Find yourself in the city craving a cold brew? Look no further. Around most corners, you can find a brewery, tasting room or taproom in New York City. From today’s lagers to ciders to ales and craft beers, Manhattan’s brewing history started from humble beginnings centuries ago: The first U.S. commercial brewery was established on Stone Street in 1632, and later, New York was the largest hops-growing region for much of the 19th Century, when German immigrants caused beer production and sales to skyrocket. Fast forward through the Prohibition era, and in 1933, an NYC family brewery was the country’s first to obtain a license and pour legal beers post-Prohibition. Today, the hoppy beverage can be enjoyed in all five boroughs, with a plethora of atmospheres, flavors and brews to choose from. And in honor of that, we’ve rounded up the 20 best NYC breweries for your enjoyment. You might even get lucky enough to find a friendly brewery cat. Cheers, prost, salud and sláinte!
The 20 Best NYC Breweries to Hit Up for a Cold Pint
1. Bronx Brewery
- Neighborhoods: The Bronx (Port Morris), East Village, Hudson Yards
- Types of beer brewed: Pilsners, lagers, pale ales, stouts and more
With three locations for enjoying beer, cider, wine and spirits—including a brand new Hudson Yards pilot brewery, taproom and kitchen—you can’t go wrong. In their Bronx site, they’ve partnered with Empanology, an empanada-focused Puerto Rican eatery run by Bronx natives, so guests can enjoy their sandwiches, tacos, empanadas and more indoors or in the 5,000-square-foot backyard, which features a stage, plus a more intimate seating area known as The Lab. The East Village location offers their full portfolio of beer, including small-batch, limited-releases only available on-site, in addition to Bastard Burgers’ extensive menu of burgers, vegan patties, sides and more; the new Hudson Yards location features their own original food concept centered around cast-iron skillet nachos, burritos, bowls, and house-made snacks-to-share.
Multiple locations; thebronxbrewery.com
2. Brooklyn Brewery
- Neighborhood: Williamsburg
- Types of beer brewed: Lagers, IPAs, stouts, sours and more
Choose from a wide selection of Brooklyn Brewery’s award-winning craft beers, in addition to wine and cider from partner brands, plus sodas and other non-alcoholic options the whole family can enjoy. If you’re looking for more sustenance than chips and other snacks, on weekends, grab food from select vendors in residence, or bring (or order) your own. For some extra fun, stop by a sushi-making class, trivia night, drag bingo, or another special event hosted by the microbrewery. What’s more? On Sundays, they offer free tours every hour from 1 to 6 p.m. No reservation needed; takeout and delivery available.
79 N 11th St, Brooklyn; brooklynbrewery.com; (718) 486-7422
3. Torch & Crown Brewing Company
- Neighborhoods: Soho and Union Square
- Types of beer brewed: IPAs, pilsners, lagers, sours and more
Shoutout to Manhattan’s only production brewery and restaurant. Torch & Crown, on the West side of Soho, just feet from the Spring Street subway station, opened its doors in October 2020 for beer- and seasonal, upscale American dining lovers alike; the seasonal Union Square beer garden just opened in spring 2023 and it’s great for larger gatherings. Known for local favorites Almost Famous IPA and Tenement Pilsner, in addition to a constantly rotating portfolio, they offer a wide variety of beer styles, all made in NYC, along with specialty cocktails, wine and spirits, all sourced exclusively from New York State. Can’t make it in? Don’t worry, they offer free local delivery of four-packs seven days a week.
Multiple locations; torchandcrown.com
4. Greenpoint Beer & Ale Co.
- Neighborhood: Greenpoint
- Types of beer brewed: Stouts, IPAs, sours, pilsners and more
If you’re seeking communal seating near the water, we’ve got just the place. This Greenpoint German-style alehouse serves a variety of its own beers and ales, as well as a rotation of ciders, wines, and guest beers. Soak up some sun on the beautiful roof deck, or munch on your pub favorites in the industrial-style brewery below. Make sure to keep an eye on their website for special events like trivia, comedy shows, craft markets, dance parties and more.
