The Best Beer I Drank This Week

This episode of The Best Beer I Drank This Week is brought to you by The Tap and Craft Festival at Buffalo Riverworks on October 4th, presented by The Lock Tender . Ticket info is available now at BuffaloBeerLeague.com/tapandcraft . This week, Brian dives into Open Bags #7 , a massive collaborative fruited sour brewed at Stoneyard Brewing in Brockport with contributions from more than 20 breweries...

Hello everyone, Brian from the Buffalo Beer League here with a brand-new edition of The Best Beer I Drank This Week ! With fall arriving and Oktoberfest season in full swing, this week’s spotlight is on Wayland Brewing’s Oktoberfest Märzen (5.4%) . This beer embodies everything I love about autumn. Brewed with Pilsner and Munich malt, hopped with Mittelfrüh, and lagered for six weeks, it pours smo...

After an unexpected month-long break, Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League is back with a brand-new edition of The Best Beer I Drank This Week . And this time, he’s holding onto summer a little longer with Raspberry Wheat from Community Beer Works . At 4.9% ABV , this wheat ale brewed with raspberries is light, crisp, and bursting with ripe berry flavor. Pouring a beautiful bright red, it’s...

This week on The Best Beer I Drank This Week , Brian from the Buffalo Beer League cracks into his first featured beer from Griffon Brewing —and it’s a juicy powerhouse. Tai Cheetah is an Imperial New England IPA clocking in at 8% ABV , brewed with a blend of Centennial, Mosaic, El Dorado, and Galaxy hops . Bursting with flavor, Tai Cheetah serves up bold notes of mandarin, white peach, apricot, an...

This week on The Best Beer I Drank This Week , host Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League celebrates a standout local lager that’s perfect for summer: Simon Pure Light from Buffalo Brewing Company . At just 3.5% ABV , this ultra-light American lager is crisp, clean, and incredibly drinkable—making it one of the lightest local lagers available and an absolute crusher for hot days, lawn mowing...

First off, huge thanks to Mark from Livingston County for calling the Buffalo Beer League Hotline and shouting out a lager from Fifth Frame Brewing as the best beer he drank this week! We love hearing from listeners, so keep those calls coming—(716) 486-BEER. In this episode of The Best Beer I Drank This Week , Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League spotlights Patio Freak , a crushable hazy p...

This week on The Best Beer I Drank This Week , Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League cracks open a new collab between Wayland Brewing and Moriarty Meats : La Bière , a crisp and flavorful French-style Pilsner brewed with Strisselspalt hops. Brian shares tasting notes, brewing details, and his experience exploring this lesser-known style for the first time. With its light floral aroma, subtle...

In this week’s episode, host Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League cracks open a longtime favorite: The Surge , a hazy, juicy New England-style IPA from Resurgence Brewing Company . Formerly known as Sip O IPA 2.0 , The Surge has been a staple of the local beer scene for nearly a decade—and it’s back in a big way. Brian dives into what makes this 6.5% ABV IPA so special, from its bright trop...

In this special recap episode of The Best Beer I Drank This Week , host Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League breaks down his experiences at two major events: Wines in the Wild at the Buffalo Zoo and the 2025 New York State Craft Beer Festival at Canalside. From hard-to-find meads to fresh local lagers and incredible festival highlights, Brian shares the standout pours and memorable moments...

This week on The Best Beer I Drank This Week , Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League shines a spotlight on Hladinka from Buffalo Brewing Company. Inspired by Czech tradition, this dark lager is a beautiful blend—two-thirds Czech dark lager, one-third Czech pilsner foam—served the proper way via LUKR side-pull tap. At 5.4% ABV, it delivers rich malt character balanced with a clean, smooth fin...

In this episode of The Best Beer I Drank This Week , Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League highlights White Ale from Resurgence Brewing Company. This smooth and refreshing witbier is light on its feet but full of character, with crisp cracker-like malt, a soft mouthfeel, and a hint of spice from Saaz hops. At 4.5% ABV, it’s a perfect easy-drinker with just enough complexity to keep things in...

This week, Brian recaps his experience at CollaBEERation 5 , calling it the “Super Bowl” of Western New York craft beer events. From costumes to collaborations, the festival once again proved why it’s a can’t-miss celebration of beer, cider, and mead, with over 50 producers involved. Brian shouts out his favorite pours of the day—including Frequentum’s Miami Vice Fruited Sour , Buffalo Olde's I Re...

