Good Rochester Brewery?

**Gremlyn** · 06-24-2009, 07:42 PM

I'm going to be in Rochester this weekend for a wedding and was thinking of checking out a local brewery Friday night. I found Rohrbachs: Brewery Rochester - Microbrew - Tour - Ales - Lagers and Rochester Mills Beer Co: Rochester Mills Beer Company. Which would the locals recommend? I also saw MacGregor's, but they are just a tap house it seems, so I'd rather go for something local.

DrMaddVibe · 06-24-2009, 07:51 PM

I used to live in Oakland Twp...I HIGHLY recommend Rochester Mills!

They used to have stellar food, and their Double Bock...wow!

dap325 · 06-24-2009, 07:51 PM

I've only been to McGregor's and it was a good place. Plenty of beers on tap (100+ if I remember correctly). Worth a stop if you're in town already.

DrMaddVibe · 06-24-2009, 07:54 PM

Which Rochester are you going to?

NY or MI?

chumprock · 06-24-2009, 08:01 PM

Heh... which rochester? Rochester Mills is in MI, but Rohrbach is in NY....

I wouldnt waste your time with Rohrbach if you're coming to NY. Though their city brewery does a "tour" and tasting, there's not much to it. And to be quite frank, their quality has really gone downhill since they fired their head brewer for cheaper help last fall.

There is another brewery to check out a bit outside of town..

Custom BrewCrafters Home Page - Great beer for great people

They are south of Rochester, but put a good tour together with a nice sampling room at the end, and two of their beers were rated A/A- this month in BA's magazine.

Also, if you have any interest in seeing what a truly great taphouse is, skip MacGregor's and go to the Tap & Mallet on Gregory St. in the city:

Tap and Mallet public site

I'd even be so inclined as to meet you for a beer, though it would be likely that I would be there having one even if you weren't in town...

**Gremlyn** · 06-24-2009, 09:21 PM

Oh haha, I didn't realise there was a Rochester in MI. Guess I won't be going to Rochester Mills then, as I am in NY... Damn, it sounded so good too. Thans for the suggestions Chumprock. We're staying at the down town Radisson, so I'm not sure which is closer? I don't mind a little drive for good stuff

Does Custom BrewCrafters have food too? My wife and I were looking for dinner too. I'd never refuse the company for a beer, I think it's great to meet other HBTers, especially when so far from home

On a side topic, do any of the LBHS in Rochester, NY have glasses with their logo on them?

**Gremlyn** · 06-28-2009, 10:44 PM

So we ended up at the Tap and Mallet, we actually walked the 1.5 miles from the hotel to get there. It was nice with a good beer selection. I was drinking Flying Dog Tire Bite, which was good. Never heard of the brand before, is it an East Coast thing? The place wasn't very busy for a Friday night, though nowhere in Rochester seemed to be busy ever...? Anyway, good recommendation chumprock!

chumprock · 06-29-2009, 03:35 PM

HAH... you were there Friday?

So was I. Sorry we didn't meet!

Tirebite has been my go-to there for the past week. Such an easy drinking Kolsch-like beer. Pretty sure they're based out of MD so it's probably an east-coast thing.

Had I known you were in town last weekend, I would have made more suggestions. Not much as far as LHBS's go, but you really needed to see Beers of The World..

chumprock · 06-29-2009, 03:37 PM

And yeah.. the city proper is a ghost-town. There's lots of festivals, graduation parties, and vacationing going on right now.. most places we went to this weekend were completely dead.

**Brewmasters Warehouse** · 06-29-2009, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumprock

but you really needed to see Beers of The World..

Beers of the World is my new favorite store after my last visit to Rochester. I am thinking about driving again next time I go just so I can bring back as much beers as I want.