1150 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn; greenpointbeer.com; (347) 725-3061
5. Wild East Brewing Co.
- Neighborhood: Gowanus
- Types of beer brewed: Lagers, West Coast/Hazy IPAs, witbiers, pilsners and more
With indoor and heated outdoor seating for a combined nearly 200 guests, this Gowanus taproom is a great space to bring the family, hold an event and even bring your pups (indoors too!). Boasting 20 draft lines of house-made beer, bottle pours, nitro brews, Brooklyn Cider House ciders and non-alcoholic options, what’s not to love? Order Union Street Pizza straight from your table via QR code, or feel free to order food of your choice to be delivered to the brewery. No reservation? No problem. Beer to-go available.
623 Sackett St, Brooklyn; wildeastbrewing.com; (718) 797-5135
6. 18th Ward Brewing
- Neighborhood: East Williamsburg
- Types of beer brewed: Stouts, blonde ales, IPAs and more
Named after the ward it’s located in—which was used to construct Congressional and Assembly districts in the 19th Century—you’ve probably seen this East Williamsburg brewery’s cans all over the city. With 10 draft lines ranging from a blonde ale to an oatmeal stout, this is a brew-lover’s paradise. In such close proximity to renowned concert venue Brooklyn Steel, they’re open from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. on every night there are performances for pre- and post-show drinks. For small bites, 18th Ward hosts a taco truck run by the chef at local bar and sister restaurant Northern Bell. Indoor and outdoor seating available, dog-friendly, no reservation needed, and to-go available.
300 Richardson St, Brooklyn; 18thwardbrewing.com; (718) 387-4025
7. Fifth Hammer Brewing Company
- Neighborhood: Long Island City
- Types of beer brewed: Double IPAs, Belgian style ales, fruited sours and more
This Queens favorite is known for more than their flashy beer labels. With 16 drafts and a cask engine, plus wine and cider sourced locally from all over New York State, the brewery and taproom also host food pop-ups and trucks Tuesday through Sunday weekly. They also offer their own non-alcoholic beers and tasty beer slushies. If you’re looking to rent their eight-foot party table for groups or parties with 10 to 20 guests, make sure to book it at least a week in advance via their website. Sit indoors, outdoors, or order a four-pack to-go.
10-28 46th Ave, Long Island City, Queens; fifthhammerbrewing.com; (718) 663-2084
8. Grimm Artisanal Ales
- Neighborhood: East Williamsburg
- Types of beer brewed: Lagers, IPAs, sours, saisons and more
With open seating, walk-up bar service, indoor/outdoor seating and to-go service available, this East Williamsburg spot is a must-visit. Sip on one of 29 draft lines and wines (via nextdoor sister winery Physica Wines), from lagers to farmhouse ales to mixed culture beers, barrel-aged sours and stouts. Grimm has a small snack menu, rotating food pop-ups, lots of merch, and beer delivery available locally and in nearby states. Plus, some exciting news: Grimm hopes to have Lala’s Brooklyn Apizza, their rooftop restaurant and bar, open by the end of 2023.
990 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn; grimmales.com; (718) 564-9767
9. Strong Rope Brewery
- Neighborhoods: Gowanus and Red Hook
- Types of beer brewed: IPAs, saisons, light lagers and more
With locations in Gowanus and Red Hook—plus a seasonal taproom in the Adirondacks—Strong Rope has been the quintessential New York State brewery since 2015, utilizing only 100 percent New York ingredients for all their brews, as well as New York State wine, cider and spirits. Beers at this family-run establishment range from reinterpreted classics to seasonals that utilize local farms’ finest ingredients. Sit indoors or outdoors and enjoy periodic food vendors at all locations, though outside food is always welcome. All locations are open for partial and full rentals and tables can be reserved with advanced notice.
Multiple locations; strongropebrewery.com; (929) 337-8699
10. Gun Hill Brewing
- Neighborhood: East Bronx
- Types of beer brewed: Pilsners, stouts, sours, summer ales and more
Nestled in the East Bronx, guests can sit indoors or outdoors at this award-winning microbrewery. Brimming with pride over being the first brewery in the Bronx to brew since the 1960s, you can taste it in their fresh, unfiltered, handcrafted beers. Pour up an ale, wine or cider and nibble on light bites from pop-ups from local restaurants, like local empanadas or BBQ delicacies. The taproom is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but guests can order beer to be delivered locally or in select states via their website.
