Swiftwater Brewery
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I went to Swiftwater on the business's 11th birthday and it was packed with people watching "the big game." The service was still great and courteous despite the crowd. I had a beer that was a collab with another great Rochester brewery, Spotted Octopus. Dark and tart and delicious. My friends got the pear cider and a chocolate stout both of which I sampled and really enjoyed. Would recommend this place as a great place to hang with friends!
I've been to Swiftwater Brewing before, but usually just to drink their excellent beer. We went on a bike ride from there and when we came back, we had a beer and dinner this time. I ordered the eggplant sandwich. It was like an eggplant Parmesan. they called it something different. It was the special sandwich that night. Three layers of breaded eggplant and cheese on a brioche bun with a side salad. And I washed it down with the Alpaca Kisses IPA. The service is friendly and relatively quick for a brewery. And the food was excellent. They have a pretty extensive menu for a brewery. Go check them out!
In town from out of town, really didn't want to venture out in the wind chill. Couldn't pass up a new brewery (new to me). Happened to be Trivia Night; not my thing but always entertaining, nice crowd, good participation. Enjoyed the brew selections but the star of the show was the Trivia Burger, on their limited Trivia Night menu. Quite large size, superbly fresh roll, smash-style burger with great crisp top and bottom. It was delicious! Thanks for your great attention, service and quality. I'll be back!
Great service nice atmosphere and choices of beer. Conveniently located in the center of Rochester. Snapple parking area. Indoor and outdoor seating. Swag for sale.
Fried chicken sandwich 8/10 Delicious. Not sure if it was on homemade bread but it was great bread. The fry on the chicken was great, and the sauce was good too. The whole sandwich had good flavors that all went together well. Pork Stromboli 8/10 House dough is amazing. Great flavors and very cheesy. Beer reviews on Untapped.
The beer is great! but this is first a review of the food, which, to put it simply, was amazing. I had a caprese sandwich made with basil from a garden on the side of the building. I'm of the opinion that if food is made with fresh from the garden ingredients, that's the item to try! The side pull kolsch was a perfect pairing for this sandwich and props to the friendly bartender for recommending it!
This place is our go to. They are getting ready to celebrate their 10 year anniversary and it's VERY well deserved. Their food selection is out of this world. There's a little something for everyone. The beer never disappoints and they do some fun collaborations with other local breweries.
Wonderful brewery with really great beers. We cannot wait to try more of their beer. Very close to the road so a little distracting. Dog friendly (Fridays!!). Worth the check out.
I stayed at a nearby Airbnb this past week. I had just finished a 5 mile walk around the neighborhood (Mt Hope, U of R and Highland Park) and wanted a cold beer on a beautiful Spring day. Most of the beers looked good. I'm not an IPA bro, but they had a number of options for us non-IPA lovers. I focused on the schwarzbier, a dark lager. I love dark lagers, and this one did not disappoint...so I had another. Big bonus in that they also serve food. I'm used to food trucks at breweries and they're often hit and miss, and then there's the no food factor if a truck isn't there. I ordered the Swift Burger and it was delicious. I also had a pilsner. It was good, but I definitely preferred the schwarzbier more. Great set up with a lot of inside and outside seating. Friendly staff and good beer & food. You can't go wrong here.
Yum!!! Hadn't been for food since pre-covid... they have made an phenomenal change to this menu! Their cheeseboard is fabulous and the best deal in town- they have a small kitchen garden that frowns many of their ingredients. I was delighted to discover this great change to a favorite local brewery
I feel like every time I go to swiftwater it never disappoints. This is my 4th trip in probably 4 years. Each time I enjoyed the beer I tried. Their Hefeweizen is clean and crisp. I tried the Is This Even beer? Amazing if you love sours and margaritas. Every time I go there the beer tastes clean. This is the first time we tried food there. I had the vegetarian Stromboli. It was hot and fresh and delicious. My husband had the burger and said it was pretty good. They don't have a extensive food menu, but if you are hungry you can definitely find something. We also tried the beef jerky. It was good, but definitely do not get enough to justify $4. Overall I would say this place is a must try if you are in the area.
