New York City – Breweries

New York City is a lot to handle. A bit too much to handle at times. When it is, a brewery can offer just the kind of solace you need. A hoppy, ice-cold, fresh-from-the-tap kind of solace.

Fortunately, New York City is home to a number of knockout breweries. They’re spread out across all five of the city’s boroughs, with some being more tucked away and under the radar than others. That’s why it helps to be in the know when it comes to the New York City beer scene.

So whether you’re a tired tourist or jaded local in need of a break from the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps, let this guide point you in the direction of four of the best breweries in New York City. Cheers!

Threes Brewing

Let’s start things off at Threes Brewing. This brewery is headquartered in Gowanus, an up-and-coming neighborhood in the northwestern part of Brooklyn. They’ve also got satellite bars in Greenpoint and on Governors Island.

Even though Threes Brewing was founded not all that long ago in 2014, they’ve already made some big waves, both in New York City and beyond. How big? Well, for one thing, they received top honors at the first-ever New York State Craft Beer Competition in 2017. They were awarded the prestigious Governor’s Excelsior Cup by none other than Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York.

The beer that won them the competition was their Vilet pilsner. With its clean, herbal flavor, it’s no wonder it took home best in show. You can try it for yourself fresh from the tap at their brewery.

But don’t forget to try some of their other beers too! Other popular Threes brews include SFY, an imperial pale ale; Unreliable Narrator, an IPA; and Wandering Bine, a foudre-fermented saison with hints of green apple skin and mixed berry.

By the way, if you’re someone who likes having some food with your beer, you’re in luck. That’s because Threes Brewing is home to The Meat Hook at Threes, a full-service restaurant run by local butcher shop Meat Hook. The menu changes seasonally and features an assortment of bar food classics, including burgers, wings, and a hot chicken sandwich that’ll knock your socks off.

In need of a quick pick-me-up? Threes Brewing also serves coffee drinks from their next-door neighbor, Ninth Street Espresso.

Brooklyn Brewery

Now we set our sights on Brooklyn Brewery, another brewery that, as you could probably tell, is based in Brooklyn. They’ve been around far longer than Threes Brewing, though, having started in the late ‘80s with the help of the veteran F.X. Matt Brewing Company in Utica, New York.

When Brooklyn Brewery went solo and opened their own brewery in Williamsburg back in 1996, they single-handedly brought brewing back to their namesake borough. The last remaining breweries in Brooklyn shuttered 20 years prior.

Brooklyn Brewery’s original facility, once a matzo factory, is where they’re still making and pouring beers today. The brewery’s tasting room features ample seating, making it the perfect place to relax and mingle with friends as you toss back a couple of beers.

Speaking of beers, there are a few mainstays in the Brooklyn Brewery lineup that you should definitely try if you haven’t already. These include Brooklyn Lager, the American amber lager that started it all, and my personal favorite, Brooklyn Sorachi Ace Saison. This unique saison is brewed using Sorachi Ace hops, which were developed by Sapporo Breweries in the late ‘70s.

Want to learn more about Brooklyn Brewery? Go on the Small Batch Tour. This 45-minute tour starts with a guided tasting of four different beers. That’s followed by a quick history lesson, a step-by-step look at how their beer is made, and a walk around the facility.

After the tour, commemorate your visit to Brooklyn Brewery with a souvenir from The Company Store. They’ve got T-shirts, hats, koozies, and even beer-scented soap!

Finback Brewery

You might be wondering why Finback Brewery’s logo has a whale on it. Well, how else would people know that their beer is “whaley” good?

Whaley awful puns aside, the idea behind Finback Brewery’s name and logo actually came from when a finback whale became stranded on Breezy Point, a beach in Queens, in late 2012. Finback’s founders, Basil Lee and Kevin Stafford, were opening the brewery just a few blocks away and decided to pay tribute.

Finback Brewery features a simple, no-frills tasting room with a single bar and neutral colors on the walls. It’s pretty much the antithesis of their free-spirited approach to brewing, which is “not about this idea of honing in on beers,” according to Lee, but rather “more about creativity, and using the brewery as an outlet for that.”

The resulting beer lineup is ever-changing and full of surprises. You’re just as likely to find a hoppy IPA as you are a milk stout with a hint of toasted coconut or an American sour ale brewed with fresh nectarines. Just don’t expect to find the same beer twice!

There are some Finback beers you should still keep an eye out for, though. BQE is one of those beers. If it’s on tap, get yourself a glass. Named after the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, BQE is an espresso imperial stout made with cocoa nibs from Brooklyn-based chocolate company Mast Brothers and coffee from Native Coffee Roasters in Queens.

Another beer you should jump at the opportunity to try is Red Shift. Brewed with yuzu, a Japanese citrus fruit, and cranberry, this American sour tastes like the holidays, which is exactly what they were going for. It’ll have you feeling jolly no matter what time of year it is.

The Bronx Brewery

The final stop on our list, The Bronx Brewery, brings us to yet another one of New York City’s five boroughs. Can you guess which one it is? Here’s a hint: it isn’t Manhattan or Staten Island. That’s right; it’s The Bronx!

Named in honor of the borough it’s based in, The Bronx Brewery has been around since 2011. They’ve amassed quite a large following since then, thanks to their industrial-chic taproom and solid beer lineup.

In some ways, the taproom at The Bronx Brewery is a microcosm of the South Bronx neighborhood where it’s located. Exposed piping, white walls, and concrete floors serve as a reminder that the building started off as an iron works showroom in the late ‘20s, while murals and music bring the space into this century.

The Bronx Brewery is also home to a 5,000-square-foot outdoor space known as The Backyard. When the weather’s nice, folks flock to this not-so-hidden hidden gem to sip beers and soak up some sun.

The Backyard is open from spring to fall, but summer weekends are, without a doubt, the best time to stop by. That’s when they bring in DJs and food trucks to help turn up the heat. Beer, music, and food; what more can you ask for?

Now for the low-down on The Bronx Brewery’s beers. Like the other breweries on this list, you really can’t go wrong with any of their offerings, but there are a few brews that definitely deserve your taste buds’ attention. These hoppy highlights include their flagship American Pale Ale; No Resolutions, an IPA with plenty of citrus punch; and the boozy Now Youse Can’t Leave, a double IPA with 10.1% ABV.