3227 Laconia Ave, Bronx; gunhillbrewing.com; (718) 881-0010
11. Harlem Hops
- Neighborhood: Harlem and Chelsea
- Types of beer served: Meads, stouts, lagers, IPAs and more
While they technically don’t brew their own beers just yet, they do play an important role in the neighborhood, educating and sharing great beers from all around New York. Harlem Hops has done several collabs with highly regarded local breweries including Brooklyn Brewery, Hackensack, Harlem Blue and Four City, and are proud to be Harlem’s only Black-owned craft beer bar. They also recently opened a stall at Chelsea’s Market 57, where guests can enjoy hard-to-find beers on the water. Harlem Hops also carries beer and spirits from several Black-owned breweries and distilleries and founded Harlem Hopes, an HBCU educational foundation where they donate proceeds from their collab sales. Reservations aren’t necessary for indoor seating or in the enclosed back patio, and an array of light bites, from pretzel bites to brats to spicy crab pies, are available.
Multiple locations; harlemhops.com
12. Threes Brewing
- Neighborhoods: Greenpoint, Gowanus, Governor’s Island
- Types of beer brewed: Pilsners, Hazy IPAs, sour ales and more
Visit Threes Brewing’s Gowanus, Greenpoint and Governor’s Island (say that five times fast!) locations for indoor and outdoor seating, including an expansive, multi-level indoor space and a backyard with heated tents at the former, and more intimate sidewalk seating at the latter two. Sip on specialty cocktails or enjoy a draft pour or can of their brews, as well as those from some of their favorite local brewers. In Gowanus, they’ve partnered with the Meat Hook and Ninth Street Espresso for food and coffee; in Greenpoint, they boast a full menu from their friends at Greenpoint Fish and Lobster; and on Governor’s Island they have a handful of tasty items made in-house. Grab a few cans to-go from their on-site shop, or have your beers shipped locally or to 20+ states via their website.
Multiple locations; threesbrewing.com
13. Interboro Spirits & Ales
- Neighborhood: East Williamsburg
- Types of beer brewed: Double IPAs, sours, stouts and more
Dubbed Brooklyn's first craft brewery plus distillery, this East Williamsburg joint has it all. With indoor and outdoor seating, plus a plethora of to-go, delivery and shipping options, Interboro also features vinyl-spinning DJs a few days a month. Not a beer person? They also make spirits in-house and have a cocktail program highlighting the original flavors that rotates with the seasons. Food is also made in-house and ranges from steak empanadas to local brats to a stout brownie for your sweet tooth—plus, on the weekends, they serve select brunch items. Closed Monday through Wednesday, reservations aren’t necessary aside from large groups that can be hosted in the brewhouse garage area.
942 Grand St, Brooklyn; interboro.nyc; (877) 843-6545
14. Five Boroughs Brewing Co.
- Neighborhood: Sunset Park
- Types of beer brewed: IPAs, pilsners, lagers, German ales and more
Their motto, “United by beer,” pretty much sums it up. Open Thursday through Sunday, this family- and dog-friendly brewery and 2,500-square-foot taproom is known for their delicious core and seasonal beers, plus their new hard seltzer, Party Water. Their wide selection of beers is all brewed right in the heart of Sunset Park, where guests can dine indoors or outdoors. Though they only have light bites like chips and popcorn, they do have a handful of exciting taproom-only, smaller-batch specialty brews, like the 10 Degree Pocket Pils, the Topic Blunder IPA and the BK Fire smoked beer. Take a single can, a four-pack, a six-pack or a 12-pack to-go or get it delivered locally or state-wide.
215 47th St, Brooklyn; fiveboroughs.com; (718) 355-8575
15. Rockaway Brewing Co.
- Neighborhood: Long Island City, Arverne
- Types of beer brewed: Dry Irish stouts, summer ales, cold IPAs, corn lagers and more
The first brewery in Queens has a lot going for it. With a taproom in Long Island City just steps from Gantry Plaza State Park and a Rockaway Beach taproom and event space, both locales offer indoor/outdoor seating, their top-notch stouts, sours, IPAs, ales and pilsners to-go, plus small bites. Our favorite part: They have brewery kitties named Brownie and Pidge at their LIC and Arverne locations, respectively. Reservations aren’t required, but for groups of 15 to 35 looking to host an event in the upstairs Rockaway Beach event site, reservations can be made online.
