A report of my article in the Springville Times: Cheers to the Beers!
Cheers to the Beers! Thomas Jefferson once said, “Beer, if drunk in moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit and promotes health.” We agree (in moderation of course.) All across Western New York you can find local breweries serving unique craft beers suitable for just about any palate.
“New York’s craft breweries are not only a source of local pride, but they create jobs and drive tourism in every corner of the state.” said Governor Andrew Cuomo. “No state has done more to assist and promote craft manufacturing than New York.”
With this in mind, let us take the bucket list adventure this week across Western New York to visit one of our many, many local breweries. Please note, this list is far from comprehensive and represents just a sampling of what you will find in our area. Enjoy!
Ellicottville Brewing
28 Monroe Street
Ellicottville, NY 14731
(716) 699-2537
Ellicottville Brewing Company (EBC) opened their flagship brewery in 1995 in Ellicottville, NY and have expanded to include locations in Fredonia, Bemus Point and soon to be Little Valley in 2018. EBC currently offers the following beers to choose from: Blueberry Wheat, Keepin’ It Peel Citrus IPA, Stainless Steel IPA, Chocolate Cherry Bomb Imperial Stout, 1/2 Baked Peanut Butter Porter, Fistful of Peel Imperial Citrus IPS, Raspberry Beret, Sour Ale Caramel Apple Cuvee, Lloyd’s Christmas Ale and seasonal brews Ski Bum Hoppy Ale, Blood Orange Hefeweizen, Mow Master Ultra Pale Ale, Just Peachy Fruit Ale, Fall Festival Lager and Mosasic Sunrise IPA.
Four Mile Brewing
202 East Greene Street
Olean, NY 14760
(716) 373-2337
Four Mile Brewing company is the answer to the question of where to find a good craft beer in Olean. Four Mile currently features the following beers: Allegheny IPA , Hot Air IPA, Polynomial Pale Ale, Russian Imperial Stout, Stone 4 Miles, Strawberry Wheat, Black IPA, Bravo! Bravo! IPA, Green Street IPA, Mango Wheat, Pre-Prohibition Cream Ale, Red Arm Irish Red Ale and Unfurl American Porter.
Windy Brew
733 US 20A
Strykersville, NY 14145
(585) 805-4006
Opened in March 2017, Windy Brew Brewery is a Microbrewery an custom beer center that allows customers to brew their own beer using their equipment and ingredients. They currently offer the following beers at their brewery: Sheldon Bush Cream Ale, American Ale, PTSD IPA, English IPA, Snip’s West Coast IPA, Motueka Ale, Blondie’s Pale Ale and Bessy’s Best Milk Stout.
Silver Lake Brewing Project
14 Borden Avenue
Perry, NY 14530
(585) 969-4238
Silver Lake Brewing Project opened for business in March 2017 and currently brews the following beers: Imperial Stout, IPA #4, NYS Chinook S.M.a.S.H., Moe S.,, Call Me, Quincy Brown Ale, Apricot Sour, Dark Session Ale, Biere De Mars, Barky White Dog, and The Standard – Cream Ale.
Five & 20 Spirits and Brewing
8398 West Main Street
Westfield, NY 14787
(716) 793-9463
Five & 20 Spirits and Brewing is the first (and only) combination winery, distillery and brewery in NY state! They currently brew the following beers: Cream Ale, Pale Ale, Rye Pale Ale, Brown Ale, Stout, Lim Wit Hefeweizen, unCommon Passion, Double XING IPA, Barleywine, Imperial Stout, Stout Lucia, (Drink That) Funky Cherry (Whit Boy), Rhiskey Business, Barrel Aged Hawt Roxxx and Brettanoryces Rye Pale Ale.
Southern Tier Brewing Company
2072 Stoneman Circle
Lakewood, NY 14750
(716) 763-5479
Southern Tier Brewing Company was founded in 2002 and is currently one of the top craft beer producers in the US distributing to over 30 states across the country. STBC opened a satellite brewery in Pittsburgh, Pa earlier this year. Their current list of beers is quite extensive and includes: IPA, Tangier IPA, Nu Skool IPA, Citra Hopped Live Pale Ale, Pilsner, Porter, Phin & Matt’s Extraordinary Ale, One Buffalo Blonde Ale, 2xStout, 2XIPA, Imperial Cherry Gose, UnEarthly Imperial IPA, Creme Brulee Stout, Thick Mint Stout, Choklat Oranj Stout, Salted Caramel Stout, Choklat Stout, Raspberry White Ale, Lemon Drop Sun Wheat Beer, Harvest Ale, Old Man Winter Ale, 2XOak’d IPA, 2XUnfiltered IPA, 2XTangier IPA, 2XMAS Ale, 3 Citrus Peel Out Imperial Wheat Ale, Imperial Ginger Beer, Rum Barrel Aged Pumking, Cold Press Coffee Pumking, Warlock Imperial Stout, Pumking Imperial Ale, Sapsquatch Ale, Imperial Cinnamon Roll Ale and Manhattan Ale.
Hamburg Brewing Company
6553 Boston State Road
Hamburg, NY 14075
(716) 649-3249
The Hamburg Brewing Company opened their doors in October of 2013 and lives by the mission to “provide high quality and innovative brews and have a good time doing it.” Their current selection of beers include Small Town Belgian Saison, White Corner, IPA, Irish Red, Hoppenstance, Blackberry Gose, American Pale Ale, and Roots. Along with seasonal options Sweet Tang, Summa This, Oktoberfest, Frosty the IPA, and OMS and look for their Limited Edition Honey Ale with Black Currants, Tart IPA, Sour Pale Ale, Pineapple IPA, Hamburg Lager, Gary’s Wild Hops and Chocolate Stout.
East Aurora Brewery
667 Oakwood Avenue
East Aurora, NY 14052
(646) 872-8199
The East Aurora Brewery brews the following beers: Golden Corn Cream Ale, Thorny Roser IPA, Luke’s Baby Brown,Porter Ville Porter South Towns Summer Saison, Auroran Ale and East Aurora Brewery Apple Hard Cider and Loganberry Flavored Hard Cider.
Rusty Nickel Brewing Company
4350 Seneca Street
West Seneca, NY 14224
(716) 608-6155
Rusty Nickel Brewing Company in West Seneca menu of beers include: Not Yo Grandpas Cream Ale, Wit and Wisdom, Fuzzy Navel Wheat, Slice o’ Havens, Mango Hefeweizen, Strawberry Rhubarb, Ms. Brown’s Porter, Chocolate Milk Money, Cafe Mocha Latte, Vanilla Chi Tea, Smoked Plum Brown Ale, Ebenzser IPA and Cautiously Optimistic IPA.
Flying Bison Brewing
840 Seneca Street
Buffalo, NY 14210
(716) 873-1557
Flying Bison Brewing Company is the first brewery in the city of Buffalo since Iroquois Brewing closed its doors in 1972 and offers the following beers: Rusty Chain, Buffalo IPA, Buffalo Lager and Aviator Red. And also Seasonal Brews: Herc’ Strong Ale, Helldiver Oatmeal Pale Ale, Buffalo Kölsch 716, Bisonfest and Blizzard Bock.
Community Beer Works
15 Lafayette Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14213
(716) 759-4677
Community Beer Works, Buffalo’s first nanobrewery, opened in 2012 and currently offers Frank American Pale Ale, The Whale Brown Ale, That IPA, Stout Affective Disorder (Winter Seasonal ) and Amazing Larry Cream Ale