Where to find the best themed breweries in New York

It may not be among the best-known facts about the Big Apple, but New York City is a central part of the history of the brewing industry in the United States, even when the country was not yet formed as such. Let us enter, then, into the secrets of that long history.

The first beers in the country were mainly ales y porters served at room temperature according to British brewing tradition, while The first commercial brewery in the entire region was founded on Stone Street in 1632, by the Dutch West India Company. A curiosity: Beer was long considered safer to drink than water, until the Croton Aqueduct was built in 1842, providing New York with its first reliable source of clean water.

Finally, the increase in the population of German immigrants in the second half of the 19th century caused beer production to grow rapidly (especially in its lager variety), so that By the 1880s there were more than 100 breweries in the city., clustered mainly in neighborhoods such as Yorkville, Lower East Side, Williamsburg and Bushwick. During the Prohibition Era, many breweries survived by selling products that could not be fully classified as “beer” (for example, they had almost zero levels of alcohol). The industry recovered little by little starting in 1980, focusing on the Brooklyn district, but expanding to the rest of the city.

According to New York City Tourism + Conventions, the updated map of the city’s beer scene offers classic, seasonal and specialty options from each location and, like the subway, there are sure to be some close to the accommodation during your next visit to “the capital of the world.” Let’s look at that panorama, neighborhood by neighborhood:

– Brooklyn Brewery, 79 N 11th St. Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg is responsible for the popular Brooklyn Lagery other iconic beers you’ll see in bars all over New York City. Opened in 1996, but with a history that dates back to 1984 with the first manufacturing attempts, today its beers travel to more than half of the United States and They are exported to more than thirty countries. The Brooklyn Brewery team, along with brewmaster Garrett Oliver (the first brewer to win the James Beard Award, in 2014), brews from classic styles to bold experiments and collaborates with other brewers, innovators and artists from around the world. Community involvement is a cornerstone of the brewery: beverage offerings include The Stonewall Inn IPA, brewed in support of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back initiative, and they’ve also launched Create Space, a space provided to spotlight activists LGBTQ+ fighting for equal rights around the world.

– Five Boroughs Brewing Co, 215 47th St. Their work team makes all their beer in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, although its owners come from different parts of the five boroughs. According to their vision, they want to brew craft beer that can be enjoyed in the hidden corners of the Bronx, the long avenues of Manhattan, the backyards of Staten Island, the fire escapes of Brooklyn and for those who leave early in Queens.

– Other Half Brewing, 195 Centre St. Sam Richardson, Matt Monahan and Andrew Burman founded it in 2014 with a simple mission: create the beer they wanted to drink from a company they wanted to be a part of. Their vision was to push the boundaries of beer and the culture that surrounds it by representing the “other half” of the industry. Since opening the first taproom, the company has grown and added spaces in New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Finger Lakes and Buffalo. The original venue welcomes the public to enjoy 20 beers on tap, plus wine, cider and soft drinks.

– Threes Brewing, 333 Douglass Street. It is known for brewing approachable beers that balance simplicity and complexity, with a focus on lagers, American hoppy beers and mixed culture beers. Their beers are not only found in their stores, but also in more than 700 bars, restaurants and stores throughout New York State, as well as in other states. Gowanus is where the first location opened in 2014 and where the operational heart is located. In addition to the brewery, it houses a music venue (Tiny Montgomery). Since then, they have added other spaces in Greenpoint, Governors Island, Long Island, and Midtown Manhattan.

– Torch & Crown Brewing Company, 12 Vandam St. By the time founders Joe Correia and John Dantzler were starting college, they were already winning some modest homebrew awards and a passion was fully born. On a trip to Ireland, Joe and John formally decided (over a pint of Guinness) that they would one day open their own venue, centered around their love of three things: good beer, ambitious creations, and the incredible city of New York. To do this, Joe decided that he would study chemistry and enter the world of manufacturing, and John would go into finance with the hope of working on the business side. Ten years and many test batches later, John and Joe created Torch & Crown Brewing Company.

– That Witch Ales You,116 Madison St. This charming microbrewery features cozy tin-roofed facilities, unusual beers, and incredibly delicious snacks (fried cucumbers, meatballs, fishcake skewers, and cinnamon sugar cookies). Try Jack-O-Rare (a yak-infused Kölsch), Coconut Potion (a porter with notes of coconut and dark chocolate malt) and Lychee Red (perfect balance of malt and hop flavors with a rich ruby ​​red color and lychee fruit).

