The year already has been a good one for Strangebird.
Earlier in the year, the craft brewery and restaurant at 62 Marshall St. in Rochester earned a bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival Competition as well as medals in the World Beer Cup and New York State Craft Beer Competition.
Now, as 2024 winds down and the new year is set to begin, a toast to Strangebird is due as the Rochester brewery is getting some national pub.
Find out why Strangebird is considered among the country’s best
VinePair included Strangebird on its list of “The 30 Best Breweries in the Country Right Now, According to Beer Pros (2024).”
VinePair is a digital media company sharing content about drinks culture and trends and topics in wine, beer and spirits.
Writer Bryan Roth praised Strangebird’s strong reputation for its beer and the medals earned to prove it, as well as its kitchen, which also has been recognized by local and statewide organizations as one of the best in the Empire State.
“The worth of a business isn’t measured solely by awards, however, but makes these fitting compliments for a brewery that’s imprinted itself as a must-visit for locals and tourists alike,” Roth wrote.
New York’s West Kill Brewing in West Kill, Greene County; and Wild East Brewing Co. in Brooklyn; also earned mentions as did the Other Half D.C., which is in Washington, D.C., but also has locations in Canandaigua and East Bloomfield in Ontario County.
Wine Enthusiast raves about Strangebird
Wine Enthusiast included Rode Vogel, Strangebird’s Flander’s Red, as one of its Top Beers of 2024.
Writer John Holl describes it as “expertly made” and an example of a brewer “pushing the boundaries of flavor, and coaxing nuance from ingredients.” The Rode Vogel oak-aged ale is described as as tart with vibrant raspberry and cherry and pleasing threads of balsamic vinegar.
From New York, Brooklyn Brewery’s Fonio Rising, an imperial pilsner; and Big Ditch Brewing Co.’s WNY Eclipse, a black IPA; also earned recognition.
Wine Enthusiast Media’s network of editors, writers and tasters dive deep into the wine and drinks industry and culture.
More about Strangebird
Strangebird has made a splash in the local beer scene almost immediately upon opening in 2021.
Micah Krichinsky, founder and brewer, has 15 years’ experience, previously working at Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and is a graduate of the U.C. Davis master brewer’s program.
Eric Salazar, director of wood-aged beers, has 25 years of experience creating award-winning beer aged in oak barrels, and helped pioneer the program at New Belgium Brewing Co.
For more about Strangebird, visit https://www.strangebirdbeer.com/.
Mike Murphy covers Canandaigua and other communities in Ontario County and writes the Eat, Drink and Be Murphy food and drink column. Follow him on X at @MPN_MikeMurphy.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Strangebird brewery in Rochester NY gains national recognition