Multiple locations; rockaway.beer; (718) 482-6528
16. Kings County Brewers Collective
- Neighborhood: Bushwick
- Types of beer brewed: IPAs, sours, pilsners, stouts and more
KCBC is the first brick-and-mortar brewery to operate in Bushwick in more than 40 years—are you sensing a theme here? It’s a beer revolution! Open indoors and outdoors seven days a week, stop by this 5,000-square-foot, 15-barrel brewery and taproom just off of the Jefferson St. L stop for an eclectic mix of fruity, hazy, milky, deep, tart, piney, experimental brews and local collabs. Trust us, there’s something for everyone. Like what you see? Host an event in their beautiful open taproom. Reservations aren’t necessary but they can be made online, and food includes rotating pop-ups from local restaurants, though you’re welcome to bring your own.
381 Troutman St, Brooklyn; kcbcbeer.com; (929) 409-5040
17. Evil Twin Brewing NYC
- Neighborhood: Ridgewood and DUMBO
- Types of beer brewed: Double IPAs, West Coast pale ales, Irish red ales, hefeweizens and more
Located in a dreamy, light-flooded, greenhouse-esque taproom and brewery in Ridgewood, plus a satellite taproom in DUMBO, this nanobrewery knows how to make a fun brew. With 20 rotating taps, frozen cocktails, natural wines, NY State ciders, a new coffee concept, and local restaurant Claudia’s cafe pop-up (in their Queens taproom), Evil Twin specializes in creating unique smoothie-style sours, oak-aged lagers, pastry seltzers, hazy, hoppy beers, barrel-aged stouts, and more. Dine indoors or outdoors or take your beverages to-go in both locations or get them shipped directly via UPS, no reservations required.
Multiple locations; eviltwin.nyc
18. Transmitter Brewing
- Neighborhood: Brooklyn Navy Yard
- Types of beer brewed: Black ales, lagers, saisons, triple ales and more
With a focus on traditional and farmhouse ales, this Brooklyn Navy Yard brewery has secured more than 20 isolated strains of rare yeasts, as well as a brewhouse library of traditional Belgian, French, English and American yeasts—and they’re always brewing up something new. Enjoy one of 15 different varieties of beer in cans or bottles inside their expansive taproom or in their outdoor beer garden. While they don’t serve food, they often host local pop-ups for guests. No reservations are necessary, and brews can be ordered for local or NY State delivery and to-go.
141 Flushing Ave, Building 77, Brooklyn; transmitterbrew.com; (646) 378-8529
19. Focal Point Beer Co.
- Neighborhood: Long Island City
- Types of beer brewed: Kolsch, lagers, hazy IPAs, saisons and more
Founded in 2016 (and recently changing their name from ICONYC in 2023), Focal Point Beer Co. operates out of their production brewery with a 15-barrel brewhouse, a taproom and a beer garden along Long Island City’s 12th Street Pedestrian Plaza. All beer is brewed on the premises, and they also offer cider, wine, and non-alcoholic options, so feel free to bring the whole family, including the pups. Bring your own food or enjoy local pop-ups inside their taproom or outside, rain or shine, no reservation necessary; beer also available for pick-up. Make sure to check their events page for silent discos, comedy shows, Spanish lessons, karaoke nights, live music and more.
43-50 12th St, Queens; focalpoint.beer
20. TALEA Beer Co.
- Neighborhoods: Williamsburg and Cobble Hill
- Types of beer brewed: Goses, sour ales, hazy IPAs, pilsners and more
Brooklyn’s very first female-founded brewery, TALEA has two inviting locations (with a third coming soon to West Village!) filled with easy, approachable brews that will turn your idea of what a brewery can be on its head. The bright, spacious taprooms are filled with modern pops of color and plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors for families, pups, and parties, as well as special events like yoga pop-ups, beer pong and trivia nights. With dozens of tasty, fruit-forward beers on draft and in gorgeous cans, the two cofounders Tara and LeAnn (get it?) wanted to create a more welcoming, beer-loving environment for non-beer bros—and that’s exactly what they did.
Multiple locations; taleabeer.com
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