Buffalo Rising Online

I know there are plenty of you out there who would love to brew your own beer. After all, it is America’s fastest growing hobby (please don’t ask me to back that up)! Thanks to Niagara Tradition Home Brew, Buffalonians with no knowledge whatsoever of the brewing process can now pick up a starter kit and, a few weeks later, enjoy about 50 twelve ounce bottles of their own beer.

The kit includes nearly everything you need to get started- a fermenting bucket, bottling bucket, equipment sanitizer, hydrometer… and of course the precious ingredients! The only things you need are a large stewing pot (needed to boil the wort), a measuring cup, measuring spoons, and a large spoon for stirring. When the time comes to bottle your beer, you’ll also need the bottles and a funnel.

With the step-by-step instructions guiding you in great detail, it should be easy and fun to produce…

Buffalo, it’s time to break out the lederhosen! On Saturday, September 22, the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation is holding “Picnic on the Plaza V: Oktoberfest.” If you missed Brewfest, this is your chance to make up for it (and if you were there, I know you’re already planning on hitting up Oktoberfest!).

Although it’ll be a few million visitors smaller than the celebrations in Munich, early indications are that this will be quite a fun crowd. In addition to authentic German food and imported German beers, musical entertainment will be provided by The Frankfurters. Tickets are $10 and include a drink ticket--much more reasonable than airfare to Germany.

What’s that you say? You want to go, but really can’t afford to drop ten bucks this weeken…

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

A palpable sense of excitement filled the air as thousands of people formed lines that were Golden Spiral in appearance. When the doors finally opened at 2 PM, the mass of humanity unraveled itself and rushed headfirst into what is quickly becoming one of the biggest (and happiest) events in the city’s Broadway-Fillmore district: The Buffalo Brewfest.

Are you (or a friend) looking to start trying out some better beers, but don't know where to start? The two amber lagers profiled below are both better than that PBR that's been sitting in your fridge, and you can buy them nearly anywhere! They might be a little more expensive than 35 cents a can (see Willowbrook Farms Beverage Center) but they won't break the bank, either.

Amber lagers are widely accessible brews; complex enough for the seasoned beer veteran to enjoy, but simple enough (as a cousin of the pilsener) for anyone to pick up and drink. Because of this, amber lagers have gained a widespread popularity that is sure to only increase in the coming years.

As we continue our countdown to the '07 Buffalo Brew…

Pilsener (AKA pilsner) has become one of the most popular varieties of beer in the world during its relatively short lifespan. This pale lager, created in mid 19th Century Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), exhibits a light yellow to gold color and noble hops. Using bottom-fermenting yeast helped the beer become clearer and last longer, making it easier to transport and therefore increasing its popularity.

Today we're going to discuss a couple of pilseners produced by two popular breweries that have chosen to participate in the 2007 Buffalo Brewfest: Victory and Brooklyn. Both are quality breweries that I have spoken about at length before. Even so, both produce a quality pilsener that is worthy of note.

Victory's Prima Pils is a classic light pilsener featuring strong noble hops and a crisp and spicy finish. The hop character is…

Last week, Beer in the City took a look at some of the hoppiest beers from the breweries that will be participating in the '07 Buffalo Brewfest. This week we'll look at a few premium high ABV beers- a style that can really show the true quality of a brewery.

A quick trip to Premier Gourmet can net you a nice “Brewfest preview” variety pack (note: they are not pre-packaged this way but easy enough to assemble yourself). Mine included a few brews that pack a heck of a punch, at around 10% ABV.

Each of the following ales will improve with age if stored properly, similar to wine. Each, in fact, is aged at least three months before distribution. The high alcohol content allows for the graceful aging process and also allows each beer to establish flavor characteristics different from its peers. Also, each is more malty than hoppy, producing a powerful punch of flavor and alc…

I know they're out there: the hop fiends. They can't be bothered with the puny pilsners and porters of normal mortals, but instead must feel the bitter kick of a hopped-up monster of a beer. This week's Beer in the City is for you, my hophead friends, as we analyze a few beers of this variety from some of the breweries that will be participating in the Buffalo Brewfest (now under a month away!).

What are hops?

Hops are a bine (differentiated from a vine in that it climbs in a winding motion as opposed to using tendrils), and the flower is used commonly in breweries around the world as a key ingredient. Breweries began using hops in their beers about a thousand years ago because of the balance it provided. Hops keep malts from being overwhelmingly sweet by adding bitterness, and also produce different aromas which can help give a beer a more unique charac…

This year's Buffalo Brewfest is quickly approaching, and it promises to be the biggest and best one yet. The final logistical details are currently being hammered out, including placement of the (greatly expanded) bathroom facilities, entertainment for the designated drivers, and crowd management.

Russ Pawlak, President of the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation Board of Directors, says, “we expect a crowd of 4,000 people this year, up from the (roughly) 3,300 of last year.” He stresses the importance of the better bathroom facilities this year, as “last year the smoking area was right in front of the bathrooms, which made it look like the lines were even longer than they were.” This year the smoking area has been moved, and there will be adequate facilities for a crowd of 4,000.

The breweries represented at th…

Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed - Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, 'It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver. -Jack Handey

Apparently, others are just as compassionate as Saturday Night Live's Mr. Handey- craft beer is a growth industry, even though overall beer sales have been stable for the past decade. More and more people are drinking craft brews every year, and it's no wonder- the difference in quality is well worth the extra dollar or so you may spend (I say “may” because it is not uncommon to pay four dollars for a mainstream pilsener at a dining establishm…

Remember, in Chinese philosophy, the paradigmatic dichotomy of yin and yang does not generally give preference or moral superiority to one side of the dichotomy (thanks Wikipedia!). Rather, there must be a continual interaction of the two, resulting in a more balanced life. Therefore, drawing on Taoist principle as part of my constant quest for self-betterment, I have decided to drink more beer (makes sense, right?).

Yang, or, The Light Side

I've written previously about enjoying wheat beers in the summertime, and I'd like to add another to the list- Great Lakes Holy Moses, a Belgian-style Witbier brewed in Cleveland. Great Lakes Brewing Company's product can be found all over Buffalo, from Wilson Farms to Premier Gourmet and m…