Clarence’s West Shore Brewing have launched a new Mug Club, which includes access to free beer, exclusive parties and even more exclusive beer. The new club features an annual membership fee of $75, and spots are open now. You can join online today (includes VIP tickets to West Fest 2.0) or sign up in the taproom.

West Shore has also announced their second annual West Fest, a celebration of all things West Shore Brewing in honor of their second anniversary, West Fest 2.0: Beach Party, which will take place July 27 (2pm). The party will features a host of special beer releases, food trucks and live music.

As a West Shore Mug Club member, you are entitled to exclusive beers brewed just for you four times a year (four times a year members will vote on a beer style and a pilot batch of that beer will be brewed just for members), $1 off pints every single day, a free beer during the week of your birthday, discounted ticket prices for all brewery events, an exclusive member party once a year, special can/bottle reserves and more, including tasting event opportunities, merchandise deals, and taste tests.

West Shore Owner Josh Dziomba says that launching an official Mug Club is something the brewery has always had planned, it just took some doing to finally roll it out because he couldn’t get out of his own way basically. And, in his opinion, there are a few key reasons that everyone should join.

“This has been in the works for a long time,” Dziomba says of the Mug Club. “However, partially because I over-analyzed it so much, it fell to the wayside. The cool parts are, well besides the $1 off every pint, is that you will be able to reserve set numbers of cans/cases every time we have a can/crowler release. So, if you are out of town or can’t make it in that day you can still get it. The second part is that we will hold a vote of the members four times a year and we will then brew a special pilot batch that will only be available to Mug Club members. There will be four different styles, so we won’t have any repeats. They could be seasonal, funky, experimental or traditional – whatever the members want. It will be focused on tasting and talking about the process and history of each beer at a special release party for each one.”

West Fest 2.0 will feature three bands, Pine Deer Project, Shawn Duescherer and Fools Like Us, food trucks and a number of special beer releases. Tickets are available on Facebook and in the taproom ($10 General Admission / $25 VIP). Your GA ticket includes your first beer on the house, a limited edition pint glass and access to beer releases (stay tuned for more details). Your VIP ticket includes your first beer, a limited edition pint glass, beer releases, even more special beer releases and guest taps, a VIP party tent and discounts on Akron Fest tickets (August 10 at the taproom).

“With the beach theme, think fruity island style beers,” Dziomba adds of the West Fest tap list. “Like a Gose conditioned on Pineapples and Toasted Coconut, Strawberry Mango Imperial Hefeweizen and Orange Pineapple Green Flyer New England IPA, just to name a few. Plus the VIP tent will have some special variants, and we are also shooting for some guest taps from outside the area.”

For more information on West Fest, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/385227699011194/. You can also stay tuned for updates at https://www.facebook.com/westshorebrewing.

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).