15+ Buzz-Worthy Breweries in New York City (Local's Guide) (2024)

Forget the corner bodega’s luke-warm six packs – New York City’s exciting craft beer scene brims with bold IPAs, funky sours, and memorable ales. NYC is home to more than 24 local breweries, the only challenge is knowing where to start. That’s where I come in! Here’s my take on the best breweries in New York City based on firsthand experience.

The Best Breweries in New York City

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Other Half Brewing Co.

Website: Other Half Brewing Co.
Locations: Domino Park, Carroll Gardens, Rockefeller Center

Founded in 2014 by pals Sam Richardson, Andrew Burman, and Matt Monahan, Other Half Brewing Co. was an unsuspecting venture that blossomed into one of New York City’s most popular breweries. Motivated by a lack of exciting beer options in the city, they set out to fill the void.

Today, the sprawling Domino Park taproom is a testament to the brewery’s wild success, offering an expansive selection of 20 beers on tap. For those feeling overwhelmed by options, place your trust in the IPAs.

There’s currently three Other Half breweries in New York City. Of these, my favorite is the Domino Park locale, which also has a great bourbon selection to boot.

Evil Twin Brewing

Website: Evil Twin Brewing
Neighborhoods: Queens & DUMBO
Addresses: 1616 George St, Queens & 43 Main St, Brooklyn

Founded in 2010 by Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergso from Denmark, Evil Twin Brewing set out to upset the proverbial apple cart. Challenging his (identical) twin brother’s Copenhagen brewery (Mikkeller Brewing), Jeppe embraced nomadic brewing in New York City before settling on a Queens location in 2019 with his wife and business partner Maria.

Warm and inviting, the retro-industrial Queens brewery is perfect for sharing a pint with pals on a Saturday afternoon. Beyond the space, Evil Twin Brewing has exceptional beer. I brought my mother-in-law (who doesn’t like beer – talk about a genius move) to the DUMBO location and she loved the sours, she talks about them to this day.

Evil Twin makes some of the most exciting beers in New York City, hands down. If you’re into heavily fruited concoctions and dole out bonus points for experimentation, this is the NYC brewery for you.

Transmitter Brewing

Website: Transmitter Brewing
Neighborhood: Brooklyn Navy Yard
Address: 141 Flushing Ave Building 77, Brooklyn, NY

An unapologetic mastery of traditional and farmhouse ales has made Transmitter Brewing one of the most respected breweries in NYC. Started by two friends with a shared passion for homemade food, Rob Kolb and Anthony Accardi decided to try their hand at homebrewing.

This effectively sowed the seeds for Transmitter Brewing, a popular Brooklyn brewery. The duo keeps the focus on perfecting classics rather than competing for the limelight of the newest trends in New York City’s craft brew scene and we are all better for it because the beer is excellent.

Fifth Hammer Brewing Company

Website: Fifth Hammer Brewing Company
Neighborhood: Long Island City, Queens
Address: 10-28 46th Ave, Long Island City, NY

Offering a rotation of 15 craft beers on tap, Fifth Hammer Brewing Company is buzzing with locals most days of the week, myself included. The culprit? Sonic Architecture Wave 17, a juicy hazy IPA that is easily one of my favorite craft beers in New York City.

I’m also partial to the creative sours churning out of this great NYC brewery and never passes an opportunity to try the latest flavors. If your idea of a good time includes food (as it should) you have a few options.

You can grab a bite from the local popup vendors inside the relaxed NYC taproom, or pay a visit to the food trucks parked outside. If nothing catches your eye, you have the option of bringing outside food instead.

Threes Brewing

Website: Threes Brewing
Locations: Four breweries in NYC

Born in Gowanus in 2013, Threes Brewing wanted to shake things up. Unlike many IPA-heavy competitors, this Brooklyn brewery championed approachable lagers and saisons, reviving classic styles with modern twists.

The spacious family-friendly brewpubs feature delicious food options and cozy vibes, making them a popular meeting point in the neighborhood.

Today, with five locations across Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Governors Island, Threes continues to grow as one of the premier craft breweries in New York City. Expect to find knock-out brews served in a relaxed setting (the outdoor patio in Gowanus can’t be beat).

