Drink Local” Section on Step out Buffalo Website

For Immediate Release: Friday, March 3, 2017

Empire State Development Announces New “Drink Local” Section on Step Out Buffalo Website

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

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that 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 Lieutenant Governor 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.

“Governor 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,” said Lieutenant Governor Hochul. “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 & Commissioner Howard Zemsky.

“Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, New York State has become a national leader in craft beverage manufacturing and Western New York is at the center of this thriving industry,” said State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said. “This project is a great opportunity to showcase some of the State’s best beer, wine, spirts and cider to consumers and strengthen many local businesses, which boosts the entire craft beverage sector.”

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. As an already popular website, StepOutBuffalo.com has an audience that’s hungry - and thirsty - to be a part of Western New York’s renaissance by going out and experiencing firsthand what the area has to offer. By capitalizing on these local business loving enthusiasts, the Drink Local section will showcase the local craft beverage industry to people who want to support it, thus increasing the industry’s presence and impact on the community.

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.

“StepOutBuffalo.com excels at raising awareness for local craft beverages and events, and we are very excited to have partnered with Step Out Buffalo on the Drink Local section,” said Willard Brooks, president of the Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association.

Below please find 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

About Step Out Buffalo Step Out Buffalo is a new media company that allows locals and visitors to immerse themselves in the wonder of Buffalo and Western New York. Founded in 2013 by a father / daughter team, it is now a leading destination for the “New Buffalo” movement. It currently reaches more than 1.7 million Buffalovers each year with content surrounding the best events, things to do, restaurants, bars, shopping, and nightlife.

About Empire State Development Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency. The mission of Empire State Development is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits, and other forms of financial assistance, Empire State Development strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. Empire State Development is also the primary administrative agency overseeing Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I Love NY,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, please visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.

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