The Gate

Bar, Eatery

321 5th Ave
Brooklyn, New York, 11215-2808
United States

(718) 768-4329 | map
thegatebrooklyn.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.16
Reviews:
26
Ratings:
39
pDev:
9.38%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by drseamus:
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Reviewed by drseamus from New York

4.74/5  rDev +13.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
DISCLAIMER: My review may or may not be biased by the fact that Pat invited several of us back to his flat and fed us CRAZY good beers after the rosso e marone release.

Located in a great part of Brooklyn, The Gate is a nice little bar. The inside is small although they have a decent patio for when the weather is nice. Their tap list is a mix of decent beers, great beers, and a handfull of shitty macro beers for "those people." it seems that they have a ton of special events that results in special taps and no one will argue with that. I was fortunate enough to arrive after a Bruery event so I was treated to a Melange #3.

The Gate is most certainly the best under the radar bar in Brooklyn.
Mar 12, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.95 by WheelsPSU from New Jersey

Jan 14, 2016
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Reviewed by bgold86 from New York

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.75
A neighborhood favorite! Great outdoor patio area, always a stocked board with great selections. Staff is fantastic (shout out to Jeff), been frequenting for 4-5 years. No food, but they have a large binder type stack of menus for you to order.
Aug 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by rojapa from New York

Jul 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Spreetaper from New York

Jun 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by mltobin from Connecticut

Sep 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4.8 by HoppyBeerSista from New Jersey

Sep 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by mattyrubes from New York

Jul 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Ant4711 from South Carolina

Jul 08, 2014
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Reviewed by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania

3.71/5  rDev -10.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.25
I walked down to The Gate from Bierkraft during a mini-tour of Park Slope beer joints. It was pretty damn busy and crowded during the Belmont Stakes, with people enjoying the patio tables and filling up the dark bar inside.

Some cool beers on tap: Smutty Wheatwine '09, Dogfish Raison d'Etre, Avery Maharaja, Elysian Super Fizz, Two Bros Atom, Maine Mo, Westbrook, Against the Grain, Hitachino Espresso (vintage)...

The joint was sweaty hot and lively but not loud. It's a neighborhood bar with good beer, with that old-school feel to it. And why not?
Jul 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by DRDAries from New York

Jul 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Jason from Massachusetts

Jun 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by hoppymcgee from Maine

Feb 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4.62 by VaTechPhilly from New York

Feb 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by sirsteve42 from New York

Jan 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Chris_Coughlin from New York

Oct 21, 2013
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Reviewed by jeranbrews from Oklahoma

3.86/5  rDev -7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
Atmosphere - A pleasant little joint that is open enough and bright enough to not feel like a dive but a bit more like a pub. It's kind of got a half-ass / not willing to commit gothic feel to it but mostly it looks like an open pub. Seating for 30 or so without feeling crowded.

Quality / Selection - Beer wise that had 15 or so on tap beers and a few bottles to choose from. Mostly small macro to large micro breweries. Some domestic some imported. Sierra Nevada, Pauliner, Guinness. The day I went I had some NH Smuttynose. Not bad. Full bar available.

Service - Average but pleasant. This part of Brooklyn is mostly younger educated *cough hipster cough* people so there is a pleasant feel to it.

Value - Average for the area. Three pints and a tip will probably set you back $20.
Jul 24, 2011
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Reviewed by bpalfrey10 from New York

4.34/5  rDev +4.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5
Either my favorite, or second favorite bar in Brooklyn. There's a big open room when you walk in with the bar on your right (narrow bars annoy me). Incredible, out of this world selection. Full of delicious craft beers and they don't waste space on mass produced beers. They usually a nice selection of vintage beers. No dedicated cask lines but they'll bring in casks every once in a while. There is a great outdoor space with benches and tables for summer time drinking (can't wait for it to open). Bartenders are extremely knowledgeable. Prices are pretty good, largely $6.50 across the board and I wish they were just $6. Still good prices for this quality beer. Nice little nook in that back with darts.

