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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This week on The Best Beer I Drank This Week, Brian heads back to the silos on Elk Street to revisit a brewery that has delivered hit after hit: Briar Brothers Brewing Company. It’s been too long since a Briar beer made it onto the show, so we’re fixing that today with their New England IPA Desk Pop — a soft, creamy, citrus-loaded hazy inspired by The Other Guys (yes, “aim for the bushes” makes an appearance).

Brian talks about first grabbing a mixed four-pack during a recent brewery stop, how fast this one disappeared, and why he wishes he’d bought more. If you’re a hazy IPA fan or a Briar Brothers regular, this one should be on your radar.

Desk Pop – New England IPA

Briar Brothers Brewing Company

ABV: 7.5%

Hops: Simcoe, El Dorado, Mosaic, Citra

Flavors:

• Honeydew and cantaloupe
• Dried tangerine
• Soft, pillowy mouthfeel
• Smooth tropical fruit and citrus layered over expressive hop character

What Brian Thought:

A standout hazy from a brewery that rarely misses. Rich, creamy, extremely smooth finish, and a balance of hop expression + fruit flavors that pops (pun fully intended).

Draft + cans at Briar Brothers Brewing Company (check for current availability — it goes fast).

Located at The Silos at Elk Street, Buffalo.

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Thanks for hanging out for another episode! New beers and new episodes drop every Tuesday on The Best Beer I Drank This Week. Next week’s beer is already on Brian’s shortlist — see you then.

Cheers!

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This week on The Best Beer I Drank This Week, Brian spotlights a beautifully simple, elegant lager: Traditional, a Czech Pilsner from Belt Line Brewery & Kitchen. It’s the kind of pour that looks perfect in a dimpled mug with two fingers of foam—and tastes even better with Belt Line’s 716 Medium wings (a pairing you’ll hear more about in Brian’s upcoming taproom pairings piece).

He first revisited it on a birthday brewery bus stop and has since gone back for multiple rounds. Expect a crisp, classic profile with just enough bready snap to keep you coming back.

Traditional – Czech/Bohemian Pilsner

Belt Line Brewery & Kitchen — ABV: 4.8%

• Light, crisp, highly drinkable
• Cracker malt, light bread crust/toast point
• Clean, slightly dry finish; elegant foam in a dimpled mug
• Draft at the brewery (check for current availability)

On draft at Belt Line Brewery & Kitchen. If/when cans appear, Brian’s grabbing them—so should you.

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In this special episode, Brian recaps Bottles & Bites at Statler Buffalo (Nov 13). He, Jesse, and Scott hit GA this year—easy entry, stellar venue, and a strong mix of food, beer, wine, and canned cocktails. Pre-game was at Southern Tier Buffalo (Mediterranean Burger + Ghost Note IPL = clutch).

Beer stops & standouts:

• Mystic Hills & Schulz Bräu to start
• Hofbräuhaus Munich Oktoberfest (most-poured of the night)
• Big Ditch Kringle Juice IPA (keg kicked—drinking great)
• Resurgence Holiday Ale & Sipmo as the roaming pour

Food bites (from memory… because they went fast):

• Chef’s stuffed shells; meatballs
• Beef on weck; open-face Reubens
• Hofbräuhaus pretzels with beer cheese (until the cheese ran out)
• Hanson's sausage
• A surprise drunken pineapple upside-down cornbread that slapped

Venue vibes:

Statler remains an all-timer—opulent main hall, helpful mezzanine seating, live music, satellite bars. (Also wild personal note: same room as Brian’s high-school prom.)

• For a 2.5-hour GA window (6–8:30pm), several food vendors began packing up 8:10–8:15; by 8:30 many were gone. That’s tough for attendees.
• More visible rinse/water stations would help, especially with beer → cocktails → wine hopping.

• Consider VIP if you want the widest food selection before lines/stock dip.
• Hit beer first, then food—then loop back for a dessert splash.
• If Statler opens the mezzanine, grab a perch early.

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• Hotline: 716-486-BEER — What was your Bottles & Bites favorite?

Thanks to everyone who said hi and to the folks who came because of Brian’s recs—means the world. Back next Tuesday with a beer-focused episode. Cheers!

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In this week’s episode of The Best Beer I Drank This Week, Brian from the Buffalo Beer League spotlights a true Western New York classic: Premium Pilsner from Resurgence Brewing Company.

This 5% Czech-style pilsner has become a staple pour around Buffalo, whether in cans, on draft, or—when you're lucky—on side-pull at places like Nickel City Cigars. Brian breaks down why this lager works in every format, what makes it different from Bridge Pils, and why he keeps going back to it.

He also shares a few recent places he’s enjoyed it (including a fantasy-football beer prize) and explains why this may be the most consistently crushable lager in Resurgence’s lineup.

Premium Pilsner – Resurgence Brewing Company

Style: Czech-Style Pilsner

ABV: 5%

Brewed with hand-selected Saaz hops and a triple-decoction mash for fuller mouthfeel and head retention. Floral, earthy, crisp, clean, and endlessly drinkable.

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✅ Call the Buffalo Beer League Hotline & leave your beer of the week:

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(Your calls may be featured on the show!)

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Hello everyone! Brian from the Buffalo Beer League here with another edition of The Best Beer I Drank This Week!

Before we dive into this week’s feature, I want to thank many friends at Iron Tug Brewing for calling into the Buffalo Beer League Hotline — love hearing from you! If you want to join in on the fun, you can call 716-486-BEER and leave me a voicemail about the best beer you drank this week. You might just hear yourself on a future episode.

