New York State bursts with world-class breweries—like these in the Hudson Valley, and New York City, in particular, has some of the country’s best craft beer (we see you, Brooklyn). From extra juicy IPAs to dialed-in farmhouse ales, the Big Apple is spoiled for craft beer choices. But while we’ve covered one of the boroughs and Upstate pretty thoroughly, we’ve yet to turn our attention across the Manhattan Bridge. Manhattan and The Bronx actually have a shorter supply of breweries than you’d think (you know, because space and rents are at a premium), so we’ve included some of our favorite beer bars on this list, too.
Hop Culture’s Best Breweries in Manhattan and The Bronx
Other Half Brewing – Rockefeller Center Taproom
600 5th Ave A2, New York, NY 10020 | (212) 202-2564
Any conversation about craft beer in New York City needs to include Other Half. The Brooklyn-based brewery has been producing highly sought-after juicy IPAs since opening. And they do it better than just about anyone.
Sure, the taproom might be exclusively hoppy beers, but Other Half has also managed to brew one of our favorite stouts, impressive sours, and even a pilsner or two.
There’s plenty of hype surrounding Other Half, but it’s well justified. The brewery’s uber popularity has helped it expand to eight locations across three states, including Manhattan.
In 2021, Other Half opened its Rockefeller Center taproom in the heart of Midtown. On the south side of Rockefeller Plaza, this Other Half lets you drink some of the best beer in the country in the heart of all the NYC action.
If you need a break from touristy things, check out Other Half Rockefeller Center.
Torch & Crown Brewing Company
12 Vandam St, New York, NY 10013 | (212) 228-7005
Summer/Fall Pop-Up: 20 Union Square West, New York, NY 10003 | (646) 908-3333
Torch & Crown Co-Founders Joe Correia and John Dantzler found their love of beer at the tender age of sixteen when a night out ended in confiscated IDs and no way to drink. From there, they decided they should learn how to make beer instead.
A Mr. Beer homebrew kit, an explosion in the kitchen, perseverance, and a trip to Ireland all eventually lead to Torch & Crown.
At the brewery’s OG Lower Manhattan taproom, you’ll find favorites like Almost Famous, Torch & Crown’s first-ever beer, packed with hazy goodness. Or Tenement Pilsner, a testament to the style built for a busy city.
You can also find Torch & Crown popping up in Union Square through November.
That Witch Ales You
116 Madison St, New York, NY 10002 | (646) 669-7363
A bewitching nano-brewery that sticks to its brooms, That Witch Ales You may be small, but it packs a big flavor punch.
Find beers like Ginger IPA, Lychee Red, and Coconut Potion alongside small bites like fried dumplings, fish cake skewers, and fried biscuits.
Alphabet City Beer Co.
96 Loisaida Ave, New York, NY 10009 | (646) 422-7103
Alphabet City Beer Co. is one of our favorite spots in the city. Owner Zac Mack has been in the industry for a while and is extremely knowledgeable. Walk in without any idea what you want, and he’ll send you out with some great selections. ABC Beer Co. also happens to be next to one of our favorite wine bars (LOIS), so you can make an afternoon trip between the two.
McSorley’s Old Ale House
15 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003
Alright, stick with us here. McSorley’s Old Ale House feels like it’s as old as New York City itself. It’s the place our friends used to take us to drink when we visited before we lived there, with walls packed with memorabilia. It’s where they only serve two types of beer—light or dark. And it’s the place with sawdust on the floor.
McSorley’s started as a working person’s saloon and has stood the test of time in a constantly evolving city.
To drink in a piece of history in its simplest, sudsiest form, gulp down a few mugs of light or dark at McSorley’s in the East Village.
Proletariat
21 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003 | (833) 328-4588 ext. 703
You can rightly argue that Proletariat deserves a spot on our other NYC list, because, to NYC beer fans, it’s no secret that this East Village bar is one of the best in the city. But when we lived in New York, we introduced enough of our East Village-dwelling friends to the bar that, at this point, we’re giving it “hidden gem” status.
Proletariat’s tap list is stocked with “rare, new, and unusual beers,” as the bar window promises.
Jason Synan, one of the co-founders of Hudson Valley Brewery, is a Proletariat alum, and you’ll often find him at the narrow, galley-like bar. Pop by for a beer and then make your way down the street to another solid beer bar: Augurs Well.
Blind Tiger
281 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014 | (212) 462-4682
This is the NYC beer bar. Where the bartenders at other beer bars go after they finish their shift. You’ll often find Benjamin Pratt, co-founder of As Is (which you’ll see next on this list!), at Blind Tiger closing it down.
The bar is small and busy, so expect the spot to get a little cramped. But there’s a good reason for that: Blind Tiger’s tap list is one of the best in the city. If you can secure a table, we’d recommend staying all night.