I wish I lived closer!
Mar 22, 2011
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Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.44/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
There's not much to say about The Gate at this point. It's a small, comfortable Irish themed neighborhood bar with some outdoor seating (the bar itself is pretty small), a great tap selection, and good barstaff. What may not have been mentioned is that it's close to Bierkraft, Union Hall, and Mission Dolores. But be careful if you're going to plan a pub crawl because they don't open until 3 during the week, and 1 pm on Saturday and Sunday (it took me about 4 attempts to finally visit The Gate).
Feb 09, 2011
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Reviewed by fastpass17 from New York

4.66/5  rDev +12%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
A: Dark wood, and low lighting, very communal, great happy hour crowd. There is a wealth of personality abounding. Nice outdoor area. Good music selection not played to loud. One can wait at the bar and strike a conversation with the bartender or any of the regulars whom are very nice.
Q: Great rotating selection, 24 taps. Super fresh, and some great aged brews. There is a focus on American craft which is incredibly vast, covering both brewery's and styles. A number of nice foreign gems from time to time. Gravity cask from time to time, very fresh and usually gone very quick. Good bottle selection with some hard to find bottles, also some macro beers for those who are so inclined.
S: Most of the bartenders are a wealth of beer knowledge. Buy backs are much appreciated, even people who sit outside enjoy this courtesy. Generosity is most certainly reciprocated.
F: There is a menu book filled with lots of great local food.
V: Great value for the quality of the beers. One can be served a beer here that is more expensive at the local beer store? Why is that? For this reason, and for the aged gems pulled from the cellar this is very reasonable bar.
Love this bar.
Apr 30, 2010
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Reviewed by StonyB from New Jersey

3.86/5  rDev -7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5
So you're in New York City and you want to hit some good bars. You've been to Manhattan of course, and you've probably found out that Williamsburg in Brooklyn is great for craft beer. But you're looking for something different. Park Slope, perhaps?

You do some research. Park Slope is in West Brooklyn, very easy to get to by subway or the lower East River bridges in Manhattan. It's a nice community, both historical and residential. Let's go...

The Gate. On the corner of 5th Ave and 3rd St. You get there a couple of minutes before 3:00, and since it's a Friday, the bar hasn't opened yet. It opens 3:00 weekdays, 1:00 weekends.

The bearded and heavily-tattooed bartender decked out in denim invites you in a few minutes later. That's fine, we're in Brooklyn. You snag a seat near the far end of the L-shaped bar and check out the blackboard. Several Goose Island brews up there since they just had a brewery promo two days before. Two Brothers Bitter End, Stone Old Guardian, Troegs Sunshine Pils, Dogfish Head Festina Peche and Southern Tier Creme Brulee some of the notables among the 24. You can get either 16 ounces or 12 on most of the choices, and $6-6.50 seems to be the average price on the pints. Since you're just getting started, you settle on a pint of the Goose Island Honkers, a nice and sessionable bitter that hits the spot...

A few sips in and you get the itch to explore. You're in the main room, so you start there. The worn wooden bar you're sitting at squeezes in 13 drinkers; there's also several tables including a coupla big ones, room for maybe 35. Some smallish blackboards sprinkled around with different reasons for existing - drafts, bottles/cans, wines, booze, upcoming events. 2 little flatscreens at either end of the bartop for your boob-tubery. Architecture very much old-school Brooklyn, lots of dark wood and brick. Beer and non-beer knick-knacks scatttered about, mostly behind the bar. Hard rock, punk and metal playing on the stereo and dominating the CD jukebox...

There's a room in the back that has 2 tables and some chairs by the wall. Pretty dark back there, a little more intimate. At the end is a nice touch; a mostly enclosed dart room with seating. Cool.

The john is down a somewhat precarious flight of stairs. Watch your step, for real...

Back upstairs, you also notice an outdoor patio and briefly check it out. It looks inviting, and you decide to re-visit this area later.

Meanwhile, over the next hour and a half you order two more beers; a pint of the Old Guardian (big and tasty barleywine) followed by a 12 oz Creme Brulee (malty dessert). One thing that leaves you a bit disenchanted is the service. The two bartenders on duty definitely know their beer, no problems there. But there's no real attempt to make you feel welcome, even before the crowds get there. You're left with this impression; if you're a regular they'll be friendly and chat you up, but if they don't know you it's "What do you want, here's your beer, leave me alone"...

