In recent years, Brooklyn has become a brand of a cool, handcrafted way-of-life. It’s only fitting that they would have some of the city’s best beer bars.
A general rule of thumb is that the best places are the ones that don’t always announce themselves to you with flashy signage and other obvious markers. Below are five of the most unique bars in the borough to have a great brew.
Brooklyn Public House
The cozy bar at Brooklyn Public House. Photo: Brooklyn Public House
When there’s a show or game at the Barclays Center, the surrounding blocks become mobbed. This just-off-the-beaten-path gastropub avoids the brovasion while remaining within walking distance. A generous and lengthy happy hour makes it a must-stop for weekday pre-show imbibing. Sit at the bar and soak up the saloon-like atmosphere while sipping on a pint of Green Flash Soul Style IPA and munching on half-price appetizers like steak nachos and fish tacos.
247 Dekalb Ave
Northern Bell
It’s easy to feel like you’ve been transported south of the Mason-Dixon line when you enter this cozy wood-paneled bar. Heaping plates of pulled pork, ribs and baked mac and cheese add to the comfort and pair well with the extensive array of taps. Recent offerings of their rotating draft lines include a farmhouse ale from nearby Keg & Lantern brewery and Stillwater’s Superhop IPA.
612 Metropolitan Ave
The Diamond
An inviting table at the Diamond. Photo: The Diamond
Located on a quiet residential street in rapidly gentrifying Greenpoint, this is the kind of bar that makes you never want to leave. A large semi-circle wood bar set next to a wall of exposed brick serves a well-curated and reasonably priced beer list that includes rare drafts from craft breweries like Common Roots and Suarez Family Brewery. The chill vibe makes it a good place to have a long conversation with friends.
43 Franklin Ave
Beer Street
The carefully selected taps at Beer Street. Photo: Beer Street
This tiny spot a busy stretch of Graham Ave combines the intimacy of a wine bar with ten top-notch taps that would please the pickiest hop-head. They only have a few seats so don’t be surprised if it’s packed during peak hours. Come instead on a weekend afternoon to savor a complex brew like Grimm’s Light Year, made just a stroll away on Metropolitan Ave.
413 Graham Ave
Skinny Dennis
If you’re looking for rousing roots music to pair with a gently priced Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, it’s hard to beat Skinny Dennis. This warmly-lit honkey tonk bar feels like it was airdropped into Williamsburg from Nashville and features no-cover live music just about every night of the week. It’s not uncommon for dancing to erupt throughout this expansive space, which is conveniently located next door to art house cinema Nighthawk.
152 Metropolitan Ave
By Christopher Kompanek