Brooklyn/Queens beer tour recomendations

Discussion in 'Mid-Atlantic' started by stapp101, Sep 24, 2019.

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  1. stapp101

    stapp101 Devotee (361) Feb 21, 2018 Pennsylvania

    Beer lovers,
    I'm doing a two-day Brooklyn/Queens brewery tour this weekend, and would really appreciate some thoughts on how best to spend my time. My buddy and I favor sours (esp barrel aged), top-notch NEIPAs, FUNKY saisons, and stouts. Couldn't really care less about pilsners, lagers, etc. We're not fans of super crowded environments, so I know I need to be smart about when we visit certain stops. So far my list is:

    Must: Other Half (Sunday morning), Grimm (Sunday at opening), Kings County Brewing Collective, Mikkeler @CitiField, LIC, SingleCut, Evil Twin

    Maybe: Fifth Hammer, Rockaway, Folksbier, Threes, Transmitter, Finback

    Any thoughts, particularly on the Maybes, would be super helpful. I need to cut a few, and I'm thinking some of these may not be quite the same caliber.

    Thanks so much!!!!
     
  2. tinoynk

    tinoynk Pundit (800) Sep 25, 2010 New York
    Trader

    Evil Twin doesn't have a taproom yet, they just sell cans.

    I think the best way to do it is to split it into sections, since traversing north and south through Brooklyn/Queens isn't the easiest, and a lot of the good breweries are in areas with other breweries or craft bars.

    If you're not a fan of crowds, Other Half even on a Sunday morning gets pretty packed, so if you get sick of that take the walk over to Folksbier, which is much more relaxed. From there, getting to Threes isn't too long of a walk, and you can stop by local places like Strong Rope and Svendale which aren't amazing, but I mean if you're there why not.

    The next grouping I'd say is the L train breweries, meaning Grimm, Interboro, KCBC, and Evil Twin (if you want their cans), and Finback wouldn't be a bad Uber. Their beer is definitely worth it.

    Then in Queens Long Island City is the big hub, though outside of LIC Beer Project none of them are really too exceptional in my book. Big aLICe does make some great sours, and Fifth Hammer is a nice jack-of-all-trades, but if you're looking for top notch juice bombs your mileage may vary. But from that neighborhood you can take the 7 train straight out to Mikkeller.

    Also, Sixpoint Brewery is doing their small batch release event this Saturday, the events themselves are always a blast and it's about a 20 minute walk from Other Half.
     
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  3. prettygood

    prettygood Initiate (0) May 27, 2016 New York

    I'd list Threes as a definite must. They do everything you listed, and their sours and funky saisons are particularly underrated. I'd also put Finback as a must if it wasn't such a pain to get out to with nothing else around it, but it's not all that far Evil Twin.

    Personally, I'd scrap Queens outside of Finback. You'll mostly just get ipas with the places you listed(which every brewery you listed will do a good version of). It's also not convenient to get to Singlecut and Mikkeler in particular. I like Mikkeler, but unless you're going to a Mets game or into Chinatown in Flushing for food it's long way to go.

    What I'd add instead are local beer bars by the other Brooklyn breweries, and use beermenus to find what you want. You'll find upstate breweries on tap there(Suarez, Hudson valley, equilibrium, Industrial arts). There are couple by threes/other half (bar great henry, mission dolores), but I prefer the stretch of ones in williamsburg into bushwick (Spuyten duvil, beer karma, beer street, the well).

    Also Interboro is good and very close to Grimm. I also like Transmitter, but haven't been to their new space yet.
     
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  4. stapp101

    stapp101 Devotee (361) Feb 21, 2018 Pennsylvania

    Thanks so much guys!!

    First, this is breweries only - taprooms don't do as much for me, for whatever reason.

    That is super helpful to know about Evil Twin - I'm travelling by bus with a backpack, so I won't be taking much home. SKIP.

    I AM in fact going to a Mets game, so Mikkeler is a must.

    Does Grimm get super crowded, like Other Half?

    Thanks again!
     
    #4 stapp101, Sep 24, 2019
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2019
  5. stapp101

    stapp101 Devotee (361) Feb 21, 2018 Pennsylvania

    In light of skipping Evil Twin, I think I'm gonna have to skip Finback. It's really annoying to get there on public transit and really expensive w/ Uber...
     
  6. orcrist_cleaver

    orcrist_cleaver Initiate (0) May 3, 2014 New York
    Trader

    Transmitter has an enjoyable sour program. And Finback has a lot of good stuff. It's just as out of the way as can be from public trans as Singlecut, but I think their beers have are better crafted. Take the M to Middle Village and it's about a $6 uber from there. Interboro is right around the corner from Grimm and worth the stop.
     