You've been paying cash as you go, and your three beers set you back $17.50. That's partially because it's happy hour until 7:00pm - $1 off most but not all of the drafts.

You drop a few bucks for the barkeeps and head on your way. In the end, you decide that The Gate is a pretty decent neighborhood bar and definitely has some quality beer. While it's not a true destination stop, you could see yourself going back as part of a Park Slope pub crawl...

**Stony's Biscuit** - I mentioned the outdoor patio. Aside from the beer of course, it's probably the best thing about this establishment. It's pretty large with about 10 tables, and it's right on the corner of an attractive intersection. Perfect for some quality people-watching or casual conversation on a nice day...
Jul 12, 2009
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Reviewed by m1ked from California

4.22/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3
So I have recently moved by this place, albeit temporarily. I have been seeking out other beer bars, but find myself wanting to end up at the Gate.

A- Dark on the inside, smallish length of a bar, with lots of seating on the inside, and a large outside patio. Great for the warm/hot days/night. Good local bar feel, as opposed to a destination bar, although I think it could be. Dog friendly, bring in outside food friendly, just friendly all around.

Q- Great selection of locals, west coast occasionals, midwest at times, definetly new england beer heavy. They have frequent beer "fests" which means they dedicate their taps to a certain brewery for the night/until it blows. So sometimes you don't have to go to the crowded "fest", you can go the day after and enjoy the same beer without the crowd.

S- No floor or patio service. You want a beer, you go get it yourself. Getting to the bar can be tricky when it is busy, but the bartenders are always chill once you get to them.

S- Like I said above you get alot of "fests" rotating through here, so you get an opportunity at different breweries often. They also have a nice selection of beer that rotates prety often. Usually a cask or two too. I have actually never sought out the bottle list so no comment there. What can I say I am satisfied with the fresh stuff.

F- I actually don't think they have food, but I have no real idea. I gave them a 3 for the great food options abound in the neighborhood that you can bring in to eat, no prob.

All in all, I really like this bar 1) great selection of beer 2) neighborhood feel 3) Patio 4) You can but small beer pours....thats cool 5) Great Jukebox
Jun 07, 2009
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Reviewed by JohnQVegas from Tennessee

4.3/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
Nice place, fairly small area inside with a few tables and a nice deck outside that's great in warm weather. Always good beer on tap, and fantastic events. Anyplace where I can get Cantillon on tap is an A or higher for me. Beer is always served at a reasonable temp from clean lines. Bartenders haven't been too talkative, but that's understandable. I imagine this place gets packed at night, but I always go during the afternoon, and thus am treated to a nice, calm, relaxed environment, just like I like it. Reasonable prices all around.
Apr 21, 2009
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Reviewed by henkster from New York

4.2/5  rDev +1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
My wife and I recently moved from Brookline, MA to Brooklyn. It was hard to move away from the Publick House, which we frequented nearly every week. However, we were pleasantly surprised to discover The Gate two blocks from our new apartment. Brooklyn is full of great beer bars, with many of them concentrated on Fourth Ave and a bunch in Williamsburg. I would rank The Gate right up there with any of them.

What always strikes me about The Gate is the very comfortable vibe when I walk in. There's always cool music playing, whether it's the bartender's chosen cd or something from the great jukebox. There are usually a few dogs in there, which contributes to the homey vibe (unless you're allergic to dogs, or as happened last night, one dog attacks another dog)

They have about 25 taps, which are constantly rotating. On our most recent visit (last night), they had about 10 Dogfish Head drafts carried over from their DFH event Wednesday night. The DFH drafts included a 2003 Worldwide Stout, a 2004 Olde School, a 2003 120 Minute, a Palo Santo Marron. The Gate seems to have a special event at least every other Wednesday featuring a brewery or style of beer. Recent events we have enjoyed included: Holiday beers; Two Brothers; and Arcadia.

The bartenders have always been friendly to us and willing to give samples (often without us even asking).

