Brooklyn’s beer scene has evolved a lot in recent years, with many local breweries reaching neighborhood gem status.
Whether you’re catching up after work, celebrating a big moment, or just enjoying a sunny afternoon, there’s something special about sharing a drink with friends—in this case, local craft beers.
For me, it’s not just about what’s in the glass—it’s about the experience: tasting new flavors, supporting small businesses, and making memories wherever you go with the people you love.
Brooklyn is home to some of the most creative, community-driven breweries in the country—and after over a decade of living in NYC and Hoboken, I’ve managed to visit 25+ NYC breweries and counting.
I put together this list of 10 Brooklyn breweries that not only serve great beer, but also even host cool events for the community and support other small businesses along the way.
Whether you’re into hazy IPAs, crisp lagers, or fruit-forward sours, there’s something for every kind of beer drinker here.
Plus, when you scroll down you’ll see I’ve also mapped out a few DIY Brooklyn brewery crawl routes—perfect if you’re short on time but want to hit multiple spots in one day.
10 Brooklyn Breweries to Try:
Grimm Artisanal Ales
East Williamsburg
Created by Joe and Lauren Grimm, Grimm Artisanal Ales started out as a nomadic brewery before opening their flagship location in 2018—quite literally around the corner from where I used to live in East Williamsburg, so you can say I’m a fan.
You can tell that the founders are artists because of the bright and airy space they created as well as the details that go into designing their beer can labels.
A few years ago they also built a second bar on the rooftop and brought in Lala’s Apizza to serve delicious wood-fired pies. Grimm beers are complex in flavor and lean more hearty.
Talea Beer Co.
Williamsburg
One thing about me is I love to support a female-founded local business and Talea Beer Co. is just that.
Founders LeAnn and Tara were on a mission to leave their corporate careers and follow their passion to create a new brand of craft beer that would stand out from the crowd.
They opened their Brooklyn taproom in 2021 and have since opened four more taprooms throughout the five boroughs, all of which are colorful and fun.
Talea beers are high quality with fruit-forward flavors, as seen with beers like Razzle and Prickly Pineapple Crush.
Other NYC locations: Bryant Park, West Village, Cobble Hill, Penn District
Niteglow Beer Company
Bushwick
I ventured to Niteglow Beer Company on a solo mission to check it out before a work event last month and I was blown away by what I found.
I introduced myself to Johnny, one of the owners at Niteglow, who shared that the brewery is known for its “milk pours.” Based on the name alone I was ready to politely decline.
But it turns out that mlíko (Czech for milk) beers are a unique texture poured through Lukr taps to create a thick foam.
Now, this may trigger bad memories for anyone who attended house parties in college. Luckily for me, it turned out to be one of the smoothest and most incredible beers I’ve ever tried.
It’s also worth noting that most of their beers are 4% or under in ABV.
This space also features their coffee shop counterpart called Dayglow and if you’re lucky you may even spot Boxy, the resident brewery cat.
Threes Brewing
Gowanus
Let me just start by saying the vibes at Threes Brewing on a beautiful, sunny day are RIGHT.
We finally had a chance to visit this spot IRL (I’ve purchased cans of Logical Conclusion with its bright colors and bold thumbs up logo from the grocery store many times) and it did not disappoint.
With seating along the bar and at tables in front, plus an expansive backyard, you should be able to plop down somewhere with no problem even on a busy weekend.
In addition to serving beer, they also have food and other drink options at their Gowanus location, which opened in 2014.
Other NYC location: Greenpoint
The Test Brewery
Williamsburg
One of the newest additions to the Brooklyn beer scene is The Test Brewery on Metropolitan Avenue (which I later remembered is the former location of Extra Fancy).
The website calls The Test Brewery a test kitchen brewing company and “a think-tank of sorts,” sharing that they’ve set out to create a home for good ideas, suggesting that they welcome guest brewers and people interested in experimenting with new beers.
Founder Ben Clayton told Greenpointers.com that his goal for the space is to create a community-focused space where people can enjoy great beers.
I think that the chic and minimal interior paired with the space’s accompanying backyard will definitely make this a hot spot for Brooklynites and beer lovers this summer.
Kings County Brewers Collective
Bushwick
Even after living in East Williamsburg for several years, I never made it to Kings County Brewers Collective until recently and I am so glad I finally visited!
This space is a reflection of the neighborhood itself with industrial-style decor and walls covered in graffiti, much like the streets outside.
The collective formed when a group of Brooklyn-based brewers decided to come together to create a new brand and taproom in Bushwick, which opened its doors in 2016.
You can bring food into this brewery and even buy beer there.
See if you can spot the “official unofficial” KCBC mascot, Sally the Octopus on the label of their Danger Precedent Hazy IPA, one of many comic book-inspired label designs.
Finback Brewery
Gowanus
Basil and Kevin are the founders of Finback Brewery, which the website shares is dedicated to creative expression in beer, spirits and coffee.
They opened their first location in Glendale, Queens in 2014 with two more locations including this one in Gowanus following.
The Gowanus and Long Island City locations feature Asian pub snacks like dumplings and wontons and they also occasionally have other food vendors pop up on site.
Strong Rope is also on the same block, if you’re looking to hit two spots in one day.
Other NYC locations: Long Island City, Glendale
Wild East Brewing Company
Gowanus
The modern and industrial Wild East Brewing Company taproom in Gowanus is a great place to visit on a weekend or after work.
What kind of beers can you expect here? They mix traditional European brewing techniques with American innovations to produce a range of brews including IPA’s, sours, farmhouse-style ales and more.
In addition to beer, they also serve wine, cider and N/A drinks here so you can still gather with your friends who are not big on beer.
