ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- When exploring New York for good food and drink in Rochester there's one getaway that brings you both: The Genesee Brew House.
In the shadow of one of the largest and oldest continually operating breweries in the U.S., the Brew House building was part of the original Genesee Brewery campus more than 100 years ago. Today, things have changed inside this historical structure.
"My specialty is craft beer," said brewmaster Dean Jones. "True, high-quality craft beer that's inventive so, we've done our new Tap It Forward project where we've taken local artisans and made beer out of their products. Hedonist Artisan Chocolates was voted the No. 1 salted caramel in the nation. We took their salted caramels, added it directly to the boil kettle and came up with a salted caramel chocolate porter. That beer sold out in under six hours."
On the hour, every hour, the brewery tour at the Genesee Brew house is a must do. Then you can go upstairs to the restaurant and have the Bavarian pretzels. Pub-style fare from hamburgers to Zweigle's hots are indoors or outside on the terrace.
Head up to the roof top, see the best view of Rochester, High Falls and the Genesee River Gorge and have a nice cold one.
"I love the view. I have one of the best jobs in Rochester because every morning," said Malcolm Franklin, general manager. "When I walk through the building I look off the patio and of the rooftop at those falls, winter and summer and I think that I have one of the best views in Rochester."
Celebrating the history of good old Genny is done quite well in the Genesee Beer Museum right when you walk in, and there's a big gift shop for all your Genny gear.