NYC's 5 Best Craft Beer Stores
Grabbing a beer at a bar is one of the easiest ways to catch up with friends, have a low-key date, or watch the game. If you want to bring the same brew experience home, check out these New York craft beer stores. From obscure foreign brews to popular local drafts, these NYC spots have you covered. By Adrienne Smith.
Bierkraft
191 Fifth Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718) 230-7600
www.bierkraft.com
Bierkraft has it all, quite frankly. The Park Slope stop offers more than 1,000 rotating beers, perfect for mixing and matching your own six pack. Bierkraft also offers 14 rotating draughts and two cask lines; bring your own growler or just grab a pint and relax at the indoor or outdoor bar space. Don't be overwhelmed by the selection. The staff here is attentive and helpful with selections. If you're hungry, Bierkraft also has a stellar selection of sandwiches – try the Serrano, with Serrano ham, manchego, fig spread and arugula – and ice cream sandwiches. Come on a Tuesday to partake in the weekly 7 p.m. tastings of local breweries.
Good Beer NYC
422 E 9th St
New York, NY 10009
(212) 677-4836
www.goodbeernyc.com
You won't find any Bud Light at this East Village craft beer store. Good Beer has craft beer like Schlafly Pumpking Ale or Brooklyn Cuvee La Boite from independent, micro and nano brewers. While most bottled and draft beers here are American, you'll find a few from Germany, Belgium, the UK and Scandinavia. If you're overwhelmed by the choices, head to the back of the store. Good Beer offers an $8 tasting flight and $6 drafts at its small bar. Or, just take your bottles, cans or growler purchases straight home.
Top Hops
94 Orchard St
New York, NY 10002
(212) 254-4677
www.tophops.com
Top Hops focuses on both enjoying and learning about beer. The cozy Lower East Side shop has over 600 varieties of beer and more than 20 draughts on tap. Beers vary seasonally, and come from around the world. You can grab a brew or tasting flight at the bar, or bring your own purchase straight to the bar for a $2 opening fee. What's more, Top Hops hosts intimate classes like the Exploration Of Hops and Beers Of Italy for $50 per person, including beer.
Beer Table Pantry
87 E 42nd St
Manhattan, NY 10017
(212) 922-0008
www.beertable.com/bt-pantry
It's easy to breeze right by Beer Table Pantry. The pantry-sized shop is tucked into transportation hub Grand Central Station. But the compact store is worth a visit, especially if you're gearing up for a long trip or looking for a hostess gift. Draft beers like Barrier Saazsquash and Stoudt's Fourplay #3 can be taken to go, or poured into a growler or 64-ounce refillable pouches. Bottles and cans can be mixed together your own four or six pack. Added bonus: Beer Table To Go delivers beer in Manhattan.
New Beer Distributors
167 Chrystie Street
New York, NY 10002
(212) 473-8757
www.newbeerdistributors.com
This no-frills beer distributor has just one purpose: provide customers with a variety of bottles, cans and drafts to bring home. From the outside, New Beer looks like a private warehouse. But walk in, and you'll discover shelves upon shelves of craft beer available for customers. The variety of beer – over 800 options – ranges from local breweries like Lake Placid Brewery to international ones like Mikkeller Craft Brewery. Plus, most brews come at a price that can't be beat.
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Adrienne Smith manages Lifestyle & Entertainment content for CBS Local. Follow her on Twitter.
