United Nations of Beer

Flying Bison

by Chris St. Mary
(Beer Delegate, NY, USA)

Flying Bison Brewing Company
Buffalo, NY, USA

Tim Herzog is just the man that can tell you dreams can come true.

While having a few cold ones with a good friend, the late Larry "Red" Mrozak, Tim and Harry got to talking back in 1990 about making a trip across the pond to England to sample some of the local products.

While on the trip, they started to come up with the idea of starting their own brewery. It was just a fantasy at the time, but the Flying Bison Brewing Company became reality once they returned to the Buffalo, New York area.

Sadly, Red was lost in a motorcycle accident before the dream really came to be. He may be gone but he will never be forgotten.

Flying Bison was started with their flagship brew, Aviator Red. Let me take a couple steps back, for a moment.

The "Flying" part of Flying Bison is in honor of the Curtis-Wright factory and the aviation industry as a whole that was a major part of Western New York's contribution to the World War II effort back in the early 1940s. A lot of the planes that flew in the war were designed and manufactured in the Buffalo area.

Links to Flying Bison Brewing Company reviews:

Aviator Red

Buffalo Lager

Barnstormer American Pale ale

For darker beer fans, Blackbird Oatmeal Stout completes the year-round menu of beers at 5.5% ABV.

There are also five seasonals that they make with three released to the general market as draft only (Baron Von Bisonfest, Barrelroll Maibock and Dawn Patrol Gold, which is their version of a Kolsch). The other two (Skye Pilot Scotch Ale and Bird of Prey IPA) are only available at the brewery.

They also have Herc C-130 Barleywine-style ale (named in honor of the planes flown by the local Air National Guard unit at Niagara Falls, NY) that is only available in bottles at the brewery.

Flying Bison's 7000 square foot brewery is the only distributing brewery in a city that had over 70 at the time of the Civil War. Tim told me that last year they produced over 2000 barrels on their 20 barrel system. Not bad for something that started as a conversation between two friends over a few brews.