New York's Best Beer Bars

Here's what most tourists don't seem to get. Real New Yorkers don't hang out in Midtown Manhattan. It's too crowded, too sanitized, too franchisey, and, quite frankly, … too full of tourists. We come here because that's where our jobs happen to be located, but when drinking time rolls around, we head downtown, or to Brooklyn. It's just the daily natural flow of humanity, a beautiful event akin to the migration of the wildebeests across the Serengeti. But I shouldn't speak in absolutes here, because there are a few good places in Midtown, and the Ginger Man is one of them. With a tremendous selection of drafts and bottles; a beautiful wooden barroom adorned with Guinness posters and other Hibernian ephemera; and attentive, knowledgeable bartenders, the Ginger Man is a perfectly acceptable excuse for being in Midtown after dark. [link]

I've been going to d.b.a. for years, but got a wee bit sore at them the last time because it seemed like they started operating on autopilot, taking for granted the … crowds that keep coming back no matter how dismissive the service. Still, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention them in a roundup of New York's best beer bars, so here goes. d.b.a., in the East Village, has an impressive selection of drafts and cask ales, and its list of bottled brews even includes a few that have been cellared for a couple of years (yes, most beers get skunky, but some improve with age). Go on a weekday and enjoy a fine brew (or fine whiskey) at this classic New York beer pub. [link]

The Blind Tiger is back, baby! Legions of beer fans wept when the Tiger closed its Hudson Street location, and then jumped for joy when it reopened on the busy corner of … Bleecker and Jones streets in the Village. It's more crowded than ever, but worth politely elbowing your way to the bar for one of 28 draft beers, 50 bottled beers, two cask ales, and one "gravity keg" offering. This is another bar that's best visited on weekdays or during the day on weekends, as Friday and Saturday evening can draw the occasional jerkface asking if they have any "normal beers." But it's a veritable university of suds for those trying to raise their brew knowledge to the next level. [link]

Another temple to beer that definitely emphasizes quality over quantity, the Brazen Head boasts 15 microbrews and two cask ales on tap (try the Brooklyn Blast … Double IPA). And in case you're hanging out with someone who doesn't drink beer (there are some such people, I've met them), there's also a fine selection of whiskeys and inspired cocktail choices. The vibe is very much corner pub, and the drinks are as good as drinks get. [link]

Burp Castle has a hilarious name, but it also has a mind-boggling selection of Belgian beers. The idea of the place is that you're entering a holy environment, a "temple … of beer worship," and you should drink and act accordingly. You'll find dark wooden "pew" booths, large oil paintings, Gregorian chants, and robed servers speaking in passionate yet hushed tones about the more than 500 beers on offer. It's a small space that gets crowded quickly, so arrive early and maintain patience at all times. Your beer prayers will be answered. [link]

Back in Williamsburg, Mugs Ale House is a holdover from the neighborhood's pre-hipster days. And while you'll still find Lunchpail Larry and his cohorts getting soused … after a tough day on the job, they won't be downing Miller Lite or some other mass market brew. It's all good stuff at Mugs, with nearly 30 drafts and one cask ale. It's a good bet for when the Brooklyn Brewery tosses you out on the street at 11 p.m. and you feel like you need one more. [link]

Sometimes great bars pop up in the unlikeliest of places. St. Mark's Place is generally populated by dive bars, souvenir shops, and overpriced clothing boutiques, … but it also has a stellar beer bar in the Hop Devil Grill. They've got microbrews and Belgians on draft until the cows come home, along with inspired cask choices like Ommegang's Dry Hopped Rare Vos. Bottled beers from A (Abbaye des Rocs Triple Impériale) to Z (Zywiec Porter). Knowledgeable staff. Tasty snacks. Heaven on St. Mark's. [link]

While the crowd is always on the young side, this is one of the older bars on the strip of Bleecker near NYU. It may well take all four years of an undergraduate … education to work through the 500+ bottled beers on the menu. Unbelievably crowded on weekends, it's another weekday spot where the servers will take the time to explain the nuances of its myriad brews. It probably won't become your regular hangout, but it's good to have one or two beers here so you can say you've done it. [link]

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Let's start at the source. The Brooklyn Brewery is the natural spring from which so much excellent beer flows throughout New York. Granted, not every Brooklyn beer is … brewed here --mainly just the seasonals and specialties. But when the tap room opens up to the public on Friday nights, this beloved Williamsburg institution serves the freshest and most delicious ales, lagers, and stouts to be had anywhere. The atmosphere is fun too. The wide-open warehouse environment with picnic tables, DJ, rotating art exhibits, and a wandering brewery cat is a refreshing break from dark, cramped barrooms. Tours and tastings are available on Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m [link]