Genesee Brewing Company - History

History

The Aqueduct Spring Brewery, the first brewery located in Rochester, New York, opened in 1819. In 1857, Rau & Reisky Brewery, later changed to Reisky & Spies, was established. In 1878, Reisky & Spies was purchased and renamed as the Genesee Brewery. In 1932, after the repeal of Prohibition, the company was reopened as the Genesee Brewing Company. In 1985, it purchased the Fred Koch Brewery of Dunkirk, NY. In 2000, the company was sold to an employee investment group, and the company's name was changed to High Falls Brewing Company.

In 2007, Norman Snyder was named CEO of the company, and announced a change in the Genesee brand labeling, which highlights a more classic look. The company also unveiled a new corporate website and increased marketing of the Genesee brand of beers.

In February 2009, High Falls Brewery was sold to a New York City investment group KPS Capital Partners to be run as part of its North American Breweries subsidiary.

In June 2009, North American Breweries announced that the name of the brewery would be changed back to Genesee Brewing Company to reflect the company's long history.

In October, 2012, North American Breweries was purchased by Cerveceria Costa Rica S.A a subsidiary of Florida Ice and Farm Company in an all cash deal for $338 million. Cerveceria is a brewery located in San Jose, Costa Rica. The company’s product portfolio includes beer, bottled water, natural fruit drinks, juices and other beverages. The new owner stated that "The workforce, the current leadership, the current operation will remain as they have been."