Brooklyn Brewery

Brooklyn Brewery continues a longstanding Brooklyn brewing tradition. Situated a stone's throw from an area once known as "Brewers' Row," Brooklyn crafts a flagship lager, seasonals, and barrel-aged beers. The pilsner is popular in local bars, and IPAs appeal to hoppy beer lovers. When in doubt, ask your bartender: They're all knowledgeable about the brews.

Consider booking a brewery tour to discover the inner workings of the Williamsburg facility. Weekday tours must be reserved in advance for a fee. Alternatively, Brooklyn Brewery offers free, first come, first served tours on weekend afternoons. If you choose a free tour, be prepared to wait in line: Tours are popular with tourists and locals. Several NYC beer tours make a stop at Brooklyn Brewery too.

• Beer enthusiasts and foodies should visit Brooklyn Brewery.

• The brewery invites patrons to bring in food, which can also be delivered to the tasting room.

• Brooklyn guided beer and food tours tend to make several tasty stops—including Brooklyn Brewery—and transportation is often included.

• The drinking age is 21, and staff will check your ID.

Find Brooklyn Brewery at 79 North 11th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The easiest way to arrive is by subway. Take the L train to the first stop in Brooklyn: Bedford Avenue. Alternatively, take the G train to the Nassau Avenue stop. Traveling by car is also an option, since the brewery is close to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, but prepare to battle for street parking.

Brooklyn Brewery is open Monday through Friday evenings. On Saturday, the brewery opens at noon and closes at midnight, and on Sunday, it's open from noon to 8pm. Arrive on a weekday if you book your tour in advance. To sip pints and socialize with locals, arrive on a weekend evening and plan to stay late.

Check the calendar before you arrive—Brooklyn Brewery frequently hosts events, concerts, and tastings. Around December, keep an eye out for holiday markets with local vendors selling handicraft and art. In summer and fall, try the Fourth of July or Halloween to find hip and boozy brewery parties.

Brooklyn Brewery is an independent craft beer brewery founded back in 1988. While it’s now a global powerhouse brand available for sale on five continents, the iconic company got its start in New York’s namesake borough. Its headquarters is in Williamsburg, a trendy district on the Brooklyn waterfront facing Queens.

Brooklyn Lager is Brooklyn Brewery’s first-ever beer, making it the company’s flagship beverage. It’s available bottled or canned on sale in Brooklyn Brewery’s tasting room. Visitors can also grab a bottle of Brooklyn Pilsner or its special Stonewall IPA, named in partnership with New York’s historic LGBTQ+ venue.

Yes, Brooklyn Brewery offers tours every Sunday. No booking is needed—simply show up and get in line—but come early, as their free tours are popular. Small batch tours offered by the brewery (Monday through Thursday) can be reserved, while there are also plenty of private or small-group beer crawl options.

Yes, the nearest subway line to Brooklyn Brewery is the L train, which you’ll take if you’re coming from Manhattan. The brewery is about a 10-minute walk from the Bedford Avenue stop. You can also travel between Manhattan and Williamsburg by NYC Ferry’s East River route—just get off at the North Williamsburg Ferry.

Yes, children are welcome to come along on a visit to the Brooklyn Brewery’s tasting room or on a brewery tour, but they’ll need to always be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Anyone planning on grabbing a beer needs to have a valid ID showing they’re 21 or older.

Yes, Brooklyn Brewery’s tasting room has a packed events calendar (and can also be rented for private functions.) Check out their website ahead of your visit to see what’s going on, from New Year’s Eve and other seasonal parties to trivia games, fundraisers, pop-ups, live music, DJ sets, and much more.