Our story begins our of a lazy afternoon in early May of 2009. Chris Spinelli and Jon Mervine were hanging around the house of Patty Spinelli debating what to do that day. It was at this moment that the adventure started. Patty suggested that Chris and Jon get a home brew kit and brew that afternoon. Little did she know as she drove them to buy their first kit what kind of a passion and excitement for brewing she had just created. This is how our story begins as a small ripple in the pond suggestion that would in turn lead to the launching of Roc Brewing Co., LLC.
By December of 2009, Chris and Jon were brewing an unbelievable amount of beer at Patty’s house. It was clear that the guys had found something they were truly passionate about, it also turns out they were pretty good at it too. With constant request for beer from friends and an ever growing cost in equipment, supplies time, Chris and Jon turned on their Economics based minds. Chris and Jon met at RIT while studying Economics and quickly after starting this hobby debated how hard it would be to launch a microbrewery in the heart of downtown Rochester. It was at this point in December that they started to looking into the legal side of starting a microbrewery.
In February of 2010, after months of research and legal work, Chris, Jon and Patty sat down to sign the operating agreement forming the Roc Brewing Co., LLC. At this point the three partners set out on an exciting journey to turn their weekend hobby into a business. Over the next 8-9 months the group worked to develop a business plan, raise capital, find a building and prefect their recipes in the goal of opening a production facility.
By September of 2010, that dream was becoming more and more of a reality. Chris had left his job and was on the hunt for capital. The company had found it location at 56. S. Union St. and was seeing some success in finding capital. By December of 2010 the company had rewritten its business plan, partnered up with Rohrbach’s Brewing Company and signed its building lease. The business was making huge steps towards opening.
Today, Roc Brewing Co. has finished construction at its location on South Union St. in Rochester, NY. We are currently starting to brew some small, unique brews on site, and our tasting room is open to those who are interested in trying some great local beer (as well as some of our favorites from around the US).
Thanks for the support.
Cheers,
Roc Brewing Co., LLC
Usher in the summer with a taste of our limited release IPA series, consisting of three one-of-a-kind beers marked only for our 2nd birthaversary! We’re introducing The Big DIPA, Lil’ SIPA and Down Unda IPA – and we’re really excited about all three. The double IPA is big on IBUs (over a 100), big on flavor [...]