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(Courtesy Genesee Brewery)
On Friday, December 6, thousands of people will descend upon Rochester, New York to celebrate an annual tradition, the lighting of the Genesee Keg Tree, an enormous Christmas tree made out of hundreds of beer kegs.
Not surprisingly the lighting of the nation’s only beer keg Christmas tree, has become an annual event that draws beer and holiday celebrants from all over the region.
And it’s in a spectacular setting!
The Genesee Keg Tree stands on the bank of the High Falls gorge overlooking the largest urban waterfall in the US.
For six years running Genesee Brewing has built this now legendary monument to both beer and Christmas. And every year the brewery keeps increasing the size of the holiday keg tree, adding more layers and lights to the unusual spectacle.
Truly a labor of beer love, it takes nearly a dozen Genesee Brewery workers to build the famous Genesee Keg Tree each December. And this year it stands at 27ft and consists of 520 beer kegs, up from the 430 used in 2017.
Now with 12 layers of kegs, this one-of-a-kind tree is decorated with 30,000 Christmas lights and features a huge LED light board, a rotating neon Genesee sign as its “star,” and a choreographed light show set to holiday music.
(Keg tree 2015 – Genesee Brewery)
Its lighting on Friday, at 6pm sharp, kicks off the holiday season and will be orchestrated by the whole Genesee Brewery crew…
“In Rochester, we’ve got Park Ave, Lilacs, garbage plates and a Keg Tree,” said Janine Schoos, brand director for Genesee….
“Lighting the tree attracts thousands from in and around this great city each year to celebrate the holidays the only way we know how: together, outside, holding a beer around a three-story keg tree covered in thousands of flashing lights. We’re happy to keep this unique tradition going and offer more holiday fun for our fans and friends this year.”
And while you’re in Rochester for the keg tree lighting, (ideally with a 6% ABV Cream Ale and peppermint stick holiday beer in hand), be sure to check out Genesee’s Brew House which celebrates the brewery’s rich history. Genesee is after all, one of the largest and oldest continually operating breweries in America.
Located in a century-old packaging center, the Genesee Brew House has been transformed into a 9,200 square-foot beer destination, complete with interactive exhibits, multimedia content, gift shop, pilot brewery and pub-style restaurant.
