New York's Nine Best Spots for Beer

In the late 19th century, Brooklyn alone boasted nearly 50 breweries and Queens had close to 300 leafy beer gardens. But post-World War I anti-German sentiment, then Prohibition, squelched Big Apple beer culture. Now all that's changing. Besides the stalwart Brooklyn Brewery, that borough has newer brands like Sixpoint and Kelso. And beer gardens and hops-centric restaurants are blooming from Manhattan to Queens. Before you go, download this story with an illustrated map of the top destinations.

Go
Three major airports serve New York, but we recommend saving money for buying rounds of beers by flying into JFK and taking the subway into the city.

Stay
André Balazs's latest ultra-hip hotel The Standard incorporates the High Line (a popular elevated park) into its design. Upstairs, rooms have stunning views; downstairs, there's the outdoor Biergarten that's a great first stop on any New York beer tour. Rooms from $195; 848 Washington Street; 212-645-4646; standardhotels.com

Picks

1. Studio Square
Set in the cobblestone courtyard of an erstwhile factory in Queens, this 30,000-square-foot beer garden holds up to 1,800 bibulous guests who come for the 20-plus European and American brews on tap. The kitchen churns out beer-sopping fare like oversize hamburgers, long sausages, and even sushi. 35-33 36th Street, Long Island City; 718-383-1001; studiosquarenyc.com

2. DBGB Kitchen and Bar
Michelin-starred super chef Daniel Boulud sets up shop downtown with this homage to meat and beer. Pork-belly-topped burgers and superlative sausages (try the blood and pig's head sausage) complement the extensive beer list (24 on tap and 63 bottled) with a decidedly Belgian slant. 299 Bowery; 212-933-5300; danielnyc.com

3. Biergarten
Besides great views and a convenient Meatpacking District location, The Standard hotel also has New York's hippest beer garden. The menu, designed by Michelin-starred chef Kurt Gutenbrunner, includes fat, flavor-packed sausages and plus-size pretzels that go down nicely with the three Teutonic brews on tap. The Standard, 848 Washington Street; 212-645-4646; standardhotels.com

4. Radegast Hall & Biergarten
A retractable roof, a rustic wood-bedecked interior, 13 Central European beers on tap (including the crisp Czech pilsner Krusovice Imperial), and hearty fare like duck breast and Hungarian goulash. What's not to love about this spacious Williamsburg beer garden named for the West Slavic god of hospitality? 113 North Third Street, Brooklyn; 718-963-3973; radegasthall.com

5. Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden
Open 91 years, this is the granddaddy of Big Apple beer gardens. Leafy "Bohemka," as Czech expats admiringly call it, packs up to 1,000 beer swillers on warm days to linger over hearty Central European pub grub such as dumplings and Prague-based lager Staropramen. 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria; 718-274-4925; bohemianhall.com

6. Beer Table
At this diminutive beer-centric spot in Brooklyn's brownstone-laden Park Slope neighborhood, the food complements the beer and not the other way around. Butter beans and bacon on bread, and beef stew pair well with the 25 globe-spanning brews, some pricey enough to inspire sipping instead of guzzling. 427B Seventh Avenue, Brooklyn; 718-965-1196; beertable.com

7. Blind Tiger Ale House
More than 50 beers by the bottle and 28 on tap. Craft, imported, Trappist. Don't bother asking for Bud Light here. When New Yorkers are looking for a hard-to-find beer, they hit up this wood-bathed West Village pub, a new location for the lively and crowded 14-year-old bar. 281 Bleecker Street; 212-462-4682; blindtigeralehouse.com

8. Der Schwarze Kölner
The name "The Black Cologner" is a reference to not only the soot-stained Gothic cathedral in Cologne, Germany, but also the owner, Dale Hall, a longtime Cologne resident of African descent. Large windows (which open to the street), floor-to-ceiling potted plants, and wooden folding chairs give the place a beer-garden feel. There are 18 German beers on tap, along with a small selection of wurst and cheese. 710 Fulton Street, Brooklyn; 347-841-4495; derschwarzekoelner.com

9. Bia
Prolific chef-restaurateur Michael "Bao" Huynh's homage to Vietnamese beer-drinking prowess inspires indulgence and adventurous eating. Wash down crispy Berkshire pork belly or the lobster in tamarind sauce with one of a dozen Asian beers available (or plan to visit Bia during brunch, when for a mere $15, you can happily consume as much beer as you want for two hours). Orchard Street; 212-780-0010; biagarden.com

By David Farley

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