As Is NYC
734 10th Ave, New York, NY 10019 | (646) 858-1153
As Is NYC is one of our favorite spots in the city. When the Hop Culture team called NYC home, you’d find us there at least once a week. In 2019, we even celebrated our second birthday at this banger of a craft beer bar.
The draft list is exceptionally well curated, there are draft cocktails and natural wine pours for those who don’t like beer, and the music choices are always great–depending on who’s DJing, you’ll hear Thundercat or Fleet Foxes.
Also, don’t skip on the food because the kitchen is phenomenal. And, if running is your thing, Pratt leads a five- and eight-mile loop from the bar every week.
Harlem Hops
Harlem: 2268 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd, New York, NY 10030 | (646) 998-3444
Chelsea: 25 11th Ave, New York, NY 10011 | (646) 450-5878
Opened by three historically black college and universities (HBCUs) graduates in 2018, Harlem Hops became the first 100 percent African-American-owned craft beer bar to open in Harlem. Co-founders Kim Harris, Stacey Lee Spratt, and Kevin Bradford aim to make Harlem Hops a place for the community where anyone can come, drink, socialize, and feel safe.
At Harlem Hops, you’ll find cocktails and craft beer, often with a focus on women- or POC-owned breweries and beverage companies. For instance, Baobiere from Montclair Brewery in Montclair, NJ. Or Harlem Renaissance Wit from the revered Harlem Brewing Company.
You’ll also find a selection dedicated to local beer. Out of the sixteen drafts on the tap list at the moment, fourteen come from New York or New Jersey breweries such as Suarez Family Brewery, Root + Branch Brewing, Fidens Brewing Co., and Tin Barn Brewing.
Earl’s Beer and Cheese
1259 Park Ave, New York, NY 10029 | (212) 289-1581
This was our go-to lunch spot on the Upper East Side. Earl’s has a great cheese-focused menu and a solid, if tiny, tap list. You’ll want to draw your attention to the famous beer cheese app—it’s just a basket of perfectly Pugliese browned bread with a garlic clove to rub on and a bowl of sharp cheddar spread. Consider this a damned fine drinking snack. Also, don’t skip out on the Earl’s Taco, a pork shoulder-filled scallion pancake with queso fresco, radish, and shredded cabbage. Earl’s is a small spot that can often get crowded, but we’d highly recommend heading up there for fantastic drinking food and a pint of whatever fresh lager is pouring.
The Bronx Brewery
East Village: 64 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003 | (917) 243-6015
Empanology: 856 E 136th St, Bronx, NY 10454 | (718) 402-1000
Hudson Yards: 20 Hudson Yards Unit 207, New York, NY 10001 | (718) 402-1000
When you think about breweries in The Bronx borough of New York, we’re pretty sure this is the first one that comes to mind: The Bronx Brewery.
The South Bronx-based brewery has anchored craft beer in the borough since 2012. The eleven-year-old brewery makes beers with New York roots and is committed to creating a brewery that revolves around community, creativity, and inclusivity.
To that end, in 2020, The Bronx Brewery inked a long-term deal to make Bronx-born Empanology its first official food partner.
That same year, right before its tenth anniversary, they also opened an outpost in the East Village featuring another food partner—Bastard Burgers.
The spot combines all of The Bronx Brewery’s tenets—fantastic beer, art, music, and food. With only a 1-bbl pilot system on site, the brewery’s East Village location often features limited releases and beers from an ever-expanding collaborative Y-Series.
Gun Hill Brewing Company
3227 Laconia Ave, Bronx, NY 10469 | (718) 881-0010
Here’s a story for you: Gun Hill Brewing Company co-founders Kieran Farrell and Dave Lopez met on a baseball field.
In 2004, Farrell ran a semi-pro baseball team called the New York City ThunderDogs, who play in The Bronx. Lopez showed up for a tryout one day.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
The two became fast friends and later co-founders, opening Gun Hill in 2014 with the vision to bring New York State’s rich beer history into the taproom.
When most people think of craft beer in New York, the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens come to mind. And yes, those neighborhoods do have a ton of great breweries, but Farrell and Lopez wanted to prove that their home could also crank out incredible beer.
Named after a strategic Revolutionary War battle site nearby, Gun Hill has revolutionized craft beer in The Bronx for almost ten years.
Simple Motive Brewing Company
222 Lake Ave Suite 1B, Yonkers, NY 10701 | (914) 968-1406
Yes, technically, this brewery is in Yonkers, but it’s intriguing and new enough to warrant heading a few extra blocks north. Opened just this past July, Simple Motive is a women- and veteran-owned 7-bbl brewery with a high focus on hops.
Check out beers like Satori pale ale and Perpetuity IPA. But don’t sleep on the brewery’s Lake kölsch and Mill Water porter.
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