Rohrbach Beer Hall & Brewery

Rohrbach Beer Hall & Brewery is Rochester's original craft brewery, founded in 1991 by John and Patty Urlaub. The brewery takes its name from Rohrbach, Germany, the small town that inspired its founders to bring craft brewing to the Rochester area. Originally housed in the German House on Gregory Street in the South Wedge neighborhood, the production brewery moved to 97 Railroad Street in the Public Market District, where it operates today inside a converted 1900s wood mill factory. Now run by brothers Joel and Nathan Will, the brewery continues a tradition of small-batch brewing with locally sourced ingredients — many purchased from the neighboring Rochester Public Market.

The beer hall serves a rotating tap list that spans classic year-round brews, seasonal releases, small-batch limited editions, and barrel-aged selections from the Parting Glass series. Styles range from American Pilsner to Blood Orange Kölsch, with one-off brews available only at the Railroad Street location.

The wood-fired kitchen turns out pizzas like the Beer Hall Classic, Margherita, BBQ Pit, and Carnivore, with vegan cheese and gluten-free crust options available. Beyond pizza, the menu includes house-made pretzels with beer cheese, smoked wings, beef on weck, burgers, tacos, and a Friday-Saturday fish fry. Brewery tours run on Saturdays, and the space hosts weekly trivia on Wednesday evenings and live music on Thursday nights during the Beer Hall Sessions series.

Rohrbach holds the distinction of being Rochester's first craft brewery, with over three decades of continuous operation in the city. The brewery donates roughly 15 percent of its profits annually to local organizations including Holiday Outreach, Ronald McDonald House, and Friends of the Market. It sources ingredients from area producers such as Amazing Grains, Lively Run cheese, and Kettle Ridge Farm, and donates spent grain to local farmers. The company was among the first businesses to open in the Public Market District, helping anchor the corridor that now includes neighbors like Boxcar Donuts and Bitter Honey.

The beer hall sits at 97 Railroad Street in Rochester's Public Market District, steps from the Rochester Public Market. The neighborhood has grown into a dining and craft-beverage corridor in recent years. Free parking is available in an adjacent lot and along the street, with paid parking across the road. The beer hall is open Wednesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The space can accommodate private events for up to 100 guests on select days.