You can bring in outside food when there are no food vendor pop ups on site and you can find the most up to date schedules on their Instagram stories.
Did I mention there are not one but TWO brewery cats here named Patience and Fortitude?? I didn’t catch them on my last visit, but keep your eyes peeled for them.
Strong Rope Brewery
Gowanus
Happy 10 year anniversary to Strong Rope Brewery, which got its start in New York back in 2015!
Strong Rope is owned by husband and wife duo Jason and Christina and this family-run business loves using local ingredients to brew beers.
Their Gowanus location features several beers on tap and has a variety of barstool, table and couch seating making it feel homey and intimate. Finback is also on the same block, if you’re looking to hit two spots in one day.
I will add that their Red Hook flagship location boasts incredible views of New York Harbor and is definitely on my list to visit—it just requires some planning to get to. It’s at the very edge of Red Hook (about a half hour walk from the Smith Street F/G trains) so you’re probably better off Ubering from the train or directly there.
Other NYC locations: Red Hook
Brooklyn Brewery
Williamsburg
Brooklyn Brewery is a classic for a reason—from their reliable classics like the Brooklyn Lager or the Brooklyn Summer Ale to seasonal favorites and newer additions like N/A beers, there really is something for everyone.
When I first moved to Williamsburg back in 2016, this was the only actual brewery I was even aware of in the area.
The current taproom is still open, however brewery tours are currently paused as they’re planning to move to a brand new location at 1 Wythe Avenue in late 2025 after almost three decades on N 11th street.
Since I couldn’t find any photos from the old location for this post, (although I’ve visited many times over the years) I think this means I’ll have to plan to check out the new location when it’s up and running later this year.
DIY Brooklyn brewery crawl routes:
Visiting the city and only have a few days to explore?
Here are a few brewery crawl routes I put together so you can hit a variety of breweries in one day traveling solely by New York City subway routes!
These routes also include some walking to give yourself time to digest.
I’d also recommend planning to bring or order lunch along the way and order some half pours along the way to pace yourself, drink responsibly, etc.
I included a few I haven’t been to yet that happen to fall on the subway lines so if you see some new names below, that’s why.
Off the R train:
- Five Boroughs Brewing Co. (Sunset Park)
- Threes Brewing (Gowanus)
- Wild East Brewing Company (Gowanus)
- Finback Brewing (Gowanus)
- Strong Rope Brewing (Gowanus)
- Sound + Fury Brewery + Kitchen (Downtown Brooklyn)
If you’re coming from Manhattan, head to Sunset Park on the R first to hit up Five Boroughs off of the 45th Street stop and plan to make your way back north. The middle 4 breweries are all within a few blocks of each other in Gowanus off of the Union Street stop. You can end off at Sound + Fury in Downtown Brooklyn off the Jay Street-MetroTech stop.
Off the L train:
- Kings County Brewers Collective (Bushwick)
- Niteglow Beer Company (Bushwick)
- Grimm Artisanal Ales (East Williamsburg)
- 18th Ward Brewing (East Williamsburg)
- Round Table Brewery (Williamsburg)
- The Test Brewery (Williamsburg)
If you’re coming from Manhattan, head to Bushwick first to the Jefferson Street L train stop and make your way back west. From there it’s only a 10 minute walk to Niteglow Brewery. Then hop on the L again and get off at Grand Street for Grimm and from there it’s about a 13 minute walk to 18th Ward. From there, catch the L train at Graham Avenue one stop to Metropolitan/Lorimer and check out Round Table Brewery and The Test Brewery.
Off the G train:
- Threes Brewing (Greenpoint)
- Brooklyn Brewery (Williamsburg)
- The Test Brewery (Williamsburg)
- Round Table Brewery (Williamsburg)
- Other Half Brewing Company (Carroll Gardens)
If you’re coming from Manhattan, first get yourself to the G train and head south to the 9th Street stop in Carroll Gardens to check out Other Half. Get back on the G and hop off at the Metropolitan/Lorimer subway stop to check out Round Table Brewery and The Test Brewery. Finally, hop on a Queens-bound G one more time and get off at Nassau avenue to check out Brooklyn Brewery. From there it’s about a 15 minutes walk to Threes Brewing’s Greenpoint location.
More Brooklyn breweries on my list to try:
While I’ve managed to visit many Brooklyn breweries over the 8 years I lived in NYC and 4 years living in Hoboken, there are a few on my list I still haven’t been to yet:
- Sound + Fury Brewery + Kitchen (Downtown Brooklyn)
- Five Boroughs Brewing Co. (Sunset Park)
- Gun Hill Publick House (Greenwood Heights)
- Round Table Brewery Brooklyn (Williamsburg) but I’ve been to their upstate location!
Beer halls and other spots for beer in Brooklyn:
Brooklyn is also home to some incredible beer halls and bars that aren’t technically breweries but are still well worth a visit.
Whether you’re looking for a wide selection of craft brews or a great spot to gather with friends, these spots give a similar vibe.
- Spritzenhaus33 – a spacious, industrial-style beer hall in Greenpoint known for its long communal tables, extensive beer list, and rotating selection of craft brews.
- Radegast Hall + Biergarten – a lively Williamsburg staple offering German and Central European beers, sausages, and live music in a traditional beer hall setting.
- Tørst – a sleek, Scandinavian-inspired bar in Greenpoint specializing in rare and innovative craft beers from around the world, with a focus on Nordic brews.
Also I wanted to shout out Evil Twin Brewery and Bridge and Tunnel Brewery, which are both off the Halsey L train stop but are technically in Queens!
I was totally surprised when I found out—the Queens border runs right along the street where both are located (the light red dotted line) technically putting them in Ridgewood.
And don’t forget to check out my guide to breweries in upstate New York!
yours,
Austen
