffalo’s Theatre District, closed Wednesday after 4 years in business. Owners Matt Prime and Joe DiCenzo made the announcement on social media.

Prime and DiCenzo say that they were hoping to have an official closing party in a few weeks, but were not able to make it work.

“It is with overwhelming sadness that we make this post. Pour Taproom Buffalo was an experience that turned into an idea, which turned into a dream and then became a reality. For the last (nearly) 4 years we’ve had the distinct pleasure of providing food, drinks, and experiences to those of you reading this and many more. Even though we aren’t officially bartenders, we’ve laughed with you, celebrated with you, been there on your bad days, and created lifelong friendships and memories.

But as they say, all good things come to an end, and this is the end of this chapter for us.  We were hoping this message would be an invite to a last call party in a couple weeks, but unfortunately that isn’t the case.  Today will be the last day of operation for Pour Taproom Buffalo.

To those of you reading this, the words thank you will never be enough.  Whether you stopped in once, or have a trivia team, or have been Tuesday night regulars, your presence in the taproom has had an enormous impact on our lives and we will never forget it.  Thank you for being you.

To the employees we’ve had over the years who have become more like family than co-workers, thank you for your work ethic, attitude, and dealing with our crazy ideas.  We’re sorry we couldn’t make it longer.

It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later.  We hope to see you at our second location in Ellicottville this summer and beyond.”

Their other location, which opened last year inside the former Slopeside Restaurant at the Telemark Hotel, will remain open for business.

Pour Taproom Buffalo opened in 2021.

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, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).

The post Pour Taproom Buffalo Closes After 4 Years appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Southern Tier Brewing Releases New Double IPA

Southern Tier Brewing is expanding their 2X series with the addition of 2XHop’d, a new 8.2% Double IPA that features notes of passionfruit, guava and stone fruit and is brewed with a custom blend of hops. The beer is available in 12oz. 6-pack cans or as part of Southern Tier’s new Double IPA mixed pack, 2XPACK’D, which also includes cans of 2XJuice Jolt, 2XCitrus and their flagship, 2XIPA. You can find 2XHop’d at Southern Tier’s taprooms in Lakewood and Buffalo, and wherever great craft beer is sold.

Pour Taproom Opens New Ellicottville Location

Pour Taproom Ellicottville is now open in the former Slopeside Restaurant at the Telemark Hotel. The new space features a full bar with 30 self-pour taps and food menu. Each beverage option features its own price per ounce. You receive a wrist band with a QR code that’s linked to your credit card, and then you pour as much, or as little, as you want. They will be open this week Wednesday and Thursday (4-9:30pm), Friday and Saturday (12am-12am) and Sunday (12-9:30pm). For more information, click here.

Thin Man, Lord Hobo Are Back With New Collab

As the Buffalo Bills prepare to take on division rivals, the New England Patriots, for the first time this season, Thin Man Brewery and New England’s Lord Hobo Brewing have once again linked up on a new beer, Welcome to Hell: New England, a 6.66% hazy IPA dry hopped with Galaxy, Citra, Motueka, and Strata hops, as well as Phantasm powder. Welcome to Hell: New England will be available wherever great craft beer is sold by the end of this week. The Bills-Patriots kick off at 4:25 p.m. this Sunday.

Spotted Octopus Brewing Expanding to Rochester

Allentown’s Spotted Octopus Brewing Company have announced plans to expand to Rochester at the former site of Roc Brewing, located at 56 S. Union St., which closed in Oct. 2023. The plan, at least initially, is to move all production to Rochester, while operating both two taprooms. The move will increase Spotted Octopus’ brewing capacity (the new space features a 7bbl system) and will give them a full kitchen to work with. They hope to open in the new space this coming spring. Spotted Octopus opened in early 2022.

