There’s no shortage of places to snag a cold brew in the City; better still, beer lovers can find ways to skip traditional bars and go sip straight from the source. A number of NYC breweries serve house-made beer on-site, ensuring its freshness and full flavor. You can often take a spin through the facilities to see the source of the suds before settling in at the taproom for a taste. Read on for our guide to what’s brewing in the five boroughs.
Manhattan
Birreria
On tap: Admittedly, “brewery” takes on a looser definition in Manhattan than in the rest of the City, where sprawling brewing equipment is generally easier to accommodate. However, Eataly’s rooftop brewpub Birreria steps up to the plate. Partnering with Dogfish Head and Baladin breweries, they’ve set up a brewing apparatus to produce three house-made cask ales. Get to know Rosé Perez, a golden ale; Super Dope, a German-style koslch; and Launch Over It, an imperial IPA.
Paulaner
On tap: Good for large groups, this downtown spot earns its brewpub label with long, beer hall tables, an assortment of exposed stainless steel tanks and pipes and, most important, the house-brewed beer that comes from them. Munich beer giant Paulaner provides the recipes for the five house beers on draft, including 265 Pilsner, Hefeweizen and the amber Smokey Bowery
Brooklyn
Brooklyn Brewery
On tap: Brooklyn Lager, the flagship beer of this brewhouse, is a bar staple all across NYC—and beyond. Head over to the Williamsburg brewery to try some lesser-known brews like the Brooklyn Sorachi Ace Saison or the orange-peel-infused Naranjito Pale Ale. The Brooklyn taproom is currently the only place to get the latter pour in the five boroughs.
Coney Island Brewing Company
On tap: Hit this beachside brewery to take a free tour and taste some of the eight house brews on the rotating menu. A few of the beers they produce riff on the theme-park neighborhood, with names like Cotton Candy Kolsch and Trapp’d on the Cyclone Tripel. In the taproom, the brewery-exclusive Gallivanting Wit and the signature Mermaid Pilsner will get you Mermaid Parade ready.
Other Half Brewing
On tap: At this IPA-focused microbrewery, “double dry hopped” is a recurring description on the taproom menu. It means two rounds of dry hops steep in the beer as it brews, seriously amplifying hoppy flavor and aroma. Look for the fruity All Citra Everything or oat-infused Dream in Green, both in the DDH category and among the rotating beers on tap. Current drafts on the lighter side include the Crystal Waves Pilsner and Superfun! Pale Ale.
Threes Brewing
On tap: This versatile venue includes a coffeeshop, kitchen and event space, but the main attractions are, of course, the brewery and bar. At the bar, you’ll find 24 tap lines with a selection of beers from Threes Brewing and a few other brewers. The names of the Threes quaffs sometimes underplay the beers’ bold flavors: Here Ya Go Pale Ale contains pine and citrus notes, and I Hate Myself IPA is made with jackfruit and melon rind.
Bronx
Bronx Brewery
On tap: Since 2011, this brewhouse has operated under the motto “Do one thing. Do it right.” That thing is pale ale, and you can try various examples of the style in the on-site taproom. Look for the Slow Your Roll IPA and the Bronx Banner Golden Ale on tap year-round. You can also sample from a rotation of seasonal and limited beers that expand the pale ale repertoire, including the Das Bronx Sour and Smoked Porter.
Chelsea Craft Brewing Company
On tap: Formerly Manhattan’s largest microbrewery, Chelsea Brewing made its move from Chelsea Piers to the Bronx in 2015. At the new location, they’re serving up 11 beers and a cider (currently Doc’s Draft Sour Cherry Hard Apple Cider). Sip the signature Checker Cab Blonde Ale or, for something on the darker side, the Black Hole XXX Stout, a gold medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival.
Gun Hill Brewing Company
On tap: Stouts are the stars of the show at the Bronx’s oldest existing microbrewery. See if the complex Void of Light is as dark in color as its name suggests. Then sample the unique flavors of the Guava Gold Fruit Session Ale, Hessian in Paradise Key Lime Sour and Motueka Soft Serve, a session IPA brewed with oats and lactose for creaminess.
Queens
LIC Beer Project
On tap: Echoing the industrial roots of its neighborhood, the LIC Beer Project converted a warehouse space into an inviting, rustic brewery and taproom. They specialize in Belgian-style and mixed-fermentation brews; you’ll find an array of saisons, kolsches and IPAs on tap. Sample the latest release, Pile of Crowns, an aromatic double IPA on draft now.
Singlecut Beersmiths
On tap: Queens’ first microbrewery (since Prohibition) is a go-to for craft brews in the area. There’s an extensive draft list to explore here, and some house-canned beers to try, too. The 19-33 Pilsner, named for the brewery’s address, is a good opener before venturing on to the brawny Heavy Boots of Lead Imperial Stout (11 percent ABV) or the tart, herbal Kim Hibiscus Sour Lager.
Transmitter Brewing
On tap: With just two production barrels, this nanobrewery cranks out an impressive variety of beers, focusing on farmhouse ales and barrel-aged sours. Visit their taproom to sample stouts, sours and saisons, plus the newly released W4 Dry Hopped Gose, brewed with salt and coriander. Besides savoring the flavors, take a moment to admire the award-winning typography on the bottles’ labels.
Staten Island
Flagship Brewing Company
On tap: Hit up this brewpub for post-ferry-ride refreshment. A rotation of eight house beers are ready to sample in the taproom. For a taste of the season, go for the crisp Pasttime Summer Ale, or start Oktoberfest early with a pint of Roggenfest, a malty hybrid of German roggenbier (rye beer) and märzenbier (amber lager).