Brooklyn Brewery

Website: Brooklyn Brewery
Neighborhood: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Address: 79 N 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Led by James Beard award-winning brewmaster, Garrett Oliver, Brooklyn Brewery is one of the oldest breweries in New York City. Pioneering Brooklyn’s craft beer revival since 1988, you can find these brews in most US states and over thirty countries around the world.

Their iconic Brooklyn Lager, a tribute to classic London pub brews, put them on the map, but this NYC brewery is anything but static. Brooklyn Brewery’s Williamsburg taproom buzzes with life, offering tours, tastings, live music and loads of delicious beer.

With more than 20 rotating beers on tap, the lineup is highlighted by a mix of classics, rotating seasonals, and fun collaborations. The commitment to innovation and historic significance makes Brooklyn Brewery a must-visit brewery in NYC.

Grimm Artisanal Ales

Website: Grimm Artisanal Ales
Neighborhood: East Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Address: 990 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Founded in 2011 by husband and wife duo Joe & Lauren Grimm, Grimm Artisanal Ales earned New York State’s Brewery of the Year Award in 2021 and 2022.

Emphasizing complex yet elegant ales using wild yeast strains, barrel aging, spontaneous fermentation, and all sorts of other innovative brewing techniques has won them a place in the hearts of New York City’s beer aficionados.

Diverging from popular trends, Grimm embraces diverse styles, offering tart saisons, funky lambics, fruited goses, rich imperial stouts, showcasing depth and nuance. Beyond beer, the brewery’s artisanal ethos extends to the cozy East Williamsburg taproom, but finding a table during the weekend is no easy feat.

Wild East Brewing Co.

Website: Wild East Brewing Co.
Neighborhood: Gowanus, Brooklyn
Address: 623 Sackett St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

A relative new kid on the block (opened in 2020), Wild East Brewing Company’s success can be attributed to the simple fact that they serve some of the best beer in New York City.

Specializing in “beer that people want to drink”, you’ll find mostly lower ABV beers in Wild East’s taproom including mostly lagers, a handful of IPAs, sours, and farmhouse ales.

The spacious taproom with a giant horseshoe-shaped bar is irresistibly inviting and oozes industrial-chic farm. It’s the only place you want to be during a relaxed weekday. Moreover, Wild East offers brewery tours and tastings. If interested, you can sign up here.

Big aLICe Brewing

Website: Big aLICe Brewing
Neighborhood: Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Address: 52 34th St, Brooklyn, NY

Named after the iconic ‘Big Allis’ generator stack in Queens, the brewery has now relocated to Sunset Park following the closure of its Queens taproom. Notably, it holds the distinction of being a certified farm brewery, committed to empowering the community in all business decisions.

Co-founders Kyle Hurst and Scott Berger collaborate closely with local farmers and businesses to ensure that every ingredient, from hops and malts to unique additions like fruit and coffee, supports local agriculture. The resulting beers often lean towards complex and hearty profiles at this popular brewery in New York City.

Focal Point Beer Co.

Website: Focal Point Beer Co.
Neighborhood: Long Island City, Queens
Address: 43-50 12th St, Queens, NY

Focal Point Beer Co. (originally named ICONYC) was founded in 2016 as a wholesale beer company operating out of a basem*nt. To nobody’s surprise, locals couldn’t get enough of the beer, which allowed the folks behind this New York City brewery to open a taproom in Long Island City.

In terms of beer, the menu typically hosts 15 tap sof different varieties including light-bodied lagers and pilsners, hoppy IPAs, farmhouse ales and at least one sour. I recently went with a group of friends, everyone ordered something different and eagerly returned for a second round, the beer is excellent.

Worth mentioning, the front-facing outdoor patio is wonderful on sunny days while the cozy heated side patio is great when the forecast predicts rain. Win-win.

