By Kate Bartlett
Resurgence Brewing is one of Buffalo’s most unique and experiential craft breweries. Opening their doors in 2014, the brewery aims to provide an immersive experience in a fun, creative environment. Now located in the Old First Ward district, Resurgence has not only contributed to the revival of craft beer in the area, but also help revitalize this neighborhood.
Owner, founder, and Buffalo native Jeff Ware had dreams of opening a brewery since he began home brewing with his brother in college. “My brother and I were big into beer,” says Jeff. “We really began to appreciate craft brewing at Macgregor’s Taproom in Rochester when I was attending RIT. We sampled beers from around the world, and really enjoyed the beer culture.”
As Jeff got more involved in his hobby of craft beer, he decided to quit his job and devote himself fully to the craft beer culture. He worked for Sam Adams in New York City where he learned the sales side of beer, while furthering his experience in the craft beer industry. He met his wife Erin at Sam Adams, and they would frequent beer gardens in New York City, enjoying the experience and discussing their plans to bring something like this to the Buffalo region.
In 2012, Jeff and Erin moved back to Buffalo with plans to open an experiential brewery with unique craft beer flavors; a fresh approach for the area. They wanted it to be fun and creative, a melting pot of their favorite experiences. In 2014 they opened the doors to Resurgence and sold their first pints from their original location at 1250 Niagara Street. Resurgence is dedicated to making great, consistent, creative beers and providing a great experience. They aim to be family friendly and work hard while having fun.
The name Resurgence speaks to the revival of both beer in the craft industry, as well as the rebirth of the city of Buffalo itself. “We noticed a palpable change when we moved back to the city of Buffalo from New York City. There was a renewed sense of pride in the area, and investment in what our great city has to offer. We also sought to invest in Buffalo, and the revival of craft beer in the area. In the 1800’s Buffalo was a brewing behemoth. With Resurgence, we wanted to be a part of bringing Buffalo from a ‘rust belt’ city into a vibrant destination for craft brewing and tourism alike.”
In recent years, Resurgence outgrew its space on Niagara Street, and recently moved to their second location at 55 Chicago Street in the Old First Ward in 2019. This old historic Irish neighborhood is in the shadows of the grain elevators, and is undergoing a revival in recent years. “We had our eye on this building for a while as it had been vacant for 25 years. We loved the location in the Old First Ward and wanted to invest in the neighborhood, and be part of it’s revitalization.” The building had served as EB Holmes Machine Shop as a production facility manufacturing equipment for coopers to make barrels. True to their name, Resurgence breathed life into this old building, and has helped make put this district back on the map.
Resurgence believes in quality. Much of the beer is experimental, but they hold themselves to the highest standards. “We’re constantly perfecting our recipes until we’re confident they’re as good as they can be,” says Jeff. “Traditional beer is making a comeback, so we are working on perfecting the nuances of traditional beer. We are always testing new things, keeping it original and the best quality.”
As Resurgence is committed to creativity, some of their flavors lie outside the ordinary: Loganberry Wit, Vanilla Cappuccino Pumpkin Ale, Sponge Candy Stout, and Peanut Butter Porter. Resurgence is also working on crafting ciders, and recently launched a Ghost Pepper Cider under their label Blackbridge Ciders. Another favorite is their Chicken Wing Beer, which is meant to be paired with Buffalo’s Famous Wings. “It is an amazing beer; it coats the mouth and takes away the spice from the chicken wing. It is perfect for Buffalo. We love our wings and beer.”
Resurgence is an experience. Guests can view the entire process of beer making while they sip on beer at bar or enjoy a meal in the dining room. “Resurgence is an immersive experience. We want our guests to feel a part of the process and understand where their beer is coming from.” Resurgence also offers full tours and guests are welcome to sample anything on site in the taproom.
Resurgence will be celebrating Oktoberfest all month, and according to Jeff, it is the perfect season for beer. “Fall is a great time of year to get cozy and enjoy a nice amber colored ale.” Jeff invites readers to the taproom at 55 Chicago Street and experience Resurgence; a destination for locals and tourists alike.
For more information and upcoming events visit www.resurgencebrewing.com, follow on social media for updates.