Founded in 2016, Iron Tug Brewing makes craft beer in Rochester’s Park Avenue neighborhood, drawing on Lake Ontario and Great Lakes life for its taproom’s distinctive brews. Owner Mike Nulton’s connection to the lake and more than a decade building businesses on Park Ave give the brewery a distinctly local, community-focused character, while partnerships with nearby farms bring local ingredients into its beers.
Swiftwater Brewing CompanyFounded in 2015 by owner and head brewer Andy Cook, Swiftwater Brewing Company makes innovative beer in Rochester’s South Wedge and serves it alongside from-scratch food in its farm-brewery taproom. The brewery’s local character runs from seasonal ingredients sourced through the farming community to kayaks recalling Cook’s whitewater-kayaking past and handmade black-walnut furnishings milled from his family’s farm. Swiftwater also keeps its beers gluten reduced and its taproom centered on camaraderie and acceptance.ROCHESTER, NY
Steuben Brewing CompanySince 2014, brewer-owned and family-operated Steuben Brewing Company has made beer at its small farm brewery on the west side of Keuka Lake. Its Local Liquid series is brewed entirely with New York State ingredients, reflecting close relationships with the farmers and maltsters who grow and process its grain and hops. The Hammondsport taproom also serves as a community gathering place, hosting live music, rotating food vendors, and the Pedal for Pilsners cycling club.HAMMONDSPORT, NY
Rusty Nickel Brewing CoRusty Nickel Brewing Co. began in 2013 when civil engineer Jason Havens and award-winning homebrewer and geologist David Johnson joined forces around a shared love of beer, science, and Buffalo’s hardworking spirit. In West Seneca, they turned a former daycare and dance studio into a rustic gathering place whose reclaimed wood and garden setting reflect the brewery’s strong community character. Rusty Nickel is also one of the first breweries licensed under New York’s Farm Brewery Bill, sourcing local agricultural ingredients for its house-made beverages.WEST SENECA, NY
Twisted Rail Brewing CompanyTwisted Rail Brewing Company grew from founder John’s home-brewing hobby into a Finger Lakes brewery opened in 2013, now run by Ian and his wife Megan. Its small-batch beer is made under New York’s farm-brewery license, with local sourcing built into the operation and spent grain returned to nearby farmers as livestock feed. The company also brews for New York businesses seeking private-label beer.CANANDAIGUA, NY