Previewing the 2025 Rochester Real Beer Expo
The brewery list is out for Rochester's best celebration of weird and rare beers.
I shouldn’t have to sell you on the Rochester Real Beer Expo. After 12 weird and wonderful editions, it should really sell itself. But if you haven’t secured a ticket yet, I suggest you get a move on. But if you need convincing, here are some quick thoughts from an over-tired dad.
If you’ve been craving a chance to sample some of the finest craft beers in the Northeast — and beyond — the 2025 Rochester Real Beer Expo is set to deliver. Returning for its 13th edition on Saturday, June 7, 2025, the event takes over Innovative Field from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM (VIP access starts at 5:00 PM). Tickets are on sale now.
Organized by the Business Association of the South Wedge Area (BASWA), this year’s expo boasts a list curated by Rob Richenberg (who we recently profiled in the newsletter) and features 70+ breweries, cideries, and craft beverage producers. It’s a lineup that celebrates the depth of Rochester’s local brewing scene while welcoming some top names from the regional stage.
Brewery List: A Taproom Tour of the Northeast and Beyond
One of the most compelling aspects of the Rochester Real Beer Expo is its balance of hometown heroes, regional powerhouses, and buzzed-about national breweries. While the full list is continually updated, here are some standout names that should be on your must-sip list:
🔹 Mortalis Brewing Company (Avon)
Mortalis continues to solidify its place among the country's elite with its decadent smoothie-style sours, pastry stouts, and expressive barrel-aged beers. Expect long lines at their tent — and a few surprises.
🔹 Strangebird Brewing (Rochester)
With multiple GABF medals already under its belt, Strangebird is rapidly the standard-bearer for local craft beer. Look for Belgian-inspired brews, robust IPAs, and their signature mixed-fermentation offerings. (If you haven’t make sure you try Strangebird’s recent Belgian Tripel. It’s among the best local beers I’ve ever had.)
🔹 Fifth Frame Brewing Co. (Rochester)
Fifth Flame’s (yes, this is an inside joke) hazy IPAs and silky stouts make them a can’t-miss stop.
🔹 Other Half Brewing (Brooklyn/Canandaigua)
A giant in the hop-forward world, Other Half's presence is a major score. You’re not gonna find better hazy IPAs in this region (and beyond).
🔹 Finback Brewery (Queens)
Finback brings artistic brewing to the table with complex beers that push the envelope. They’re known for collaborations, sour programs, and subtle spice usage.
🔹 Beer Tree Brew Co. (Port Crane)
A rising star in upstate New York, Beer Tree is known for its eye-catching can designs and juicy flavor profiles.
🔹 Kettlehead Brewing (Tilton, NH)
This spot, which has been featured at the last two Expos, has become one of my favorites and really, really excels with hazy IPAs.
🔹 Whitman Brewing (Saratoga Springs)
I am very excited to see Whitman pouring in Rochester. It offers a variety of beer styles. I think people will really dig this spot.
🔹 Gun Hill Brewing (Bronx)
This Bronx-based brewery has been crafting unique and flavorful beers since 2013. Their beers are a combination of traditional brewing techniques and modern-day innovation.
🔹 Okay Beer Company (Honeoye Falls)
Yes, it’s a brewery located within a bowling alley and it has quietly emerged as one of the best places in this region, particularly its black Kolsch and West Coast-style IPA.
🔹 Trophy Brewing Co. (Raleigh, NC)
Trophy Brewing Co. is a Raleigh-based brewery known for its award-winning beers and vibrant community presence. Founded in 2013, it has has expanded to multiple locations across the city. If you’re in Raleigh, you’re in Trophy country. I really love how this spot has become part of the community fabric down there. And for the third straight year, I am overjoyed to see Trophy coming back up to Rochester to hang out with us. When entering the Expo, this should be one of your first stops.
🔹 Twin Elephant Brewing Co. (Chatham, NJ)
Twin Elephant, based in New Jersey, is making its Rochester-area festival debut and I know Rob is really excited to welcome them to Innovative Field. That’s got me excited.
Here’s a quick primer on what James Hilbert and his team from One Stop Brew Shop are bringing. Beyond being Rochester’s best beer shop, One Stop also has a small, boutique distributor with a really great portfolio of exciting craft beverage producers. So I asked James what he was excited about and these are the beers he singled out:
Celestial Beerworks (Dallas) Packed to the Gills barrel-aged imperial stout. Check out the details on this one. It sounds absolutely bonkers.
Arkane Aleworks (Largo, Fla.) Baby Yoda Pants, a guava mango ginger sour that is actually green. Wut!?
903 Brewers (Sherman, Tex.) Pickle Gose
Heavy Reel (New Jersey)/One Stop Collab Key Lime Pie Sour
Dewey (Dewey, Del.)/Heavy Reel Marshmallow Mai Tai Sour
This is only a sampling. The full list includes well over 70 names, including cideries, kombucha brewers, and non-alcoholic offerings — ensuring that there's something for every kind of drinker.
You can explore the full brewery list and stay updated here: rochesterrealbeer.com/the-beer
Tickets & Entry Info
VIP Tickets ($75): Get early access at 5:00 p.m., a special tasting glass, and exclusive beers available in limited quantities.
General Admission ($50): Entry at 6:00 p.m. with unlimited tastings until 10:00 p.m..
Tickets typically sell out fast. Food is not included but will be available for purchase from an excellent slate of Innovative Field food vendors.
Food
Expect all your ballpark favorites and some fun surprises. I’ve always been wildly impressed with the variety of the Red Wings’ offerings. Live music performances by regional acts will add rhythm to your sipping experience, making the evening more of a neighborhood party than a traditional beer fest.
Getting There
Shuttle service from the South Wedge neighborhood will run before and after the event, offering attendees a safe and convenient way to enjoy the evening. Plenty of on-site parking is also available at Innovative Field.
Why It Matters
More than just a beer event, the Real Beer Expo is a fundraiser for the South Wedge — one of Rochester’s most historic and creative neighborhoods. All proceeds go toward community development projects, including public art, streetscape enhancements, and small business support.
Final Thoughts
The Rochester Real Beer Expo has become a summer tradition for craft beer lovers, and I’m really interest to see what Rob can pull together. It’s a great opportunity to sample from the best local breweries (picked by the beer-drinking public, after all) and introduce yourself to some of the coolest spots from around this region and beyond.
Grab your ticket, gather your friends, and get ready to raise a glass to good beer and great community vibes.