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New York City is a mecca for craft breweries. The Big Apple produces some of the most refreshing and full-flavored brewskies found in the nation.
If you’ve never traveled to the east coast before, tours from New York to Canada are a fun way to explore the highlights of these two countries. If you are a New York habitué or coming for incredible New York Fashion Week, a happy hour with refreshing beers is always a good idea. In your free time, you can check out the city’s thriving beer scene.
For delicious in-house beers served up in a friendly environment, here are the best breweries in New York City – simply the best way to relax after an adventure in NYC.
1. Other Half Brewing Company
The Other Half Brewing Company is one of the most popular New York City breweries. Their selection of beer is large and diverse. There’s something for every pallet and preference, from sours to cider and ale to porter. You can also order cans and bottles to go.
The tasting room has a rustic industrial feel, with a great unassuming atmosphere. The vibe is lively and draws quite the crowd on weekends. There are usually about 20 rotating beers on tap.
2. Brooklyn Brewery
Brooklyn Brewery is a microbrewery that offers a full range of delicious beer. Whether you’re into strong, mild, sweet, or sour beer – they’ve got it all. Visit their lively tasting room and enjoy a flight of beers or a few glasses straight from the tap.
They also offer tours that provide an inside look into the creation of their brews. Free tours are offered every Saturday and Sunday. They run every half hour from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
From Friday to Sunday, some of the best food trucks in NYC set up shop right outside their doors. Guests are also invited to bring in any other outside food they’d like – just no outside drinks.
With good food, great beer, and free tours, what’s not to love about this hip NYC brewery?
If you like beer and pizza, check our this tour: Brooklyn: 3-Hour Private Pizza and Brewery Walking Tour
3. Big aLICe Brewing Co.
Big aLICe Brewery is a hip small-batch brewery in Queens. They specialize in bold and complex flavor combinations, with lots of variety in their tap list.
They produce classic beer as well as many creative and experimental beer options. Jalapeno Rye and Strawberry Guava Sour are a few of their delicious past creations. They’re always mixing things up and coming up with new tasty tap options.
The tasting room has a great social atmosphere. They even have big-screen TVs that show all the popular sports games.
They don’t sell food, but guests are welcome to bring in any outside snacks or meals they wish.
4. Threes Brewing
Threes Brewing is a Brooklyn-based brewery that makes great-tasting lagers, hop-forward ales, and mixed culture beers.
The inside taproom is small and intimate. In contrast, the outdoor backyard area is spacious and perfect for larger groups. During the colder months, heat lamps are set up that help keep the area warm.
Food is offered at the brewery from local pop-ups eateries. They make sure that the vendors include options for vegetarians too.
5. Alewife Taproom
Alewife Taproom is a spacious two-level pub in Long Island City. They offer more than two dozen beers on tap, both imported and their local brews.
For a fun social experience, this is one of the best breweries in NYC. You can shoot some pool, play pinball, or have a game of darts. Looking for things to do in NYC on a rainy day, check out their weekly events, like trivia and bingo paired with a local craft beer.
In the backyard, they have picnic tables and inside you can relax on the large leather sofas. There are also several large TVs showing all the big sports games.
If you’re hungry, their full menu features classic pub grub. They also offer great Happy Hour specials Monday – Thursday.
6. Fifth Hammer Brewing Company
Fifth Hammer Brewing Company is an Industrial dive-themed bar. They offer a rotating mix of their own 15 craft beers on tap. There’s always something different and new to try out.
For food, they host local food vendors. Including popups inside the taproom and food trucks parked outside. They also allow food from elsewhere to be brought in.
Their events calendar keeps things interesting. From live music to beer pairings, the taproom always has something fun scheduled.
The brewery has a super relaxed vibe. There are plenty of board games for guests to play and long communal tables to relax at. If you’re looking for family-friendly breweries in New York City, kids are welcome, and so are dogs!
7. Gun Hill Brewing Company
Gun Hill Brewery is a small New York microbrewery in the Bronx. Their taproom is housed in a spacious new-aged warehouse that opens up to the outside during the warmer months.
They pride themselves on their handcraft approach to beer making; using fresh and local ingredients. You’ll usually find at least 12 beers on tap, with great variety. From American Pilsner to decadent stout flavors, like peanut butter toffee.