Cute brewery with indoor and outdoor seating. There is a good selection of beers and you can get a flight as well. Everyone working there was very nice and helpful. I think the food is okay. Kind of pricey for the amount that is offered. The tacos were $15 and the pretzels were $20 and you only get two small pretzels with other sides. The food was pretty good but not worth the cost. I think this place is great for getting drinks but maybe less so for getting food.
Still a great stop after a year of not going here (it just isn't in the direction I typically travel). The food is always good and made with Amazing Grains bread. Can't go wrong with any dish chosen.
2 months ago
6 months ago
Fun spot. Typical brewery atmosphere! High top tables and a bar. There are outside tables but they are streetside so we chose to sit inside. I'm not a beer connoisseur by any means. I prefer a sour and they didn't have one. My husband said the beer was good not great. I had a cider on draft and it was good. The food was good! We had the chopped chicken sandwich and loved it. We also had a cheddar jalapeño sausage sandwich. They both came with salad. They could add some simpler "everyone friendly" food like French fries and chicken fingers, but we enjoyed it. The place definitely needs some deep cleaning. I would not have noticed if I had been on my own, but once I looked up and saw the thick dust I could not unsee it! That cost a star in my review. Otherwise it was a nice stop And the service was excellent! read more
7 months ago
I went to Swiftwater on the business's 11th birthday and it was packed with people watching "the big game." The service was still great and courteous despite the crowd. I had a beer that was a collab with another great Rochester brewery, Spotted Octopus. Dark and tart and delicious. My friends got the pear cider and a chocolate stout both of which I sampled and really enjoyed. Would recommend this place as a great place to hang with friends! read more
I've been to Swiftwater Brewing before, but usually just to drink their excellent beer. We went on a bike ride from there and when we came back, we had a beer and dinner this time. I ordered the eggplant sandwich. It was like an eggplant Parmesan. they called it something different. It was the special sandwich that night. Three layers of breaded eggplant and cheese on a brioche bun with a side salad. And I washed it down with the Alpaca Kisses IPA. The service is friendly and relatively quick for a brewery. And the food was excellent. They have a pretty extensive menu for a brewery. Go check them out! read more
In town from out of town, really didn't want to venture out in the wind chill. Couldn't pass up a new brewery (new to me). Happened to be Trivia Night; not my thing but always entertaining, nice crowd, good participation. Enjoyed the brew selections but the star of the show was the Trivia Burger, on their limited Trivia Night menu. Quite large size, superbly fresh roll, smash-style burger with great crisp top and bottom. It was delicious! Thanks for your great attention, service and quality. I'll be back! read more
3 months ago
2 years ago
Fried chicken sandwich 8/10 Delicious. Not sure if it was on homemade bread but it was great bread. The fry on the chicken was great, and the sauce was good too. The whole sandwich had good flavors that all went together well. Pork Stromboli 8/10 House dough is amazing. Great flavors and very cheesy. Beer reviews on Untapped. read more
The beer is great! but this is first a review of the food, which, to put it simply, was amazing. I had a caprese sandwich made with basil from a garden on the side of the building. I'm of the opinion that if food is made with fresh from the garden ingredients, that's the item to try! The side pull kolsch was a perfect pairing for this sandwich and props to the friendly bartender for recommending it! read more
This place is our go to. They are getting ready to celebrate their 10 year anniversary and it's VERY well deserved. Their food selection is out of this world. There's a little something for everyone. The beer never disappoints and they do some fun collaborations with other local breweries. read more
8 months ago
1 year ago
Wonderful brewery with really great beers. We cannot wait to try more of their beer. Very close to the road so a little distracting. Dog friendly (Fridays!!). Worth the check out. read more