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  7. tinoynk

    tinoynk Pundit (800) Sep 25, 2010 New York
    Trader

    It can, especially on Saturday and probably Friday nights, but during the day it isn't as slammed, but weekends especially if the weather is nice it won't be a ghost town.
     
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  8. Feaor

    Feaor Pundit (946) Jul 9, 2017 New York

    Yes, but it only really starts to get busy a bit later into the afternoons, like 3-ish.
     
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  9. stapp101

    stapp101 Devotee (361) Feb 21, 2018 Pennsylvania

    Thanks, ya'll!!

    Hmm....3:00 Saturday is prob right about when I'd get to Grimm

    Anyone been to Transmitter? Cool space? Crazy bottle prices?
     
  10. orcrist_cleaver

    orcrist_cleaver Initiate (0) May 3, 2014 New York
    Trader

    Newly opened spot in the Brooklyn Navy Yard's Ferry terminal. The terminal building has some good spots to eat at including an outpost of Russ & Daughters that seeks a variety of smoked fish and bagels. Transmitter sells a bunch of 4 packs for city average of $18 or so. And btls start at $11. There beer menu is usually pretty up to date.
     
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  11. stapp101

    stapp101 Devotee (361) Feb 21, 2018 Pennsylvania

    Oh cool. I got the impression from a google review they only had bottles, and not taps, but I see that is wrong now. This place looks right up my alley
     
  12. stapp101

    stapp101 Devotee (361) Feb 21, 2018 Pennsylvania

    Thanks so much, ya'll. I think the itinerary is:

    Day 1: Transmitter, Grimm, Interboro, Kings County Brewing Collective, Finback

    Day 2: Other Half, Folksbier, Threes, Mikkeler, SingleCut, LIC

    Maybe I'll hit Fifth Hammer/Rockaway too - they're close to where I'm staying.
     
  13. tinoynk

    tinoynk Pundit (800) Sep 25, 2010 New York
    Trader

    Pretty reasonable, the biggest pains will be from Transmitter to Grimm, and from Threes to Mikkeller. They're very doable, pretty easy because it's just one transfer each, but not exactly convenient.
     
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  14. FatSkippy

    FatSkippy Initiate (0) Mar 21, 2005 New York

    I would group Transmitter with the LIC breweries and take the ferry between them. It drops you off right by both and is a nice ride for the same price as the subway. Having a bar aboard doesn't hurt either.
     
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  15. stapp101

    stapp101 Devotee (361) Feb 21, 2018 Pennsylvania

    RIGHT. Looks like I can catch the B57 bus or just uber from Transmitter to Grimm. I plan to drop beer purchases off at the hotel between Threes and Mikkeler.

    I'm thinking from KCBC to Finback and from Mikkeler to SingleCut are prob ubers too.
     
  16. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,620) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Whatever you do make sure don’t accidentally drink a pilsner. Ewwww!
     
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  17. Feaor

    Feaor Pundit (946) Jul 9, 2017 New York

    I would still say skip Singlecut, they're really far out of the way and I don't think their beer is that good, especially at the price point.
     
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  18. stapp101

    stapp101 Devotee (361) Feb 21, 2018 Pennsylvania

    Haha. Yeah yeah. I know. I drank "beers that taste like beer" for years. I can still appreciate the quality of a really well made beery-beer, but at this point, I drink what I like (and in much less total volume!).

    Re: Singlecut - Yeah - I may end up skipping if the taplist doesn't look that great. Do I assume the taproom is more macro-feel, like Cap Lawrence/Troegs/Victory? The other option would probably be to do Rockaway & Fifth Hammer.
     
  19. MattInBklyn

    MattInBklyn Aspirant (274) Dec 27, 2017 New Jersey

    Maybe I’m not that ambitious, but I’m not sure I’d try to go to five places after other half. Also, depending on timing, and we’re splitting hairs, but I’d maybe consider going to Threes then Folksbier then other half?
     
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  20. stapp101

    stapp101 Devotee (361) Feb 21, 2018 Pennsylvania

    Whoa. That's an option? That sounds awesome. I'm staying in Long Island City, so I was more thinking of LIC, Rockaway, and Fifth Hammer as end-of-the-night options, but maybe I'll stop at Rockaway/Fifth Hammer just for a round first thing on Day 1, and then ferry south down to Transmitter.

    EDIT - I'm looking at Google Maps and it says all the roads to walk from the Navy Yard to Transmitter are "RESTRICTED ACCESS ROADS" ???
     
    #20 stapp101, Sep 25, 2019
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2019
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