Flying Bison Brewing Company

Flying Bison Brewing Company is a brewery based in Buffalo, New York. The company was incorporated in 1995 by majority partners Phil Internicola and Tim Herzog together with 25 individual investors, but did not begin commercial operations until 2000. Its launch made it the first standalone brewery to operate in Buffalo since the closure of Iroquois Brewing Company in 1972, giving the business a notable place in the modern revival of Buffalo's brewing industry. The brewery initially operated with a 20-barrel production system. In early 2004 it added a complete bottling line and installed a 40-barrel fermenter, substantially increasing its ability to package and distribute beer. It later expanded its fermentation capacity with four additional 40-barrel fermenters, representing an increase of more than 200 percent over its original production infrastructure. Flying Bison's beers have been distributed to bars, restaurants, and retail outlets in Erie, Niagara, and Chautauqua counties, including Western New York locations supplied by Try-It Distributing. Retail availability has included Wegmans Food Markets and Consumer's Beverages, as well as independent hospitality and beer-service venues. The brand's identity is closely associated with Buffalo's industrial and aviation history. Its name references the city's heritage of aircraft manufacturing, while Dawn Patrol Gold Kölsch commemorates the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny biplane, which was built at a Buffalo factory on Niagara Street. The beer's name also recalls the aircraft's wartime dawn-patrol operations off the east coast of England during World War I. Flying Bison encountered severe financial pressure in 2010, attributing the difficulty to rising ingredient costs. Production was briefly suspended before the brewery was sold to F. X. Matt Brewing Co. of Utica, New York, the producer of Saranac beers. The transaction preserved the brewery as a Buffalo operation and identified Matt as its parent company rather than moving production out of the city. In 2014 Flying Bison announced plans to leave its longtime Ontario Street facility for a new brewery in Buffalo's Larkinville district. The planned site was designed to raise annual output to as much as 10,000 barrels, increase employment from approximately 10 to 16 workers, and add a taproom and patio for events and direct by-the-pint sales. The relocation was subsequently completed. Flying Bison remains a regional Buffalo beer brand whose principal market is Western New York.

Flying Bison Brewing Company was incorporated in Buffalo in 1995 by Phil Internicola and Tim Herzog, who served as its majority partners, alongside 25 individual investors. The business entered operation in 2000 with a 20-barrel brewing facility. Its arrival was historically significant for Buffalo because it was the city's first standalone brewery since Iroquois Brewing Company ceased operations in 1972. The brewery developed its identity around Buffalo's industrial past, especially the city's role in aircraft manufacturing. The Flying Bison name reflects that heritage. One of its named beers, Dawn Patrol Gold Kölsch, commemorates the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny biplane, an aircraft manufactured in Buffalo on Niagara Street and associated with dawn-patrol flights from the east coast of England during World War I. Flying Bison began building greater packaging and fermentation capacity as demand developed. In early 2004 the company installed a full bottling line and added a 40-barrel fermenter. It later installed four more 40-barrel fermenters, expanding its production capability by more than 200 percent from the original facility. The brewery's distribution footprint centered on Western New York, with beer reaching bars, restaurants, and retail stores in Erie, Niagara, and Chautauqua counties. The company experienced a serious financial interruption in 2010. It linked the crisis to the rising price of brewing ingredients, and production stopped temporarily. F. X. Matt Brewing Co., the Utica, New York, brewer associated with Saranac beer, then purchased Flying Bison. The sale positioned Matt as Flying Bison's parent company while allowing the brewery to continue producing beer in Buffalo rather than being absorbed into an out-of-town production facility. A further change came in 2014, when Flying Bison announced plans to construct and occupy a new brewery in Buffalo's Larkinville district. The project was intended to replace the company's longtime Ontario Street premises and support annual production of up to 10,000 barrels. The plan also called for employment growth from about ten to 16 workers, together with a taproom and patio intended for events and direct beer sales. The relocation was later completed. Following the move, Flying Bison continued to operate as a Buffalo-centered regional brewery. Its products have been distributed in Western New York through Try-It Distributing and made available through Wegmans, Consumer's Beverages, and local bars, restaurants, and other establishments. The brand's historical importance rests both on its role in Buffalo's post-1972 brewing revival and on its continued use of local aviation and manufacturing themes in its identity.

• 2014

  Larkinville relocation announced

  [1]Flying Bison Brewing Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The company announced a new Buffalo brewery intended to raise capacity, add employees, and introduce a taproom and patio.

• 2010

  Financial crisis and ownership change

  [1]Flying Bison Brewing Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Rising ingredient costs contributed to a temporary production halt, followed by the sale of the brewery to F. X. Matt Brewing Co.

• 2004

  Bottling and capacity expansion

  [1]Flying Bison Brewing Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Flying Bison installed a full bottling line and added a 40-barrel fermenter, beginning a substantial expansion of its production infrastructure.

• 2000

  Commercial brewing begins

  [1]Flying Bison Brewing Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The brewery began operations with a 20-barrel facility, becoming Buffalo's first standalone brewery since Iroquois Brewing Company closed in 1972.

• 1995

  Company incorporated

  [1]Flying Bison Brewing Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Flying Bison was incorporated in Buffalo by Phil Internicola, Tim Herzog, and 25 individual investors.

A Buffalo-rooted regional craft brewery combining local industrial and aviation heritage with packaged and draft beer sold through Western New York retail, restaurant, and bar channels.

• Beer

  Dawn Patrol Gold Kölsch

  A Kölsch-style beer named in connection with Buffalo's aviation-manufacturing history. Its name honors the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny biplane, built in Buffalo and associated with dawn-patrol flights during World War I. The beer is one of the specifically identified products in the brewery's documented portfolio.

• 2014

  Move to a new Larkinville breweryStrategy

  Background

  Flying Bison sought a facility that could support greater output and provide a more customer-facing brewery experience.

  Action taken

  The company announced and subsequently completed a relocation from Ontario Street to a new brewery in Buffalo's Larkinville district.

  Aftermath

  The planned facility was designed for annual production of up to 10,000 barrels, additional employment, and a taproom and patio.

  Source

• 2010

  Sale to F. X. Matt Brewing Co.M&A

  Background

  Flying Bison faced severe financial difficulty after ingredient costs increased and temporarily halted production.

  Action taken

  F. X. Matt Brewing Co. acquired the brewery and became its parent company.

  Aftermath

  The transaction enabled the brand to resume operations while retaining production in Buffalo.

  Source

1. 1Flying Bison Brewing Companyen.wikipedia.org