WINERY: Local brew debuts at Becker Farms

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Andres Vizcarra of Becker Farms draws a Rooster Red beer. At Becker Farms in Gasport, the Vizcarra family is starting the Becker Brewing Co., with original beers for sale.

August 30, 2009

By April Amadon The Niagara Gazette Sun Aug 30, 2009, 07:56 PM EDT

When wine tours and tasters come through Becker Farms, Owner Oscar Vizcarra has heard one question over and over again.

“It’s not unusual to hear a person say, ‘My wife likes wine, but where do I get a beer?’ ” he said.

The offerings at Becker Farms have changed over the years to include vegetables, wine, foods and other items, depending on what the public wanted. Now, those offerings are changing again.

The Becker Brewing Co. opened Friday with a grand opening event celebrating the new beer that will soon be available from Becker Farms.

In the past several years, Oscar has heard many people say they were looking for a good, local beer, including his son, Andres Vizcarra, whom Oscar said is representative of a younger generation.

“We want better beer,” Andres said, smiling.

“He said, ‘We want something other than the regular beer. Something quality, something local,’ ” he said. “This (generation) demands better quality and demands local. That is the reality.”

Eventually, Andres will be in charge of the Becker Brewing Co., Oscar said. In its beginning stages, the brewing company is bringing in beer made at Flying Bison microbrewery in Buffalo, where beer is sold wholesale. Soon, the beer will be made on-site, and they are working on getting their facilities up and running.

Tim Herzog, owner of Flying Bison, helped Oscar, his wife, Melinda, and Andres get their plans in gear.

“Meeting Tim from Flying Bison frankly encouraged us to continue our ideas of having a microbrewery,” Oscar said. “Based on his experience, we’re starting our own microbrewery.”

There are four types of beer available: Local Lager, which Andres described as an “easy to drink” lager: Rooster Red, a red amber beer; Art’s Amber, a “darker” beer; and Frank’s Seasonal, a variety which will change with the seasons.

Art’s Amber and Frank’s Seasonal are named for Frank Becker, Melinda Vizcarra’s grandfather, and his brother, Art.

The beers are being sold by the glass and by the gallon — not yet by the bottle.

Andres said he believes the beers offer a good selection for people with all different tastes.

“It’s more of a friendlier palate choice, for people that aren’t really into microbrews,” he said. “If people are really into it, they can do the amber beer, and that has more of a hoppy flavor. If they’re more used to their Michelobs or their (Labatt) Blues, they can try the lager.”

“Everyone can find one they like,” Melinda said.

For more information about the brewing company, visit www.beckerfarms.com.

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