We are back in the cut for Season 3! To kick things off, Brian Campbell dives into a full recap of one of the highlights of the Western New York beer calendar: Barrel Jam 2026.

Despite a brutal cold snap with highs of only 7°F, the Buffalo Beer League crew (Brian, Scott, Jesse, and Mark) trekked out to East Aurora to celebrate the sixth annual barrel-aged festival at 42 North Brewing Company. From high-gravity stouts to crisp cellar-aged lagers, Brian breaks down the standouts that survived the sub-zero temperatures.

• Station Identification: Brian sips on a fresh pint of Smolder Society’s "Strike Anywhere Into the Dark" (the Czech Dark version of their flagship Pilsner).
• The Pivot: How 42 North adapted when the "Rail Jam" and outdoor beer garden were sidelined by the weather.
• The Standouts: Deep dives into the lineups from Drowned Lands, Eli Fish, and Strange Bird.
• The Lone Ranger: A shout-out to the only IPA at the fest—Prison City’s DDH Mass Riot.

• Drowned Lands – Sylvan: A bourbon barrel-aged Sour Wild Ale aged on Raspberry. Clean fruit and perfect pucker.
• Strange Bird – Cathedral Windows: A 5.4% Barrel-aged Lager. The ultimate palate cleanser with great neutral oak notes.
• Eli Fish – Madame Edna (Peach): A farmhouse saison aged in barrels with peaches. Brian’s pick for the absolute best of the festival.
• Prison City – Earth, Wind, and Fodder: A standout foeder-aged lager that proves you don't need a high ABV to be world-class.
• Jack’s Abby – Framing Hammer (Coconut Rum): A heavy hitter that helped brave the 7-degree weather.

What is the best beer YOU drank this week? We want to hear from you! Call us, leave a message, and you might be featured on a future episode.

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