McBane ends short 'retirement,' now curating beer fest in Ontario County

Tom Brady’s first retirement only lasted a few months. Michael Jordan’s first two retirements lasted a bit longer. But Joe McBane, one of the leading figures in Rochester’s craft beer resurgence and former owner of Tap and Mallet in the South Wedge, outdid them all.

McBane’s retirement didn’t take hold at all. He stepped away from curating the Rochester Real Beer Expo after 10 editions and passed the baton (or maybe it’s a tap handle) to me. He just couldn’t stay away from festival planning. He loves it too much, he admitted.

So McBane, who currently owns the Sheffield Tavern near 12 Corners in Brighton, is teaming up with the owners of Lincoln Hills Farms, a sprawling multi-purpose event and camping complex outside of Canandaigua, Ontario County. They’re hosting a beer festival with live music from Keller Williams and the Hillbenders (playing bluegrass-tinged Grateful Dead covers) and camping potential on Saturday, Aug. 5.

McBane is excited for a new challenge. He definitely seems energized after stepping away from the Expo. The festival has taken place a few times before, but this is McBane’s first time leading the charge there.

When asked why he decided to end his retirement, McBane joked, “I still had the itch, Will. I feel really good about having stepped away from the Expo and handing it off to you. I was just really excited to attend and I was so impressed by what you pulled off. (You know I had to keep this quote in the newsletter, right?) It felt like a good proper changing of the guard.

“There’s still a little bit of an itch and Lincoln Hills is a great spot. I am excited about getting something going over there. It has its own identity.”

The Lincoln Hills fest will feature about 32 different breweries, most of them originating in the Finger Lakes. But in true McBane fashion, a few of spots are exciting newcomers to this region, including Orchard Park’s Wayland Brewing and Virginia’s Aslin Beer. The list also includes FLX heavyweights like Canandaigua’s Frequentem Brewing and Aurora Brewing and Prison City Brewing, both from Cayuga County. McBane is also excited to welcome in beer from Vermont’s Hill Farmstead and Foam Brewing. General admission kicks off at 2 p.m. and runs through 6 p.m.

“We’re excited to have some of that community vibe you’ve seen at other festivals,” McBane said. “I love the whole Finger Lakes area. It’s great to be doing something in that neck of the woods. The location, in general, is just fantastic. It’s just a really cool spot.”

McBane said he attracted many of the breweries through the strong relationships and connections he’s built over the last 20 years in the industry.

“I am hoping we can start a new tradition.”

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