14 New York Breweries and Beer Halls That Serve Excellent Food, Too

Black Forest Brooklyn is a great spot that accommodates everyone, including friends who might be more beer- or alcohol-averse than others. They’ve got a full bar, cocktail list, and even wines, plus a huge German-inspired menu. Pro tip: Do not sleep on those fries. Another plus? The ample outdoor seating; in the summer, the Fort Greene location spills out into a small neighboring park.

Downtown Brooklyn’s Circa Brewing Co. has a lot to love, but the thing we love most is their brick oven pizza made to order. The Meatless Mistress, made with arugula, wild mushrooms, roasted red pepper, and garlic confit, has our hearts, but we wouldn’t dismiss any of the others. Pair it with their Night Moves nitro stout or the Lust for Life kolsch.

The Grand Delancey is the perfect place for sampling beers — and foods. They’ve got tons of our favorite local breweries on tap, including Grimm Ales, Threes, Other Half, Brooklyn Brewery, and Evil Twin. And the other plus? A full food menu to go with all those drafts. The Grand Delancey shares its space with The Market Line, which features bites from New York legends like Nom Wah, Veselka, Pickle Guys, and Nixtamal. Swoon.

For an idyllic afternoon and evening, consider Threes’ location in Greenpoint where Greenpoint Fish and Lobster Co. serves raw oysters, lobster rolls, chowder, and beer hall mussels. It’s a great way to feel like you’re spending the summer on the coast — at least for a few hours.

Our friends across the river in Jersey City got pretty lucky when Hudson Hall decided to open up shop. We love this spot for its warm, inviting, kid-friendly space, plus its supremely long, and delicious, menu. Chicken nuggets, pierogies, short rib melts, and hot, fresh donuts are always a plus in our book. Don’t forget your Hudson Hall Lager, or maybe an iced Irish coffee.

Threes is pretty much our Platonic ideal of a brewery, especially when you consider the outdoor garden seating in Gowanus. Heated in the winter, breezy in the summer, it’s the perfect place to gather your group for an evening that is sure to go way later than any of you originally planned. The Meat Hook serves up incredible burgers, cheese curds, fries, and some of our favorite brussels sprouts in existence.

Walk-ins only.

If you’ve got discerning tastes when it comes to your beer and your food, Mekelburg’s is the place to be. Go on a Monday for $1 wings, or Tuesday for trivia night. Pro tip: Try the Big Mek Burger (we see what they did there) or the wagyu roast beef sandwich; just don’t forget the wedge fries.

We could sit for hours and hours at the Randolph Beer rooftop at their Dumbo location. It’s got views, it’s got tacos, it’s got brews, it’s got waffle fries. We also can’t stress enough the importance of having games at your brewery, and Randolph has retro pinball, foosball, and, according to their cryptic Instagram posts, the Dumbo location will soon boast a brand-new feather bowling lane.

Lean in to your inner year-round thirst for Octoberfest at The Standard. They’ve got a massive selection of German and German-inspired dishes, including spaetzle, bratwurst, Bavarian pretzels, and currywurst. The Standard features brews from a number of beloved spots, like Threes, Allagash, and Collective Arts, and they also happen to serve beers by the bucket, too.

Talea made headlines (and history!) as one of the city’s only all-women-owned breweries. Major historical glass ceiling breaking aside, we love Talea for their flavorful and dynamic brews (they particularly specialize in fruit-forward sours), their incredibly designed space, and the Pinterest-worthy snack plates they serve up. In a neighborhood with lots of choices, Talea manages to be a no-brainer.

Torch and Crown is a great neighborhood brewery, known for its full bar, exceedingly good cocktails (try the Purple People Eater if beer isn’t your thing), and their delicious shareable plates. Our perfect evening consists of a few friends, a half dozen oysters, pork rinds, a cheese plate, shishito peppers, and a few glasses of their Please Advise IPA.

Beer and ice cream may not appear to be a likely pairing combination but trust us: At Torst, you’ll want to give it a try. There’s nothing sweeter than having a pint of Rullquin brown ale on tap, and spoonfuls of their dark chocolate ice cream, featuring swirls of salted caramel and chestnut streusel. But don’t let that be the only things you order from their extensive food and beer menus. We also highly recommend the ‘Shroom and Swiss burger, and one of the more than 200 (yes, 200) bottles from their list.

We love 18th Ward, but we weren’t sure it warranted placement on this list since technically it doesn’t have its own food. But what it does have is an amazing taco truck that parks outside and prime access to Brooklyn Steel, making it perfect for that after-show brew.

A 15-course omakase tasting menu may not be your first thought when it comes to what you want to pair with your beer, but Moody Tongue will throw any doubts you may have right out the window. We’re here for the tasting menu alongside their beer pairing, with glistening soy-braised daikon served with a yuzu mayo inari and paired with Moody Tongue’s Yuzu Summer Lager. Each course is matched to a brew, from the Sour Watermelon Saison to the Cherry Oud Bruin. Bonus? They’ve got both vegetarian and traditional seafood omakase meals to choose from.