This document compares and summarizes the best beer halls in the boroughs of Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn in New York City. In Queens, Astoria is highlighted as a brewery hub with popular beer bars like The Strand Smokehouse and Astoria Bier and Cheese. Manhattan locations include the rare beer-focused Proletariat in the East Village and Harlem Public in northern Manhattan. Brooklyn spots that are summarized include the large outdoor beer garden Greenwood Park in Park Slope and Rosamunde Sausage Grill in Williamsburg known for its sausages and draft selections.
2. QUEENS
Brewery hub before Prohibition
Roaring back with new beer bars, shops, and
makers
Centered in Astoria and Long Island City
3. The Strand Smokehouse
Est. Nov. 2012; 9,000 sq. ft. space
The American, indoor answer to
European inspired beer gardens
16 regional brews; offers BBQ-friendly
(ie. smoky & refreshing) quaffs
All pints: $7, All pitchers: $21
Serves different types of BBQ (vinegary
North Carolina, saucy Tennessee);
specialty is rotating pastrami plate
Banjoists play on most nights
25-27 Broadway between Crescent and
29th Streets, Astoria, 718-440-3231
4. Astoria Bier and Cheese
1,100 sq. ft. curds and brew haven
Bathroom mural of Kim Jong-il milking a cow
Marble bar with 10 seasonal (mostly local) drafts
More than 200 bottles and cans can be purchased
to go or opened on-site ($2 corking fee)
More than 100 types of cheese; some cheese is
worked into a sit down menu
Aspire gourmands can get schooled with the
pairing plate, which matches 4 5-oz. pours with
cheeses
34-14 Broadway between 34th and 35th
Streets, Astoria, 718-545-5588
5. Manhattan
Downtown vs. Harlem
Downtown: grungy, but potentially pricy depending
on where you do
Harlem: uptown’s once-legendary supper club
scene has transformed into craft-beer halls
6. Proletariat
Tight quarters; narrow bar with 12
stools and old-timey tattoo flash art
Specializes in rare, new, and
unusual brews
11 rotating drafts ($7-$11) from
cult brewers
View 60-item bottle list by scanning
QR code on smartphone or scoping
it on the barkeep’s iPad
Prices are steep; pours are short
102 St. Marks Pl. between First Ave.
and Ave. A, 212-777-2017
7. Harlem Public
Est. Sept. 2012; 60-seat saloon
Serves fizzy pints to a packed room of
Hamilton Heights locals
Mostly American suds on the bar’s 16 taps;
pours change multiple times a week
Wanna mack on someone?: Send a round
his/her way and the bartender will put your
names and the drink up on the “PDA”
chalkboard as an introduction
If the chalkboard didn’t work, you can eat
your feelings with gussied-up pub grub
3612 Broadway between 148th and 149th
Streets, 212-939-9404, harlempublic.com
8. Brooklyn
Don’t you live there?...You know what Brooklyn’s
like!
No explanation needed.
9. Greenwood Park
13,000 sq. ft. beer garden with 3 bocce courts;
onetime auto-body shop (still has roll-up garage
doors and vintage car lift)
Welcomes everyone (toddler-toting
yuppies, fixed-gear enthusiasts, neighborhood
hop-heads)
60 draft lines dispense 20 local and
international microbrews; commercial favorites
are also on tap
24 suds are available in bottles
Bar bites for everyone (wings, sausage
hero, etc.)
Fireplace and 6 flatscreen TVs show sporting
events when it’s cold outside
Seventh Ave. at 19th Street, Park Slope, 718-499-
7999
10. Rosamunde Sausage Grill
Bay Area-style boozing in South
Williamsburg
More than 24 domestic and international
craft drafts; revolving picks
Always 2 Nitrogen taps; nitrogen is added
to CO2 in the keg to create a creamy head
24 sausages (all come on brioche rolls with
house-made toppings)
‘Burg locals can order grub and growlers
for delivery
Flannel-shirted lads line the zinc bar
285 Bedford Ave. between Grand and
South 1st Streets, Williamsburg, 718-388-
2170, rosamundesausagegrill.com
11. Honorable Mentions
Queens:
Rockaway Brewing Company: 5-01 46th Ave. at 5th
Street, Long Island City, rockawaybrewco.com
SingleCut Beersmiths: 19-33 37th Street between
19th and 20th Aves., Astoria, 718-606-
0788, singlecutbeer.com
Manhattan:
Alphabet City Beer Co.: 96 Ave. C between 6th and
7th Streets, 646-422-7103, abcbeer.co
12. If You Ever See These, Try Them…
Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple ale, 9.4 oz. bottle $16.99
Uses sweet porky doughnuts
Available at Brooklyn Beer & Soda, 507 Flatbush Ave. at Lefferts Ave., Prospect-Lefferts
Gardens, 718-622-8800, bkbeerandsoda.com
Flying Dog Pearl Necklace stout, 12 oz. bottle $2.09
Uses raw oysters
Available at Good Beer, 422 E. 9th Street between 1st Ave. and Ave. A, 212-677-
4836, goodbeernyc.com
Birreria Calabrona, 16 oz. bottle $10
Uses yeast from a hornet’s stomach
Available at La Birreria, 200 5th Ave. at 23rd Street, 212-937-8910, eataly.com/birreria
Dogfish Head Birra Etrusca Bronze, 25 oz. bottle $14.99
Uses Etruscan tomb microbes
Available at Whole Foods Bowery Beer Room, 95 E. Houston at Bowery, 212-420-1320