What: 2012 Flour City Brewers Fest – Beer Festival & Tasting Event

When: September, 21, 2012 6-9pm (VIP ticket holders enjoy early admission at 5pm)

Where: Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Silver Way, Rochester, NY, 14608 (map)

Buy Tickets at: http://fcbrewfest.com/tickets.php

A long-standing part of the Rochester, NY beer community, Rohrbach Brewing Company has been hosting the annual Flour City Brewers Fest since 1995. I spoke with brewery owner, John Urlaub, about the growth of the festival and in the local craft beer community. With more than 20 years in business, Rohrbach Brewing is an O.G.^* in the Rochester beer scene. “The craft beer community has exploded in Rochester,” said Urlaub, “we’ve seen more growth in the past 2 years, than we did in the 18 years before that… The local community here really embraces and supports craft beer, and they love to talk about it!  It’s really cool.”

The first brewers fest was held at Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua, NY and hosted only a dozen or so breweries.  Since then, the festivities have been moved to Frontier Field in downtown Rochester, and the list of participating breweries has more than tripled in size. Urlaub adds, “Today, people are coming to the Brewers Fest hoping to find their new favorite… Back then, we were just trying to get people to try a flavorful beer!”

This years brewers fest will feature deeper tents than in past years to ensure everybody has a great time — rain or shine (Looking at the 10 day forecast, there’s a 30% chance you’ll appreciate that!), and the band will be moved down to the field to create a more intimate atmosphere. Participating breweries include:

Proceeds from the Brewers Fest will benefit Holiday Outreach, a local not-for-profit organization that works to assist less fortunate families during the holiday season and throughout the year.  Why Holiday Outreach?  John says he wanted to keep the focus on the local community.  Over the years, events like the Flour City Brewers Fest, along with other fund raising efforts, have helped raise nearly $150,000 for the small, grassroots organization run entirely by volunteers.  Such significant fund raising efforts have allowed Holiday Outreach to help many families in need from the city of Rochester, as well as other parts of Western New York.

So what’s next? When I asked John what we could expect from Rohrbach’s in the future, he told me that they’re working on new packaging to make their beer more available to consumers.  For years, the only way to enjoy Rohrbach’s tasty line-up of craft brews has been to find it on draft or grab a growler to-go… Soon, you’ll be able to find Rohrbach beer in 22oz. bottles and eventually in ultra-convenient 6-packs.  They’ll be a welcome sight at summer barbecues to come!

Getting In

Tickets to the 2012 Flour City Brewers Fest are $40 at the gate ($35 advance) or $10 for designated drivers and non-beer samplers. Parking will be available for $5 (cash only!) in the adjacent Kodak lot (map).  Street parking is FREE where available but be sure to check for NO PARKING/NO STANDING signs. (A note about drinking responsibly: Overnight parking is allowed in the Kodak lot as well as in the State Street Garage in High Falls. There will be taxi service available and the Rochester Plaza hotel will run a shuttle bus to and from the event. Contact the Rochester Plaza for details.)

A limited number of VIP tickets are also available for $75 (purchase online at: http://fcbrewfest.com/tickets.php).  VIP ticket holders can look forward to a number of benefits including:

• Early admission — Gain access to the field at 5pm (an hour before general admission)
• FREE parking in the Frontier Field and nearby Kodak Lots
• Access to the covered VIP area (opens at 6PM) where you can mix & mingle with friends
• Catered food from 6 – 8pm in the VIP Area
• Samples of exclusive beers not available to anyone else at Brew Fest!

What to Try

One of the best things about going to beer festivals is trying new beers.  Remember that booming Rochester craft beer scene?  Well you’ll get to experience it first hand at Flour City Brewers Fest.  Along with Rohrbach’s lineup of locally brewed beer, make sure you stop by and sample offerings from the other Rochester craft breweries in attendance. Custom Brewcrafters, ROC Brewing Co, Three Heads Brewing, Naked Dove, and Rogers Beer are all local favorites.  And don’t forget your Grandpa’s beer of choice: Genny Cream Ale! Genesee Brewery has been brewing beer in Rochester since 1878, and is one of the largest and oldest continually operating breweries in the United States. Today, they employ more than 500 employees here in Rochester. And here’s a fun fact… for those of you that remember Genny as the beer you had to drink warm behind the tool shed because you stole it from your dad’s stash in the garage, Genesee Cream Ale actually won the GOLD medal at the World Beer Cup in both 2002 and 2004 for best American Lager/Ale or Cream Ale. So if it’s been a while since you’ve had a taste of this American classic, take this opportunity to sample it side by side with some of your other craft favorites.  You might find that’s not quite the beer you remember it to be!

