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Crafted in West Seneca
Built locally. Made for gathering.
A former neighborhood building, reimagined as a warm brewery, tasting room and garden where Western New York comes together.
Stay for the place.
More than a tasting room
A little rustic. Entirely Rusty Nickel.
Rusty Nickel Brewing is a neighborhood brewery shaped by Buffalo ingenuity, handcrafted details and an easygoing kind of hospitality.
Inside, reclaimed wood and handmade fixtures give the tasting room its warmth. Outside, the garden opens into patios, ponds, fires, music and room to settle in. The setting changes with the season, but the purpose never does: make something good and share it with people.
Whether you arrive for a new release, a wedding, a Bills game or an unplanned drink with friends, this is a place designed to feel discovered—and familiar.
How it started
Two curious minds. One shared idea.
Jason Havens and David Johnson brought engineering, science, homebrewing and community together to create what was then Buffalo’s eighth craft brewery.
A community forms first.
Jason’s WNY Beer Club introduced local drinkers to craft beer through education, tastings and tours. That community connected him with Dave, an award-winning homebrewer and geologist.
Rusty Nickel takes shape.
The pair founded RNBC with a shared love of great beer, science and Buffalo’s hardworking spirit.
An unlikely building becomes home.
A former daycare and dance studio was transformed with reclaimed wood, handmade fixtures and personal touches—including live-edge wood from a tree on Dave’s property.
The story keeps growing.
The brewery has become a tasting room, garden, event venue and gathering place for regulars, travelers, families and friends.
What’s in the name?
The nickel that doesn’t rust.
Rusty Nickel nods to Buffalo’s history as both the Nickel City and part of the Rust Belt. There’s a wink built into it, too: nickel doesn’t actually rust. It shines on—much like the city that inspired the name.
What you’ll find here
Made here, sourced here, enjoyed here.
The experience starts with beer brewed on site, then expands into a full taste of New York.
Beer with range and personality.
More than 35 unique releases a year—from crisp lagers and dark stouts to juicy IPAs, bold sours and Slice O’ Havens, our orange-vanilla imperial cream ale.
A bar built around New York.
House-made hard seltzers plus New York wines, spirits, cider, mead, cocktails, slushies and seasonal specialties.
Food that belongs with a pint.
Made-to-order favorites, shareable boards, Bavarian pretzels, paninis, tacos and more satisfying reasons to stay awhile.
Proud to be local
New York runs through the whole place.
As one of the early breweries licensed under New York’s Farm Brewery Bill, Rusty Nickel supports the agricultural community by sourcing local hops, grains and produce.
- Independent and rooted in West Seneca
- New York ingredients and beverages throughout the menu
- Signature festivals and year-round community programming
- A welcoming space for locals and visitors alike
Local isn’t simply where the brewery is located. It’s how Rusty Nickel buys, brews, hosts and grows.
Come raise a glass
Leave as part of the story.
Find your favorite corner of the tasting room or garden, see what’s pouring and discover what’s happening next.