WMBT, Discover Kalamazoo & Kzoo Swift partner to help Open Roads

BikeTourSeriesKALAMAZOO, MI — West Michigan Beer Tours is again teaming up with Discover Kalamazoo and Kzoo Swift, the vintage bicycle retail and repair shop, for the annual Bicycle Tour Series of downtown Kalamazoo breweries.

The series, while allowing guests to delve into Kalamazoo craft beer culture, will also be helping raise funds for the non-profit organization Open Roads and its Earn-A-Bike Program, an after-school program where youth meet once a week for two hours a day to gain hands-on mechanic skills while learning social skills that will help them become successful in life. They earn a bike, helmet, lock, t-shirt, and certificate after completing the program.

As for the tour itself, you can learn some of the city’s beer history, meet the people behind the current explosion of Kalamazoo beer and try a few samples of the varied styles available around town. Participants in the bike tours will also receive a goody bag featuring a commemorative water bottle, as well as other discounts, coupons and giveaways.

The 8-part series began on July 23 and will continue through Oct. 8. Each tour begins with registration from noon to 1 p.m. at a different bar/restaurant in downtown Kalamazoo. Each tour will visit three breweries and end at about 4:30 p.m. Each tour will have a different itinerary.

Guests welcome to bring their own bicycle, but rentals from Kzoo Swift will also be available, including the pedicab option for two. Samples at each stop are included in the ticket price. Tickets range from $29 per person without a bike rental to up to $188 for two people to ride the pedicab.

Tours will be conducted on the following dates: July 23 (sold-out); Aug. 13, Aug. 20, Sept. 10, Sept. 17, Sept. 24, Oct. 1 and Oct. 8.For more information, go to www.westmichiganbeertours.com/bike-tours.

We’d like to thank our brewery partners and sponsors: Discover Kalamazoo; Radisson Plaza Hotel; The Kalamazoo House; Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Sustainable Brewing Program; Shakespeare’s Pub; Central City Tap House; Kalamazoo Beer Exchange; Old Burdick’s Bar & Grill; Nature Connection; Down Dog Yoga; Rhino Media; Masonry Heater & Design; Local Hop; Damn Handsome Grooming Co.; Genesis Fitness & Wellness; One Well Brewing; Rupert’s Brew House; Beer Cap Maps; Tempo Vino Winery; Bad Moon Studio LLC; Terrapin Worldwide Imports; Daus Financial Group; Journey Jug; Taco Bob’s; Green Door Distilling, Tibbs Brewing Co., Kzoo Swift and the Kalamazoo State Theatre.