Let’s face it: it is pretty easy to go down the craft beer rabbit hole in these here parts lately. There is a growing collection of solid breweries turning out tasty beverages. Sunday was Farm to Pint (F2P) at Hamburg Brewing Company, and in the next month alone, we can collectively look forward to: The Big Ditch Tap Room and Toutant Anniversary Party at Big Ditch Brewing (5/17); Full Circle Fest at 42 North Brewing (5/21); Rusty Nickel Brewing Co Anniversary Party (6/4); 12 Gates Brewing Co Grand Opening Party (6/4); Buffalo Brew Fest AND Resurgence Brewing Company’s Second Anniversary Party (6/18). (Run-on sentences excused in the presence of a certain kolsch.)
There are plenty of us in WNY that like our beer, and LOVE our local craft beer. Being consumers of these delicious local libations is surely the best part, right? Right?
As the saying goes, “Nah.”
The science of the brewing of beer is seriously fun business, and there is no shortage of opportunities to learn all about it.
This Friday, May 20, pop in to the second annual Brewing Science event at the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute on the Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus. This key player at the BNMC is busy researching diseases and ways to cure the human race of what ails them. But, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, so these researchers are also supporters of the local brewing scene. While BNMC itself sponsors the popular Beakers and Beer tasting/networking events, HWI is taking it a step further with Brewing Science. Buffalo Rising said it best (credit where it’s due, ya know): “Beer artisans and scientists will be on hand to discuss the brewing process on a number of different levels.” That sentence speaks to me. On a number of different levels. The $40 tickets net you tastings from 12 Gates, 42 North, Big Ditch, Community Beer Works, Flying Bison and more. Food by Lloyd, schwaggy beer beaker for ticket holders, and music by Mary Beth King. Proceeds benefit HWI. Rock it.
(As an aside, the next Beakers and Brews is May 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Coco at 888 Main St. Get yer netwerkin’ n’ beaker on. Then anxiously await the balance of this year’s schedule, as Coco is the last posted event in this series. “Who wants more beakers? WE DO! When do we want them? IN JUNE!)
Professional breweries aside, do you, as I, have those couple of friends who are turning out double IPA’s, witbiers and chocolate porters from the comfort of their own homes? (Patrick. Joe. You know who you are.) Do you, as I, have a serious need to learn how to do this yourself? KegWorks on Military hosts Home Brewing 101 classes every other Saturday: catch the next one at 11 a.m. May 28. Not only is the fee for these intro classes just ten bucks, the website also has a pretty extensive bit of informative posts as a permanent reference library. And, conveniently, KegWorks has everything you need to set up your home brew system. Sometimes, the best way to make a small fortune homebrewing craft beers is to start with a large fortune.
Kidding.
Not really.
Already a capable home-brewer? Perhaps considering taking your craft to the next level? Erie County Community College now offers a certificate course in “Brewing Science and Service.” Yes, we as consumers are very much enjoying the end results of other people’s forays into education in the field of brewing; care to have other people enjoy YOUR foray into that world? First year, fall semester includes:
- HR 125 – Introduction to Brewing Beer Credit Hours: 3
- HR 126 – Brewing Equipment Credit Hours: 3
- HR 127 – Brewing Ingredients Credit Hours: 2
- HR 128 – Sensory Evaluation of Beer Credit Hours: 3
- HR 129 – Chemistry of Brewing Beer Credit Hours: 3
“Sensory Evaluation of Beer” seems like something I would take for fun … not EVEN to defer my student loans further! Interested in beginning the journey toward brewmastery? Start here.
Even the local culturals are connecting brews to activities most of us probably never considered before. M&T First Friday at Albright-Knox June 3rd will include “Backyard Breweries” as part of the ongoing “Art of Food and Drink.” Things happen throughout the day at the Gallery, including docent-led tours, drop-in art activities, Jazz and Happy Hour, with the Backyard Breweries gathering wrapping up the evening beginning at 8:30 p.m.
The Buffalo Museum of Science is zseriously upping the ante, though. June 24, the museum is poised to sate your brew-curiosity with Sci-Jinks and Drinks. Maybe less an informative session on the science of brewing than it is a reminder of how much childlike fun can be had with science, the happy-hour fundraiser has a giant Lite Brite, a 78 foot inflatable obstacle course, and the sport Mom always warned us about: Arrow Tag. Tickets are $40, and even include the opportunity to try jousting! JOUSTING. Pass the lambic and give me a lance. Come ON. Do it. FOR SCIENCE.
This is a seriously delightful time to be in Buffalo as a Beer Afficionado. (No. Not a beer “nut.” Not a beer “snob .” An afficionado. You have put in the time and tips to have earned the moniker.) If the science-y bits aren’t enough to entice you, please refer back to the the beginning of this piece for a short-stack of beer fun to be had in the next 30 days. Guys, come on:
We are living in the age of Sponge Candy Stout. How much better can it get?
Helen Bach is a returned WNY expatriate, now a Buffalo resident. She has 3 adult-sized kids, 1 wiggle-sized dog and a scintillating career dramatically unrelated to journalism.
All WNY is made possible thanks to coffee and sleep deprivation.
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