BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) When Buffalo's Old First Ward celebrates something, it usually involves a bar and this Friday is no exception.
Mayor Byron Brown and the Buffalo Common Council have proclaimed Friday, March 24 as Edward M. Cotter Day.
It was March 24, 1900 that the keel for Buffalo's fireboat was first laid in Elizabeth Port, New Jersey. At 123 years old, the Cotter is considered the oldest active fireboat in the world.
In honor of the day, Gene McCarthy’s on Hamburg Street in the Ward,
has brewed a special edition Cotter Red Beer.
"The crew of the Cotter often come here and enjoy food and beer," said McCarthy's owner Bill Metzger. "After a while, we decided to make a beer to celebrate."
That's how Cotter Red came to be.
"It's an Irish red ale. It's accent is on the malty side to give it a roasted flavor," added Metzger. "It's a delicious, drinkable beer. And every time we sell a pint, a dollar goes to support the Cotter."
The timing couldn't be any better. The Cotter Conservancy is in the midst of a capitol campaign to restore the Edward M. Cotter back to its original brilliance. A goal of $6 million dollars has been set. They are also planning
a day long event called Cotterfest June 25th at Buffalo Riverworks.
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Gene McCarthy's is not just a bar, but a brewing company. "We brew hundreds of barrels, but that's small compared to some of the larger production breweries. We sell everything over the bar. Each time we brew, it's about 150 gallons of beer. We ferment it, put in the cooler and then it goes directly to our taps so it's nice and fresh."
Cotter Red is only available at Gene McCarthy's.
The public is invited to come out to McCarthy's Friday at 2pm to raise a glass in honor of the Cotter.
"It's a fish day and we get pretty busy for both lunch and dinner," noted Metzger. "So come and enjoy a Cotter Red."