Smoldered Society First Anniversary at Mr. Goodbar

Smoldered Society, a brewing imprint of Community Beer Works and Thin Man Brewery, will celebrate their first anniversary on Dec. 20 at Mr. Goodbar (9pm). There will be a limited amount of stubby glass bottles of Strike Anywhere Czech Pilsner and a new 9% triple IPA, Balrog, which was brewed with honey and double dry hopped with Nelson Sauvin, Citra Cryo, Nelson and Citra hop oil. There will be an ugly sweater party (9:30pm) on the first floor with live music from the Spin Wires and a X-mas party on the second floor (9pm) with live music from Confound in Sound.

42 North Brewing Launches New Tom & Jerry Stout

It’s the holiday season in Buffalo and that means it’s Tom & Jerry season. 42 North Brewing has taken their love for the popular cocktail and has put its own spin on it with a special release, Tom & Jerry Barrel Aged Stout. This 10% stout was aged in American Oak barrels and dosed with nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, vanilla, and lactose sugar. 42 North collaborated with The Delaware Pub & Grill on recipe development. Tom & Jerry is available at both 42 North taprooms, as well as The Delaware Pub & Grill in Kenmore.

Ellicottville Brewing, Canisius University Introduce New IPA

Canisius University and Ellicottville Brewing are teaming up on a new IPA, Canisius Fan Zone IPA. Canisius Fan Zone IPA will be available beginning the third weekend in December in 16-oz. 4-pack cans. The beer will be available at Canisius Fan Zone Den & Pub on campus (previously known as the ‘Griffins Den’), as well as Tops, Wegmans, Dash’s, Consumer’s Beverages  locations and select area bars. Canisius Fan Zone IPA will also be available for purchase online to New York residents at ellicottvillebrewing.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, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).

The post Buffalo Beer Buzz: New Beers at Southern Tier, 42 North, Ellicottville Brewing & Thin Man, Pour Taproom Ellicottville, Smoldered Society Anniversary, Spotted Octopus in Rochester appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Pour Taproom, a self-pour beer, cider and wine bar located in Buffalo’s Theatre District, has announced plans to expand to Ellicottville.

Pour Taproom Ellicottville plans to tentatively open this fall in the former Slopeside Restaurant at the Telemark Hotel.

According to co-owner Matt Prime, the new space will feature seating for up to 150, 30 taps offering a selection of craft beverages from New York state and beyond and a full menu serving traditional pub fare.

“The secret is finally out…Ellicottville is already one of our favorite little ski towns, and it’s about to get a little bit sweeter,” Pour Taproom said in a social media post. “The Lincoln Boutique Motel invited us to operate the restaurant attached to their newly-renovated AirBnb Boutique Motel (the rooms are BEAUTIFUL, by the way), and we couldn’t be more excited! It’s going to be a great partnership, and we both can’t wait to serve the Ellicottville community and vacation travelers alike. Think popping your skis off, crossing the street, and walking up to a self-serve tap wall. Pretty cool, and convenient, right?”

Each beverage option features its own price per ounce. You receive a wrist band with a QR code that’s linked to your credit card, then you pour as much, or as little, as you want, though a portion of the bar at Pour Taproom Ellicottville will remain staffed, Prime says.

Pour Taproom Buffalo opened in 2021.

For more information, click here.

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’s Pour Taproom Eyes Second Location in Ellicottville appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.

Buffalo’s Pour Taproom Eyes Ellicottville Location

Pour Taproom, a self-pour beer, cider and wine bar, has announced plans to expand to Ellicottville. Pour Taproom Ellicottville tentatively plans to open this fall in the former Slopeside Restaurant at the Telemark Hotel. According to co-owner Matt Prime, the new space will feature seating for up to 150, 30 taps offering craft beverages from New York state and beyond and a full menu serving traditional pub fare. While it will be a self-pour and self-service bar, a portion of the bar at Pour Taproom Ellicottville will remain staffed, Prime says. Pour Taproom Buffalo opened in 2021.

