We are very excited to announce an historic partnership with Hofbräuhaus Buffalo to bring Steinholding the Empire State and we're going big with a Steinholding tournament series that spans New York and culminates with the State Championship Finals on October 24th, 2026 at 5:00pm at Hofbräuhaus Buffalo! The Hofbräu bier will be flowing, and the winner of the men's and women's competition finals will make New York State Sporting History to be crowned the State Steinholding Champions and will be invited to represent New York and attend the USSA National Steinholding Championship! This year's State Champions will ALSO receive prizes from our partners at BavariaTrachten.com where you can use the discount code STEINHOLDING to get 10% off any purchase of lederhosen, dirndls, and other great festival apparel all season long!
There are a limited number of spots available for the finals and you'll need to compete at one of our Qualifying Venue partner locations (listed below) to qualify for the finals and get your shot at the big prizes.
1. We're partnering with breweries, bars, and festivals across the Empire State to host preliminary qualifying rounds at these venues. Each location will be sending the winner of their men's competition and women's competition to represent them at the Hofbräuhaus Buffalo State Championship Finals. The different venues are listed below along with the dates and times for each competition. If your favorite NY venue isn't hosting a competition, tell them to get registered so you can join the fun!
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2. You can compete at Hofbräuhaus Buffalo in their preliminary round qualifying competitions every Friday and Saturday night at 6:00pm from September 11th through October 10th, 2026, and the strongest competitors will be invited to move on to compete in the State Championship Finals.
U.S. Steinholding Association Official Steinholding Rules will be used. There will be a team of official USSA judges at the finals, so study up on the rules and spend some time training to make sure your form is clean, or you won't last long in the Championship Round!
Check out the initial competition map and venue list below. Don't see your favorite venue listed? Reach out to them and tell them that you DEMAND STEINHOLDING and they need to sign up! We'll be announcing more locations throughout the summer and fall so check back and follow us on FB and IG for updates. Remember- these venues will have limited spaces available for their qualifying rounds, so show up early and register in advance with the venue if you can!
| Venue | Address | Competition Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Eli Fish Brewing Co. | 109 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 | September 19th, 2026, time TBD |
 | Muddy River Farm Brewery | 15544 County Highway 23, Unadilla, NY 13849 | October 3rd, 2026, time TBD |
 | Meier's Creek Brewing Co. | 33 Rippleton Road, Cazenovia, NY 13035 | Date, time TBD |
 | Hofbräuhaus Buffalo | 190 Scott Street, Buffalo, New York 14204 | Prelim Qualifying Rounds: Every Friday and Saturday night at 6:00pm from September 11th through October 10th, 2026 State Finals: Saturday October 24th, 2026 at 5:00pm! |
Want to compete or host a competition in a State Championship tournament? Check out the buttons below for more information!
