Anyone equipped with a 40 and a sense of adventure can savor the priceless experience of drinking outside, but even this classy New York tradition gets old. I want to be in a beer garden! Many of us lack the basic amenity of outdoor space, which means, that Stella Artois in the sun must be bought and downed at some sort of establishment. But, that's part of the fun of living in a city that forces you out of your claustrophobic environment and into the great outdoors! Well, at least, an urban take on that idea, I suppose!
The Beer Gardens
Beer gardens may be a dime a dozen over there in Germany, but here in the States, their rarity makes them priceless commodities. Usually consisting of picnic tables and pitchers of non-domestic beer, beer gardens are a step up from stoop-drinking.
Because of space issues, most of the good, sizable beer gardens are outside of Manhattan. I have broken them down by borough for your convenience.
Beer Gardens Around Town
Manhattan
The Sixth Ward
191 Orchard Street New York, Ny 10002
Rather than go the Czech or German route, as most beer gardens do, The Sixth Ward is decidedly Gaelic. And to prove their respect for all things Irish, the owners ordered up a beer specialist all the way from Ireland to make sure that every pint of Guinness has the correct levels of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Riiiight, that’s what all the rowdy boys here care about.
Does it get any better than $1 PBRS? Not if you are a hipster in Brooklyn!
Gowanus Yacht Club
323 Smith Street Brooklyn, NY 11231
I have pondered giving Gowanus Yacht Club’s above Pabst sign a new home in, er, my apartment, but for now it remains at this tiny corner spot. Gowanus refers to the smelly canal (and neighborhood?) nearby, and “yacht club” is just quintessential Brooklyn irony. There is nothing yacht clubbish about this place, but that’s a good thing.
It is hard to believe that New York was full of these humongous, Central or Eastern European beer gardens back in the day, and the only one left is now in Astoria. I always have a good time here, and with pitchers of beer, schnitzel, pierogi, and sometimes Czech dancers, what else would I expect?
It is hard to believe that New York was full of these humongous, Central or Eastern European beer gardens back in the day, and the only one left is now in Astoria. I always have a good time here, and with pitchers of beer, schnitzel, pierogi, and sometimes Czech dancers, what else would I expect?
Let’s face it, it’s almost always cheaper to buy beer at a store and drink on your stoop, or the patch of sidewalk in front of your apartment. Not that I am condoning such behavior or would participate in it myself! Um, anyway.
The additional upside to this mode of “going out” is that you don’t have to wait behind others for the inevitably lone bathroom. The corner bodega is your friend, yes, but specialty beer shops are much more fun and they usually pair beverages with other vices like chocolate and cheese.
Even though they won’t sell me their wall print of my hometown’s own Penn Brewery, Bierkraft stocks hand-crafted beers and hard-to-find imports. If you’re low on cash, take advantage of their Tuesday Night Tastings, a free evening of beer and cheese. But! Get there early for the free tickets—it was a sad day to be turned away because the event was filled to capacity. The Mexican restaurant across the street didn’t quite make up for it!
Even though they won’t sell me their wall print of my hometown’s own Penn Brewery, Bierkraft stocks hand-crafted beers and hard-to-find imports. If you’re low on cash, take advantage of their Tuesday Night Tastings, a free evening of beer and cheese. But! Get there early for the free tickets—it was a sad day to be turned away because the event was filled to capacity. The Mexican restaurant across the street didn’t quite make up for it!
Get your growlers, people! (Note: growlers are like portable kegs of draft beer, but they look way classier and it’s fun to say “growlers.”)
The only way to purchase beer in Pennsylvania, where I grew up, is from an official beer distributor or a bar/restaurant legally allowed to sell 6-packs. Strange laws there in PA, so going to a beer distributor feels “normal” to me, that modest warehouse feel.
New Beer has over 800 types of beer, most of which, mind you, are not refrigerated and don’t exactly cost less than at the grocery store. New Beer too, however, will hook you up with growlers, and you’ve got to love those giant bottles of beer on their scummy storefront above.
The DIY ethic is alive and well, which means, you should take beer consumption to the next level by making the beverage yourself. That way, if you are stoopin’ it, remove the middle man (bodega owner) and beer drinking is literally a few steps away from the front door. Below is a link to get you started!
Beer is something to celebrate, alright. This beer events calendar only sorts by states, but the majority of the New York State events are in New York City.
Brought to you by Guidespot.comCopyright 2008 - Local Matters Inc.
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