It can be overwhelming to consider all 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.
We’ve also created a Google Map with these breweries pinned for your convenience.
City
- Genesee Brewing Company
- Rohrbach Brewing Company
- Swiftwater Brewing Company
- Roc Brewing Company
- Three Heads Brewing
- Heroes Brewing Company
- Strangebird Brewing
- Iron Tug Brewing
- Sager Beer Works
- Nine Maidens Brewing
Suburbs
- K2 Brothers Brewing
- Knucklehead Craft Brewing
- WhichCraft Brews
- Lock 32 Brewing Company
- Seven Story Brewing
- Triphammer Bierwerks
- Fairport Brewing Company
- Faircraft Brauhaus
- Blue Toad Hard Cider
- Irondequoit Beer Company
- Griffs Brewery
- Brindle Haus Brewing Company
- Stoneyard Brewing Company
- RG Brewery
- Wood Kettle Brewing
- Blue Barn Cider
- Copper Leaf Brewing Company
Breweries in the City of Rochester
1. Genesee Brewing Company
25 Cataract St., Rochester
from their website:
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, 11 am–9 pm, and Thursday–Saturday, 11 am–10 pm, and features a flight of four different beers for $4. You may also purchase growlers to enjoy our beer at home.
Nearby
High Falls on the Genesee River
There’s plenty of parking on both sides of the river to begin exploring High Falls—the future home of Rochester High Falls State Park.
2. Rohrbach Brewing Company
97 Railroad St, Rochester
from their website:
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.
Nearby
The Rochester Public Market is the best place to find the freshest locally grown produce, seafood, beef, cheese, bread, and beverages.
3. Swiftwater Brewing Company
378 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester
from their website:
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.
Nearby
Highland Park was designed by Olmsted to be enjoyed year-round. Every relationship between the land and water is intentional.
4. Roc Brewing Company
56 S Union St, Rochester
from their website:
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. We also offer 32oz crowlers to go.
We focus on creating consistent, high-quality beer that uses the best ingredients paired with the highest standards of quality that rivals the greatest breweries around the world.
With indoor and outdoor seating, we’re set up for groups, happy hours, everyday meet-ups. Our Downtown Rochester tasting room is complete with beer, food, parking, good times and amazing views of the beautiful city skyline.
Nearby
Rochester Museum and Science Center
Between the star shows, laser shows, interactive exhibits, and Singing Tesla Coils, the Rochester Museum and Science Center will entertain you for hours!
5. Three Heads Brewing
186 Atlantic Ave, Rochester
from their website:
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.
Nearby
Rochester’s Memorial Art Gallery has an extensive permanent collection, an incredible variety of traveling exhibitions, & a well-rounded calendar of events.
6. Heroes Brewing Company
543 Atlantic Ave, Rochester
from their website:
In 2016 we started the journey to celebrate the everyday hero with great beer.
Giving back to one’s community is very important to us. One dollar from every 4-pack of cans sold is donated to a charity in our community.
Nearby
The George Eastman Museum is a beautiful tribute to his life & legacy, and is the world’s oldest photography museum with one of the oldest film archives.
7. Strangebird Brewery
62 Marshall Street, Rochester
from their website:
Strangebird is a new craft brewery close to the heart of the city in Rochester, New York. Our beer spans all styles and is found exclusively at our brewery.
Nearby
Strong National Museum of Play
The Strong National Museum of Play has a wealth of interaction for toddlers, school-aged children and adults, including play-shopping at Wegmans!
8. Iron Tug Brewing
360 W Ridge Rd, Rochester
from their website:
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.
Nearby
Maplewood Park is a linear park that follows the river from Driving Park and the Lower Falls to just north of Route 104, ending at the pedestrian bridge over the Genesee.
9. Sager Beer Works
46 Sager Dr, Rochester
from their website:
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.
Sager’s locally-grown, house-made artisan food choices—from Soft Bavarian Pretzels and Burgers to Tijuana Tacos and Charcuterie—will enhance your Sager experience
Nearby
The view from Cobbs Hill, the quiet, the breeze, the friendly nature of people walking and taking it all in—there’s nothing quite like it in Rochester.
10. Nine Maidens Brewing
1344 University Ave, Rochester
from their website:
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.
Nearby
I’ve heard ARTISANworks described as a walk-through kaleidoscope, a bombardment on the senses, a 360° canvas, a space that defies all boundaries.
Breweries in the Surrounding Suburbs
11. K2 Brothers Brewing
1221 Empire Blvd, Penfield
from their website:
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.
12. Knucklehead Craft Brewing
426 Ridge Rd, Webster
from their website:
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.
13. WhichCraft Brews
1900 Empire Blvd, Webster
from their website:
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.
14. Lock 32 Brewing Company
10 Schoen Pl., Pittsford
from their website:
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.
Nearby
Sam Patch Erie Canal Tours are a great way to experience the canal and learn about its history along your narrated cruise.
15. Seven Story Brewing
604 Pittsford Victor Rd, Pittsford
from their website:
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.
16. Triphammer Bierwerks
111 Parce Avenue, Fairport
from their website:
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.
17. Fairport Brewing Company
99 South Main Street, Fairport and 1044 University Ave, Rochester
from their website:
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.
18. Faircraft Brauhaus
25 Parce Ave, Fairport
from their website:
New to the old American Can Factory, the birth place of the beer can, is Faircraft Brauhaus. Come enjoy a German style beer and select food pairings while surrounding yourself with the work of talented local artists and musicians.
19. Blue Toad Hard Cider
120 Mushroom Blvd, Henrietta
from their website:
Old-school values, new-world sensibilities. Born in a barn, Blue Toad Hard Cider honors the tradition and legacy of America’s first beverage.
20. Irondequoit Beer Company
765 Titus Ave, Irondequoit
from their website:
Our story begins with an old hidden treasure within the Town of Irondequoit in Upstate NY. A barn, where generations once farmed their land with grit and sweat, was sitting empty and unseen. We wanted to continue that tradition of taking Nature’s harvest and produce something that we could be proud of. So we brought this little barn back to life and we are honored to give Irondequoit their first brewery.
Nate, our Head Brewer and Irondequoit resident, has chosen ten perfectly crafted beers for you to enjoy on tap. We also offer a menu that will make your visit complete and memorable.
21. Griffs Brewery
324 W Ridge Rd, Spencerport
from their website:
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!
22. Brindle Haus Brewing Company
377 S Union St, Spencerport
from their website:
Brindle Haus Brewing Co. is Spencerport’s first micro-brewery. We offer a variety of quality craft beer brewed on premise.
23. Stoneyard Brewing Company
48 Merchant St, Brockport
from their website:
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.
24. RG Brewery
1360 West Sweden Rd, Brockport
from their website:
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.
25. Wood Kettle Brewing
1192 Manitou Rd, Hilton
from their website:
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.
26. Blue Barn Cider
928 Manitou Road, Hilton
from their website:
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.
27. Copper Leaf Brewing Company
50 State St, Pittsford
from their website:
Copper Leaf Brewing offers a variety of hand crafted ales and lagers, along with barrel aged and wild ales, using modern and old world brewing techniques.
Descriptions for breweries are from their websites.
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Which are your favorite Monroe County craft breweries?
Please share your thoughts and stories with us in the comments. Your insight and experience are invaluable!
Has this article been updated for 2022?
Yes, in fact, we recently added Heroes Brewing Company!
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Seed + Stone Cidery, first Cidery in Rochester’s city had awesome traditional style ciders along with some unique ciders
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.