Addison Aloian Addison Aloian | December 2, 2020 | Food & Drink,
Ah, beer – some might call it the joy of life. In New York, there are bars and clubs around every corner, each of them offering a diverse selection of IPAs, sours, pilsners, stouts and lagers.
True beer connoisseurs are the choosiest, and NYC might be the choosiest city in the States. For certified ciders and killer kolsch, real beer fans go straight to the breweries. That's where one can take their time and taste several beers one by one, taking in all of the flavors, then critiquing each drink.
The Big Apple is blessed with a hoarde of local brewers. Brooklyn alone has 35 or more. Where should you start your adventure? With this list of the eight best breweries in Brooklyn. You truly can't go wrong with any of them, and not only will it get you tipsy, it'll taste deicious.
See also: 8 Made-in-NY Wines & Spirits That Make the Perfect Gift
Randolph Beer
82 Prospect St.; 104 S 4th St. | Website
With two locations in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan, Randolph Beer has built a legion of fans in the Empire State. At their DUMBO location, they have a lovely rooftop with a gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline, while their Williamsburg location provides indoor and outdoor seating for every time of day. Both breweries provide a top-notch drink and experience, but it's best to make a reservation online before heading out.
Sixpoint Brewery
40 Van Dyke St. | Website
Nestled into Red Hook is Sixpoint, a brewery known for their “mad science” approach to crafting signature brews. Considered one of the first craft beer breweries in Brooklyn, Sixpoint serves many varieties including year-round IPAs and limited release lagers. From tangy to hazy, sour to "hootie," there's always something new to try.
Brooklyn Brewery
79 N 11th St. | Website
Once a powerhouse of American beer production, Brooklyn Brewery puts the borough on its back, aiming to return the region to its former beer glory. Serving year-round, non-alcoholic, seasonal and limited runs, everyone from your mom to your dorm mate to your absitinent friend can get something good. From their original Brooklyn Lager to their seasonal Post Road Pumpkin Ale, each flavor sounds better than the next.
Other Half Brewing
195 Centre St.| Website
Opening in 2014, the founders of Other Half Brewing wanted to create delicious beers from a company they'd want to be a part of. This place makes the beers and serves 'em up cold, taking pride in the communities that local breweries build. Imaginative folk, these brews come with funky names, such as their “Small Laced in Space” IPA and their “Bubble Wrap” Imperial Stout.
See also: Mix It Up: 10 Great Instagram Pages for At-Home Cocktails
Folksbier Brauerei
101 Luquer St. | Website
Folksbier combines old-world brewing with new-world ingredients, influences and flavors. The result? Some of the tastiest beer in the city. They opened their tasting room in 2017, where one can order beer on tap, beer to-go and food in an upscale space. Reservations can be made online.
Five Boroughs Brewing Co.
215 47th St. | Website
Five Boroughs emphasizes that “beer is for everyone” and aims to bring all of New York together using influences from all five boroughs in their beer. Whether you’ve lived on the outer skirts of Staten Island your whole life or you moved to Manhattan at age eighteen, Five Boroughs welcomes every type of New Yorker, serving year-round Bohemian Pilsners, Gridlock Hazy IPAs and Hoppy Lagers.
Grimm Artisanal Ales
990 Metropolitan Ave. | Website
Grimm Artisanal Ales is anything but. The creators experimented with fermentation for ten years before officially founding the company in 2013. Grimm specializes in concise, elegant ales that seek to evoke the spirit of the American artisanal beer revolution. They serve a wide variety of beers at the brewery, such as their Body Mechanic American pale ale and their Nonsense World double IPA. They also ship and deliver.
Threes Brewing
333 Douglass St.; 113 Franklin St. | Website
The goal of Threes Brewing is to get beer to you and everyone you know both easily and directly. That means you can order at the brewery or have their brews shipped to your house. With two locations in Brooklyn, they make it pretty easy. Specializing in Hoppy Ales, Lagers and Mixed Culture drinks, you’ll want to bring your whole gang and taste all they have to offer.
Photography by: Bloomberg