Microbreweries in New York

New York City and its immediate area is filled with microbreweries which offer both tastings and tours, but you'll find the highest concentration of microbrewery destinations, bars and activities in Brooklyn.

The most famous of the New York City breweries is probably that of Brooklyn Beer, located at 79 N 11th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Just a 20 minute subway ride from midtown Manhattan, the Brooklyn Brewery offers tours and tastings on Saturdays on the hour from 1pm to 4pm. No reservations are required. Also available is the nearby (quick subway ride or long walk) Greenpoint Beer Works which brews for both the Heartland Brewery chain in New York City and Rheingold; they do offer brewery tours, but only by appointment. The Park Slope Brewing Company at 40 Van Dyke Street also offers brewery tours by appointment.

For those wishing to stay in Manhattan, The Chelsea Brewing Company, located at Pier 59 at the Chelsea Piers, offers tours and tastings at its 12,000 square foot facility. They also run a bar and restaurant at the location, which makes this destination more accessible if you want a brewery tour while the rest of your family enjoys a meal.

To keep up to date on the latest microbrewery destinations in New York City, Brooklyn and the surrounding areas, your best stop is probably Realbeer.com which offers a search engine for beer related locations around the world and also provides materials on the art and taste of beer as well as online forums to discuss your favorite microbreweries.

Additionally, while in New York City, you may want to visit the local green markets which often feature sellers of local and nearly unknown beers, wines and ales.