By Julia Burke, Beer Editor

There's no shortage of appreciation for craft beer sources in Buffalo, it seems: last week Village Beer Merchant (VBM), the city's best source for hard-to-find imported and domestic brews, celebrated its third birthday with a packed house and tastings by four New York breweries.

With no advertising other than word-of-mouth, VBM's anniversary party was a smash hit with local craft beer lovers.

Samples and growler fills from Flying Bison, Southern Tier, Saranac and Ommegang provided a chance to taste seasonals from the state's most popular breweries. 

"It's a great turnout," says Vincent Somogyi of VBM. "I'm almost glad we didn't advertise - this is about as big a crowd as we can handle!"

The line for growler fills was busy as well, a testament to the delicious lineup of New York and out-of-state beers on tap. 

Providing dynamite service and knowledge, regular tasting events, and a unique selection, along with a solid and consistent show of support for local beer, Village Beer Merchant has become a key component of Buffalo's craft beer scene and is my personal favorite place to shop.

Happy birthday, VBM - and many happy returns!