I stayed at a nearby Airbnb this past week. I had just finished a 5 mile walk around the neighborhood (Mt Hope, U of R and Highland Park) and wanted a cold beer on a beautiful Spring day. Most of the beers looked good. I'm not an IPA bro, but they had a number of options for us non-IPA lovers. I focused on the schwarzbier, a dark lager. I love dark lagers, and this one did not disappoint...so I had another. Big bonus in that they also serve food. I'm used to food trucks at breweries and they're often hit and miss, and then there's the no food factor if a truck isn't there. I ordered the Swift Burger and it was delicious. I also had a pilsner. It was good, but I definitely preferred the schwarzbier more. Great set up with a lot of inside and outside seating. Friendly staff and good beer & food. You can't go wrong here. read more
4 years ago
Yum!!! Hadn't been for food since pre-covid... they have made an phenomenal change to this menu! Their cheeseboard is fabulous and the best deal in town- they have a small kitchen garden that frowns many of their ingredients. I was delighted to discover this great change to a favorite local brewery read more
I feel like every time I go to swiftwater it never disappoints. This is my 4th trip in probably 4 years. Each time I enjoyed the beer I tried. Their Hefeweizen is clean and crisp. I tried the Is This Even beer? Amazing if you love sours and margaritas. Every time I go there the beer tastes clean. This is the first time we tried food there. I had the vegetarian Stromboli. It was hot and fresh and delicious. My husband had the burger and said it was pretty good. They don't have a extensive food menu, but if you are hungry you can definitely find something. We also tried the beef jerky. It was good, but definitely do not get enough to justify $4. Overall I would say this place is a must try if you are in the area. read more
Cute brewery with indoor and outdoor seating. There is a good selection of beers and you can get a flight as well. Everyone working there was very nice and helpful. I think the food is okay. Kind of pricey for the amount that is offered. The tacos were $15 and the pretzels were $20 and you only get two small pretzels with other sides. The food was pretty good but not worth the cost. I think this place is great for getting drinks but maybe less so for getting food. read more
2 years ago
Staff was friendly. I liked the atmosphere. Beer was okay. I recommend the Swiftwater IPA or the Alpaca Kisses. Had the grilled cheese for dinner and was somewhat disappointed, but the pan fried potatoes were heaven. You do have to show proof of vaccination when you enter, which I didn't mind. read more
3 years ago
Great food and amazing friendly service. I had the Schroom Time Sandwich which is a vegan sandwich. Shiitake mushrooms, arugula, yam spread, and cranberry jam. It went great with a Swiftwater IPA. read more
Pro-tip: Currently requiring proof of vaccination for everyone over 12 years of age. All staff wearing masks all the time! 12 beers on tap with 6+ choices of canned beer. Full food menu. They have pumpkin seeds and spicy house made beef jerky as cheap snacks and both were delicious additions. I tried the Netflicks & Cello Seltzer and wasn't impressed by it. They did have an ESB on the menu that was pretty good. You can get 4 oz pours for $3 if you don't want a full pint or 4 4 oz pours for $9. read more
5 years ago
I've been to Swiftwater in the past, when they first opened, and loved the beers. We went back this weekend because they require proof of vaccination. I knew their food (and beer) was good, but expected good bar food - what we got was an excellently seasoned steak, potatoes snd garlicky greens for only $18! And peace of mind that fellow diners were vaxxed. read more
We came over on a Sunday evening. It was my first time even though I drove by many times. I'm no expert in beers so I'm just going to talk about my own experience. We ordered a flight, including alpaca kisses, spotty translation, some kind of a sour, and monk juice which is a guest cider from seed and Stone. My favorite was spotty translation because it has a strong fruity forward taste. Alpaca kiss was on the more refreshing muted IPA side. The sour was not great. I couldn't taste much of the fruitiness, a bit bland. The monk juice was very fermented, something I think would pair well with very greasy food but not for drinking on its own. We also ordered some food: a side of Caesar salad and the hummus. The Caesar salad was not the traditional kind. The lettuce was cut in shreds. It was a lot of dressing and dripping. I don't like overdressed salad. Hummus perhaps was made in house but it was grainy contrary to the typical hummus you'll get at a middle eastern joint. Next time I'd get food somewhere else. They checked for vaccinnation proof upon ordering btw (nice). We still opted for outdoor seating to enjoy the weather. read more