This week, I’m spotlighting Citra Snaps from Other Half Brewing, the latest entry in their incredible Snap Series of lagers. Brewed specially for Citra Week, this beer shows off one of craft beer’s most iconic hops in all its glory.

Citra Snaps swaps out Mosaic and Saphir for 100% Citra hops, delivering bright, soft notes of orange, lychee, and tropical fruit. It’s 4.5% ABV, crisp, and clean — the kind of beer that reminds you how refreshing a well-made lager can be.

I first had this one at my nephew’s birthday party, which doubles as our family Halloween celebration. My buddy Jesse brought some cans, and it quickly became the hit of the party. Everyone loved it — myself, Scott, Jesse, even our friend Kyle. If you’ve enjoyed other Snap Series beers like Poetry Snaps, Lime Snaps, Yuzu Snaps, or the classic Snaps, you’ll absolutely love this one.

Each new version somehow seems better than the last, and for me, Citra Snaps is the best yet — bursting with hop character, easy-drinking, and perfect for any occasion.

You can still find Citra Snaps on draft and in cans at Other Half Buffalo (inside Seneca One Tower). Grab it while you can — it was brewed in limited quantities for Citra Week!

If you try it, or if you’re brewing something cool like our friends at Iron Tug, call the Buffalo Beer League Hotline at 716-486-BEER and let me know what you think.

As always:

• Follow @BuffaloBeerLeague on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and Untappd
• Visit BuffaloBeerLeague.com for news, reviews, and events
• Email me at Brian@BuffaloBeerLeague.com
• And please rate and review the podcast — five stars really help!

Thanks for listening and for the great call-ins from Iron Tug Brewing! I’ll be back next Tuesday with another great local beer right here on the WNY Brews Podcast Channel.

Cheers! 🍻

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Hello everyone, Brian from the Buffalo Beer League here with another edition of The Best Beer I Drank This Week!

This week’s beer took me (and my wife) by surprise — Espresso Martini Nitro Milk Stout from Hamburg Brewing Company. Inspired by the trendy espresso martini cocktail, this 6.5% milk stout is brewed with espresso from Undergrounds Coffee and finished on nitro for that smooth, velvety body.

Hamburg describes it as “a bold nitro milk stout with intense espresso flavor — a boozy hug that’s both indulgent and classy.” I’d say they nailed it. It opens with bold roast and coffee grounds, then layers in notes of chocolate, vanilla, and cream. The nitro gives it that soft, silky finish, making it incredibly drinkable for a dark beer. It’s rich, smooth, and surprisingly approachable — even if you’re not normally a stout drinker.

This one was my standout from Hamburg’s Nitro Stout Six Mix, which also includes Nitro OMS (Oatmeal Milk Stout) and S’more Stout. The S’more was a close second, but the Espresso Martini stole the show for me. Big thanks to my friends at Hamburg Brewing and Content on Draft for having me out to celebrate the release.

You can find the Nitro Stout Six Mix at the brewery or wherever great craft beer is sold — but supplies are limited, so grab it soon.

If you’ve tried this beer, call the Buffalo Beer League Hotline at 716-486-BEER and let me know what you think!

As always:

• Follow @BuffaloBeerLeague on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and Untappd
• Visit BuffaloBeerLeague.com for the latest articles and event coverage
• Email me anytime at Brian@BuffaloBeerLeague.com
• And please, rate and review the show wherever you listen — five stars go a long way!

Also, check out the newest stories on the site, including:

• Western New York Beer Trail’s 2026 Trail Pass release
• Bottles & Bites returning November 13 at Statler Buffalo
• Collaboration 6 set for April 25, 2026
• And sadly, news on the upcoming closure of Monster Beach Brewery & Tiki Bar

Thank you so much for listening — I’ll be back next week with another great local beer right here on the WNY Brews Podcast Channel.

Cheers! 🍻

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Hello everyone, Brian from the Buffalo Beer League here with a brand-new edition of The Best Beer I Drank This Week!

This week, I’m talking about a beer that completely surprised me — French Vanilla Brown Ale from Big Ditch Brewing Company. It wasn’t one I planned to order, but after a sample at the bar, I was blown away and had to dedicate this week’s episode to it.

This 5.8% brown ale delivers exactly what the name promises — a perfectly balanced blend of toasty malt, coffee, chocolate, and creamy vanilla. It opens with a subtle roast character and smooth notes of coffee and cream, with that fresh vanilla bean flavor shining brightly all the way through. It’s medium-bodied, flavorful, and just plain easy to drink.

It’s rare for a brown ale to stop me in my tracks, but this one did. It’s rich without being heavy, sweet without being cloying, and absolutely nails the “vanilla” part of the promise. If you’re heading to Big Ditch, grab a pint of French Vanilla Brown Ale (on tap now at their downtown location and possibly in Lockport as well).

If you try it, let me know what you think — call the Buffalo Beer League Hotline at 716-486-BEER and tell me about it! I’d love to feature your thoughts in a future episode.

As always:

• Follow us on all socials at @BuffaloBeerLeague
• Visit BuffaloBeerLeague.com for new articles, event listings, and features
• Email me at Brian@BuffaloBeerLeague.com
• And please, rate and review the show wherever you listen — five stars really help!

Thanks for listening, and I’ll catch you next week with another great local beer right here on the WNY Brews Podcast Channel.

Cheers! 🍻

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