Kings County Brewers Collective

Website: Kings County Brewers Collective
Neighborhood: Bushwick, Brooklyn
Address: 381 Troutman St, Brooklyn, NY 11237

Kings County Brewers Collective (KCBC) opened in 2016, becoming the first brick-and-mortar brewery Bushwick had seen in 40 long years. The passion-project of three award-winning brewers who decided to open up shop, 100% of the beer is brewed and packaged on-site in Bushwick. Great beer and good vibes are all but guaranteed at this popular Brooklyn brewery.

Greenpoint Beer & Ale Co.

Website: Greenpoint Beer & Ale Co.
Neighborhood: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Address: 1150 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

On par with Brooklyn’s reputation, the vibes at Greenpoint Beer are relaxed and inviting. The brewery stands out for its artisanal approach to brewing classic lagers, pilsners, IPAs and ales in-house.

The industrial taproom buzzes with stalwart locals, but the spirited rooftop is where it’s at. We met a friend at the rooftop last fall and had a blast catching up over brews while soaking in the epic views. We noticed tons of folks around us with playing cards and made a not to bring some next time.

All this to say, Greenpoint Beer is a great gathering space so invite some friends and enjoy some of the best beer in New York City. Oh, and don’t sleep on the food menu, the German-inspired fare always hits the spot, I’m a sucker for the bratwurst but you can’t go wrong with the giant Bavarian pretzel either.

Alewife Brewing

Website: Alewife Brewing
Neighborhood: Sunnyside, Queens
Address: 41-11 39th St, Queens, NY

Ask any Queens local about the best breweries in New York City and Alewife Brewing is sure to come up. Founded by Roz and Patrick Donagher in 2021, the massive beerhall is a great spot for relaxing evenings when you need to unwind for a bit. With more than 20 taps, expect to find an eclectic variety of beer that spans the gamut, from specialty IPAs to creative barrel-aged concoctions.

Torch & Crown Brewing Company

Website: Torch & Crown Brewing Company
Neighborhood: SoHo (& Union Square seasonally)
Address: 12 Vandam St, New York, NY 10013

Torch & Crown started innocently enough – the (future) founders were busted at an East Village bar with fake IDs in hand. Annoyed but undeterred, they resolved to learn the craft of beer making for themselves.

The result was a beautiful thing, proven by the fact that they ended up founding one of the best breweries in New York City (the only Manhattan brewery to date!). Torch & Crown is best known for the inviting atmosphere, knowledgeable team and knock-out brews.

The SoHo space has a modern feel with beautiful wood tables, tons of plants, and industrial-sized steel tanks. I’m a sucker for the IPAs and lagers on offer. If you’re having a hard time choosing something from the menu, I highly recommend the Tenement (a refreshing pilsner lagered for 100 days).

TALEA Beer Co.

Website: Talea Beer Co.
Locations: Four tap rooms in NYC

TALEA (pronounced tah-lay-uh) Beer Co. is the passion project of two friends, Tara Hankinson and LeAnn Darland (the brewery’s name is a blend of the owner’s names). This is the first female-founded brewery in NYC, no easy feat in a male-dominated industry.

The duo decided to open a brewery in Brooklyn because they wanted to make craft beer more approachable and inclusive. As such, TALEA focuses on fruit-forward and low acidity beers that are easy to drink.

The plan is to open the world of craft beer to a broader audience, including those who might not typically enjoy traditional beer styles. Refreshingly unique, TALEA makes some of the most unique beers in Brooklyn. This is a great place to visit if someone in the group is convinced they don’t like beer.

Best New York City Craft Breweries (Post Summary)

• Threes Brewing
• Other Half Brewing Company
• Evil Twin Brewing
• Fifth Hammer Brewing Company
• Talea Beer Company
• Evil Twin Brewing
• Kings County Brewers Collective
• Grimm Artisan Ales
• Wild East Brewing Company
• Torch & Crown
• Brooklyn Brewery
• Big aLICe Brewing
• Focal Point Brewery
• Greenpoint Beer & Ale Company
• Alewife Brewing
• Transmitter Brewing

Map of the Best Breweries in NYC

FAQ – New York City Breweries

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And there you have it folks! My personal list of the best breweries in New York City. Feel free to comment on your favorite breweries and let me know any that I might have missed.

Bottoms up!