One of Rochester’s best-known craft beer brands just found a new home.
Rohrbach Brewing Company has purchased the Young Lion brand, bringing the modern craft label under the ownership of the region’s oldest craft brewery.
The acquisition puts Young Lion’s beers in the hands of a company with more than three decades of brewing experience. Rohrbach was founded in 1991 and operates out of Rochester.
Young Lion launched in 2017 and quickly built a following for approachable, high-quality beer. The brand continued to grow before it was sold in 2024.
Rohrbach officials said continuity played a major role in the deal. Head Brewer Dan McCumiskey previously served as head brewer at Young Lion, giving him direct experience with the recipes and brewing approach behind the brand.
Jen Newman, co-founder of Young Lion Brewing, said the transition carries personal meaning. She said Rohrbach owner John Urlaub mentored her from the brand’s early days through its sale in 2024.
“This is a perfect fit,” Newman said in the release. She added that the brand will be respected and allowed to grow under Rohrbach’s stewardship.
Urlaub said both companies share the same philosophy about people and quality. He said protecting Young Lion’s standards while giving the brand room to thrive is a priority.
Consumers can expect Young Lion beers to continue using the same recipes and standards. Rohrbach said the brand will now benefit from added scale, stability, and production resources.
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