Pearl Street Grill and Brewery
Pearl Street
Buffalo , New York 14202
716-856-2337

Pearl Street has got to be one of the largest brewpubs in the land, and you can't miss it. On the corner above the main entrance is a massive replica of the Lake Effect Man beer tap. Elsewhere, porches surround the building (a la New Orleans ), offering a great outdoors view toward Lake Erie in the back. Inside there are four floors and a basement with six separate bars - the barkeep estimated close to 200 taps in the place. Seven year-round beers (amber, pale ale, stout, etc.) are rounded-out by rotating seasonals, which included a double IPA, double wheat bock, maibock, chocolate stout, raspberry stout, and porter on my visit. Each beer has its own specially sculpted tap handle - classy. Don't forget to look up and catch the belted ceiling fans - very industrial upscale Buffalo . The menu features top notch brown and white food - from pot roast and mashed potatoes smothered in gravy to sandwiches, pizza and wings. And each menu item is accompanied by a symbol for the year-round beer that makes a good pairing. Now that's the way to get people thinking about food and beer! Pearl Street always has a good crowd - located downtown and two blocks from Coca-Cola Field (go Bisons).

Flying Bison Brewing Company
491 Ontario Street
Buffalo, New York 14207
716-873-1557

You gotta really want to visit Flying Bison. The sign on Ontario Street says the brewery is at the back of the building, and so it is in many ways. Still, once safely inside you're treated to the innards of a working brewery. Owner and head brewer Tim Herzog is proud of his facilities and his beers. He built the place around the wish-lists of other brewers and so it has such things as its own lab and a one-barrel system for test brewing. There's no restaurant but there is a small bar with Flying Bison beers on tap for samples. On our visit seven taps were pouring – the Blizzard Bock and Barnstormer Pale Ale were favorites. Pint glasses, ball caps and similar beer paraphernalia are also available for purchase. Tim and his crew give tours on Saturday but they were happy to indulge us on a dreary Monday morning. If you fear the back of buildings in industrial areas, you can also find Flying Bison in restaurants, bars and grocery stores throughout Western New York.

Empire Brewing Company
120 Walton St
Syracuse , NY 13202
(315) 475-2337

The Empire brewpub has reopened in the tavern district of Syracuse. The facility is in the basement of an old brick building with bare brick motif. Although there is a large bar in the center, about half of the space, in several rooms, is for food service. The brewer, Tim Butler, was the head brewer at Middle Ages. He is re-creating some of the original Empire beers and will make several of his own unique brews. Some of his creations have already won prizes. In addition to eight of there own beers on tap, they have several guest beers from the local area.

Rooster Fish Brewing Company
223 - 301 N. Franklin St.
Watkins Glen, NY 14891
607.535.9797

The Rooster Fish brewpub is located in the tourist section of Watkins Glen, NY. One door enters into the restaurant, and the other entrance is to the bar. The brewery operation is in the dining area of the bar, and makes only ales. Six of their ales are on tap, and there are several guest taps.
It was a fun place; I'd go back.

Ellicottville Brewing Company
28 Monroe St # A
Ellicottville, NY 14731
(716) 699-2537

The Ellicottville Brewing Company is in a building that has always been a tavern, located in a ski resort. It has a modest bar and nearly no dining area, but there is outside seating. The computerized brewing system is visible in the back. They have nine of their beers on tap and the menu is yuppie-style bar food.
The place was packed, so we couldn't talk to the barstaff.
The Ellicottville Brewery also has an outlet in Fredonia that is in a narrow old building,much akin a city rowhouse. The first floor of the bar has very little seating but there is more upstairs. They have 16 taps, all of the Ellicottville products plus three guest beers. Fredonia has the same menu as the main store. The staff was very friendly and the beers are good.
The website has music.

Buffalo Brewpub
6861 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221
716-632-0552

The Buffalo Brewpub has been in business since 1996.They are in a large facility with a rustic flavor.The brewing equipment is in a room visible from the dining area.They display what appears to be five 7 barrel fermenters, although the sign says that one is a lauter, and another is the kettle. The food is good and not expensive; the service adequate. They have 34 taps, five of which are their own beer.

King Arthur's Steak House & Brewery
Corner of
West First & Bridge Streets Oswego, New York 13126
(315)343-1300

King Arthur's full service bar is attractive and fairly upscale, with 5 of their own beers on tap. The brewer, there since June, is at his first full- time brewing gig. He had been an assistant at other small breweries. All the brews on tap are his, all true to style and rather tasty. They included a Golden Ale, IPA, and an ESB among others.

Ithaca Beer Company
606 Elmira Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 273-0766.

Ithaca Beer Co. is hard to pass up as it is right on the highway near Ithaca. Ithaca is not a brew pub, but you can sample and purchase the beers that they make right here. The store front is as large as a 7-11, and sells home brew supplies, Ithaca logo souvenirs, and of course Ithaca beer. In their sampling area they have 8 taps and their rootbeer. Everything they make is on tap, everything they bottle is in the cooler. The seasonals, which aren't bottled, are available on keg or by growler. Mix and match 6- packs or cases are available. It's a wonderful beer store!

Market Street Brewing Company
& Restaurant
63 West Market Street
Corning, NY 14830
(607) 936-2337

The Market Street Brewing Co. is located in Corning's entertainment district. As little as the place is, they have an easily-overlooked complete upstairs. The cooker and lauter tank in the front window seem to be about one-barrel size. The full service bar has 9 stools and 2 booths. The dining room in the back is small-10 tables-and rather stark... like an old diner. There is a patio with 4 tables. They have 5 of their own beers on tap, and have a seasonal rotation. The beers are true-to-style and tasty.

Wagner Valley· Micro Brewery · Restaurant

9322 Route 414 Lodi, NY 14860 ·

607-582-6450

This is a microbrewery in the heart of New York wine country. Wagner Valley Brewing Co. produces both lagers and ales -- several "regular" brews (Dockside Amber Lager, India Pale Ale, Caywood Station Oatmeal Stout and Sled Dog Doppelbock), plus seasonal beers throughout the year. The small bar is in a corner of the brewery. Tastes are .25 or 1.50 for all six. When you find one you like, you can get a mug, pint, pitcher, or growler. They have tables on a very large deck overlooking Senaca Lake. Oh yeah...it's a winery, too.