They do not serve food, but you can bring your own.
Feb 07, 2009
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Reviewed by PEBKAC from North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
I hate taking the train into Brooklyn. There is normally one train, the G, that can get direct from Queens across the border without waddling through Manhattan. Luckily, double dipping at the Blind Tiger earlier meant I was able to just get back on the F & go a little deeper. One stop in reverse to get to the G meant an easy ride home too. :D

A Bear Republic banner flapping in the wind just outside for the Wednesday event, doors facing the walk up to the place, easy enough to find. Seating available outside, looking... cold.

Brick bar back, airy feel & not much furniture to trip over. A few rounded tables, a tighter section of seating in the back, near yet another accident waiting to happen(a bathroom with stairs). My eyes didn't take in the usual descriptives, as the Bear Republic dominated tap handles soon caught my eye. Quiet place on a Wednesday night. Saloon style silence, where everyone notices the sound your spurs make walking in.

Behind the bar, a more vibrant version of Uma Thurman, Joe with the beard o' bees, & a younger guy who looked like me before I started getting all awkward & growing hair in funny places. He twice mentions the $20 minimum on the AMEX. I must of really been dressed like a bum that night.

I start off with the cask Hop Rod. Tasty & slightly chill. A full pour too, thank you. I then go up & down the list, getting closer with my inner beer geek. Pint after full pint. A pint of barleywine(!), a half of IPA, a couple sessioners in between, & I'm struggling. It all tastes wonderful. Joe takes a picture of me slouching & I feel my way to the bathroom before I ask for the check. I nearly roll my ankle on those tiny stairs, but barely broke $20 with the tip.

:)
Dec 30, 2008
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Reviewed by SeanRedd from New Jersey

3.94/5  rDev -5.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Yea! The fukin Gate! Taps out the ass and plenty of women who like it the same. Great selection, varied; jukebox...alright, needs a little help. Never once had much interaction with the staff...the kinda place you grab a Chipotle Rogue and bullshit with people you don't care about. All together, awesome. Dark or garden, American or Belgian, your gunna find it. Set up a party there or sit in the corner like a weirdo, you won't stand out. Bring a date, stab a knife into the wooden tables, or get loud with a veteran. Its all very welcome.
Jul 28, 2008
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Reviewed by jbsteiny from Hawaii

4.3/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
Probably the best beer bar in Park Slope -- part of the Blind Tiger / Collins Bar consortium -- and a nice place to sit outside on a beautiful day with a craft brew. About 25 taps, constantly rotating, with a heavy lean on seasonal brews. Usually a few local beers, something from Sierra Nevada, Stone, Avery, Goose Island, Dogfish Head, etc., and a few imports (Belgium, Germany, UK). They've recently replaced the attitude on the chalkboard (Previously: "No we don't have Bass, Becks, Bud, Coors, Heineken, Miller, or Rolling Rock. Deal with it." Now: "A Nice Glass of Shut The Fuck Up*" and at the bottom it says "*Ask For a Free Sample"), and there's lots of funny anarchist propaganda behind the bar.

The inside seating is publick house style -- benches built into the walls with dividers breaking up the party -- and the outdoors is patio furniture. The bartenders are quick to give you a taste of whatever, even if a few of them are a bit intimidating. It's a great neighborhood bar -- if I lived a few blocks closer, it would be my neighborhood joint.
Mar 31, 2007
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Reviewed by AChamberlain from Texas

4.36/5  rDev +4.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
My favorite bar. I go there at least twice a week. It's two blocks from my house, which is nice. Plenty of taps and rotating releases make the place exciting. You can always get something new. Most p.slopers have the 20oz Hofbraus, but there is much more there. They do not have food, but allow you to bring in your own and have it delivered. I love getting burgers from Bonnies personally, but there is also a cheap bagel shop a block away. Service is usually quick and friendly. Atmosphere is good for a local pub. It can get packed on the weekends. My favorite times are on Sunday afternoons and weeknights on the deck.
Nov 14, 2006
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Reviewed by edchef1850 from New York

