Buffalo Rising Online

Aug 27th 2007, 10:09am By John Aramini

Editor's Note:
We had a number of writers attend Buffalo Brewfest this weekend. Two of them have sent me articles, both interesting and both from a different perspective. The first is here, written by contributor John Aramini. The second, which will appear on the site later in the day, was written by BR's own Beer in the City Dude, Adam Fix. Enjoy!

This past Saturday, the Buffalo Central Terminal was bustling with activity as throngs of thirsty people turned out for the Sixth Annual Buffalo Brewfest. Even though the taps did not begin to flow until 2:00 in the afternoon, people were lined up well before 1:00, anxiously awaiting refreshment.

Once the taps opened, people were allowed inside the Terminal. The frustration regarding the wait was quickly forgotten and replaced by a spirit of friendliness only a crowd of thousands of beer-drinkers can provide.

Browsing the program, I quickly zeroed in on the fact that local brewery, Flying Bison, would be offering a “Cask Special.” Spotting owner Tim Herzog, I asked him about it, and he informed me that it was a Belgian Style Dubbel. After making my way through the crowd, I found a substantial line at this cask. Upon reaching the front, I found that the Cask Special poured a rich brown and was malty and sweet; a very enjoyable sample of a style that I don't frequently drink. I must commend the Flying Bison guys for bringing a beer that is completely different than any of their regular offerings.

Unfortunately, not every brewer had such excitingly different offerings. As a perhaps too-familiar patron of the various regional breweries represented at the Brewfest, I didn't encounter as many unusual or rare beers as I'd hoped I would. The offerings provided were of high-quality and provided a diverse selection, but few brewers brought anything truly unusual. Still, almost everyone I spoke with was very pleased with the festival overall.

Leading up to the event, some people were concerned about the new token system. In previous years, samples were not restricted in any way. This year, however, Brewfest switched to a token system in which every patron was given 20 tokens, each good for one 3 oz. sample. For those who did not find this sufficient, additional tokens could be purchased for $1 each. I spoke to some people that welcomed the change. One gentleman explained that before the token system was put in place it was more of a “drinkfest”, in which the quantity was a draw. He feels this new system encourages a true Brewfest, where tasting the beer is more important than chugging it down.

The event also drew praise for its setting. With recent focus on the revitalization of the Central Terminal, many people were impressed by the architectural grandeur of the building. Attendees marveled at the tremendous domed ceilings and spoke of being happy to see a historic Buffalo landmark being put to good use.

Amidst the vast quantities of beer, I asked people where they like to go for beer in the city. The two most popular answers were the Pearl Street Grill and Alternative Brews. Pearl Street is a true brewpub that features many quality offerings brewed on-site. Alternative Brews, located in Amherst, was present at the Brewfest and “wowed” people by bringing along their entire diverse selection. They had taps pouring custom offerings only available at their Sheridan Drive location, as well as a staggering lineup of the over 100 bottled beers they keep in stock.

The Brewfest is a fantastic social--and somewhat educational--event I feel will continue to evolve and find itself. I only see the event becoming bigger and better. Brewers are a special kind of goodwill ambassador and I, for one, look forward to the next time they visit our city en masse. Cheers.


Pearl Street Grill and Brewery
76 Pearl Street, Buffalo 14202
716.856.2337
www.pearlstreetgrill.com

Alternative Brews
3488 Sheridan Drive, Amherst, NY 14226
716.446.0424
www.alternativebrews.com