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Empire State Development announces new 'Drink Local' section on Step Out Buffalo website

Fri, Mar 3rd 2017 05:35 pm

Site will promote Buffalo & Western New York-produced craft beer, wine, spirits and cider

Empire State Development on Friday announced Step Out Buffalo has created a "Drink Local" craft beverage section on its website to promote Buffalo and Western New York produced craft beer, wine, spirits and cider. The new special section of www.StepOutBuffalo.com was introduced at an event at Resurgence Brewing Company by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul.

StepOutBuffalo.com is known for being the go-to resource of locals and visitors alike for where to go and what to do in Western New York, and the new "Drink Local" section is curated with news, information and events related to locally produced craft beverages.

"Gov. Cuomo has made it a top priority to grow the craft beverage industry particularly in upstate New York by making it easier for both breweries and wineries to sell and promote their products," Hochul said. "Step Out Buffalo, in collaboration with Taste NY, is taking it a step further by helping people track and plan their entire season of sipping and tasting in the Buffalo area, tapping into an up and coming local scene and building traffic for local businesses." 

"There's an amazing boom that's happening all over Western New York, and people are excited to be a part of it," said Step Out Buffalo Creative Marketing Director Lauren Spoth. "The 'Drink Local' section on StepOutBuffalo.com gives people a way to both learn about what's happening in the industry and find out how they can support and immerse themselves in it."

ESD awarded Step Out Buffalo a $24,660 grant through the Craft Beverage Marketing and Promotion Grant Program to assist with the project. The New York State Craft Beverage Marketing and Promotion Grant Program increases the profile, awareness and sales of New York state-produced wine, beer, spirits and hard cider by providing matching funds for the marketing and promotion of these craft beverages.

"By partnering with Step Out Buffalo, locals and visitors to Western New York will be able to quickly access and explore New York's craft beverage industry and support local businesses," said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky.

Step Out Buffalo's "Drink Local" section will serve as a curated resource promoting regional craft beverage producers. It will develop multifaceted content and will promote its new "Drink Local" section on select online platforms frequented by craft beverage enthusiasts.

The project aligns with Taste NY marketing standards. The Taste NY program promotes New York food and beverage industries of all sizes and encourages consumers across the globe to buy local products. The program has created opportunities for local producers to showcase their goods at large public events, and at Taste NY stores, displays and concession opportunities located at more than 60 locations in New York.

The following is a list of participating local breweries, distilleries and cideries:

▪12 Gates Brewing Company

▪42 North Brewing Company

▪Buffalo Brewing Company

▪Community Beer Works

▪Ellicottville Brewing Company

▪Five and 20 Spirits and Brewing

▪Flying Bison Brewing Company

▪Four Mile Brewing

▪Old First Ward Brewing Co.

▪Gordon Biersch

▪Hamburg Brewing Company

▪New York Beer Project

▪Pan Am Grill and Brewery

▪Pearl Street Grill and Brewery

▪Resurgence Brewing Company

▪Rusty Nickel Brewing Co.

▪Thin Man Brewery

▪Southern Tier Brewing Company

▪Woodcock Brothers Brewing Company

▪21 Brix Winery

▪Blueberry Sky Farm Winery

▪Johnson Estate Winery

▪Liberty Vineyards and Winery

▪Mazza Chautauqua Cellars / Five and 20 Spirits and Brewing

▪Merritt Estate Winery

▪Noble Winery

▪Quincy Cellars Winery and Banquet Hall

▪Sensory Winery and Art Gallery

▪Sparkling Ponds Winery

▪Vetter Vineyards Winery

▪Willow Creek Winery

▪810 Meadworks

▪A Gust of Sun Winery

▪Arrowhead Spring Vineyards

▪Black Willow Winery

▪BlackBird Cider Works

▪Chateau Niagara Winery

▪Eveningside Vineyards

▪Flight of Five Winery

▪Freedom Run Winery

▪Honeymoon Trail Winery

▪Lake Ontario Winery

▪Leonard Oakes Estate Winery

▪Long Cliff Winery and Vineyards

▪Midnight Run Wine Cellars

▪Niagara Landing Wine Cellars

▪Salamanca Estate Winery

▪Schulze Vineyards and Winery

▪Schwenk Wine Cellars

▪Spring Lake Winery

▪The Winery at Marjim Manor

▪Victorianbourg Wine Estate

▪Vizcarra Vineyards at Becker Farms

▪Big Ditch Brewing Company

▪Blackbird Cider Works

▪McKenzie's Hard Cider

▪Niagara Craft Spirits

▪Black Squirrel Distillery

▪Tommy Rotter Distillery

▪Lockhouse Distillery

▪Niagara Distilling Co.

▪Lakeward Spirits

▪Buffalo Distilling Company

▪Smith's Orchard Cider Mill

▪Schutt's Apple Mill

▪Black Button Distilling

▪Finger Lakes Distilling

▪Honeoye Falls Distillery

▪Amber Lantern Brewing Company

▪Silver Lake Brewing Project

▪Dublin Corners Farm Brewery

▪Horns and Halos Craft Brewing

▪RG Brewery

▪Rohrbach Brewing Company

▪Griff's Brewery

▪Stoneyard Brewing Company

▪Southern Tier Distilling Company

▪Ellicottville Distillery

▪Little Chicago Distilleries LLC

▪Enchanted Mountain Spirits Distillery

▪Five and 20 Spirits and Brewing

▪Mayer Brothers Cider Mill

▪Ten Thousand Vines

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