It can be overwhelming to consider all of the breweries that call the Finger Lakes, Genesee Valley, Niagara, Southern Tier, and Western New York regions home. So we’ll focus on the ones closest to Rochester, all in Monroe County!
These artisans show off their newest and most popular creations while giving you a food and beverage experience, making for a great day trip.
1. Genesee Brewing Company
25 Cataract St., Rochester
Our Pilot Brewery contains Newlands steam-fired 20-barrel brewing system. The small batch system allows for brewers to create new recipes and experiment. We offer three different beers that are exclusive to the Genesee Brew House.
The beers change frequently. Guest breweries are sometimes invited to partner in creating new experimental beers. The tasting bar is open Sunday–Wednesday, 11am–9pm and Thursday–Saturday, 11am–10pm, and features a flight of four different beers for $4. You may also purchase growlers to enjoy our beer at home.
2. The Lost Borough Brewing Co.
543 Atlantic Ave, Rochester
Looking for some food to go with those great Lost Borough beers? We offer yummy munches like our Hop Nugget Artisan Pretzel Bites and Build-Your Own Meat and Cheese plates to keep the hunger on the run while imbibing in a brew.
Looking for a full meal? We encourage you to ask our servers for menus to local businesses like Sticky Lips and surrounding takeout restaurants. You can also bring in your own food or cater in our place.
3. K2 Brothers Brewing
1221 Empire Blvd, Penfield
K2 Brothers Brewing is a NYS Farm/Micro Brewery owned and operated by brothers Kyle and Bradley Kennedy. There is a full food menu available.
4. Rohrbach Brewing Company
97 Railroad St, Rochester
Step into our century-old beer hall and craft brewery located in the heart of the city. Our beer hall features locally sourced ingredients from our neighbor, the Rochester public market, and craft beers tapped right from the brewery–it doesn’t get any fresher.
With our classics always on tap and available for purchase, the beer hall also offers unique one-off brews you can’t find anywhere else. Brewery Tours available on Saturdays 11am-4pm, every hour on the hour
5. Swiftwater Brewing Company
378 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester
Swiftwater Brewing Company is a farm brewery/brewpub located in the heart of downtown Rochester’s South Wedge neighborhood.
Our mission is to create high quality, innovative beer while providing an atmosphere for our customers and colleagues that foster camaraderie and acceptance. We love our community and cannot thank it enough for the love we receive from them. We hope you will enjoy our beer as much as we love making it!
Food menu includes snacks and small plates.
6. Knucklehead Craft Brewing
426 Ridge Rd, Webster
When you visit our tap room you can always expect someone in the Dummer family right behind the bar. All of our Knucklehead staff is always ready to educate and even become friends with any customer that walks in our doors. We typically have around 6-8 beers on tap, 3 of those taps you can always expect our flagship beers. Our tap room is where over 90% of our beer comes out of, it’s absolutely the place to give our beers a try!
Food menu includes appetizers, sandwiches and panini.
7. Blue Toad Hard Cider
120 Mushroom Blvd, Rochester
Old-school values, new-world sensibilities. Born in a barn, Blue Toad Hard Cider honors the tradition and legacy of America’s first beverage.
8. Triphammer Bierwerks
111 Parce Avenue, Fairport
Set in a 7,800 square foot industrial building with a unique local canning history to it, the brewery offers an open location to enjoy an on-site brewed beer.
9. Lock 32 Brewing Company
10 Schoen Pl., Pittsford
We have nine signature Lock 32 beers on tap at all times with a steady rotation of seasonals. To help round out the menu we always have a refreshing 1911 Hard Cider on tap as well some non-alcoholic beverages for the kids and designated drivers of the group.
Our tasting room offers a scenic location on the canal.
10. Three Heads Brewing
186 Atlantic Ave, Rochester
Come in to try our rotating seasonal craft brew offerings, food and drink specials or to enjoy some weekly live music.
Plus we have a patio that rivals any other breweries in the city.
11. Fairport Brewing Company
99 South Main Street, Fairport and 1044 University Ave, Rochester
The best place to get the full experience of our hand-crafted beers is enjoying them in our Tap Room – serving tastings, pints, and growlers. There you’ll find the cozy comfort and antique ambiance of a converted auto repair garage.
Or, for three seasons of the year, enjoy a brew and entertainment under the sun and stars of our outdoor patio.
12. Iron Tug Brewing
360 W Ridge Rd, Rochester
What truly defines Iron Tug Brewing are the “Nitro Beers”. Providing a creamy texture and more evenly distributed flavors from CO2 Beers.
