Steelbound to Celebrate 5th Anniversary
Steelbound to Celebrate 5th Anniversary
Epic 2-Day Party in the Works for May 5th & 6th
Photos / Dry Creek Group
It seems like only yesterday that Steelbound Brewery & Distillery went up near the corner of Route 219/242. Its industrial decor, unique brewery menu and entertainment line-up have been drawing crowds in since their opening. This year, to celebrate their 5th anniversary, Steelbound has promised an epic 2-day party May 5th and 6th. ellicottvilleNOW had a great opportunity to speak with one of the owners, Bill Bursee about the milestone event.
eNOW: This is Steelbound’s 5th Anniversary! How does it feel to have made it this far?
BURSEE: It’s hard to explain how it feels. It’s surreal and quite amazing. I want to keep holding onto these exciting moments. We have been through tough times, but so many continue to support us and have really embraced our brand in a way I never expected. Our product is really good, and once people try it they become a lifetime fan. Why? Because our products are made with passion and they are fun, creative, certainly tasty and spread joy. I own a successful construction company and I wanted to semi-retire and just relax. However, Steelbound was started and here I am, five years in, having fun and living my dream every day. Our first beer was called the “Nutty Blonde” which is a blonde ale, but it’s richer and more flavorful. Now we have 44 beer brands and over 30 liquor brands, along with three locations - Ellicottville, Dunkirk and Springville, and more locations to come.
eNOW: The celebration is two days long, for Cinco De Mayo and the Kentucky Derby. What can people expect?
BURSEE: Our 5th Anniversary falls on an epic weekend - Cinco de Mayo and Kentucky Derby - so we are celebrating in a big way! Get those margarita glasses ready and your derby hats on for our event. We will be the place to be in Ellicottville! We will have food and drink specials at all three locations and we’ll be giving out free margarita glasses for Cinco de Mayo. We will also offer $1 drinks, for your first drink, if you wear a fancy hat on Derby day. The restaurant will be open at noon both days and we encourage you to get there early to get a spot, as we expect it will be packed.
eNOW: Could you give us a preview of a few dishes?
BURSEE We will certainly be offering up fun and colorful Mexican dishes for Cinco de Mayo with two new tequilas - the Blanco which is a locally distilled custom blend of 100% blue agave, imported from Mexico. We will also introduce our Reposado which is the same as Blanco but aged for several months in a toasted / charged oak barrel. For Kentucky Derby, we will be serving up appetizers and showcasing our four new bourbons - the NY Aged 2-years, the NY Aged in a California port barrel, the Powerhouse, and the High Rye. Come out, celebrate with us and try our craft cocktails. We will also have delicious mocktails on hand, like our mint julep, for Kentucky Derby.
evlNOW: That sounds amazing. We know you’ve got a lot of plans moving forward. Besides the huge expansion, any other plans for entertainment lined-up for this summer?
BURSEE: “We are going to explore comedy acts which is something new to the region. We want to bring in new entertainment including local celebrity chefs. We will invite them in to cook in our facility and bring their talents and expertise to our Ellicottville location. We will have Chef Camille on May 17th where you can come meet him, and we will pair spirits with his delectable plates. We are always looking to add fresh ideas to our planning, and we want to make it convenient on our customers to take advantage and enjoy.
eNOW: What else does Steelbound have in the works?
BURSEE: This is a big milestone for us and we are just so excited to add more growth, but continue to keep Ellicottville as our home base. We just returned from a trip to Las Vegas, where we are opening a brand new location! There is so much on the horizon as we continue to create a beacon of cuisine, craft beer and spirits. We are so grateful to be part of this community.
Steelbound Brewery & Distillery is located at 6600 Route 219, Ellicottville NY. Regular hours at their Ellicottville location are Tuesday through Thursday noon-8:00pm, Friday and Saturday noon-10:00pm, and Sunday noon-8:00pm. They are closed on Mondays. You can scope out their menu at steelboundevl.com or call 716-699-2042 for more info.