Innovative, well-executed beer and food in a re-purposed commercial space, near the heart of the city. What's not to love? We ordered from all over the beer menu, and it was all fantastic. A peppery, citrus Belgian. A sweet, mocha imperial stout. A light and refreshing Hefe. A caramel lager. We'd been here before but it had been a while due to the pandemic. Since then, they had improved their beer, and it was great before. They also improved their food. Previously, it had been decent but typical micro-brew fare, simple appetizers to go with the beer. Now it's more like a full-on high quality bistro, hitting a standard not required for the venue. We got grilled cheese and a stromboli. They were not ordinary: perfectly-cooked dough, fancy homemade sauces and dressings, fried fondant-style potatoes, arugula salad. Finally, the space is as comfortable as ever. The only downside is a lack of parking at busy times. Highly recommended. read more
Swiftwater is great for many reasons, but my top two are the outdoor seating and the sour beer offerings. I am not an IPA drinker and, for that reason, sometimes struggle to find something I love at many of our local craft breweries. That is absolutely NOT the case at Swiftwater! For whatever reason, their beers and my palette match together perfectly. While I maintain that there is something for everyone here, I do feel strongly that Swiftwater truly shines in their sours and fruit infused brews. The outdoor bar tables make for a great day date or outing with a group of friends. Their food menu is small but curated perfectly - I tend to order the cheese board or soup. Other highlights of my time at Swiftwater: great trivia and attentive staff! read more
6 years ago
Swiftwater Brewery has a truly knowledgable and friendly staff. The atmosphere is relaxing with a hipsterish, light industrial vibe; they've got an extensive beer menu and some really good food too :-) The cheese plate we shared was suprisingly good; other food items we've tried include the house-made pretzels and their signature burger. The burger was exceptionally moist and juicy, with just the right level of seasoning; served on a fresh bun that was very light and airy, it totally hit the spot! The pretzels (two came in our order) had a great chew and a very hearty flavor; they were served with a really good mustard dip that complimented their flavor perfectly. As with most quality eateries, the food here takes a while to prepare, so lean back, enjoy the atmosphere and sip down a beer or three while you wait :-) read more
This place is right up the road from me, and I have a feeling I'll be frequenting it all summer! The flights are really fun, I'm not a big beer gal but there was a good selection and I liked most of what I tried. They also have yummy canned cocktails which I enjoyed. The food is way beyond what I expected for a small brewing operation, it really elevated the experience. The stromboli was delicious but the star of the show was most definitely the cheese plate. Will be getting one anytime I go with a new friend because it's sure to impress! Also love a dog friendly atmosphere and indoor/outdoor seating. read more
3 years ago
We've been to 9 breweries (so far) in Rochester and Swiftwater by far has the most consistent flavorful beers. Small relaxed atmosphere. Out of the 8 beers we sampled there's not one we wouldn't have again. Outdoor seating area too! read more
Had such amazing night here! I've heard so many good things about this brewery since I've been here and never got the chance to go. But when I did, everyone was following COVID-19 protocols and they all had good vibes. I loved the artwork and atmosphere. I would recommend this place to anyone and everyone in the area. I ordered the Cider Creek Hard Cider - Cran-Mango Saison and it was absolutely delicious, which is dangerous to me lol read more
5 years ago
Swiftwater Brewery has been in Rochester for years, yet still can compete with the new breweries that have moved into town. The brewery has a great variety of brews, local canned beers, and wines. In addition to great drinks, the food and service are both top notch. Our table of friends devoured the cheese board with its warm, homemade focaccia, fresh fruit, and incredible cheeses (especially the balsamic goat cheese - yum!). It was such a good bite, we decided to also try the veggie Stromboli and soft pretzels. Again, these were delicious and gone far too fast. I'll be going back soon! read more
