I’m Joe. I love craft beer and I like to explore.  I enjoy planning road trips around brewery visits across New York State with my wife in search of unique, well-brewed craft beer. To date, I’ve visited about 80 breweries across New York State and that number continues to grow.  So I’d like to consider myself the original beer tourist.

My love for craft beer goes back to the early 1990s when I realized I didn’t care much for mass produced, pedestrian domestic beer which left me constantly looking for something different to satisfy my pallet. I have worked in the hospitality industry for 25 years.  Most recently for Landmark Development Group based in Buffalo, NY the last four.  Where marketing and managing vacation rental property in Ellicottville, NY was one facet of my job.  As well a helping promote tourism and Ellicottville.  Currently I play Brewtender for Rusty Nickel Brewing Company when I’m not cruising the hop highway.  So craft beer has become part of my everyday life.  I’m pretty lucky and it’s kinda of cool.  It allows me to be around some great craft beer, while working with the talented people that produce it and have helped build the craft beer industry in Buffalo and across New York State.  Plus, I get to talk craft beer and hear from Rusty Nickel customers about their craft beer adventures!

I live in Orchard Park, NY and live just steps from New Era Field with my wife, two children and three dogs.  Our super mutt Hotchner likes to join us when we hit the road looking for dog-friendly breweries.  I’m also an avid Buffalo Bills fan and invite you to hit me up on home game days. Stop by and say hi and tell me about your New York State beer tourism experiences. Go Bills! joe.wright@upstatebeertourist.com