High Falls Brewing Company stands for excellence in brewing that stretches back to 1857 and the original Rau and Reisky brewery on the east bank of the High Falls Gorge in Rochester, New York. Named for the Seneca word for "Pleasant Valley", Genesee survived the "Noble Experiment" of prohibition and grew to become one of the most famous names in brewing. Today, the High Falls Brewing Company continues that tradition of brewing quality lagers and ales with the same pride and skill that made it a legend. In addition the Company has expanded its business to partner with and distribute internationally renowned brands in the U.S. as well as become a recognized leader in the business of contract brewing further leveraging our tremendous expertise and flexibilities.

Milestones

1857
Charles Rau forms a brewery next to the Bartholomay Brewery and the Rochester (often called Cataract) brewery located next to the highest of three waterfalls located in the heart of the growing community of Rochester, NY. He soon adds a partner, Emil Reisky, and the brewery is renamed Rau and Reisky.

1874
Rau and Reisky becomes Reisky and Spies with the addition of Henry Spies. The site was popular because of its solid rock walls along the river gorge. Fermenting and storage caves, or cellars, were cut from into the rock walls and were naturally insulated and kept beer cold without ice.

1878
Mathius Kondolf, one of Rochester's early entrepreneurs, takes control of Reisky & Spies and changes its name to the Genesee Brewing Company. On board as an officer with the newly organized stock company is Charles Rau—founder of the original Rau and Reisky brewery in 1857.

1889
Louis A. Wehle is born September 22nd. That year investors purchase the stock of three Rochester breweries—Genesee, Rochester, and the city's largest, Bartholomay Brewery Company. Wehle's grandfather, Casper, and his father, John, both work at Bartholomay. While still in high school, young Wehle will begin assisting his father at the brewery. Still later, he is named the youngest brewmaster in New York State by Genesee.

1919
America begins the "noble experiment" of Prohibition instituted by Congress as the 18th Amendment.

1932
After eleven years of Prohibition, the experiment was terminated through the enactment of the 21st Amendment. Meanwhile, Louis A. Wehle purchased the former Genesee brewery and parts of the Bartholomay brewery to form the new Genesee Brewing Company on July 8th marking the next chapter in an originally American tale.

1933
Genesee begins shipping beer April 27, 1933. A victory party is held at the Powers Hotel. Four hundred invitations are mailed. More than 4,000 attend. Genesee's Liebotschaner Beer is pronounced best of Rochester 's post repeal brews. Louis A. Wehle says he will be happy to sell 100,000 barrels. He exceeds his first year forecast by 50,000 barrels. Distribution of Genesee expands across New York State and portions of Pennsylvania and Ohio the following year.

1952
Miss Genny—the brewery's most successful advertising campaign- is introduced. Daphne Dore is the first Genny girl. The campaign will run for more than a decade.

1960
Genesee Cream Ale, a true American original is born. By 1980 "Genny Cream" sales will exceed 1 million barrels. It will eventually come to be ranked as America 's best-selling ale.

1963
Genesee sales top 1 million barrels. That's 13,778,000 cases, 27,556,000 12-packs.

1974
Genesee sales top 2 million barrels. That's twice as many cases as in '63, twice as many 12-packs, and twice as much fun.

1978
Genny Light is introduced. Naturally carbonated and special ingredients make it extra light. At only 96 calories per 12oz bottle and winner of taste competitions time and again, people can truly have their beer and drink it too.

1985
Seagram's enter the wine coolers/ malt beverages business that began 2 years earlier. By 1990, it will become the dominant player in segment.

1988
Genesee Brewing Co wins one gold and two silver medals at the Great American Beer Festival.

1990
Genny Cream Ale wins gold at the Great American Beer Festival.

1991
Genny Cream Ale wins gold again at the Great American Beer Festival. Between '92 and '04 it will medal 5 more times at the Festival to prove that it's truly one of the great ales in American history.

1994
Genesee continues its record of real innovation through the introduction of J.W. Dundee's Honey Brown Lager brewed with the purest ingredients and true Manitoba clover honey.

1997
America buys over 5.3 million cases of Dundee Honey Brown Lager.

1999
The legacy of great brewing lives on in the J.W. Dundee brand as it medals at the Great American Beer Festival.

2000
Genesee is reorganized as High Falls Brewing Company—a new name but the same tradition of excellence for the next millennium.

2003
Genesee Beer celebrates its 125th Anniversary

2004
High Falls Brewing Company wins gold and silver at the Great American Beer Festival and celebrates by introducing the J.W. Dundee Craft Pack that offers the consumer 4 types of acclaimed ales and lagers in one package. Sales of Dundee Craft Packs have grown at a compound annual growth rate of 50% since introduction, approximately five times that of average growth rate for the craft beer segment.

2005
High Falls Brewing Company introduces America to Steinlager, the top selling beer of New Zealand and four-time winner of the Les Amis du Bin Award, the most prestigious beer award in the world.

2006
High Falls begins distributing Australia's Toohey's NEW—beer that's brewed for the Love of Beer.

2006
High Falls Brewing Company convinces the master-brewers of Cerveza Imperial to share their labor of love, and Costa Rica's best selling beer, with the US. The meticulously brewed Imperial is the Costa Rican temperament in a bottle— joyful, sociable, popular, and proud.

2007
Norman E. Snyder, Jr. becomes President and CEO of High Falls Brewing Company. Genesee Beer and Genny Light are repackaged under the Genesee Brewing Company umbrella to reflect the brand's proud heritage.

2008
In the relentless pursuit to satisfy our customers, High Falls Brewing Company brings to America the ales and lagers of Daniel Thwaites Brewery, a brewing tradition that reaches back 200 years.

2008
J.W. Dundee Ales and Lagers is rebranded to become Dundee Ales & Lagers with packaging that better represents the meticulous crafting that goes into every glass of Dundee. Our signature craft family spans the spectrum from big and malty to bold and hoppy, and includes our famed original Honey Brow. With 6 year round varieties and 4 alternating brews served up in our Craft Pack, we pack the right taste no matter what the taste is. Dundee Honey Brown Lager can also be found in 6- and 12-packs of longnecks and 12-packs of cans.

2008
High Falls Brewing Company launches www.ITaggedGenny.com, an innovative interactive website to share the love of Genny with a new generation.