Buffalo Niagara Craft Brew
Craft breweries are recapturing our region’s legacy as a boomtown for booze. Throughout the United States, the number of breweries is now over 3,000, and growing faster than ever. The 716 is riding this wave of development, one that complements the area’s broader social and economic resurgence. Below are some of our favorite breweries! So check them out for yourself and just brew it!
Brickyard Brewing Company
Brickyard Brewing Co. is founded on the concept that beer and food are a lifestyle. You can taste their dedication to excellence in every beer they make. Experience their rustic brew pub and dynamic landscapes of the Lower Niagara River on your visit to historic Lewiston, NY. Like an IPA? Try their White Bronco IPA. We are also digging all of their milk stouts like their fruity Millions of Strawberries made with fresh strawberries from Sanger Farms, real Madagascar vanilla beans and plenty of lactose for a creamy body . So have a beer (or three) at Brickyard Brewing Co and take a stroll in historic Lewiston afterwards!
Millions of strawberries from Brickyard Brewing Company. Strawberry beers forever!
T1D HiJACKed IPA from Resurgence Brewing Co. Flavors of grapefruit, pineapple, and tangerine take over as sweet waves drift across your pallet.
Resurgence Brewing Co.
Resurgence Brewing Co.’s craft brewery & beer garden are helping to bring back a piece of Buffalo’s rich brewing history. Their high quality, small batch beers promise customers an outstanding experience and are made just a few feet away at Resurgence Brewery. We love their creativity and how they aren’t afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to their unique flavors. From their Loganberry Wit to their Vanilla Cappuccino Pumpkin Ale that’s reminiscent of a spiced pie, to their Sponge Candy Stout, made with real sponge candy from Watson’s; there’s plenty of flavors year round to entice your senses and inspire you to try something new. Enjoy the chill vibe at Resurgence Brewing Co. while you enjoy a one-of-a-kind craft brew.
Becker Brewing Co.
Becker Brewing Co. offers beer and hard cider produced right at Becker Farms as well as a variety of locally produced craft beverages. This is a great place to take kids and enjoy a brew because there’s plenty of activities the whole family can enjoy. Pick fresh produce that’s in season, enjoy a flight and a pint in the tasting room or take home a growler. Grab a bite to eat from the Gastro Pub menu, or stop in for a Friday fish fry! With Sunday brunch and live music Saturdays there’s plenty to do at Becker Brewing Co.
Becker Brewing’s Raspberry Wheat Ale is a refreshing, lightly carbonated, tart wheat beer.
Lakeside Loganberry Cider from BlackBird Cider Works.
BlackBird Cider Works
BlackBird Cider Works is Buffalo Niagara’s premier craft cider producer, nestled in a beautiful estate apple orchard overlooking Lake Ontario. Visit their tasting room in the Niagara Wine Country! Sample their award winning bottled and draft hard ciders as their knowledgeable staff teaches you about their unique ciders, cider making and the local cider making history. Enjoy their ciders by the tasting flight or glass. We love that BlackBird is helping to put cider on the map here in Buffalo. We look forward to their Buffalo location opening later this year.
Big Ditch Brewing Company
Big Ditch Brewing Company is a craft beer brewery located in downtown Buffalo with a focus on innovative and flavorful beers. We love all of their tasty menu items, too. The great thing about Big Ditch is that they’re passionate about wanting people to try their latest creations. Bartenders and waiters alike will eagerly offer free 1 oz samples of any beer you’d like to sample. Which is nice for someone who may be a novice beer drinker. Their tap room also offers fractional pours or as they call them “cubbies” (Erie Canal lingo for a small, one-cabin boat; the name Big Ditch refers to the Erie Canal) which are 5 oz sample of any beer. So more than the free sample but less than a full flight. We love that this allows for a tasting experience that’s customizable for any palette.
Whether you want to drink a lot or just sample a little Big Ditch Brewing Company is the perfect place to establish your craft beer preferences.
Crikrat Kölsch from Gene McCarthy’s Old First Ward Brewing Company.
Gene McCarthy’s Old First Ward Brewing Co.
It would be impossible to talk about the Buffalo beer scene without mentioning the local gem that is Gene McCarthy’s. Gene McCarthy’s is an Irish tavern that opened at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. When you’ve been open that long you know you must be doing something right! Gene McCarthy’s honors the history of the neighborhood and welcomes new guests to enjoy their delicious food and house-brewed beer. Old First Ward Brewing Company, located next door, specializes in lagers and is a haven for hop lovers. A historic atmosphere, fresh beer and diverse food menu make this brew pub the perfect place to spend an afternoon or an evening.
Lafayette Brewing Co.
Located inside the Hotel Lafayette, The Lafayette Brewing Co. is one of the newest crown jewels in Buffalo’s Brewery District. The restaurant’s grand dining room, mezzanine, murals room, Teddy Roosevelt Trophy Room with fireplace, and beautifully restored tap room, transport you back to Buffalo’s gilded age. In addition to the Lafayette Brewing Co. menu, enjoy their unique seasonal beers proudly created by their brew masters. Personally, I love Lafayette Brewing Co. because my husband and I had our wedding reception at Hotel Lafayette and it always brings back great memories to stop in and have a drink whenever we’re in the neighborhood.
There’s a craft beer for every pallet at Lafayette Brewing Co.
Wild Stallions Imperial Hefeweizen from Pearl Street Grill and Brewery.
Pearl Street Grill and Brewery
Pearl Street Grill and Brewery is centrally located downtown in the heart of Buffalo’s Brewery District. It’s the perfect stop to make before or after a sporting event. Experience cityscapes and Lake Erie sunsets on their beautiful multi-level New Orleans style wrap around patios while enjoying one of their wonderful craft brews. Indoors you can take a step back in time in their event spaces that have been restored to reflect their canal era warehouse heritage. With comfortable and casual dining options 7 days a week Pearl Street is the perfect spot to enjoy a brew downtown.
Now Go Grab a Drink!
All of these fantastic breweries are contributing to the Buffalo Niagara region’s resurgence as a place that knows about good craft beer. The addition of so many independent, locally-owned breweries and cideries are truly making the Buffalo Niagara region a real tourist draw for craft beer enthusiasts. So whether you’re a local or visiting craft beer expert, or you just like beer, these local breweries are the perfect spots to enjoy a cold one.
Let the Welcome 716 events page guide you to Buffalo Niagara!