Brew York City Growler Bar @ Duane Reade (Upper West Side)

Brew York City Growler Bar @ Duane Reade (Upper West Side)Brew York City Growler Bar @ Duane Reade (Upper West Side)
Brew York City Growler Bar @ Duane Reade (Upper West Side)Brew York City Growler Bar @ Duane Reade (Upper West Side)
Store

2069 Broadway
@ 72nd Street
New York, New York, 10023
United States

(212) 799-1248 | map
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.77
Reviews:
2
Ratings:
2
pDev:
4.51%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews.
Photo of Billolick
Reviewed by Billolick from New York

3.94/5  rDev +4.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
A great thing is happening in the NYC area..an outbreak of places that offer growler fills. This is the most unusual one I have been to, a growler fill station in a typical large and modern Duane Reede pharmacy. Way to go DR! I'm confident based on the location, the price and the current climate of increased interest in real beer, that this place will sell a shite ton of tasty fresh beer..all at an inviting price of $7.99 for each 64 ounce pour.

Coney Island, Ithaca, Lake Placid, Brooklyn x 2, Sixpoint, Fire Island, Goose Island and Dos Equis all flowing.

Follow Beer menus.com for the updates and current offerings.

Convenient, cheap and worth a visit if if the area.

Service was cheerful and friendly, if somewhat clueless.
Apr 17, 2011
Photo of DoubleSimcoe
Reviewed by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -4.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5
I first stumbled upon the original Brew York City inside a Duane Reade pharmacy in Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg a while ago. I thought the idea was cool, so when a new location opened at the massive Duane Reade in the Upper West Side not too far from my home, I could not wait to check it out.

This is a shiny new Duane Reade at the busy corner of 72nd street and Broadway, right next door to Trader Joe's. The Growler Bar is straight down from the main entrance. As in the B'burg location, the set-up is simple and functional: just a booth with a bar, the tap lines and not much else.

The main draw here is, of course, the PRICE! $7.99 for a growler. Anything on tap. You can bring your own bottle or buy one of their branded etched growlers for $3.99.

Selection is not outrageously amazing but there is always one or two things worth coming here for, such as Founders Dirty Bastard and Double Trouble. Imagine, a whole growler of those for $7.99!!?? Also Brooklyn Main Engine, Lake Placid Ubu, Ommegang BPA, Blue Point Hoptical Illusion.

Most of the taps are filled with local staples (lots of Sixpoint) and there is the occasional weirdo brew (Dos Equis anyone??)

I feel like the rock-bottom price hinders their ability to get better, bigger beers. Why do they need to sell everything at $7.99? I'm sure a lot of folks would like to see a barleywine or imperial stout at, say, $12 or $13 per growler.

Right next to the Growler Bar there is a small selection of American craft beers, mostly six-packs from the bigger names, at higher-than-average prices (strange indeed).

Service here is hit-or-miss, but mostly miss. You can tell the employees pouring the beer know nothing about it, and if you ask them they look confused and grab for the notes to read some generic description. They are nice and uninformed. But I've also encountered one superb employee (his name is Robert) who knows his beer, will engage you in conversation and keep you updated on upcoming brews. I assume he is not the norm here, though.

They also organize tastings and events. I walked in last time during a Samuel Adams tasting. Pretty cool for a drugstore!

Despite my reservations, this is a great idea and a cool place to grab a growler of good beer at absurdly low prices. Worth a trek from afar, even!
Apr 16, 2011
Brew York City Growler Bar @ Duane Reade (Upper West Side) in New York, NY
Place rating: 3.77 out of 5 with 2 ratings