I have sought out to make the closest beer to a Guinness poured in Ireland. I also make a very good Irish Red ale that will keep you coming back for more.
13. Griffs Brewery
324 W Ridge Rd, Spencerport
We are located right outside Spencerport NY where we make all our craft beer for you to enjoy! Come visit us and experience the family atmosphere!
14. Stoneyard Brewing Company
1 Main St S, Brockport
Stoneyard Brewing Company does what we love best – brew beer! With 16 beers on tap and quality food, we’re sure to become your favorite local brewpub.
15. RG Brewery
1360 West Sweden Rd, Brockport
Our beautiful Adirondack style tasting room is the perfect escape close to home. We offer the highest quality wine and beer all produced in house.
16. Roc Brewing Company
56 S Union St, Rochester
Located in Downtown Rochester, NY, Roc Brewing Co. is one of Rochester’s original craft breweries.
We brew beer in-house just behind our tasting room, where we serve pints, flights and food made to order.
17. WhichCraft Brews
1900 Empire Blvd, Webster
WhichCraft Brews is a craft beer brewery, brewpub with “To-Go” packs, and a restaurant.
We feature 55 taps on draft (including five brewed on premises), an in-house custom “Food Truck” serving our signature sand’WHICHes, and “To-Go” packs & cases.
18. Wood Kettle Brewing
1192 Manitou Rd, Hilton
Wood Kettle Brewing has developed many different beer recipes over time and this dedication to perfection, rewards you, the customer, with fantastic, flavorful beer every time. From our award winning Local 20 Intro IPA to our dark, roasty Storm Chaser Stout, you should be able to find something you love.
We also serve wine made right here in New York State as well as guest taps of local breweries and hard cider makers.
19. Sager Beer Works
46 Sager Dr, Rochester
After 20 years, brewing craft beer is our greatest passion – and every ale, stout, lager, pilsner and porter are crafted on-site using only the highest quality ingredients.
And speaking of ingredients, our food menu features only locally grown, artisanal choices selected to enhance your experience.
20. Brindle Haus Brewing Company
377 S Union St, Spencerport
Brindle Haus Brewing Co. is Spencerport’s first micro-brewery. We offer a variety of quality craft beer brewed on premise.
21. Seven Story Brewing
604 Pittsford Victor Rd, Pittsford
A new brewing experience on the Erie Canal. Located in historic Bushnell’s Basin.
It is widely believed and written about that all stories and plotlines ever written fall into one (or more) of seven different categories or story archetypes. These are: Overcoming the Monster, Rags to Riches, The Quest, Voyage and Return, Comedy, Tragedy, Rebirth.
Each of our beers will gain inspiration and name from a famous (or newly created) story within each category.
22. Blue Barn Cider
928 Manitou Road, Hilton
Blue Barn Cidery is licensed as a NY State Farm Winery, which means we certify that all of our products are crafted from 100% homegrown ingredients. That’s why you won’t see “big label” or “imported” cider & beer on our menu.
Every brewery and cidery on our menu carries a Farm License as well. Which means you can enjoy your drink that much more knowing that 100% of the ingredients you’re enjoying were grown right here in New York, supporting local farmers like us.
The remainder of our taps are Guest Feature taps which offer additional rotating selections from other local brewers.
23. Nine Maidens Brewing
1344 University Ave, Rochester
Nine Maidens was born out of a lot of home experimentation and countless beer tastings. Our aim is to provide the Rochester beer scene with a range of beer styles, from trendy to historical to experimental. As a nano brewery with a batch size of one barrel, we are able to provide a rotating tap list with carefully curated recipes. Small batch size also means limited quantities, so stop in often and get it while it’s fresh!
Kettle corn, charcuterie, soft pretzels, and flatbread pizza prepared by Mullers Cider House. Patrons may also bring outside food in or have food delivered to the taproom.
Descriptions for breweries are from their websites.
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Monroe County is the heart of the Greater Rochester Nine County Region. The City of Rochester is surrounded by 19 towns and villages.
Which are your favorite Monroe County craft breweries?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Your insight and experience is invaluable!
Visit the Blue Barn Cidery: https://www.bluebarncidery.com/
I love it because it uses it’s own local fruit to brew cider and pairs up with other local breweries and wineries to present their products as well, has tons of classes and fun events. It has even paired up with our local library for events. It’s set on a gorgeous farm and has a new venue for weddings and other events. Check it out! Find it on Facebook too.
Ooo! Thank you for the recommendation, Terri! I’ll add them to the list over the next few days.