The Best Beer I Drank This Week

In the wake of the heartbreaking news that Chandler Street Breweries has closed its doors, shuttering Community Beer Works, Thin Man Brewery, and Smoldered Society Beer Co. for good—Brian sits down for a special, cathartic retrospective. Instead of spotlighting just one pour, Brian cracks open the Untappd archives and goes down a 20-minute rabbit hole celebrating the iconic beers, milestone releas...

We’re closing out a massive double-drop week as we march toward episode 100! Alongside our regular episode featuring First Line Brewing's Fest, Brian is recapping all the action from this past Friday’s Tap & Craft Festival at Buffalo RiverWorks. A huge shout-out goes to Seth and the entire crew from The Lock Tender in Lockport and Tap & Craft for hosting the Buffalo Beer League en mass...

We’re officially past the midway point of October, but Brian isn’t letting go of fall lager season just yet! For episode 85, he pops the top on a can live on the mic to revisit one of his favorite local autumn seasonals: Fest from First Line Brewing . After picking up a mix-and-match six-pack of fall beers from Wegmans and running through a side-by-side tasting at home, this Orchard Park staple st...

After taking last week off, Brian is back in the saddle for episode 84! He headed over to the New York Beer Project Beer Lodge in Orchard Park for a round of trivia and a burger, and walked away with a familiar favorite: The G.O.A.T. Hazy IPA . Originally born out of NYBP’s rotating "The One" IPA series (likely batch 60 or 61), this recipe was so good they made it permanent and named it...

It’s a double-drop week on the feed! Alongside our regular seasonal episode, Brian jumps on the mic for a special bonus recap of the Fall Beer Fest held at Rusty Nickel Brewing Co. in West Seneca. Serving as the headlining festival for Western New York Beer Week (organized by the Western New York Brewers Guild), this tight two-hour session brought together over a dozen local breweries, live music,...

Autumn is in full swing, and Brian is leaning all the way into his favorite beer season of the year. After picking up a mix-and-match six-pack of local autumn offerings from Wegmans, one seasonal completely stood out from the pack: Fall Festival from Ellicottville Brewing Company . It’s a recurring classic that Brian has enjoyed for years, but tasting it fresh side-by-side with other local fall be...

Brian is officially back from a two-week sabbatical (including a quick reset in Disney) just in time for his absolute favorite beer season of the year: fall. To kick off the cooler weather, Brian stopped into the brand-new Spotted Octopus Brewing taproom at 500 Seneca to grab the very first pour off their new draft lines: Oktobeerfest . The Featured Pour Brewery: Spotted Octopus Brewing (Buffalo,...

We're hitting a major milestone with Episode 80 , and what better way to celebrate than by looking back at an absolute cornerstone of the Buffalo craft scene? This week, Brian is grabbing a pint of a beer that is deeply personal to his craft beer journey: Rusty Chain Vienna Lager , now carrying on under the care of Hamburg Brewing Company . The Featured Pour Brewery: Hamburg Brewing Company / Flyi...

Summer might be winding down and the pool cover might be coming out soon, but Brian isn’t letting patio season go without a fight. This week, he’s cracking into a beer that completely flipped his expectations on its head: Pills Mafia Light Lime from Thin Man Brewery . Brian isn't usually a fan of lime-forward beers, but this light, crisp crusher hits all the right notes. The Featured Pour Brewery:...

We're staying right in our lager era this week, and honestly, with football season back in full swing, is there anything better than a crispy local pilsner made for game day? Brian stopped into the New York Beer Project Beer Lodge in Orchard Park on his way home from work, caught up with Head Brewer John Hyman, and grabbed a pour of a brand-new brew created to celebrate the Bills: Buffalo Billzner...

This week, Brian heads back down to Orchard Park to spotlight a powerhouse local collaboration. When First Line Brewing links up with the lager specialists at Britesmith Brewing , you know you're getting something clean, technical, and hop-forward. Enter Southern Drift , a dry-hopped New Zealand lager that brings big Southern Hemisphere flavor to a crushable 4.8% ABV profile. The Featured Pour Bre...

This week, Brian heads back out to Orchard Park to spotlight a triumphant return from Wayland Brewing Company . While craft beer fans are constantly looking for the next big release, Brian details why a look back at one of the very first beers Wayland ever put out reminded him exactly why he fell in love with their liquid in the first place: House Lager . The Featured Pour Brewery: Wayland Brewing...

This week, Brian heads back down to the Old First Ward to spotlight an absolute heavy-hitter from Resurgence Brewing Company . While local taplists are routinely packed with rotating releases, Brian pauses to champion a returning champion that deserves a permanent spot on your local radar: Head in the Clouds . The Featured Pour Brewery: Resurgence Brewing Company (Buffalo, NY) Beer: Head in the Cl...

