The keg will be officially tapped on the 2018 Erie County Fair Craft Beer during a free community celebration and ceremony at 5:30pm at the Flying Bison Brewery, 840 Seneca Street, Buffalo on Thursday, July 19th. This year’s winning brew, a “Vienna Lager” developed by homebrewer Kevin DiTondo of Cheektowaga was named “Best of Show” during the Erie County Fair’s 2018 Home Brew Competition.
The “Roll Out the Barrel” party, will feature samples of the Erie County Fair Craft Beers and R&B/Soul music by Robert “Freight Train” Parker. The event runs from 5-8pm and is free and open to the public.
The brewing of the “Vienna Lager” took place at the Flying Bison Brewing Company in June. According to BJCP’s published style guidelines, Vienna Lagers are an amber colored brew with a rich toasty character. The Fair’s winning entry had an attractive light brown copper appearance filled with bread and raisin aroma with a slight hops taste. Judges noted that the brew has “just enough sweetness to keep it from bring crisp.” Also featured will be an American Pale Ale based on the 2015 winning beer submitted by North Tonawanda’s John Crossett and Brian Milleville from Niagara Falls.
The Erie County Fair Home Brew Competition, now in its fifth year, is sponsored by the Erie County Agricultural Society with support from Try-It Distributing, Flying Bison Brewing and KATZ Americas.