What would we do without our craft breweries and distilleries? It wasn’t that long ago that Buffalo’s sole craft brewery was Flying Bison. But in recent years, this city has become a relative hotbed of brewery and distillery activity, thanks to progressive NY State legislation that passed in 2012, which helped Buffalo to lift a heavy weight that it had shouldered for decades.
Now Buffalo is becoming known for its locally produced beers and spirits, much the way other cities are accustomed to. Not only do visitors to Buffalo seek out the city’s architectural wealth, they also tend to stay in close proximity to one of the numerous breweries/distilleries that are found from Larkinville to RiverWorks to Niagara Street. The beer and spirits scene has helped to elevate the visitor’s experience, since most people want to sample the products that are made locally, instead of the stuff that they can get back home.
Many similar establishments are under development, such as Buffalo Brewing Company, as well as a facility at the waterfront RiverWorks complex that’s billed as the first fully functioning brewery to be retrofitted into an existing grain silo.
The Chicago Tribune has paid tribute to Buffalo’s fast growing brewery/distillery advancements. In this article, travel writer Lisa Lubin discusses some of Buffalo’s best new attributes, brought about by the burgeoning brew and spirits scene. Be sure to click through Lisa’s photo gallery for some great shots of Buffalo’s craft hotspots.