The Custom BrewCrafters Story

In mid 1995, Custom BrewCrafters owners Mike and Luanne Alcorn set out to make a change in the landscape of beer selection in the Western New York area.  Mike, having lived in New England, Colorado, and California prior to moving to the Rochester area in 1991, had been exposed to a plethora of quality, premium beer products. This along with his business travel around the U.S. and Europe had created a "thirst" and love for a more diverse beer character than that offered by the traditional U.S. beer industry. This thirst was quenched by the new craft - or micro brewing movement.

Young Luanne and Mike (circa. 1997)

Dissatisfied with the availability of craft beer throughout Rochester, New York, a business idea was born; Set up a brewery that would custom brew beer for the local restaurants and taverns!  Essentially, be their offsite brewpub. This would quickly bring the area of Rochester in line with many other similarly sized cities.

Custom BrewCrafters was born -- conceptually!

Many hours of planning and work ensued, and by mid 1997, financing and real estate had been secured, equipment had been purchased, a number of key initial accounts had signed contracts, and a head brewer had been hired. We began brewing the first of what was to be a myriad of quality ales by the end of July, as Custom BrewCrafters entered the market with its own line of "CB's" brand beers as well the introduction of our first custom beers, Jeremiah’s Frog Grog and Hogans Park Ave Ale, both favorites in the market to this day!

                  

At the original location on Paper Mill St. numerous custom beers were brewed by Custom BrewCrafters, and customer locations span from the Finger Lakes through Rochester, all the way to Buffalo.  Along with this strong presence in the western New York marketplace, a strong, loyal following grew at the tasting room and gift shop at the brewery on Paper Mill St..  A destination for many Western New York beer enthusiasts, the retail room at the brewery allowed a growing number of regular customers and new adventure seekers a chance to experience "a little" of the phenomenon as they visited.  Located in the picturesque village of Honeoye Falls, just 20 minutes south of Rochester off Route 65, Custom BrewCrafters offers a little something for everyone.

After ten years of consistent growth, Custom BrewCrafters realized the need to expand. The initial expansion after five years at the Paper Mill St. location, doubling the square footage, left the company cramped for space once again after 10 years.  In the fall of 2006 plans for relocation and further expansion started to formulate.  In the spring of 2007 a deal was reached to build an entire new facility designed to meet the present and future growth needs of the business.

In April 2008, Custom BrewCrafters moved into their new home!  Just one-half mile from their original location, off Main St. in Honeoye Falls.  The "Big Barn with the red roof" now offers expanded hours at the tasting room and gift shop, and is home to new equipment including a bottling line and a working grain handling system and silo for our malted barley.

In addition to expanding brewery, equipment, and the tasting room hours, the retail room has been expanded from 500 sq. ft to 2500 sq ft! The beer selections available to sample have also increased from 6 to 23, plus root beer. The gift selection has been expanded drastically as well to include a number of private label treats available only at Custom BrewCrafters.

Come visit us, and after rewarding your tastebuds with a sample of some of our special brews in the tasting room, tour our unique facility, peek inside our stainless steel kettles and learn about the brewing process.  We'll even through in a little amusing folklore both you and the kids will enjoy!  After your tour, browse around our retail shop in the tasting room.  We have clothing items, glassware, gift certificates, and a bevy of unique beer-related gift items.  Of course, let's not forget the ever-so-popular 1/2 gallon growlers for you to take home some of our unique brews to share with a friend -- or not!

 We have free tours on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and private tours are available on weekdays.

Click button above for map to brewery.

We're looking forward to seeing you there!