Who We Are
Our Story
Ten years of brewing, two taprooms, and one unwavering belief: great beer should feel like home.
How It Started
A Garage, Two Friends,
and Too Much Free Time
Rockney Roberts and Kevin Williams first met at a hockey rink in Cicero — one was a young player, the other drove the zamboni. Years later they became college roommates, spent their free time traveling the East Coast discovering great beer, and came home to Syracuse with one idea: brew something worth coming back for.
They started in a garage on the North Side, brewing on weekends and sharing kegs at neighborhood cookouts. Word spread fast. On Black Friday 2015, Willow Rock opened its doors with 8 taps and a food menu on a napkin. The city showed up.
Ten years in, two locations, 15+ taps, and the same two people who started it. The garage is now where we store old brew logs and argue about hop varieties.
Order OnlineWhat We Stand For
Our Values
We're a neighborhood spot, not a destination. Every decision we make asks: does this serve the people who live here?
We source malt from CNY farms, use New York State hops wherever possible, and partner with local food producers.
No gimmicks. We brew beer we'd want to drink ourselves — balanced, flavorful, and true to style.
Both locations are accessible, family-friendly, and staffed by people who genuinely care. Beer snobbery is actively discouraged.
We compost our grain, recycle our water, run on renewable energy at both locations, and offset our carbon footprint annually.
From free brewery tours to our monthly Brewer's Hour, we love sharing what we know and helping people love beer more.
Ten Years In
How We Got Here
Rockney and Kevin start homebrewing in a garage in Syracuse's North Side. First batch: a Pale Ale that people just wouldn't stop asking about. Willow Rock opens on Black Friday with 8 taps.
Word spreads. The taproom packs out every weekend. Expanded to 16 taps within 6 months. First food menu written on a napkin becomes a real kitchen.
Demand from the suburbs made the decision easy. The Cicero taproom opens with a larger beer garden, full kitchen, and family-friendly layout.
Our dark stout wins Gold at the New York Craft Beer Awards. A frame goes up behind the bar.
Both locations reopen with outdoor expansions. The community's support through takeaway crowlers and gift cards kept us going. We don't forget that.
We acquire 12 bourbon barrels and launch our first barrel aging program. The first release sells out in 4 hours.
15+ taps, two thriving locations, and the same two people who started it all in a garage on the North Side.
The People Behind the Pours
Meet the Team
Started homebrewing in college, came home to Syracuse with a recipe book and a vision. Responsible for every beer you've fallen in love with here.
The reason the lights stay on, the staff shows up, and both locations actually work. The quiet engine behind everything Willow Rock is.
Beertender Extraordinaire, Story Spinner and Drum Banger
Recognition
A Few Honors
We're Proud Of
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