Tickets Remain for NYS Craft Brewers Festival Buffalo

A limited amount of tickets still remain for Western New York’s premier summer craft beer festival, New York State Craft Brewers Festival: Buffalo, which returns to Canalside on June 22 (2-6pm). This year will feature craft beer from over 50 breweries from across the state, live music from Mayday, a food truck rodeo, vendors, and live wrestling by Grapple Pro. New this year are GA+ tickets, which include 1-hour early access, souvenir tasting glass, and $5 merch voucher. You can purchase tickets here. You can also purchase hard copy tickets at Resurgence Brewing, Big Ditch, Wayland Brewing, and Britesmith. $1 per ticket benefits P.U.N.T Pediatric Cancer Collaborative.

Where Hops Meet History Beer Dinner at Buffalo Riverworks

Buffalo Riverworks are holding a special beer pairing dinner outside on their waterfront patio on June 26 (6:30pm).Titled “Where Hops Meet History,” the beer dinner will feature a four-course meal paired with four craft beers from RiverWorks Brewing, along with a guided tasting from their staff. The pairing includes Organic Silo Light with beef on weck and pretzel crostini, Flirty Sour paired with fruit salad, Wonder Irish Coffee Stout paired with coffee crusted pan seared strip steak and Double Decker DIPA paired with Mathilde orange liqueur crepe suzette. Tickets are $55 per person (gratuity included) and can be purchased here.

BriarBrothers Brewing Second Anniversary Party

BriarBrothers Brewing are celebrating their cotton, aka their second, anniversary, on June 22 with new beers, live music, exclusive merchandise and more. The Vinyl Cocktails will take to their outdoor silo stage at 5pm, the brewery will debut a number of anniversary beers, including How’s Your Snapper, a 7.5% double dry hopped New England IPA brewed with Citra, Simcoe and El Dorado hops, Bubli: Cotton Candy hard seltzer and Always Next Year, a 13.0% Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine aged one year in Black Button bourbon barrels, there will be free cotton candy all day, special edition apparel and glassware and more.

Clarksburg Cider Taps Special Pride Cider for June

In honor of Pride Month, Clarksburg Cider has tapped a special Pride-themed cider. Pride ’24 Hard Cider is a 6% bold cider featuring tart cherry and vibrant pineapple that falls on the drier side of the cider spectrum. “Pride means being able to show the world who you really are. So, we crafted our exclusive Pride Month hard cider to be bold with tart cherry and vibrant pineapple,” Clarksburg said of the new release. You can find Pride ’24 Hard Cider on tap at Clarksburg’s taproom right now. It is also available to go in 32oz. crowlers.

Dunkirk Hotel to Rebrand as Steelbound Hotel and Conference Center

The Clarion Hotel Conference Center in Dunkirk, currently the home of a Steelbound Brewery taproom, has revealed plans to rebrand as the Steelbound Hotel and Conference Center in 2025. Plans call for the renovation of all 120 guest rooms, with additional work in the conference area, dining room and lobby, as well as new pickleball courts and collaboration spaces. The company expects to begin construction in late fall with completion expected in mid to late 2025. The project received $1 million to fund its renovation as part of a $10 million allocation for the city of Dunkirk from the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward.

The Lock Tender to Open July 12 in Lockport

The Lock Tender Bottle Shop & Tap Room has announced plans to open in Lockport at 4 Lock St. on July 12. The space will feature indoor seating for around 100 patrons, as well as outdoor space for games and live music. The Lock Tender plans to offer 10 taps of New York state craft beer, wine, cider and mead, both on tap and bottles and cans to go. They will also have a limited food menu featuring local produce and vendors, in partnership with Lockport’s Terroir General Store. The grand opening will feature live music, Save Me A Slice Pizza pop-up and more. For more information, click here.

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: Pour Taproom Ellicottville, The Lock Tender, NYS Craft Brewers Fest, Riverworks Beer Dinner, Steelbound Hotel, BriarBrothers Anniversary, Clarksburg Pride Cider appeared first on Buffalo Beer League.