Mortalis x Swiftwater Luau brings the best (and weirdest) in beer to Rochester

Annual beer celebration will again take place at Ontario Beach Park.

Rochester’s premier beer-fueled beach party is back for another (probably sweaty) edition next month.

The Luau, co-hosted by Mortalis Brewing and Swiftwater, makes its return on Saturday, July 8 to the Roger Robach Community Center at Ontario Beach Park. The event runs from 2 to 6 p.m. (VIP entry begins an hour earlier.)

This year’s party will feature (at least) 61 breweries, many of which have never poured in this region. I love how the Luau does that, because that was one of my major focuses for the Rochester Real Beer Expo. So in many ways, the Luau is a kindred event, because it offers attendees the chance to try many of the most hyped and buzzed-about breweries in the country.

VIP tickets guarantee attendees two exclusive barrel-aged beers (one from Mortalis, one from Swiftwater), a cheeky Hop Fiction-designed glass, and some other goodies, as well as that extra hour of party time. (More info in the hyperlink above.)

By inviting 61 breweries, Mortalis CEO and co-founder Paul Grenier said the goal is to alleviate any worries of long lines. There are so many incredible options, that I’m not even sure where I’m gonna start.

Highlights, at least for me, include North Park Brewing, Horus Aged Ales, and Kings Brewing, each from California, Weathered Souls from San Antonio, Messorem from Montreal, Brujos Brewing from Oregon, and a whole host of incredible places from the Tampa area.

Swiftwater and Mortalis are welcoming in the largest amount of breweries they’ve ever hosted. In total, 61 breweries are slated to participate, including a number of first-timers that Grenier is particularly excited about. He’s especially excited to welcome legacy breweries like Dogfish Head, Three Floyds, and Carton Brewing to Rochester. Local heavyweight Genesee will also attend again this year.

“I don’t know how much Zombie Dust you drank in the past, but I had my fair share,” offered Grenier as his voice reached a pitched excitement. “We wanted to give folks a little more variety and we’re pretty stoked about that. Some people might overlook some of these OGs, but they’re still producing some incredible beers. We’re excited to showcase that.”

But don’t worry, the Luau is still the spot to experience some of the weirdest and wackiest creations you’ll ever encounter. The tap list will most certainly include a large number of heavily fruited sours, bodacious hazy IPAs, and decadent pastry stouts, many of which will be barrel aged.

Photo: View from above at the 2023 Luau.

Among the newcomers, Grenier is ecstatic to welcome illl will brewing from Columbiana, Ohio. (I had the privilege to try some ill will creations in April at the wonderful Collabeeration Fest and am still trying to figure out exactly what I experienced.) Grenier called ill will “one of the hottest smoothie producers on the market right now.”

Again, the layout will feature breweries inside and outside the community center, with the majority in the lake-facing courtyard on the building’s east side. Local surf rock band The Rhino Chasers will provide the Luau soundtrack.

Swiftwater and Mortalis will release the seventh edition of their Boat Drinks collaborative sour just in time for this year’s Luau. In total, it will be the sixth edition of the event. Every year, the breweries tap into a different pop culture-fueled theme and this year will feature 80s classic “Ghostbusters.”

Grenier wouldn’t rule out the possibility of brewery staff members roaming around the event with beer proton packs. He wouldn’t reveal what those might be dispensing, however. “It could be anything from Swiftwater Light Lime to Pear Leto,” Grenier said. “Who knows!”

In addition to the Luau in Rochester, Mortalis Buffalo will host a Luau Lite beer event at that taproom, 1250 Niagara St. Expect to see some crazy Mortalis beers on draft that day.

For more information about the event and tickets, click here.