– Fifth Hammer Brewing, 10-28 46th Ave. Fifth Hammer brought its 15-barrel brewing equipment to the Long Island City neighborhood in late 2017. Stop by the taproom to try a variety of adventurous beers on tap. They stand out a blueberry sour ale and a cucumber sour ale. Head brewer Chris Cuzme frequently works on brewing collaborations with other local brewers. In addition to beers, the tavern also offers Weekly live music sessions and monthly beer and cheese tastings.

– LIC Beer Project, 39-28 23rd Street. This warehouse-turned-brewery in Long Island City is a local favorite for its rustic charm and laid-back atmosphere. A garage door opens to a spacious tavern with plenty of seating for large and small groups. LIC Beer Project serves a large selection of home-brewed beersmost of them IPA. Enjoy games and music (occasionally live) to accompany your beer.

– SingleCut Beersmiths, 19-33 37th St. Founded by Queens-born, music-obsessed brewer Rich Buceta, SingleCut opened its doors in the Astoria neighborhood in 2012 and has since become a go-to place for local craft beer. They serve a variety of classic beers throughout the year, plus some seasonal beers. Customers will be able to enjoy these flavors, along with a food menu, in an outdoor area.

– The Bronx Beer Hall, 2344 Arthur Ave. Located in the heart of Bronx Little Italy’s historic Arthur Avenue retail market, the brewery offers customers upstate New York craft beers as well as an original menu crafted in the neighborhood. However, the place is not only famous for its variety of beers (which encompasses brands such as Athletic Brewing Company, Goose Island Beer Company, Run & Hide Brewing Company, as well as some of its own beers). The Bronx Beer Hall It also offers a selection of wines, and even Kurosawa sake. The place is run by the Ramírez brothers, born and raised in the Latin culture in The Bronx.

– The Bronx Brewery, 856 E. 136th St. Its pillars are Community, Creativity and Inclusivity, and its goal is to create a diverse and vibrant culture that uses beer, art, food and music to inspire, unite and drive positive change in the world. The South Bronx facility in the Port Morris neighborhood houses the brewery’s main production area, taproom and backyard. The beer, in addition to a complete menu of empanadas, artisanal pizzas and other versions of classic Puerto Rican flavors, can be enjoyed year-round in the Taproom, located next to the brewery’s production floor. They also have two semi-private spaces perfect for hosting a multitude of events: The Cut, with capacity for 100 people in the terrace area, and The Lab, for a more intimate beer experience with capacity for 30 guests.

– Gun Hill Brewing Company, 3227 Laconia Ave. The brewery’s co-founders, Kieran Farrell and Dave Lopez, met on a baseball field in early 2004. A decade later, they decided to team up to make beer. Both Kieran and Dave had a passion for the drink, but neither was an expert in the art of brewing, so they enlisted the talents of an award-winning brewmaster. After much planning, research, and the help of family and friends, the vision for Gun Hill Brewing Co. began to become a reality. With New York City’s beer revolution largely focused on the borough of Brooklyn, Kieran and Dave decided to use their strong ties to the Bronx to expand some of that focus north. By getting a location a few meters from Gun Hill, the site of a strategic Revolutionary War battle, they not only found a name but also an identity that matched their ideals. While Gun Hill gives the brewery its name, the values ​​and personality come from those settlers who dragged a cannon up the hill and forced the British army to turn around.

– The Flagship Brewing Company, 40 Minthorne St. Staten Island has always had its own distinctive culture that has made the borough unique in the city. Soon, a team of Staten Island natives felt that their hometown was missing something that could unite the diverse people of the borough. Thus, in May 2014, The Flagship Brewing Company was born, in the Tompkinsville neighborhood of the island. Co-founders Matt and Jay grew up together as neighbors and motivated by a love of craft beer, so they set out to build a brewery based on quality, creativity and local collaboration. Flagship Brewery now sells its beer throughout New York City and is always brewing something special in collaboration with other local businesses.

– Kills Boro Brewing Company, 60 Van Duzer Street. The brewery was founded with the goal of reviving Staten Island’s brewing traditions and celebrating the island’s local history and culture. The name “Kills Boro” is a reference to the tidal straits on Staten Island, which the original Dutch settlers called “kills“and they were found to be an integral ingredient in the traditional brewing practices of German immigrants who founded several breweries in the municipality. It currently produces a wide range of craft beers, including ales, lagers, stouts and IPAs, using locally sourced ingredients and traditional brewing techniques. The original taproom on Staten Island offers 10 taps, cocktails, food and more.