Your weekly rundown from the Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association on what’s happening locally in the beer scene.

In advance of the first-ever Brewer’s Invitational, April 2 at Pettibones Grille, let’s examine some of the specially made brews that will be available at the festival:    

42 North Brewing   Beer de Brut  An incredibly unique hybrid beer that falls somewhere between a Belgian Tripel, cider and white wine. Only 15 gallons have been made. 42 North will also be pouring a Farmhouse American Sour.

Four Mile Brewing   Red Arm Ale   This hoppy ale is hit with beer powder to add color and features a juicy hop profile full of melon, tangerine, lemongrass and a resinous finish.

12 Gates Brewing   DoubleGate Double IPA   This small batch double IPA was brewed with generous amounts of barley malt and run through with staggering quantities of Mosaic and Amarillo hops.

Big Ditch Brewing   Chocolate Gose  Like chocolate covered sourdough pretzels? Big Ditch started with a complex malt bill that included wheat, oats, chocolate, debittered roasted malt and caramel wheat. Next, the beer was kettle soured with a Lactobacillus blend and a touch of salt was added as a finishing touch. It’s light bodied but wonderfully complex with a mix of sweet, sour, and salty.

Ellicottville Brewing Company  St. Caberlicious Barrel Aged  Imperial Stout  This is a double barrel aged St. Jacobs Stout, which was first aged on French Oak and then placed in Cab barrels to age for one year.

Five and 20 Spirits & Brewing  Barleywine  A high alcohol beer brewed with heavy malts and heavy hops making for a thick and dense mouthfeel. Deep amber in color, this barleywine has a sweet caramel flavor with pungent piney hop aromas. It finishes semi-sweet.

Gordon Biersch   Double IPA  At 8.5% ABV, this is a strong hoppy DIPA with notes of pineapple and mango thanks to the use of Mosaic, Citra and Centennial hops.

New York Beer Project  Full Circle Hoppy Saison  Full Circle Saison was brewed with locally sourced cascade hops from Vertical Vines. Distinctly fruity and zesty aromas and flavors are the result of a combination of Soursop (think a tart lime citrus with undertones of strawberry and pineapple) and Guava, backed by subtle notes of cracked white peppercorn, mixed spices, and zesty orange rind.

Pan-Am Brewery   Grapefruit Terminator IPA  Pan-Am’s West Coast-style IPA infused it with copious amount of fresh grapefruit, which creates a uniquely refreshing and aromatic IPA.

Tickets, as well as the tentative beer list are available at buffaloniagarabrewersassocation.org.

The Public’s weekly beer column is a collaboration with the Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association.