Berlin visit around New Years Day

I am going for my fifth Berlin trip in March, will be staying in the Alexanderplatz area and will be definitely going to: Bierbar Alkopole, Lemke, Georgbrau, Metzer Eck, Café Prenzlau, Brauhaus Mitte. Weihenstephaner and Hofbrauhaus also near by (not Berlin traditions, but I don't care after 8 pints!)

Berlin is great for New Years Eve, with lots of bars and sausage stalls down Strasse des 17 Juni (in front of Brandenburg Gate), but last time I was there, there was a dangerous crush as everyone surged forward just before midnight, so beware if that is how you are spending it.

Have fun and make sure to give us a write-up of good bars when you return!

 

@Malt_Man has given some great choices and I totally agree, but let me also give you zwei Nussbaumen. Eins, the Wirthaus zum Nussbaum is a great charming old place that's been in operation for some time and has a very good selection, und auch Zum Nussbaum which is in central Berlin and is a recreation of a historic wirthaus that operated years ago but was destroyed during the war- I hope that's not too confusing. Check out my reviews which explain it better, and both are simple stops, especially Zum Nussbaum as it's about two blocks away from Georgbrau. Also, make sure you make yourself a map that lists all of the different stops because you never know when you'll just happen to be somewhere.

 

I always go to the Czech beer bar on the food and drink floor of KaDeWe. It’s a nice spot to drink a few Budvars or Pilsner Urquells.

I went to the Stone brewery last time I was in Berlin, it’s a bit of a pain to get to but it was worth seeing. If you’re from America, and don’t have that much time in Berlin it might not be worth you going there this time.

 

Use the search option, lots of threads about it already
The thing with Berlin though is: Its beer scene recently is evolving pretty quickly. I haven't been there for like 2 years or so, so sadly, I can't tell you firsthand about the more recent new developments.
The question is, are you after "traditional" german brews or more modern, "craft" beers?
If the latter, my usual recommandation is Heidenpeters, Markthalle 9, a small yet very popular operation within a really cool place where you can also buy lots of different great foods.. their own beers belong, in my opinion, to the best modern us-inspired craft you'll get in germany, plus there are always interesting guest beers.
For "traditional" stuff: Get in a random Biosupermarket in berlin. Grab Potsdamer Biermanufaktur beers. I'm personally particularly fond of the "Potsdamer Stange". Sadly, have not visited the brewery myself, but from what I hear it's probably worth it.

 

theres a book called "around berlin in 80 beers" it lists 80 boozers with a different beer in every one. buy that and work your way through it, think im on 52 at the moment