Buffalo Bill's

In the early 1980s, beer enthusiast and famed photojournalist Bill Owens envisioned opening an authentic brewpub similar to those that existed in England. It would serve homemade, hearty libations with character and integrity. 

At the time, California law prevented the joint operation of a brewery and pub, and true beer lovers had few alternatives to watery, mass produced beers, unless they could figure out how to make their own home brew.

The law changed in early 1983, giving brewpubs the green light to draft their own beer on the premises. Owens, a pioneer in the early brewpub movement, poured himself into making his dream a reality and opened Buffalo Bill’s Brewery in Hayward, one of the first brewpubs in America.

In 1994, Owens sold Buffalo Bill’s to then, brewer, Geoff Harries. Buffalo Bill's closed in  June of 2022 due to rising costs and losses during the pandemic. This beloved landmark will be sorely missed.