Strangebird Taps into Rochester’s Longest-Running Arts Festival with Limited-Run Clothesline State of Mind Beer Collaboration

Rochester’s vibrant cultural calendar always shines brightest when local institutions come together to celebrate community, creativity, and craftsmanship. Blending fine arts with exceptional culinary artistry creates unforgettable experiences for festivalgoers who look forward to these annual regional traditions all year long. Bringing together talented creators from diverse backgrounds truly enriches the local spirit across upstate New York.

For the historic 69th annual M&T Bank Clothesline Art & Fine Craft Festival at the Memorial Art Gallery, local favorite Strangebird has crafted something truly extraordinary. By teaming up with event organizers, the brewery has developed a limited-edition sour ale designed specifically to honor this landmark weekend of visual arts and live entertainment.

Featuring unique continental ingredients like paw paw fruit and pink peppercorn, this celebratory release bridges the gap between innovative brewing and community connection. Here is the official press release detailing the exclusive launch of Clothesline State of Mind.

Read on for the official press release announcing Strangebird’s special limited-edition sour ale for the 2026 Memorial Art Gallery Clothesline Art & Fine Craft Festival.

Rochester, NY, August 7, 2026— Rochester’s Strangebird is tapping into one of the region’s signature arts events with Clothesline State of Mind, a limited-edition sour ale brewed exclusively for the 2026 M&T Bank Clothesline Art & Fine Craft Festival held at the Memorial Art Gallery.

Available during the two-day festival on Saturday, August 29, and Sunday, August 30, “Clothesline State of Mind” is a 4.5% ABV sour ale with paw paw fruit and pink peppercorn. Featuring Pilsen, Heidelberg, and Carapils, the beer delivers a tropical fruit-forward profile balanced by a zesty, woody snap on the finish. The beer celebrates the creativity of the arts community and the craft brewing community in Rochester alike, offering festivalgoers a taste of Strangebird’s unique flavor profiles.

“When our friends at MAG approached us about brewing a beer to celebrate the M&T Bank Clothesline Art & Fine Craft Festival, it was an absolute no-brainer. It was an incredible opportunity to team up with a pillar of our community and showcase our beer at one of the longest-running arts festivals in the country. It’s truly a privilege,” said Mike Singer of Strangebird. “We hope everyone enjoys what we created together. This beer brings together the Americas through ingredients from throughout the continents—a little north, a little central, a little south, all working in harmony. With any luck, it’ll help bring our community together, too.”

Now in its 69th year, the M&T Bank Clothesline Art & Fine Craft Festival held on the grounds of the Memorial Art Gallery is one of the longest continuously running art festivals on the East Coast, drawing thousands of visitors each year. The festival features nearly 400 artists from around the region, live musical entertainment, food trucks and vendors, hands-on family activities, and shopping. Festivalgoers will find Clothesline State of Mind available in cans at multiple indoor and outdoor Brown Hound locations throughout the festival grounds while supplies last.

More information about the M&T Bank Clothesline Art & Fine Craft Festival can be found at https://mag.rochester.edu/clothesline/.

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