The 2024 Western New York Beer Week, presented by the WNY Brewers Guild, will take place Sept. 19-28. The weeklong event will feature special beer releases, specials and events all across Western New York at a number of different bars, bottle shops, breweries and watering holes.
Western New York is home to more than 60 craft breweries, a number that seemingly continues to grow with each passing week and month. The region’s craft beer industry has contributed to New York State becoming the 4th largest craft beer producer in the country, and has contributed over $5.4 billion dollars of economic impact to the state’s economy. These local businesses employ thousands of WNY residents and contribute to local causes and not-for-profit organizations.
The 2024 WNY Beer Week will kick off on Sept. 19 (5-7pm) with the official opening reception at Resurgence Brewing, which will feature members of the WNY Brewers Guild on hand drinking and chatting about all things local beer, the importance of drinking local, where your dollars go when you shop local and more.
The Buffalo Beer Goddesses are celebrating a dozen years of supporting women and promoting diversity in the beer industry on Sept. 19 at Mr. Goodbar. Admission is $10 (cash) for non-members and $5 (cash) for members and includes Goodbar chicken wings, food provided by BBG members, and drink samples from local vendors. The first 50 attendees also get their first pint of beer on the BBGs. Anyone who identifies as a woman/NB person interested in joining as a member, speak with a BBG officer at the door to find out how to register. The party is also open to non-members.
The Brewer’s Cornhole Tournament returns to The Ridge West Seneca on Sept. 22 (2pm), an event that features your favorite brewer battling it out on the cornhole boards to win a championship belt. Windy Brew are the reigning champs. The event will also feature beers from each participating brewery on tap on The Ridge’s self-pour wall. The Buffalo Beer Geeks will also host a cornhole tournament at Nickel City Brewz on Sept. 24 (6pm).
The WNY Real Beer Expo takes place Sept. 28 (5pm) at Flying Bison, a showcase event of WNY Beer Week that spotlights the best creations local brewers has to offer. There will also be a Brewer’s Bottle Share at Magic Bear Beer Cellar that same day at 8pm, an event that is pretty much self-explanatory. Look for local brewers and fellow craft beer lovers popping corks on a number of rare and hard to find bottles you more than likely will not be able to find anywhere else.
WNY Beer Week wraps up with what will hopefully be the first of many to come WNY Wet Hop Festival at Rusty Nickel on Sept. 28 (12pm). The event, presented by the Hop Growers of New York and the WNY Brewers Guild, features exclusive wet hop beers specifically created for this event. Wet hop beers are brewed using freshly harvested hops that have not been dried or processed. These hops are typically used within 24 to 48 hours of being picked from the field in order to provide a unique, vibrant flavor profile. Wet hops contribute a fresh, herbaceous, and often grassy flavor to the beer. Because they contain more moisture, they impart subtler bitterness and a more delicate aroma. They often have a fuller and more nuanced hop character with floral, citrus, pine, or earthy notes, depending on the hop variety used.
“The Western New York craft beer community is made of individuals of all ages and backgrounds who come together to work and socialize through a shared love of beer,” states WNY Brewers Guild President Robert Haag. “But craft beer in WNY is so much more than a fun beverage. Through our efforts, the brewing community creates jobs, supports a variety of local businesses and partners, and raises donations for WNY-based charities and foundations. So, this WNY Beer Week, attend some fun events, raise a pint, and help us ‘Celebrate Beer Made Here’.”
Find more new beers, events, and specials at wnybeerweek.com. Make sure to ask, ‘What’s Local?’ whenever you visit any one of Western New York’s watering holes this Beer Week.
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).
