Beers, Bikes, and Barges- Thursday evenings, June 20th-September 19th
The Erie Canal Museum has teamed up with cultural sites and breweries across the state to develop a summer long cycling series along the Erie Canal titled “Beers, Bikes, and Barges.” The goal of this series is to showcase the Erie Canal’s diverse history, the Empire State Trail, and the unique breweries that are found throughout the state. Each event in the series will occur on Thursdays at 6pm and will consist of an approximately 60-90 minute guided cycling tour of that week’s highlighted community followed by a drink at the partner brewery or bar. The first drink will be covered as part of a $25 registration fee that will also provide a donation to the Erie Canal Museum and that week’s partnering cultural organization. Helmets are required.
June 20- Macedon
Join the Macedon Historical Society and Erie Canal Museum for a guided bike tour through the historic canal community of Macedon. The ride begins and ends at Twisted Rail Brewing Company, with a drink included in the price of your ticket.
June 27- Albany
Join the Historic Albany Foundation, Discover Albany, and the Erie Canal Museum for this 90 minute cycling tour through Albany looking at the city’s Erie Canal and brewing history. See sites like the location of the enormous John Taylor and Sons Brewery and Lock #1 on the Old Erie. The ride begins and ends at Common Roots Brewing Company, where you will be treated to a beer as part of your ride.
July 11- Rome
Join the Rome Historical Society and Erie Canal Museum in exploring the history of the first Erie Canal town! This ride will align with the biggest bike ride along the Empire State Trail, Cycle the Erie Canal, which will camp that evening at Ft. Stanwix. Celebrate this ride’s visit to the Copper City and learn the city’s history on this hour long ride that will include stops like the home of Judge Joshua Hathaway, who broke ground on the Canal on July 4, 1817, and the Great Carrying Place. The ride will begin and end at the Rome Historical Society, with a public block party at the end, which will include a drink from Copper City Brewing Company included in your ticket.
July 18- Pittsford
Please join Corn Hill Navigation and the Erie Canal Museum for this 90 minute cycling tour. Corn Hill Navigation puts the Barge in Beers, Bikes, and Barges, literally! The ride will begin and end at Lock 32 Brewing Company in the Pittsford Village. You will bike along the historic Erie Canal and you will likely catch a glimpse of our replica 1800’s packet boat, Sam Patch, during this scenic ride. If you are interested in a historical narration cruise through Lock 32(the actual Lock, not the brewery!) prior to the bike ride, tickets can be purchased separately on www.cornhillnav.org.
July 25- Fayetteville
Join the the Erie Canal Museum for this cycling tour around Fayetteville. See sites like the Limestone Creek Feeder and Aqueduct and the canalside building Grover Cleveland worked in as a boy. The ride begins and ends at Canal Landing Park, with drinks afterwards at JP Mulligans.
August 1- Camillus
Join the Liz & Dave Beebe Camillus Canal Park and the Erie Canal Museum for this cycling tour along Camillus’ historic Erie Canal towpath. See sites like the restored Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct and original pieces of the first Clinton’s Ditch. The ride begins and ends at Local 315 Brewing Company, where you will be treated to a beer as part of your ride.
August 8- Lockport
Join the Erie Canal Discovery Center and the Erie Canal Museum for this cycling tour of Lockport. See sites like the famous Flight of Five locks and the Deep Cut. The ride begins and ends at Lock 34 Bar & Grill, where you will be treated to a beer as part of your ride.
August 15- Rochester
Please join Corn Hill Navigation and the Erie Canal Museum for this 90 minute cycling tour. Corn Hill Navigation puts the Barge in Beers, Bikes, and Barges, literally! The ride will begin and end at Swiftwater Brewing Company in downtown Rochester. You will bike along the historic Erie Canal and Genesee River and you will likely catch a glimpse of our newest vessel, Riverie, during this scenic ride. If you are interested in a historical narration cruise prior to the bike ride, tickets can be purchased separately on www.cornhillnav.org.
August 22- Syracuse
Join the Erie Canal Museum and Talking Cursive Brewing Company for this 90 minute cycling tour through Syracuse looking at its unique brewing and Canal history, including Greenway’s Brewing, which once occupied the same site as Talking Cursive today! The ride begins at the Erie Canal Museum and ends at Talking Cursive, right down the street, where you will be treated to a beer as part of your ride as well as a brief history of the brewery itself.
August 29- Troy
Join the Hart Cluett Museum and the Erie Canal Museum for a guided historic cycling tour of the Erie Canal in Troy. Explore one of the Canal’s eastern termini and learn all about the city’s exciting brewing history. Location and brewery TBJoin the Hart Cluett Museum and Erie Canal Museum for this tour takes, which riders through the neighborhoods of Troy, exploring the architecture and history of the Collar City. Stops on the tour highlight the history of immigration to Troy, engineers and industry that shaped the canal, and breweries that were cultural centers. The tour will end at Brown’s Brewery, where you can enjoy a beer and take in the views of the Hudson River from the deck.
September 12- Amsterdam
Join Schoharie Crossing State Historic Park and the Erie Canal Museum for this cycling tour through the historic Mohawk Valley. See sites like the Yankee Hill locks and the Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook bridge. The ride begins and ends at Lorenzo’s Southside, where you will be treated to a beer as part of your ride.
September 19- Chittenango
Join Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum and the Erie Canal Museum for a 90 minute cycling tour that will highlight the canal in Chittenango. Learn about this historic canal town, including the only remaining canal drydocks and the Chittenango Feeder Canal. Beginning and ending at the golf course, Rohrbach Brewing Co. will be present to serve their brews at the end of the ride.
And a special thank you to our community sponsor for their support:
