About Genesee Brewing Company
Founded in 1878
The Genesee Brewing Company, based in Rochester, New York, is one of the largest and oldest continually operating breweries in the United States. The Brewery makes the Genesee line of beers, including the iconic Genesee, the refreshing Genny Light, and The Original Cream Ale.
The Genesee Brewing Company is part of FIFCO USA, the largest independently owned beer company in the United States. With a focus on product quality, facility upgrades (including the relighting of the iconic Genesee Beer & Ale sign), conservation initiatives and employee safety, FIFCO USA has invested in the Genesee family of beers, its employees and the community.
With a refreshed sense of pride and purpose, The Genesee Brewing Company will continue brewing the quality beers that people have loved for over a century.
1819
The Aqueduct Spring Brewery—Rochester’s first brewery—opens. By the end of the 19th century, 50 breweries open in Rochester, a reflection of the city’s vibrant German heritage.
1857
Charles Rau establishes the Rau & Reisky Brewery, later changed to Reisky & Spies, renowned as a lager brewery with “a first class saloon” and bowling alley.
1878
Mathius Kondolf, one of Rochester’s early entrepreneurs, purchases Reisky & Spies, changing its name to The Genesee Brewery.
1889
Louis A. Wehle is born September 22. That year English investors purchase the stock of three Rochester breweries—Genesee, Rochester and the city’s largest, Bartholomay Brewery Company. Wehle’s grandfather, Casper, and his father, John, both work at Bartholomay. While still in high school, young Wehle begins assisting at the brewery.
1909
Bartholomay brewery sends Louis A. Wehle to brewmaster’s school in New York City and promotes him to assistant brewmaster upon graduation in 1911.
1916
Genesee, owned by Mathius Kondolf, hires Louis A. Wehle, making him the youngest brewmaster in New York State. Wehle’s first son, John L. “Jack” Wehle, is born December 21 on the brewery’s property. A year later, Wehle moves to Buffalo to become head brewmaster at the Lang Brewing Company.
1919
The 18th Amendment closes all American breweries including Genesee. Louis A. Wehle turns his talents to the baking business. The Wehle Baking Company pioneers the home delivery of fresh baked goods.
1929
Anticipating the end of Prohibition, Louis A. Wehle sells his Buffalo-based baking business to Boston’s Hathaway Bakery for $1.3 million in order to re-invest in beer making.
1932
Prohibition is repealed in February, becoming the 21st Amendment on December 5, 1933. Eager to return to the beer business, Louis A. Wehle uses profits from the sale of his bakery to purchase the former Genesee brewery and parts of the Bartholomay brewery. The new Genesee Brewing Company is incorporated July 8.
1933
On April 27, Genesee resumes shipping beer. To commemorate this victory, 400 invitations are mailed for a celebration at the Powers Hotel in Rochester. More than 4,000 people attend.
1933
Louis A. Wehle says he will be happy to sell 100,000 barrels. He exceeds his first year goal by 50,000 barrels. The brewery introduces 12 Horse Ale. Wehle designs America’s only 12-horse hitch and a 12 Horse Team of Belgian Roans becomes the Genesee’s first famous trademark.
1933
Genesee’s Liebotschaner Beer is honored as best of Rochester’s post repeal brews.
1934
Genesee continues to grow, expanding distribution across New York State and into portions of Pennsylvania and Ohio.
1938
Jack Wehle goes to work for Genesee at age 22. The following year, Genesee opens its own malt house on the shores of Lake Ontario at Sodus, New York.
1952
Genesee launches its most successful advertising campaign: “Miss Jenny.” Daphne Dore is the first Jenny girl. The campaign ran for more than a decade.
1960
Genesee Cream Ale is introduced with fanfare. Over the next twenty years, the beer’s popularity explodes drumming up sales that exceed 1 million barrels. “Genny Cream” wins two gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival and becomes America’s best selling ale.
1964
Louis A. Wehle dies November 21 at age 75. His son Jack succeeds as chairman.
1968
John L. “Ted” Wehle, Jr., goes to work for Genesee at age 23.
1974
Genesee sales top 2 million barrels. Four years later, sales top 3 million barrels and Genny Light Beer is introduced.
1983
Genesee acquires the Fred Koch Brewery of Dunkirk, NY and inherits Koch’s Golden Anniversary Beer, a Western New York favorite.
1992
Genesee expands into Illinois, Michigan and Indiana, followed shortly after by additional western and southern states. The brewery also introduces Michael Shea’s Irish Amber.
1993
Jack Wehle dies November 7. Ted Wehle succeeds him as Chairman. Genesee introduces Michael Shea’s Black & Tan.
1994
Genesee introduces JW Dundee’s Honey Brown Lager, which will later be honored for three straight years as one of America’s “hottest beer brands” by beer critics.
1995
Genesee establishes High Falls Brewing Company as its craft brewery subsidiary. A new logo featuring the “high falls” of the Genesee River, which has served as the brewery’s home since 1878, brands the company.
1999
Genesee products are now available in 39 states. A year later, Ted Wehle dies on March 10 at the age of 53. A management led buyout reorganizes the brewery as The High Falls Brewing Company.
2001
Genesee brands, Honey Brown and Michael Shea’s showcase new package graphics. At the World Beer Cup the following year, Genesee beer receives a “Best New Package Design” award and Genny Cream Ale triumphs with a gold medal. At the Great American Beer Festival, Genny Cream Ale takes home a bronze medal.
2003
A Heritage of Excellence: Genesee Beer celebrates its 125th Anniversary. High Falls introduces its first low calorie dark beer, Kipling Light.
2004
JW Dundee’s Honey Brown wins a gold medal at the World Beer Cup competition; Genny Cream Ale wins a bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival.
2004
The brewery introduces JW Dundee’s American Amber Lager and American Pale Ale to all 41 states in its distribution area.
2005
Genesee Red wins a silver medal in the Vienna-style Lager category at the 24th Annual Great American Beer Festival held in Denver, Colorado.
2007
To celebrate the company’s proud heritage and resurgence in sales, Genesee Beer and Genny Light are repackaged under The Genesee Brewing Company umbrella.
2009
KPS Capital Partners, L.P. forms North American Breweries (NAB) and acquires The Genesee Brewing Company, Labatt USA and a perpetual license for Seagram’s Escapes, becoming the largest independently owned beer company in the United States.
2009
NAB pours $10 million into improvements and upgrades that modernize the brewery. The company invests another $6 million into regional marketing efforts.
2011
Genesee retrofits its iconic Genesee Beer sign in Auburn, NY, with LED lights and celebrates its relighting with a downtown ceremony attended by hundreds of fans.
Genesee unveils its new 24-ounce canning line at the brewery. The $3.5 million investment is capable of filling 360,000 cans a day over 3 shifts.
2012
On September 9, the Genesee Brew House opens to the public. Featuring a 20-barrel pilot brewery, a restaurant, bar, museum and gift shop, the Brew House turned a century-old packaging building into a New York beer destination.
FIFCO purchases NAB, injecting the company with its Triple Bottom Line philosophy of people, planet, profits. Social responsibility and environmental initiatives take center stage through staff volunteer efforts throughout NY and efforts to reduce energy use and waste at the brewery.
2014
Genesee celebrates the holidays by building a Keg Tree outside the Genesee Brew House. The Keg Tree was made up of 300 kegs and stood over 2 stories high!
2015
Genesee debuts the first two beers in the Genesee Brew House Pilot Batch series: the year-round Scotch Ale and the seasonal Imperial Black IPA.
The Genesee Brew House Pilot Batch series welcomes one of the most popular Brew House offerings ever to 4-packs: Salted Caramel Chocolate Porter. This beer is brewed using salted caramels from Rochester’s famous Hedonist Artisan Chocolates.
2016
Genesee releases a new seasonal beer in Oktoberfest, celebrating their deep German roots that go back to the brewery’s founding.
The first annual Tap It Forward Festival takes place outside the Genesee Brew House, featuring beer from breweries across New York State, live music, food trucks and more. The festival is a celebration of Genesee’s dedication to our community, and takes place on a day when the entire brewery was shut down so employees could volunteer their time on various community projects.
2017
Genesee releases Orange Honey Cream Ale, the first canned offering in the Genesee Brew House Pilot Batch Series. Orange Honey Cream Ale represents the brewery’s first spinoff of Genesee Cream Ale, a style Genesee invented.
Genesee announces a sweeping $50 million brewery modernization project. The project begins as 12 new fermentation tanks make their way from Albany to Rochester on a month-long journey via the Erie Canal lock system. Thousands come out to #ToastTheTanks and watch the locks in action.
2018
Genesee celebrates Good Times for All Times by beginning a year-long celebration of its 140th anniversary, featuring recipes from the Genesee vault, brewed anew on the pilot system (available only at the Brew House), and special moments from the past. The brewery’s official birth date is May 22.
2019
NAB officially becomes FIFCO USA, further strengthening the bond with our parent company and reaffirming our dedication to our community and environment.
