Beer Bars we Love
James and Connor
In light of the coronavirus, many of these establishments are hurting. Most offer to-go only, and some have delivery options as well as gift cards. Please consider ordering something for delivery, buying a gift card if you can and planning to visit frequently once things are open again.
Every beer drinker has a place that they feel most comfortable. Call it your home-bar advantage, if you will. Besides the good beer, they probably know most of the bartenders and at least recognize some of the patrons. Over the years we have come to love many of the craft beer establishments in Brooklyn, and we want to share the ones we keep going back to with all of you. This isn’t a list of best bars, as that is too technical and subjective a term to really be useful, and this list is not comprehensive. There are many great beer bars in Brooklyn, and of course elsewhere, that won’t appear. We encourage you to keep drinking at those places, and letting us know why they’re great. That said, these are the places that serve great beer--and warm vibes that we can’t get enough of.
Beer Karma is the bar that feels most like a family gathering spot. The bar is small and encourages interaction among customers, the bartenders are unfailingly friendly and proprietor Dan Lamonaca knows just what to recommend to first-time drinkers. The bar features a tight list of eight draft beers as well a large and varied selection of cans and bottles. Be sure to attend the running group every Monday where you will certainly work up a sweat and a thirst, which you can quench with special deals on beer afterward (there is a good chance Dan will order pizza too.) While the focus is on the beer, there are also some wines on offer and you can bring your own food should you need a snack between beers. We recommend heading over this weekend and grabbing a Threes’ Short Fuse Helles Lager before Dan drinks it all.
Someday Bar is a relative newcomer that should absolutely be a staple in your bar-hopping rotation. The space is welcoming, spacious and comfortable, and the large bar and plentiful seating encourage group hangouts. They have a spectacular and ever-rotating tap list but during happy hour you can always get staples like Allagash White and Bell’s Two Hearted on draft for just five bucks (plus happy hour goes until 7 .pm.) In addition to the excellent draft list they have a healthy selection of cans and bottles as well as a full bar for those less beer- oriented. They even make a mean non-alcoholic cocktail for people who aren’t imbibing. If you’re hungry order a terrific burger, chicken sandwich or, on Thursday nights, the ramen special. This is a place that does it all.
We’ve waxed poetic about Bierwax before, and we’ll do it again! The draft list is always great and mostly local plus there is a thoughtful collection of cans and also a few wine options for those who are gluten-free or prefer something that isn’t beer. Even better, they recently received a full liquor license and now have spirits and may eventually serve cocktails. The beer also isn’t the only draw, as they consistently play great tunes via a record player and often have live DJ sets or theme nights (metal, hip hop, etc). Add in a cozy backyard, excellent and attentive staff, and generally good vibes and you’ve got the recipe for one of our favorite bars in Brooklyn.
This is a bonus because we’ve only been one time, but based on that lone visit Beer Street South is going to be a stalwart for years to come. Just a few hundred feet from Bierwax, Beer Street South has a gorgeous and enormous footprint, huge windows and ample seating, and a phenomenal selection of beers. They’ll eventually have a full bar as well and it appears you can bring your own food in. The list skews local and on our recent visit had beers on tap from Threes, Suarez, Equilibrium and more, plus cans from Interboro and Other Half. Go two for one and stop here and Bierwax. You’ll thank us later (unless you’re hungover).
Another on the list that makes its second appearance on this site. Cardiff Giant exclusively serves New York beer and spirits, making it a great place to find the beer from the state’s best brewers. Not only does Cardiff carry the big-hitting city breweries like Other Half, KCBC, and LIC Beer Project but it also brings in harder-to find-breweries like West Kill (from West Kill, N.Y.) or Saranac (from Uitca, N.Y.). And yes, there is an ever-changing list of killer beer to go, in case you can’t stick around. For those who spend the time here, you may find yourself under the dim lighting gazing at the tap list wondering how you didn’t know of these New York breweries. Sip on a pint inside with the New York Times crossword (a copy is handed to everyone who orders) or take a walk out for a breath of fresh air in their small backyard. Oh, and they’re dog-friendly too!
Gold Star just may be the most aesthetically beautiful bar on our list. And that’s saying something. A narrow but long room with light wooden planks covering an entire wall in an arc that extends across the ceiling leaves you wondering if you are at a bar or the studio of some Apartment Therapy photoshoot. But Gold Star isn’t just a beautiful face--they offer 16 taps, all of which are available to stay or to-go. The beer selection is always unique and covers any palette, and Gold Star frequently brings in new bottles and cans for sale. A real standout at Gold Star is the food. Their beer cheese and frankfurters are next-level delicious and they help make this a casual scene where you could easily spend an entire afternoon and evening.