Drink
Ballpark Series No. 1 cans designed by Christopher Groves. Photos courtesy of Consumers Beverages.
Ballpark Series No. 1 cans designed by Christopher Groves. Photos courtesy of Consumers Beverages.

Beer, Sports, Buffalo

by / Jul. 7, 2015 11pm EST

Buffalo is a sports town with a drinking problem. Or is it a drinking town with a sports problem? Either way, the two traditions—drinking and sporting—run pretty deep around here. And, fortunately for us, we appear to be entering a golden age for both. 

The recent explosion in Buffalo’s beer scene is undeniable. Within the last few years alone, breweries such as Big Ditch, Community Beer Works, First Ward Brewing Company, Resurgence, and Rusty Nickel have beautified our city’s craft beer skyline. But it’s not just the breweries. A rapidly expanding universe of new bars, brewpubs, and beer stores, continues to find success among thirsty Buffalo beer drinkers. 

With our sports teams, we have similar reason for optimism. The Bills are fielding their most deeply talented roster since their last Super Bowl appearance. The Sabres, meanwhile, have come out of a long rebuilding period absolutely stocked with young talent, having made the most important draft selection in the team’s history just last week. 

In Buffalo, our beer and our sports appear on parallel tracks. 


The recently released Buffalo Brewer Series gives us the greatness of beer and sports, packaged in beautifully designed collectible cans. Three great Buffalo breweries—Big Ditch Brewing Company, Community Beer Works, and Resurgence Brewing Co.—are featured in this historic collaboration.  

The “Ballpark Series No. 1” collectible limited-edition three-pack features a 16-ounce, specially designed commemorative can from each of the three Buffalo breweries. 

The lineup is delicious:

Low Bridge, Big Ditch (4.8%)—This “hoppy golden ale” is extremely balanced and drinkable. Bright, fruity, and mildly hoppy, Low Bridge offers an impressive depth of flavor in a beer crafted for mainstream appeal. 

An IPA, Community Beer Works (6.2%)—Brewed in collaboration with Big Ditch.  Aptly called “a hop lover’s dream” by the description on the can. A near-perfect IPA. What we’ve all come to expect from these guys. 

Summer Saison, Resurgence (5.5%)—Done in the “Classic Belgian Farmhouse” style, a refreshing summery ale balancing citrus fruitiness with a light spice and dry finish.  

The 16-ounce cans are gorgeous.  The design includes a detailed description of each beer opposite a stylized image of a Buffalo baseball player. 


Ballpark Brewers Series No. 1 three packs are available for a limited time at all Consumers Beverages and at the home of the Buffalo Bisons, Coca-Cola Field, for $8.99 apiece—limit three per customer. 

However you enjoy these cans of beer—at the beach, by the grill, or (like I did) spending time with loved ones—be grateful for these times in which we live. Downtown Buffalo is reawakening with renewed purpose and vigor. The Bills and Sabres haven’t generated this kind of optimism since the 1990s.  And Buffalo’s beer scene is once again bursting with life.  

These are historic times. These cans could become quite the collectible someday.

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