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
The Gate is a great neigborhood bar located right in the middle of the neighborhood i grew up in.Park Slope is a great historic area, a nice place to visit, right off prospect park. Great beer selection on tap here, 24 or so, always find something new to try and the bar staff is always up to speed. Lots of micros , local especially so its a good spot to pop into for some truly local flavor. No food available so eat before you come here, maybe right down the street at Blu Ribbon. All in all this is a nice spot to pop into were you can sip some great beers and relax.
Jan 18, 2006
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Reviewed by francisweizen from Washington

3.38/5  rDev -18.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 2.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
This place is interesting. My friend Dave and I were on a pubcrawl in Brookyln and we stopped in here as we were tired and thirsty, and there was a sign outside that said 100% of Abita Amber sales would go to Katrina victims. That was enough to get us sappy bastards in the door. Atmosphere is nice, dark wood, and a real Brit feel to the place with some nice brewery related merchandise as well as some anti-bush posters, and what-not. Quality was OK, but at $5.50 for an Abita, I was a bit knocked out! The kicker being that the abita was served in one of those fake 20oz UK bulged pint glasses, the ones that only hold 14oz! Sure, i'm glad to put my money to charity and good use, but i'd still like a real pint o' brew!. Service was OK as a UK ex-pat manned the bar with ease, but no real charm. Selection is pretty good with 20 or so local US micro taps and some good imports and micros as well. But this place was damn expensive. Still a nice place to go for an afternoon tipple in the slope...
Oct 05, 2005
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Reviewed by GreatPondBrewer from California

4.08/5  rDev -1.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
On the nice tree-lined, brownstoned 5th AveThe Gate commendeers a good corner position replete with wrought-iron gated outdoor seating. Inside was dark, full of worn wood, semi-comfortable looking booths and plenty of Anti-Bush stuff adorning the walls. Perhaps my one complaint, and this can be tempered by the fact that it was a friday night, is it was rather noisy. However, the music was acceptable so I can't complain too much.
Looking around was rather commical as every person who came in seemed to be wearing a uniform that I was unaware of. Cargo shorts and some sort of ironic, pre-faded t-shirt.

My friend and I bellied right up to the bar and were graciously received by a bartender that looked more like he should be riding a harley. The draft selection was not immense, but thoughtfully chosen with regard to the unbearable heat. A couple hefes, several Magic Hats, Brooklyns, Southamptons and a few Belgians including Chimay. Probably 20 taps all together and the only crap you could get was Bud in a bottle (accepetable by my standards). All beers were fresh and of high quality.

This is a good neighborhood bar; the staff is friendly and obviously respects beer, the patrons, while they affect the "I work in the east village", are subdued and certainly enjoy themselves and hey the beer is nothing to complain about.
Aug 13, 2005
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Reviewed by TheLongBeachBum from California

4.3/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
After a decent session in the Brazen Head, some Brit grub & a beer in the Atlantic Chip Shop and yet more beer in the Waterfront Ale House, it was time to head out to The Gate.

After a mild mix-up with my slow one-lettered Text Messaging, the assembled cortège of djgonzalez, Rokotgirl, ericaweizen, Davo and yours truly were soon joined by NYC’s top Chav-hunter Rapopoda and Machu Picchu lover Schoolteacher; at a later time we were also joined by Imbiber and his lovely wife felice, quite the gathering at the end.

Corner bar with a private club look to it, this is accentuated with a minimalist decorated exterior, thick curtains that seemed closed all the time, a lack of any beery neon adverts, a simplistic painted sign and, later on in the night, with the presence of a door bound ID checking dude. Don’t let this put you off though. Standing at the corner entrance I noticed that there is an outside uncovered drinking deck to the left which is tightly railed into side of the Gate leaving a clear sidewalk, and on the hot night I was there, it was packed and positively jostling with conversation.

The bar sits back to your right as you enter; once inside you are assaulted with a smell of the classic neighborhood bar, the odor of beer, wood and a well worn interior mixed with the merest hint of cigarette smoke all contribute to fill the inside with a local bar aroma. The wooden bar counter is in the front corner room, but there is a small back room which contains the stairs to the downstairs rest rooms and the entrance to the outside area if memeory serves me right. Décor is eclectic, including, surprisingly, some Football (Association that is, not American) paraphernalia.

