Bicentennial Voyage LogoThe Official Beer of the Erie Canal Bicentennial Voyage

Public Invited to August 21 Tasting & Release Event at Big Ditch Brewing Lockport Tap Room

Buffalo, N.Y. (August 14, 2025) – Buffalo Maritime Center and Big Ditch Brewing Company are proud to introduce Long Haul, the official beer of the 2025 Bicentennial Voyage of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief. To celebrate, the public is invited to the Long Haul Bicentennial Voyage Brew Release Event on Thursday, August 21, 2025, featuring a press conference, tours of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief, and a special tasting reception in Lockport, NY, where the commemorative lager will be available for purchase.

Long Haul is inspired by the epic “long hauls” of 19th-century Erie Canal travel — multi-day boat journeys spanning great distances across New York State. Long Haul is a honey lager that is brewed with 6-row barley, New York State hops, clover honey, and spruce tips, ingredients historically used in 1800s brewing. In September 2025, the Buffalo Maritime Center’s full-scale replica canal boat, the Seneca Chief, will set out on a 33-day, 500-mile journey from Buffalo to New York City, commemorating Governor DeWitt Clinton’s historic trip in 1825. Long Haul will travel with the boat and be available at select stops along the route.

Buffalo Maritime Center is honored to have Big Ditch Brewing Company’s support as a sponsor partner of the Bicentennial Voyage. This collaboration brings together two organizations dedicated to honoring New York State’s heritage in meaningful and creative ways.

“This partnership is a natural fit,” said Matt Kahn, President of Big Ditch Brewing Company. “Our name was inspired by the Erie Canal itself — once nicknamed the ‘Big Ditch’ — so being part of this historic voyage feels like coming full circle. Brewing Long Haul in collaboration with the Buffalo Maritime Center lets us honor the canal’s 200-year legacy while crafting a beer that will travel with the Seneca Chief to nearly every port along the way. We’re thrilled to toast New York’s history with our neighbors from Buffalo to New York City.”

“The Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief will be making history, and now, so will this beer,” said Brian Trzeciak, Executive Director of the Buffalo Maritime Center. “Long Haul embodies the spirit of the voyage — locally made, steeped in tradition, and meant to be shared in community. Having it available at almost every stop means people across the state can raise a glass with us as they connect with the story of the Erie Canal and be part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

BICENTENNIAL VOYAGE BEER TASTING & RELEASE EVENT

WHERE: Lockport, NY - Locks 34 & 35, and Big Ditch Brewing Company - Lockport Tap Room

WHEN: Thursday, August 21, 2025

EVENT SCHEDULE:

ABOUT BUFFALO MARITIME CENTER

The Buffalo Maritime Center (BMC) is a living workshop where volunteers, students, and master craftspeople come together to build, restore, and maintain wooden boats, fostering a deeper appreciation for the region’s waterways. Launched in 2010, the nonprofit organization is the center point for reviving the maritime culture that earned Buffalo its identity as the “Queen City of the Great Lakes.” Visit BuffaloMaritimeCenter.org to learn more about BMC’s educational programs, boatbuilding projects, and the organization's dedication to building community, and follow @BuffaloMaritimeCenter on social media.

ABOUT BIG DITCH BREWING COMPANY

Founded in 2014, Big Ditch Brewing Company is an award-winning craft brewery based in Buffalo, NY, named after the historic nickname for the Erie Canal. The brewery produces a diverse lineup of high-quality, flavorful beers that have earned recognition at the Great American Beer Festival and other national competitions, while becoming staples in Western New York’s craft beer scene. Committed to community and collaboration, Big Ditch partners with local organizations, farms, and suppliers to create beers that celebrate the region’s history, resources, and people. For more information, visit BigDitchBrewing.com and follow @bigditchbrewing on social media.

For more on the 2025 Bicentennial Voyage, including a printable map & itinerary, port info, and the official Bicentennial Voyage Guidebook, visit BuffaloMaritimeCenter.org/bicentennial-voyage.

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