Genesee brings back 12 Horse Ale through its new 'Genesee Vault' series

St. Paul Street brewery says the beer is returning due to overwhelming demand.

News from the state’s oldest brewery Monday is sure to please many loyal and local beer drinkers.

Genesee trumpeted the return of its legendary 12 Horse Ale through its new “Genesee Vault” series and promised more greatest hits will return in the future. (It is still being determined how frequently Genny will open the Vault for these releases.)

The “new initiative that celebrates the brewery’s storied past by reintroducing its most beloved brews” is a brilliant play for a brewery with nearly 150 years of brewing history and tradition. It’s pretty cool to daydream about some of the historic beers we could see again under this new initiative.

If you’ve frequented this space, you know I’ve long advocated for the return of Genny’s incredible North German Pilsner (fingers crossed that’ll happen one day) and the Dundee Pale Bock. I’m even gonna offer another free idea to a brewery that surely doesn’t need to listen to a jabroni like me — release a Dundee variety pack and call it “Genesee Rewind.” That way you can celebrate some of the brewery’s more recent history. Tell me that’s not a winning idea.

Genny said 12 Horse is back due to “an overwhelming wave of demand from fans on social media,” according to a release.

Genesee last resurrected 12 Horse with a push back in 2019. So it’s really wonderful to see the beer return after that five-year hiatus. (12 Horse is always available on draft at the Genesee Brew House.) Prior to the 2019 re-release, 12 Horse had a seven-year hiatus.

Genny brewed 1,500 barrels of 12 Horse for this batch. (To put that in perspective, that batch size is more than most local craft breweries will produce in a year.)

“Through the ‘Genesee Vault,’ the brewery plans to take fans on a nostalgic journey through the brewery’s rich heritage with each Vault release,” according to a release from the brewery. “Beer enthusiasts can expect to rediscover the timeless flavors that have shaped Genesee’s legacy. When there’s mention of the ‘Genesee Vault,’ fans can expect the return of an iconic brew that celebrates Genesee’s past.”

Brand manager Tiffany Bowman promised some fun, nostalgic surprises in the future.

12 Horse Ale first emerged in 1933 as Prohibition ended. The English-style blonde ale utilizes Genny's proprietary top-fermenting ale yeast. This yeast was brought to the brewery in 1933 from England and has been used in brewing Genny beers ever since. (The Genesee yeast propagation room is really something to behold.)

Speaking to me in 2019, Genesee brewmaster Steve Kaplan said Genesee Cream Ale is “really 12 Horse light, so this beer showcases the yeast.” 12 Horse is a bit heartier than many Genny beers.

What beers would you like to see Genny bring back? Make sure to let the brewery know.

A final note: It’s pretty wild to think I’ve been working on this independent publication for over two years now. In that time, I’ve published 200 newsletters, highlighted some of my favorite people in the industry, curated two beers festivals (that featured 150 participants and 4,600 attendees), and continued to break all the biggest news in the region (closures, consolidations, openings, etc.).

The Cleveland Prost remains the preeminent source for regional beer news. If you own a brewery, bar, or beer-adjacent business, this is the best place to reach the nerds you wanna be in front of. So I remain open to sponsorships, advertisements, and sponsored content. Feel free to reach out to me at clevelandprost@gmail.com for more. And more than anything, thanks for all the support. None of this would be possible without the devoted (and thirsty) audience.