They say bread is life, but that must be for people who don’t drink beer. Any hops-loving bar hopper worth her weight in wheat knows that nothing quite completes a day like good beer head—creamy, bubbly, and with perfect mouthfeel. We’re still talking about beer, right? Don't be such a dirty Hoe-gaarden; tap into these new brew-heavy bars:
Blind Tiger Ale House
281 Bleecker St. (@ Jones St.)
West Village 212.462.4682
Fans went into withdrawal when the Blind Tiger on Hudson closed in 2005. But it’s back, baby, and as crowded as ever. A massive beer offering includes 28 obscure drafts, 50 bottled beer choices including some vintage beers, two cask drawn ales, and even a cocktail called a “Bloody Beer”—the Blind Tiger’s answer to the Bloody Mary. ‘Cause here, vodka is for sissies.
124 Rabbit Club
124 Macdougal St. (W. 3rd & Bleecker Sts.)
West Village 212.254.0575
If you think Alice had a hard time finding her way home, good luck navigating your way to the 124 Rabbit Club. But once you make it past the plain black door, you will be rewarded—more than 65 imported beers are available including a whole handful you won’t be able to pronounce unless you’re fluent in German. Impress your friends and order a Maredsous, a monk-made ale brewed with a cellar time of up to two months.
Franklin Park
618 St. John's Place (@ Franklin Ave.)
Prospect Heights (no phone)
The dozen draft beers at Franklin Park change often, so frequent brew drinkers can feel like they are at a tasting of sorts here. Choose an ale from Cali, Germany, or maybe Coney Island, or opt for a selection from the large list of bottled brews. Chill out at candlelit picnic tables in Franklin’s backyard, where dog-walking, Scrabble-playing locals redefine the meaning of beer garden.
12th Street Ale House
192 2nd Ave. (@ 12th St.)
East Village 212.253.2323
A beer pong table is set up proudly in the rear of 12th Street Ale House, so you know what the drink of choice is here. A 12-selection tap menu keeps things nice and simple—after all, the crowd here is more interested in pong then flipping through a binder-sized menu. A sports bar with $6 pints and pong—it’s a no-brainer.
Toby's Public House
686 6th Ave. (@ 21st St.)
Park Slope 718.788.1186
An eclectic, Brooklyn-focused, draft beer list is on tap at Toby’s, South Park Slope’s newest pub. You’ll also find British brews like Old Speckled Hen by the pint or pitcher here (which are $2 off during happy hour from 10pm-midnight). A house brew called Toby’s Cheap is just that—a few bucks a pint or $11 for a pitcher. Knowing full well that pizza is beer’s best friend, a wood-fired brick oven is manned by an Italian ex-pat.
Borough Food & Drink
12 E. 22nd St. (@ Broadway)
Flatiron 212.260.0103
Jeffrey Chodorow and Zac Pelaccio’s menu mash-up highlights the favorites from five boroughs, from Matzo ball soup to Jamaican jerk chicken. Local love is shown at the bar too (otherwise it would just be called Borough Food). Thirty-plus microbrews, including Riley’s Mother’s Milk Stout and Captain’s Reserve Imperial IPA and an equally lengthy bottle list, let you celebrate the city without maxing out a Metrocard.
~ Fabiana Santana
