Suggestions needed for NY State craft brews

I've always liked the beer from Flying Bison in Buffalo, particularly their Aviator Red, Bird of Prey IPA, and their Oatmeal Stout. Custom Brewcrafters has some decent beers as well.

Pearl Street Bar and Grill in Buffalo is pretty decent, too, if you are looking for a brewpub.

Not sure about local brews, but check out Premier Gourmet (3465 Delaware Ave, Buffalo). Supposed to have an amazing selection, probably find a number of things there.

Flying Bison is a definite in Buffalo: find their beers here:

My fave spots are Papa Jake's Saloon (great food and atmosphere), Alternative Brews, Buffalo Tap Room, and the Sterling Place (BIG props for this one). You'll also want to hit Premier Gourmet, the best beer store in western NY, and a great gourmet place as well; you can blow a lotta bux here. Contact Custom Brewcrafters about who has their beers in Buffalo, or better yet, just go to their site: and click on the beer displays for each place to get a description. The hot ticket is the Inferno Pod Ale at Pizza Plant (which usually has great selections on a very few (10?) taps to match), a very brisk IPA. Southern Tier is all through the area. I'm not nuts about their big beers, but their session beers -- Porter, IPA, Matt & Phin's -- are hands-down excellent.

Into the Finger Lakes...look for Ithaca (pretty well spread around), Wagner Valley (stick to draft and the big bottles of Sled Dog double- and triple-bock (which ROCK)), Middle Ages (English-style ales, Ringwood, very traditional except bigger!), and you might want to stop in Watkins Glen at the new brewpub, Crooked Rooster. The guy's putting in a 10 bbl. system, but for now he's brewing in a stockpot and plastic fermenters (a system that cost him a little over $400) and turning out two pretty credible beers -- you oughta go just for the experience.

You can get addresses and contact info for all of these at

or you can download the PDA database at my website, which has all these places plus 413 more breweries, bars, beer stores, and the occasional breakfast joint in NY and PA.

Enjoy.