Beer range is pretty good, apart from a small handful of the brews [Boddies, Guinness, et al] the rest of 25 or so taps is pretty damn good which includes a wide selection of local brews, several from Brooklyn and one from Southampton. The Weihenstephaner Hefe was flying off the tap later on thanks to the sticky heat hanging in the evening air from the earlier 90 degree midday sun. The beer list included a few newbies which I had not tried before, including the Sixpoint Bengali IPA. I don’t think this place does food; I didn’t want any as I had eaten earlier anyway but some kind of snacks would have been nice, but I didn’t see any.

The bartenders were attentive and rather cool, they knew their beers, and had some good recommendations when I “ummed and erred” at the selection. I rather liked the service here, short and sweet when it needed to be and attentive with time for you at others when required, top marks for that.

A cool hangout and a really nice "breath of fresh air" after the earlier plethora of beer bars which I had visited. Sometimes it is just nice to relax and chill with your BA Brethren which has a decent selection of brews in bar that is not totally dedicated to beery nerds, but also appeals to those other 'normal' people that like to enjoy a night out. Out and out beer nerds may not like it, but those of you with real lives probably will. Well worth a visit if you are in the area!

Thanks to Dave and Sabrina for the ride out here, and the rest of the NYC (oops..and PA) BeerAdvocates for the company.

Last Visit: Saturday 25th June, 2005
Jul 04, 2005
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Reviewed by bultrey from New York

3.7/5  rDev -11.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
I've been to this place a few times, and have had mixed feelings. I finally decided to write a review. The other day I got out of work early and happened to be in the neighborhood for some errands, and really had a hankering for a Belgian or Belgian-style brew. Well, I knew exactly where to look -- the famous Gate, which has always, to my knowledge, tried to provide at least one or two Belgians on draft at any given time. Unfortunately, this time all they had on was Avery Salvation, which I begrudgingly tried for the first time (more on that later, perhaps. Bleh). Of course, there is also Delirium Tremens in the bottle. In their defense, the taps were clearly geared towards summery, lighter beers, and I can't blame them -- although there are certainly Belgians that fit the profile.
Anwway, surprised to get my Salvation in an imperial pint glass -- a bit too big big for that beer, though it's hard to complain about the $5 (happy hour) price. They need a few more types of glassware, though.
Overall, there was nothing on draft that was super-exciting -- although the Goose Island IPA and Honkers Pale Ale were there, as well as some Sixpoint and Brooklyn favorites, and a few other local summery, warm-weather beers. The atmosphere is good enough, a real neighborhood joint that has outdoor seating, let's you bring your own food in, and has a pretty friendly and competent waitstaff.

I was also here for the winter Brooklyn Weissbock release party, which was a real nice event with fine cheeses, and some aged Monster from the basement, so this place can be pretty serious about its beer when it wants to.
If I lived within walking distance, I'd be there fairly often. But I don't go out of my way for it like I do the Williamsburg bars.
Jun 29, 2005
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Reviewed by apintofknowledge from Connecticut

2.99/5  rDev -28.1%
vibe: 2 | quality: 2.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4.5
So, on the first beautiful (i.e. over 60-degrees & sunny) evening of the Spring, I was very much looking forward to finally visiting what had been proclaimed to me as "the best beer bar in the Slope". Needless to say, my expectations were high.

First disappointment: The outdoor patio was packed... of course, I can't blame the establishment for this. After all, Spring was in the air, and everyone wanted to be outside. However, I don't think we would have sat outside if there was a seat because it was a smokers' haven. Now I understand, smokers are now at a serious disadvantage in NYC with smoking being outlawed nearly everywhere in this town. But I really wish they could somehow have a separate non-smoking patio or something, since even the outdoor air wasn't enough to diffuse the smoke in these close quarters.

Second disappointment: So, we sat at a booth inside. Not too comfy. Not much atmosphere. No peanuts, pretzels or anything.

Third disappointment: After visiting Southampton Publik House a few weeks back and finding them out of their Secret Ale on tap, I was so happy to find it here. Unfortunately, after a few sips that just didn't seem right, I realized that it just wasn't fresh... either an old keg or a dirty line or something. My wife's Fuller's ESB was much better.

