When President Obama hosted Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates and Cambridge, Massachusetts Police Sergeant James Crowley, they discussed race relations over beer at The White House. Those at Rochester's Genesee Brewery say they are pleased with the president’s choice in beverage.

"It is an opportunity to enjoy a cold beer and it lightens the mood,” said brewery spokesman Peter Bodenham. “It keeps everybody relaxed and it's just a great opportunity to have any type of conversation.

The folks at Genny say they aren't happy with the brands that were served. Gates had Sam Adams but reportedly originally chose Jamaican brew Red Stripe. Crowley had Blue Moon and the president Bud Light.

Blue Moon is a Coors product and Anheuser-Busch produces Bud Light, but neither company is American-owned.

"The message we wanted to send was Genesee is an American company, it's authentic American beer, it employs great American people in a great American City, Rochester, New York. We want to let him know we're here, we're American and the next time to give us a try," Bodenham explained.

Since taking office in January, the president has been trying to dig this country out of a recession. He pushes the "buy American" line. Those who are regular Genny drinkers believe Obama should have served an American brew at his White House gathering.

"I think it's important to support your local company and if it's not local at least the United States,” said Steve Hackett of Spencerport. “There's enough competition here that we need more jobs and more opportunities for everybody here."

Like Genesee, other American brewers voiced their displeasure with the president’s choices. Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada and Harpoon, known as custom craft brewers, were among the most vocal.

"A lot of the American craft brewers have a lot of beer pride,” said Jeff Conheady of Beers of the World in Brighton. “They know what they do and they're proud of it and they can get territorial sometimes."

Those at Genesee say they hope the president continues to enjoy beer and they'd like him to consider making it a Genny.

"We want him to be aware that we are here, that we are American and the next time when he is having a conversation he chooses an American company like Genesee."

Bodenham says Genesee is considering sending some samples from the Rochester brewery to The White House for the president to enjoy.

Genesee Brewery