This week, Brian stands inside Other Half Buffalo at Seneca One Tower, looks at a tap list dominated by 20 hazy IPAs and three fruited sours, and orders... a milk stout. Reaching past the hops, Brian treats himself to Egg Cream Milk Stout that trades the tropical fruit notes for a nostalgic trip down a New York City soda fountain lane. The Featured Pour Brewery: Other Half Brewing Co. (Buffalo, NY...

After another small hiatus where real life got in the way, Brian is back inside the shadow of the historic Buffalo silos to shake off the rust. This week, he is returning to BriarBrothers Brewing Company at 50 Elk Street to spotlight a brand-new release that has the local lager crowd talking: Crazy Child Vienna Lager . The Featured Pour Brewery: BriarBrothers Brewing Company (The Silos at Elk Stre...

The Warm Blanket of Buffalo Beer: Big Ditch Hayburner This week, Brian slows down to pay tribute to a true "Mount Rushmore" beer of the Western New York craft scene. While the quest for the newest, haziest, or rarest brew never ends, sometimes the best beer you drank is the one that’s been a reliable friend for years. We’re talking about the flagship of Big Ditch Brewing Company : Hayburner . The...

This week, Brian visited a downtown Buffalo favorite for a milestone celebration and walked away with a new appreciation for a often-divisive style. We’re talking about Billy’s Smoking Jacket , a collaboration between Spotted Octopus Brewing and Brazen Brewing . The Featured Pour Brewery: Spotted Octopus Brewing (Buffalo, NY) & Brazen Brewing (Lancaster, NY) Beer: Billy’s Smoking Jacket Style:...

This week, Brian isn't just picking one beer—he’s recapping the entire CollaBEERation 6 experience. This past Saturday, April 25, 2026, the Buffalo beer community descended upon The Powerhouse in Larkinville for the ultimate showcase of Western New York’s creative brewing spirit. The Champions & Fan Favorites The competition was fierce this year, with nearly 40 collaborative brews vying for th...

This week, Brian digs into the back of the fridge and pulls out a "banger" from our friends at Smoldered Society Beer Company . If you’ve been following the Buffalo Beer League, you know Brian is a massive advocate for the "clear beer" movement, but this week, he’s embracing the shadows with Strike Anywhere: Into the Dark . The Featured Pour Brewery: Smoldered Society Beer Co. (Brewed at Chandler...

This week, Brian keeps it classic with a trip to the New York Beer Project (NYBP) Beer Lodge in Orchard Park. While the craft world often chases the next big trend, sometimes the "best beer" is the one that reminds you why the basics matter. Brian caught up with Head Brewer John Hyman to sample the return of a fan favorite: Goddess Kolsch . The Featured Pour Brewery: New York Beer Project (The Bee...

Welcome to another edition of The Best Beer I Drank This Week . I’m your host, Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League, and let’s be honest—I’m basically floating on air right now. Not just because of the beer, but because the Buffalo Sabres are officially in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 14 years. It’s finally happened. Naturally, I had to celebrate with a trip to Other Half Buffalo at Seneca One...

This week, Brian takes us on a deep dive into what might be the most technically ambitious beer ever produced in the Southtowns. We’re talking about Peche Spon 2024 , the inaugural release from the New York Beer Project (NYBP) Beer Lodge coolship program in Orchard Park. This isn't just a beer; it’s a time-intensive labor of love that brings Belgian tradition to Western New York. The Featured Pour...

This week, Brian travels to Orchard Park to visit our patriotic friends at First Line Brewing . While First Line is known for their support of first responders and the military, their latest taproom hero, I Got Your Six , stands out for both its mission and its unique hop profile. The Featured Pour Brewery: First Line Brewing (Orchard Park, NY) Beer: I Got Your Six Style: West Coast IPA / American...

This week, Brian heads to the Silos at Elk Street to discuss a beer that stopped him in his tracks. Typically known for their experimental sours and heavy-hitting hazies, BriarBrothers Brewing Company has quieted the noise with Reflections , a rice lager that might just be the pinnacle of their lager program to date. The Featured Pour Brewery: BriarBrothers Brewing Company (The Silos at Elk Street...

This week, Brian heads down to the Old First Ward to visit the Frequentem Brewing Co. Buffalo taproom for a masterclass in lager traditionalism. While the hazy IPAs at their Louisiana Street spot are always a draw, it was the gleam of a side-pull tap and a dimple mug that stole the show this time. If you’re a fan of "clear beer" and meticulous technique, this is the pour you’ve been waiting for. T...