Buffalo’s craft beer and distilling scene has proliferated in the last few years, contributing to the city’s noteworthy renaissance — with a slew new spots popping up downtown and in the surrounding suburbs. Knock a few off of your beer bucket list in a day with our three walkable tasting routes: one for a quick stop, an afternoon or a full day of drinks!
Route 1: Quick Sips
Start at...
860 Seneca Street
The makers of One Foot Cock Bourbon, Moonshine, Apple Brandy, their own brand of vodka and Krupnik (a Polish honey-flavored liqueur available in the spring) also create some seasonal flavors to try, like espresso liqueur, peppermint vodka, apple pie moonshine (fall and winter) and more. All of their spirits are made completely on site. After you grab your sampler, which includes 3 tastes for $5, you can sit out on their patio and play some cornhole. They offer free tours of the distillery, subject to availability.
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Travel 0.11 miles to... Flying Bison Brew Company
840 Seneca Street
Flying Bison has a variety of seasonal beers and year-round favorites — plus a stellar front patio. Enjoy a tasting flight ($7) or take a free tour of the facility Thursdays and Fridays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. (reserve time for larger groups). Fun fact: While they offer a tasty snack menu, you’re actually allowed to bring your own food to the bar as well. A great thing to keep in mind during Food Truck Tuesday.
Travel 0.56 miles to...
500 Seneca Street
Stop into Tommyrotter to taste their award-winning spirits — American Gin, small-batch vodka, Cask Strength Bourbon-Barrel Gin, Napa Valley Heritage Cask Straight Bourbon Whiskey and triple barrel American Whiskey. After sampling a few free tastings to see what the fuss is about, you can leave with some shirts and bottles to stock your home bar.
Route 2: Afternoon outing
Once you’ve finished at Tommyrotter, continue on below.
Travel 1.15 miles to...
76 Pearl Street
Once a dress factory in the 1800s, Pearl Street is now home to one of Buffalo’s best breweries. Pearl Street is the perfect spot to relax for a while and order some food. They have games on the second floor, free popcorn, delicious pizzas like spicy stuffed hot pepper, and plenty of patio room. Don’t forget about The Teaser: A huge flight of ten 2 oz. samples for just $10.
Travel 0.51 miles to...
391 Washington Street
The Lafayette dates back to the early 1900s and is known for housing attendees of the Pan Am Exposition. In addition to its rich history, LBC serves their classic beers and a variety of seasonals like the Bull Moose Brown Ale or the Coffee Vanilla Stout — and the brewer is always up for talking to locals about the beers. They have a tiny patio out front along with a courtyard off of a banquet room, plus a “bar-cade” tucked in the back with pool, foosball, pinball, shuffleboard and darts.
Travel 0.31 miles to...
55 East Huron Street
The seasonal beers here are always super creative: The squeezer, a sour kolsch, features a tart, fresh finish; the cinnamon apple, an amber ale, packs a ton of flavor; and their limited release jalapeno cream ale tastes like liquid nachos. Grab a glass of the low bridge hoppy golden ale or hayburner pale ale and an order of baked pretzels with low bridge cheese sauce while you’re there. You won’t regret it!
Travel 0.79 miles to...
149 Swan Street
Take a seat in the shade under their awning-covered patio and sample one of their spirit flights ($7-14). Their Bourbon Cream, delicious on its own, is even better in Root Beer or coffee. Black Button sources almost all of its ingredients from New York. They have apple pie moonshine, vodka and gin in unique flavors (lilac, garden and citrus). Keep an eye out for their Double Barrel Bourbon and a Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon.
Travel 0.54 miles to...
41 Columbia Street
Lockhouse offers products year-round, but they’re quickly becoming known for their spring spirit, the Sakura Gin, that lines up with the Cherry Blossom trees blooming in Olmsted Parks. They have a great patio and offer tastings for free (limited to three per person), as well as tours for groups of 10 or more. Lockhouse also has a full service restaurant and bar, so stick around to enjoy some cocktails and food!
Travel 0.48 miles to...
359 Ganson Street
Their giant patio and beer garden gives nearly everyone who wants a seat outside who wants one to savor great food and drinks — plus the motoped bikes, ziplining, rock climbing, concerts and more. You can taste the beers before purchasing one, like seasonal gin and tonic beer with fresh squeezed lime. They have a variety of beers brewed inside the silos with many flavor points…perfect for a large group all craving something different.
Route 3: Day-long experience
Once you’ve finished at RiverWorks, continue on below.
Travel 1.41 miles to...
The Barrel Fa ctory 65 Vandalia St.
Stop into Lakeward for vodka, gin, rum, and more! Taste their spirits ($5) or sip a creation off the cocktail menu on the patio. You can’t leave without tasting the only local rum that’s completely made in-house — from the grain process to the bottle. The entire Barrel Factory houses Lakeward Spirits along with Pressure Drop Brewing, Buffalo’s Best Gourmet’s Cucina and Snowy Owl Kombucha.
Travel 0.21 miles to...
73 Hamburg Street
Gene McCarthy’s boasts a Buffalo trifecta: Rich history, great beer and delicious food, like beer battered portobello fingers with smoked gorgonzola aioli or crispy Thai chili wings. Their Wake the Dead Coffee Stout was created with the neighboring cafe, Undergrounds, to bring out a freshly roasted aroma in the brew. Seasonal beers like Crikrat Kolsch with fruity notes in summer or Rosemary’s Snow Baby with hints of mint and floral rosemary in winter are always a big hit. If you’re having trouble deciding, order a sampler of 5 beers ($10) and enjoy it outside in the beer garden.
The tasting trail
Full Route: 6.1 miles
Whether you're looking for a quick excursion or an all-day tasting tour, this trail's got you covered, starting with #1, Buffalo Distilling Company and ending with #11, Gene McCarthy's/Old First Ward Brewing Co. The full route is 6.1 miles — perfect for a day-long bike tour; or, take our suggested routes for an abbreviated tour. Quick sips covers three stops in the less than a mile, while the afternoon outing has nine stops in four and half miles.