In between beer tastings, be sure to stop by the Rochester A-List and Rochester Young Professionals tent in the outfield to try a Rohrbachs Vanilla Porter Cupcake created by Dollop, Rochester’s premier gourmet cupcakery and winner of the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars.  While you’re there you can also register for your chance to win some great beer related prizes!

One that I’m looking forward to trying… Brooklyn Brewery will be there with their Brewmaster’s Reserve “Fiat Lux” (“Let There Be Light”), a Belgian witbier inspired ale with lime peel & coriander. Check out this video by Transient Pictures for a more detailed look at what goes into this seasonal release, draft only brew. Cheers!

The post 2012 Flour City Brewer’s Fest first appeared on The Craft Beer Blog.

What: Beer Bar featuring Belgian imports and Belgian-style beers.

Where: 120 East Avenue, Rochester NY, 14604 / tel: 585-325-3663

When to go: Open 4:00 pm – 2:00 am. Regular hours start Monday, July 9th: Monday – Friday 11:00 am – 2:00 am

A new addition to the East End district, Victoire (pronounced veek-twahr) offers an impressive selection of authentic Belgian imports along with Belgian style beers from breweries like Ommegang, Victory, Stone, & Unibroue. They feature 20+ taps along with an impressive number of bottle conditioned beers. The Belgian people take their glassware seriously, so it’s also nice to see that Victoire serves much of their beer in the corresponding specialty glassware from the breweries. I ordered a Duchesse De Bourgogne from Brouwerij Verhaeghe (Belgium), and a Liefmans Fruitesse (Belgium)… both of which, I adored. JD started with a Hennepin from Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, NY) and finished with a Delirium Tremens from Brouwerij Huyghe (Belgium).

The atmosphere at Victoire is great. The dimly lit interior features multiple rooms, plenty of private seating areas as well as a few large wooden tables well-suited to large parties or dining alongside other guests (make new friends!). Perhaps their most endearing feature, is the outdoor seating area. Located a few steps below street-level, the sunken beer garden offers the perfect spot to enjoy a warm summer night in the city… JD and I agreed, we felt like we were in a different city.

When we went, they had yet to release the full menu (available starting July 5th), but we ordered the charcuterie plate, which was huge! A perfect pairing for those looking for something to snack on with drinks and enough to serve as a small appetizer for a table four. For $12 we got 4 cheeses, 4 meats, 4 fruits, tapanade, pepper jelly, mustard, and a sliced baguette… my only critique was that our server didn’t explain what was on the plate so we were left to guess what would pair well with what. (I’m hoping this is one of the “start-up kinks” that will be worked out as the staff gets the hang of what’s on the menu.) The table next to us ordered one of the 8 varieties of moules & frites (mussels & fries) and they said it was delicious, I’ll definitely be back to try those!

*Update!

I stopped back in last night for a quick beer after work and I tried the mussels… I paired a Delirium Nocturnum (Belgian Dubbel) with the Victoire Moules & Frites – white wine, cream, bacon, caramelized onions, scallions, & organic herbs.  It was a great pairing and MAN, those mussels were delicious!  The hand cut fries were also quite good, served with both a pesto and a garlic aioli for dipping.  I gotta hand it to them… they’re doing a great job.  Definitely adding this to our list of favorite beer spots in the city!

The post Local Spotlight: Victoire Belgium Beer Bar first appeared on The Craft Beer Blog.

http://www.stoneyardbarandgrill.com

What: Bar & Grill with 21 rotating craft beers on tap.