We ordered take out during the quarantine so this review may change later when we actually get to go to the brewery. We got the nashville hot thunder chicken thigh special, the burger and an order of the pretzels. They got it together within half an hour and we were starving! The Nashville chicken special was good, but there were a few things we noted. This is not a sandwich just in case anyone else was wondering, it's a fried chicken thigh sitting on a slice of potato bread. The chicken thigh isn't huge so if you're super hungry order something else. We thought the chicken was cooked through but still moist, the outside was crispy. The flavor could have had more oomph, we didn't really taste anything except pickle. The bread probably needs to be more substantial to hold up to the multiple slabs of pickles and also the chicken, or just make it into a sandwich. The bread ended up being quite soggy and made the whole task of eating difficult. The chips it came with were ordinary chips, nothing to write home about. The burger on the other hand definitely hit the spot. The buns were substantial and held up so well, but it was also very light and airy, loved it! Even though we requested a medium rare burger, it definitely was a well done burger, the thing is it was still amazingly moist and juicy! It was a classic burger that just tasted great. The pretzels were hands down our favorite. The order came with 2 pretty good sized pretzels and their amazing mustard dip! Oh my gosh I was dipping everything in it. I don't know how to describe the flavor but just get it. The pretzels were hearty and had the chew we looked for. We both agreed that having them warm in the brewery would have been great! We also got 2 sides, the carolina slaw and the pan fried potatoes. The slaw is amazing, it's light, tangy and had great crunch! YUM! The pan fried potatoes were just there, wasn't crazy exciting so if you need something similar to fries, these will do. I wish we were able to have all this with some beer! We'll definitely go back here! read more
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Andrew C.
Thanks for checking us out. We're new to the takeout game, so we…
I've been to Swiftwater a few times now and I must say, the last few times have blown me out of the water. Their beers have improved significantly and the vibe is super enjoyable. On my most recent trip I finally tried some of their food and W O A H, hidden treasure! I shared their Stromboli and skirt steak and the food left us speechless. Swiftwater goes beyond the basic offerings of chips and other fried foods. The Stromboli was cheesy, meaty, and saucy, could it get any better? The skirt steak was perfectly cooked and topped with a chimichurri sauce (wish it was slightly thinner) and a side of pan fried potatoes. The food was incredible and the beers were great. Swiftwater has a super chill and fun vibe. Highly recommend for your next date night or group get together. read more
7 years ago
Love this place! The beers are delish, they also have a fine selections of ciders too. The vibe is hip and they get a nice happy hour crowd. And you wouldn't believe it, but the food is really good too! I recommend the cheese platter to start. Local cheeses paired with nuts, fruit, and jams. The bread, I don't know where they get it or if they make it in house, but is soft, warm and soooooo tasty. We also got the Swan Market sausage platter. Super delicious. Local Swan Market meat matched up with sauerkraut, mustards, pickles, cabbage, and more of that grilled bread!! So good. Another friend got the burger. My mouth was watering and I definitely stole a bite when she went to the bathroom. It came with a Caesar salad. The romaine was crisp and the dressing tangy and good. I love this place and will be back soon!! read more
5 years ago
Came here with a friend to try some new to us beers. Got a flight and a specialty bottle plus a beer on tap. Menu has a nice variety, and I thought the prices were reasonable for the experience. They've got a nice outdoor seating area as well as plenty indoor. Went around 6:30 on a Friday- able to walk in and grab a table. They do have a nice food menu which we didn't realize- nice touch since many breweries don't offer food. There's a parking lot out back, but there's not tons of spaces- good thing is there's plenty of street spots along the residential streets nearby. Note: they are asking for proof of vaccination upon entry, otherwise, you're getting your drinks to go. read more