They often host events, so make sure to keep an eye on their events calendar before you visit. For food, they offer simple snacks, like chips, warm pretzels, and empanadas. Pop-up food trucks occasionally set up shop outside.
They also have a nice selection of board games you can play while you drink.
8. Rockaway Brewing Co.
Rockaway Brewing Co. is a hip and funky brewery in Long Island City, Queens. Their simple, no-frills taproom is very laid back and welcoming. It has a local New York vibe and is a nice low-key spot to chill at and enjoy some delicious homebrewed beer.
This is also one of the most affordable New York breweries. They offer 4, 8, and 16 ounce pours as well as flights, cans, and growlers. Their on-tap beer rotates, so there’s always something new to try.
Their weekly calendar includes events like game night, bingo, open mic, and BBQ brunches. Food trucks and pop-up eateries also make a weekly appearance.
To tour this brewery and two other nearby breweries, book a brewing in Queen’s walking tour.
9. Grimm Artisanal Ales
Grimm Artisanal Ales is a trendy, hipster brewery in Brooklyn.
Their spacious taproom is quite unique. The walls are lined with big windows that allow for lots of natural light and the walls are beautifully ornamented with tropical plants. The taproom also looks directly into the beer production area.
At least 10 draft beer lines are on tap for guests to enjoy; with an ever-rotating range of creative and classic flavors. If you’re a fan of sours, you’ll find a great selection. New York State wines and ciders and locally-made sodas are also available.
Samesa is the food company that supplies guests of the brewery with tasty and quick middle-eastern cuisine and classic pub grub.
If you want to explore more of Brooklyn’s breweries, book the Underground Brooklyn Brew Tour with a local guide.
10. The Bronx Brewery
The Bronx Brewery is a great hidden gem in the Bronx. This local brewery has a very homely feel, with great vibes all around.
Their craft beer is smooth and easy to drink. The flavors are always changing. They offer great weekly specials, like USD $5.00 pints and pizza deals.
From fall to spring, the brewery opens up their backyard area. This is a great social space to chill out and mingle with your fellow beer drinkers. On summer weekends, live music, rotating food trucks and other fun events are scheduled in the backyard.
Their in-house pizza is supplied by New York’s own, Table 87. Small snacks like warm pretzels, popcorn, and chips are also available.
11. Kings County Brewers Collective
Kings County Brewery is an industrial-style brewery with a comfortable and friendly vibe.
They offer a nice selection of rotating beer on tap. Most have entertaining and unique names, like “This Is Your Brain on Hops” and “Steampunk Puppy Pirates In The Sky.”
The taproom is fairly spacious, with communal tables as well as a bar area. The brewery can get a little crowded on the weekends, but this just speaks to how good their beer is.
Food trucks are set up on weekends and outside food is also allowed in. The brewery is kid-friendly and they have lots of games to entertain guests of all ages.
12. Coney Island Brewing Company
Coney Island Brewing Company is a small and friendly brewery on exciting Coney Island, New York. Visiting the island is one of the non-touristy things to do in New York, so even better to pair it with a local brew.
The brewery has a great atmosphere, with indoor and outdoor seating. The outside patio area with picnic tables is great for groups. The inside bar area is perfect for days when the weather turns a bit chilly.
Their brewery’s creative lineup of craft beers on tap is refreshing and ever-changing, the perfect match for all the great things to do at Coney Island.
They offer a nice selection of games, including corn hole, connect four, Jenga, and board games. Free short tours of the brewery are also offered a few times a day. This is a fun way for guests to go behind the scenes and learn the creative process of beer making.
Below there are more three NYC beer experiences you can have:
Do you want to stay close to the best breweries in NYC?
Here are a few suggestions to where to stay in the 3 boroughs of New York City that are famous for its brewers.
Hotels close to the breweries in the Brooklyn:
Accommodation close to the breweries in the Queens/Long Island:
Hotels close to the breweries in the Bronx:
Final thought on the best breweries NYC offers
NYC breweries provide the ultimate fun and social experience. They invite guests to relax, mingle amongst the locals, and enjoy a few casual drinks. They also offer a great entertaining atmosphere all around, with most having the added perk of food options, events, and games.
Beer drinker or not, these breweries have enough creative and flavorful options to satisfy everyone’s pallet.
An added bonus is that you’re guaranteed to leave in good spirits to continue your travel adventure in the Big Apple or a trip to the Adirondack Mountains (new yorkers’ fave green getaway).
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