As you undoubtedly know, the Flower City Brewers Fest takes place this Friday at Frontier Field in Glamorous Rochester, New York. The event is put on by the Rohrbach Brewing Company, and features most of Central and Western New York’s indie brewers, as well as some from further afield. Here’s a partial list of participants:

• Custom Brewcrafters
• High Falls Brewing
• Flying Bison
• Ithaca Beer Co.
• Rooster Fish Brewing Co.
• Brooklyn Brewery
• Southern Tier Brewing Co.
• Long Trail Brewing Co.
• Magic Hat Brewing Co.

There will, of course, be many more breweries gushing forth their wares, so come thirsty.

Rohrbach will be debuting it’s first two original Bruce Lish beers in over four years. As many readers know, Bruce combines a natural talent for brewing great beer with a love for uncommon and offbeat styles. I think he’s one of the best brewers in the state, perhaps beyond (which is why I let him hang out with me), and these surprise brews are going to knock off your collective socks.

My advice, show up to the festival early. It’s really popular, and can crowd up. Rohrbach has done its best to alleviate  crowding by using both the first base and third base concourses, as opposed to last year when the whole damn thing was crammed onto the third base side. This should shorten lines and increase enjoyment for everyone.

-Mark