7 years ago
You know what I like? Breweries with good food. Do you know what I like even better?? Breweries with good food near my home! Swiftwater Brewery is near my shitty apartment and also near this random water way in Downtown Rochester I should probably know the name of. Location win! Main question: are the beers good? Yes, they are delicious. I had the "knowledge is sour and the Saazy saazbourne" both were good but this Pilsner is f'n amazing. The food is also surprisingly good. I went conservative and got a grilled cheese with bacon and a Caesar salad. The sandwich was melt in your mouth good. The salad was better than average. The staff here look like hipsters from good families? Like all clean but with over grown hair and ironic dress. Anyways. Do you know what else? There was even a guy who looks like he could play Jesus in a local play actively brewing beer behind the bar. Well Jesus if he smoked tweeds. Kinda cool. I will be back! (Arnold voice) it's close, good food and beer. Will I see you here mo fo? lol read more
2 years ago
6 years ago
Though I have not been to dine-in yet due to the pandemic, Swiftwater deserved this review due to their excellent beers and hygienic, easy-as-it-gets parking lot pickup. I was searching for some time for a local, drive-through brewery in Rochester, and Swiftwater hit all the marks. It's super easy: you just order online, pull up into their parking lot, give your name, turn around, and you're on your way home with some great craft beers. Orders are ready almost immediately. The outdoor dine-in area also looks very friendly and safe. As for their beers: so far, the "Maibock" has been my favorite: I am a huge fan of German and Austrian beers, and this replicated the taste quite closely, although at 8% it packs a punch. I would like to see a milder version of this lager type. I can also recommend the "Boat Drinks" IPA; despite the fanciful description, it is actually rather standard as IPAs go. I was excited to try "Alpaca Kisses," and was anticipating a taste similar to a personal favorite, Fat Head's "Bumbleberry," but found it a bit too bitter; in general, I think today's American microbreweries go overboard with the sour and bitter notes: if it's a fruit-flavored beer, let some of the fruit's sweetness in there, too! I was originally skeptical of the massive growlers in which most of their take-out beers are sold, but actually, they are rather endearing and encourage sharing. All in all, a great local microbrewery. I hope to try the food sometime soon, as well. read more
My first trip to Swiftwater was with a group I'd recently joined for their holiday get together. I went early and had dinner - I had their grilled cheese and a cup of their seasonal soup, along with one of their meatier brews that were on offer. I also tried the Partyka Farms Salted Pumpkin Seeds and Candied Almonds. It was all very good. The seeds and nuts were served in one of the rounded, footed beer glasses. Ordering is at the bar then they give you a number ticket on a stand and will deliver to you when your order is ready. Nothing fancy and no real acoustics - it gets loud. The night of the party was Trivia night so it got pretty noisy. As our group started to trickle in we got one of the large booths and played musical chairs as people came and went for drinks, food, and such. Additional smatterings of food were ordered. When one of my friends arrived he made a trip to the bar and got a pair of bottles of cider for us - also very good. I went back before the January meeting last week and did a repeat of the Grilled Cheese. The soup du jour was a meaty/chunky veg beef stew that they did allow me to pair a cup with for $1 more than the standard sides on offer. A glass of Barrel Aged Old Ale 10.2% ABV Aged in Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels to go with it and I was enjoying my drink and meal immensely. It's definitely more fun to dine with friends than alone but the food and beverage offerings here and generally open atmosphere don't make you feel all alone. Enjoy. read more
7 years ago
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More info about Swiftwater Brewery
378 Mount Hope Ave
Rochester, NY 14620
South Wedge
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(585) 530-3471
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http://www.swiftwaterbrewing.com
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