Where: 1 Main Street, Brockport, NY 14420 (corner of Main St & the Erie Canal)

When to go: Wednesday nights are “Beer Masters” nights.  Enjoy special “Cookin’ with Beer” menu items and once you join their Beer Masters club ($20 for the year), you’ll get discounts on craft beer every Wednesday night.   **The last Wednesday of every month is Beer Masters University where they give patrons the opportunity to learn about craft beer including trivia, tastings and giveaways from 7-9pm ($5 for members/$10 for non-members)

Stoneyard Bar & Grill is one of the few options in Brockport for both a nice sit-down meal and good craft beer.  For those of you that might be familiar with this small college town just west of Rochester, it’s the location of the old Jimmy Macs. The dining room is at street level, with the bar located downstairs, right next to the canal.  Their canalside location makes it a summer hot spot for boaters and bikers along the Erie Canal.

Great specials every day of the week offer something for everyone, not to mention their amazing craft beer selection. They offer 21 rotating beers on tap and a nice variety of craft bottles and cans.  I’m telling you guys, their beer selection is killer, including many beers rarely seen on tap locally.  The guys in charge here really love craft beer and it shows in what they choose to put on.  They put on mostly sixtels (1/6 kegs that yield about 50-55 beers each) so it’s not uncommon for beers to rotate in and out in a matter of days.  This provides a constant variety of taps to choose from and ensures you always get a fresh beer.

The last Wednesday of every month they hold “Beer Masters University” where they pick a topic and school patrons on beer styles, processes, etc. along with tastings, trivia and giveaways.  Tomorrow’s event features the brewers from Rochester’s own Roc Brewing Co. and their great selection of  beers, including a taste of the Kyoto Protocol, their Sumatra IPA showcasing a blend of beer & coffee through a collaborative effort with Joe Bean Coffee Roasters.  I just saw the special menu items for this event on Stoneyard’s Facebook page and I cannot wait to try this meal…

Dark Mild Pulled Pork Sandwich topped with Cullinan’s Revival Red BBQ Sauce and apple slaw on a fresh baked Brewers Yeast Roll with a side of Crispy Brewers Fries and Roc Brewing Oatmeal Stout Ice Cream Floats for dessert!

I’ll see ya there!

The post Local Spotlight: Stoneyard Bar & Grill, Brockport, NY first appeared on The Craft Beer Blog.

http://www.donnellysph.com/

What: Neighborhood pub with 22 rotating craft beers on tap.

Where: 1 Water Street, Fairport, NY 14450 (at the corner of Liftbridge Lane)

When to go: Thursday nights are “Drink Local” nights.  Stop in from 6-8pm in February to enjoy a beer tasting presented by a local brewery.  Also, any beers on tap from New York State breweries are just $3 and you get a FREE “I drink NY” pint glass to take home! (limit 1 per visit)

Donnelly’s Public House in Fairport, NY is a great place to go for dinner and a few beers with friends.  They provide ample seating both nearby and away from the bar, perfect for whatever kind of night you have planned.  It can get busy though, so be prepared to wait a few minutes for a table if you stop in during the dinner rush.

They have a great menu, affordably priced, with something for everyone.  Try their BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich or Pork Plate made with house smoked pork roasted with Guinness and garlic (omg) or the popular Beer Battered Fish Fry if you’re there on a Friday.

I was there a couple weeks ago and tried the BBQ Pork Drums with Cole Slaw and Fries.  I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed it.  The pork was so tender it literally fell off the bone, and the combination of the sticky sweet BBQ sauce with the creamy cole slaw and salty french fries… all of it washed down with great New York State beer (at $3 a pint!?).  I was in heaven! 

I will admit, I have only been on Thursday, but they look like they have great specials all week long.  Taco Tuesdays – enough said.  And Wednesday night is “Game Day” where they offer a different wild game special each week (elk, buffalo, boar, etc.)  For folks that like to get a little adventurous with their eats, or for those of you that usually play it safe but are looking to branch out, this sounds like a great time!  Did I mention they have grilled wings?  If you’ve never had grilled chicken wings, do it.  Seriously… you’re welcome.

The post Local Spotlight: Donnelly’s Public House, Fairport, NY first appeared on The Craft Beer Blog.