Buffalo is well-known for its pedal pubs – the bar-hopping bikes found all over downtown – but there’s a new way to truly learn about the history of the city’s brewing past – and on two wheels.

Chris Hawley, urbanist and history buff, and Seamus Gallivan, founder of Buffalo’s Slow Roll Bike Ride, are teaming up with Buffalo Bike Tours to offer a special tour celebrating the East Side’s brewing and bar history. The bike tour will visit three breweries and three bars, exploring the history and communities in which these landmarks reside.

What: Chris & Seamus’ Excellent East Side Corner Bar Bike Tour
When: Saturday, August 10th, 4PM-7PM
Where: Tour meets at Buffalo Bike Tours’ Canalside Kiosk (130 Main Street)
Cost: $25 (bring your own bike) / $40 (w/ bike rental)
Length: 8 mile bike ride, Skill level: easy

“Three historic breweries and three historic bars will be featured on an East Side bike ride that only Seamus and I could ever have dreamed up, and only by putting our experiences together.” said Chris Hawley. “Tour goers will be in for a treat!”

The tour will start at the historic Canal District, where Joseph “Black Joe” Hodge, Buffalo’s first African American resident and first tavern keeper once plied his trade at Little Buffalo Creek. It will then depart to the East Side, the center of the German and Polish brewing industries from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries.

“The Iroquois, Schreiber, and Simon breweries will be prominent stops and jumping off points for three East Side bars you’ve likely never visited,” added Hawley. “Bring cash for beer, if you’re interested in libations.”

An optional dinner stop will follow the tour at a to-be-announced East Side destination.

The tour is a fundraiser for Buffalo Bike Tours, Buffalo’s only bike tour operator. Earlier this year, the company worked with GObike, Buffalo’s nonprofit bike advocacy organization, to purchase a fleet of refurbished bicycles. Buffalo Bike Tours is operated out of a kiosk at Canalside and during its first year of operation, it has received more than 100 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor.

“We’re honored to host this tour,” said Buffalo Bike Tours owner Marc Moscato. “This tour is all about not only shining a light on an important and often forgotten facet of Buffalo history – but also about connecting that history to the Buffalo we see today. This is a fun and special opportunity to experience the city in a new light.”

For more information on Buffalo Bike Tours, please visit https://buffalobiketours.com.