Community Beer Works, a legacy created in a pint glass behind an iconic green door on the West Side of Buffalo, is preparing to enter the next phase of its evolution. After nearly half a decade (save for that pesky pandemic), the brewery is closing the book on the 7th Street portion of their story as they look to turn the page to their next chapter, which involves a familiar venue.
Nearly two years after announcing plans to open a new taproom at 976 Elmwood Avenue on the corner of Elmwood and Bidwell Parkway, Community Beer Works has pulled out of the project, CBW’s Director of Operations Chris Groves says. Instead, CBW will join forces with Thin Man Brewery and Smoldered Society to reopen the former Thin Man taproom at 166 Chandler Street, which will now be known as Chandler Street Breweries.
The new taproom, which is being fully redesigned, will feature 24 draft lines, exclusive beer releases, and a diverse menu featuring wood-fired pizza, and numerous other entrees and appetizers. The 6,000-square-foot taproom will be reimagined with an updated modern look, expanded bar, wooden booths, couches, and televisions, including a big projector screen. The taproom is expected to open in late summer.
All the beer served will be brewed in the adjacent Chandler St. facility, where the breweries are consolidating their operations.
When it comes to memories, 520 7th Street provided those for this writer in spades throughout its relatively short tenure. Those memories are numerous and include Thee Barleywine Classic, an actual barleywine festival in Buffalo, something I hope to see continue in some shape or form, the Buffalo Beer League’s first-ever Buffalo Bills tailgate and watch party (we beat the Kansas City Chiefs that day), lunch beers, pinball and darts, One-Eyed Cat Brewing pop-up back before they opened, shotgunning beers with our friends at KCBC out on the sidewalk in honor of Lager Appreciation Month, countless beer releases, collecting all of the weekly Bills gameday releases a few seasons back, and many, many more I’m sure that I can’t remember. I’ll readily admit that my memory is not what it once was.
While we wait for the official opening of Chandler Street Breweries, you can find Community Beer Works, Smoldered Society and Thin Man beer on tap and in cans at any number of bars and restaurants around Western New York, as well as wherever great craft beer is sold.
I hope to see all of you down on chandler Street for a fresh pint soon. Embeer Buffalo indeed.
Brian Campbell is the 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).