This week on The Best Beer I Drank This Week , Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League dives into Simulated King from Smoldered Society Beer Co. This Mountain Dew-inspired sour, brewed in collaboration with Bellwoods Brewery, is bursting with bold citrus flavors. With kiwi, orange, lime, and citrus soda in the mix, this brew delivers a tart, nostalgic, and refreshingly unique experience. Want...

This week on The Best Beer I Drank This Week , Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League is turning up the hops with 8 Hour Custom , a bold and juicy New England IPA from BriarBrothers Brewing Company. Clocking in at 7% ABV, this brew bursts with citrus and tropical flavor, delivering smooth, hazy vibes and fresh hop character in every sip. It’s a flavorful ride you won’t want to miss. Want to s...

On this episode of The Best Beer I Drank This Week , Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League shines a spotlight on Hoodledasher , a hazy IPA from Big Ditch Brewing Company. Brewed to celebrate the opening of their new Lockport taproom, this 7% New England-style IPA is packed with Mosaic and Calypso hops, delivering vibrant flavors of honeydew, nectarine, and a hint of fruity pebbles. Named aft...

On this episode of The Best Beer I Drank This Week , Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League explores the unique and complex Foeder Aged Black Rice Dark Lager – Batch 05 . Aged in a foeder—a large wooden vessel traditionally used for fermenting and conditioning beer—this dark lager develops a smooth, slightly oaky character that enhances its deep, roasted malt flavors. The addition of black ri...

Buffalo on Tap 2025 was one for the books, and we’re here to recap all the best brews, standout breweries, and unforgettable moments from one of Buffalo’s biggest beer festivals! This week, we’re sharing our picks for the Best Beer We Drank This Week —festival edition—including new discoveries, local favorites, and the hidden gems you need to try. Plus, we’ll dive into the festival experience, the...

This week on The Best Beer I Drank This Week , Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League highlights Alpha Bravo Citrus from First Line Brewing. This refreshing citrus-forward IPA delivers bright notes of orange, lemon, and grapefruit, balanced with a smooth malt backbone and just the right amount of bitterness. It’s crisp, juicy, and packed with flavor, making it a perfect pick for hop lovers lo...

Podcast Episode Description: The Best Beer I Drank This Week In this special episode of "The Best Beer I Drank This Week," host Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League takes you inside the fifth annual Barrel Jam at 42 North Brewing Company in East Aurora. Held on January 25, 2025, this festival celebrates the art of barrel-aging beers with live music and winter sports. ( Buffalo Beer League )...

On The Best Beer I Drank This Week , Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League dives into Balrog , a Triple Hazy IPA from Smoldered Society. This massive brew is bursting with bold tropical fruit flavors, featuring notes of citrus, mango, and stone fruit, all wrapped in a thick, pillowy haze. With its high ABV and smooth drinkability, Balrog is a beast of an IPA that hop lovers won’t want to mis...

On this episode of "The Best Beer I Drank This Week," Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League highlights Imperial Hazy Crush from New York Beer Project. This amped-up version of their beloved Hazy Crush IPA packs a punch with bold tropical fruit flavors like mango and citrus, a smooth, juicy mouthfeel, and a higher ABV that doesn’t sacrifice drinkability. It’s a hazy delight perfect for hop lo...

In this special year-end episode, host Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League runs down his favorite local beers of 2024! From standout IPAs to classic lagers and everything in between, Brian shares the brews that made this year unforgettable. Whether you’re a fan of big hops, bold flavors, or perfectly balanced beers, this episode is packed with recommendations to add to your must-try list....

On this episode of "The Best Beer I Drank This Week," host Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League highlights Hammer Head, a German Amber Lager from Brickyard Brewing. This lager combines rich malt flavors with a toasty sweetness and a smooth, crisp finish, making it a perfect option for lager lovers. Whether you’re savoring it fresh at the brewery or grabbing a pint at your local spot, Hammer...

Welcome to "The Best Beer I Drank This Week," hosted by Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League! This week, we’re excited to feature Hibernaculum IPA from Thin Man Brewing. Bursting with flavors of grapefruit, lemon peel, watermelon, and mango, this hazy IPA is a fruity, refreshing delight.  Perfectly balanced and packed with tropical notes, Hibernaculum is available now at local retailer...

Welcome to another episode of "The Best Beer I Drank This Week," hosted by Brian Campbell from the Buffalo Beer League! This week, we're featuring a local favorite – Lovejoy Lager from Buffalo Olde Brewing. This crisp, refreshing lager is a true testament to classic brewing, offering clean malt flavors with a hint of sweetness and a smooth finish.  Perfectly balanced and easy to drink, Lovejo...