Here are the first 31 breweries (officially) signed up for the 2023 Rochester Real Beer Expo

This year's edition of Rochester's biggest showcase of rare beer will take place on Saturday, June 10, at Innovative Field.

I am so ecstatic about the breweries we’ve already been able to garner commitments from for the upcoming 2023 Rochester Real Beer Expo.

I’ve already gotten 31 firm commitments from some of my favorite breweries from across the country (and into Canada). The brewery list itself is pretty close to being finalized. There will be between 65 and 70 participants at this year’s Expo, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 10, at Innovative Field, home of the Rochester Red Wings baseball club.

Tickets are already on sale. And please don’t delay, because the event will most assuredly sell out as it has for each of the last 10 editions. Tickers are available at www.rochesterrealbeer.com.

(Aside: This is just the first batch of breweries. More will be shared next week once we get official confirmations from the remaining spots.)

Here’s my philosophy with this year’s edition of the Expo: Showcase as many new and small, quality breweries as possible. That means you might not see some of your favorite legacy brands or craft pioneers. Instead, you’ll find a number of breweries you might not have ever heard of. Many of the invitees this year have never even poured beers in New York state. (Thanks to the contact from the state who helped me understand the process of getting breweries registered with the state and then pass it along to those breweries. You know who you are.)

It’s my goal to introduce the Rochester community to as many of my favorite breweries as possible. I want to champion what I love and the Expo is the biggest platform I’ve ever had to do that.

Here are the 31 breweries we’ve signed up so far. (With a reminder the rest will be revealed once I have signed paperwork. I hope to share the remaining participants next week.)

1. Genesee Brewery, Rochester, N.Y.

2. Eli Fish Brewing, Batavia, N.Y.

3. Frequentem Brewing, Canandaigua, N.Y.

4. Irondequoit Beer Co., Irondequoit, N.Y.

5. K2 Brothers Brewing, Penfield, N.Y.

6. Mortalis Brewing, Avon, N.Y.

7. Noble Shepherd Brewery, Bristol, N.Y.

8. Other Half Brewing, East Bloomfield, N.Y.

9. Roc Brewing Co., Rochester, N.Y.

10. Stoneyard Brewing, Brockport, N.Y.

11. Strangebird Brewery, Rochester, N.Y.

12. Three Heads Brewing, Rochester, N.Y.

13. Katboocha, Rochester, N.Y.

14. Happy Gut Sanctuary, Rochester, N.Y.

15. Seed + Stone Cidery, Rochester, N.Y.

16. Blue Barn Cidery, Greece, N.Y.

17. Community Beer Works, Buffalo, N.Y.

18. Wayland Brewing, Orchard Park, N.Y.

19. Big Ditch Brewing, Buffalo, N.Y.

20. 42 North Brewing, East Aurora, N.Y.

21. Underground Beer Lab, East Syracuse, N.Y.

22. Trophy Brewing, Raleigh, N.C.

23. Wayward Lane Brewing, Schoharie, N.Y.

24. Kings County Brewers Collective (KCBC), Brooklyn, N.Y.

25. Bellwoods Brewery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

26. Kettlehead Brewing, Tilton, N.H.

27. Sloop Brewing, East Fishkill, N.Y.

28. Heavy Reel Brewing, Seaside Heights, N.J.

29. Imprint Beer Co., Hatfield, Pa.

30. Celestial Beerworks, Dallas, Tx.

31. Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Framingham, Ma.

More to come!

And let this be a friendly reminder to the other breweries that have received formal invites. You have until Friday to get back to me with the proper paperwork and a copy of your brewery logo (for use on the Expo website).

(But let’s be honest, y’all know I’m gonna be patient and understanding here, lol.)

Expect some profiles on some of these participants in the coming months. I am extremely excited to welcome these breweries to Rochester.

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