All in all, a nice selection of beers on tap. And yes, it's probably the best selection in the Slope. But other bars in the neighborhood have a nicer atmosphere. And several bars in Williamsburg have a better selection. And beware the patio if you're not a smoker.
Apr 18, 2005
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Reviewed by SCW from New York

4.64/5  rDev +11.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
This place is definitely one of the best neighborhood bars in Park Slope. Seated right along the popular 5th Ave, you might expect this place to draw a lot of attention... but it doesn't. It doesn't stand out or do anything to grab your attention, it simply is what it is.

And it's a great bar. The tap lines are impeccably clean. The staff is awesome. If you stop in, say "hi" to Patrick or Billy. And look for Bobby, the owner too. All of them are world-class individuals.

As far as beer selection goes, yes, they keep the usual standbys. But yo - you gotta give them credit for keeping some rare local microbrews as well. Southhampton and Sixpoint on tap, and you know they appreciate quality if they have Chimay Tripel on tap too.

A great jukebox and a cool crowd, and I guess the food is nice too. I can't wait to go back when the weather is nice so I can see what the hype about the biergarten is all about.

Definitely check this place out.
Apr 04, 2005
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Reviewed by pgroove from New York

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5
Without a doubt the best beer bar Park Slope, if not all of Brooklyn outside of the 'burg. They have a great selection of about 20 domestic and international brews on tap that they keep rotated throughout the year. A fine selection of hefe's in the summer, a pumkin ale or two in the fall and some nice porters and heavier beers in the winter (hmmm....Sierra Nevada Celebration).

I've never had a problem with the service there although some people think the bartenders are too gruff. It is a beer bar, that's what you get. There is a beautiful (and overcrowded) outside patio open during most of the year, and the inside area is somewhat comfortable as well.
Sep 13, 2004
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Reviewed by PopeJonPaul from Oregon

4.36/5  rDev +4.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
My favorite 'neighborhood' bar, I hit this place on a regular basis. Cool dark subdued gothic theme, awesome patio, good jukebox. Bartenders are a bit gruff but that's my kind of bartender. Everyone but the short-haired guy busts his\her butt, I've never had bad service here. The beer selection is always great, and they rotate fairly frequently. 20-24 taps, all good, and a few bottles. They usually have some weird stuff here (especially around Christmas time) and you can often find a barleywine here for $4-$5 in a pint glass (let's hear a Kool-Aid Man "OH YEAH!" for that one.) It can get crowded but there's usually room in the front, especially in the summer when everyone presses onto the patio. I've spent the last 2 New Years' here as well, good place.

My only knock against The Gate is the paper towels for the bathrooms are in a basket outside, so you have to walk by everyone like Frankenstein when you leave the toilet.
Apr 16, 2004
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Reviewed by Billolick from New York

4.14/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
Park slope Bklyn, great neighborhood. Nice corner location, with cozy outside space for warmer months. Inside this place is dark and Gothic in feel , with lots of Celtic stuff around the place.
Very respectable selection of brews, many of the usuals, plus always a few more interesting choices. If you want to eat, bring in some of the amazing and tasty quesadilas from the Mexican Sandwich joint diagonally across the street. This is a fun and quality destination to down a few craft brews, very worth checking out. Close to Biercraft to boot.
Feb 26, 2004
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Reviewed by slander from New York

4.44/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Hey now!!
26 taps and no clunkers, that's always a good thing right out of the gate. A handful of staples like Guinness, Bodingtons & Old Speckled Hen and then a plethera of quality american micros and some good Euros. I had the Anchor OSA '02 while FeloniusPhil (you've changed man, you've changed) had the Leffe Brown but second guessed himself thinking maybe he should have had the Allagash Grand Cru. A nice clean bar with an outside beer garden and they've got darts and some good chill space in the back of the bar. Nice Guinness and Irish themes throughout, friendly knowledgable bartendar and a good crowd in this Park Slope bar for a Saturday afternoon.
Mar 09, 2003
The Gate in Brooklyn, NY
Place rating: 4.16 out of 5 with 39 ratings