Community Beer Works That IPA

ABV: 5%

>by Willard Brooks

Was delighted to have this on draft at the Moor Pat in Williamsville. This is CBW’s new all year-round IPA made with simcoe and mosaic hops. As with their former flagship IPA (“The” IPA), this is a delightful IPA from CBW. It pours a nice golden color, with a light and spritzy mouthfeel with just the right amount of body. Citrus and resinous notes, perfume and floral notes and lightly dank on the palate (love that dank). At 5%, you might guess this to be more of a pale ale. Nice easy drinking sessionable IPA—definitely one of the best anywhere. Seek this one out and try it with some thai food or a bahn mi—that would be an interesting trial indeed. Niagara Seafood taste test anyone? Available at Buffalo’s better bars and restaurants as well as in the Community Beer Works brewery tap room at 15 Lafayette Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14213. Visit CommunityBeerWorks.com

Gordon Biersch Schwarzbier

ABV: 4.3%

>by Willard Brooks

Gordon Biesch fully embraces authentic German lagers in a way that very few breweries in the USA do. Schwarzbier—which literally translates as Black Beer—is black in color and has a pleasant roasted malt quality—sort of a lager version of a stout. At 4.3% this beer is extremely drinkable, with a nice rounded lager mouthfeel and a coffee aroma and flavor with a slight residual sweetness that balances nicely with the roasty flavors of the carafa malts. This beer goes very well with the chef’s chocolate cake. It’s is a daily drinker if ever there was one. This is pure love in a glass! Available year round at Gordon Biersch at the Walden Galleria at P102 Galleria Drive, Cheektowaga. Visit GordonBiersch.com

Community Beer Works - Frank

STYLE: American Pale Ale

ABV: 4.6%

>by Chris Groves, Certified Cicerone

If you live in or around Buffalo, you know him. He is the guy you call to help you replace your hot water tank or replace your old galvanized pipes. He drives a pickup truck and has a utility trailer if you need to borrow it. He’ll pick up your mail when you’re out of town, watch your dog, water your plants and make sure the garbage cans are out to the curb. He’s content with working a little longer just to make sure the job is done correctly. I once watched a few friends take a huge risk in starting their own business. From dream to reality, he was there throughout the entire process and is hugely instrumental in their success. Some friends and I went out for a couple pints last weekend and he happened to be at the bar. We struck up a conversation about all the great things happening in his [West Side] neighborhood. New businesses both in planning and opening up, houses being rehabbed, community gardens being planted...he’s been a part of all of them. He’s a self starter, non-complainer and an all around do-good guy. To this day, he has been as consistent and refreshing as when I first met him. Never bitter, always refreshing and has a good head on his shoulders. It seems that everyone knows him and I’m happy to call him a good friend. He is a beer. His name is Frank.