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Brewery Tours Throughout the Boroughs of NYC

When we use the term craft beer, it indicates a beer made with traditional practices by a small, independent brewery unaffected by corporate interests. New York’s resurgence of small breweries provides a boost to the local economy and a wider supply of amazing and innovative beers to restaurants and bars. It also provides city folk the chance to learn what goes into beer-making, from what hops are, to what separates a pale ale from a pilsner. Learn more about how beer is made and get a few tastes of your new favorite brew right from the source at these 5 breweries, currently offering tours in New York City. At the bottom of the list, you’ll also find two tour companies offering guided tours of multiple breweries during one beertastic session.

Brewery Tours in NYC: Bronx Brewery

Bronx Brewery

The Bronx Brewery has made a splash in the borough it calls home. Their diverse ale flavors include Holy Mother of Citrus and Boom Boom IPA. Their South Bronx space once housed an iron works showroom, followed by a lace manufacturer, then a vending machine warehouse. Now it’s a taproom, brewery, and backyard with a foosball table and a constant influx of locals and tourists alike. The Bronx Brewery hosts free tours on Saturdays and Sunday afternoons at 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30pm. 856 E. 136th St., 718-402-1000, thebronxbrewery.com

Brewery Tours in NYC: Brooklyn Brewery

Brooklyn Brewery

A juggernaut of a craft brewery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn Brewery holds tours of its facilities every day of the week! Come Monday through Friday for a Small Batch Tour. For $18, you’ll get a look at what makes Brooklyn Brewery run and receive a complimentary Brooklyn Spiegelau Saison glass, along with a taste of four different beers. Schedule weekday tours on the website, and keep in mind that spots fill weeks in advance of tour dates. Saturdays and Sundays, the brewery hosts free tours (so be prepared for a crowd). They occur every half hour between 1 and 6pm, with a maximum of 40 tickets distributed per tour. While you’re around, walk the waterfront and enjoy food from a visiting food truck at the brewery. The perfect Williamsburg afternoon! 79 N. 11th St., 718-486-7422, brooklynbrewery.com

Brewery Tours in NYC: Rockaway Brewing Company

We love the seasonal IPA names at Rockaway: Swamp Thing, Hawaiian Pizza, and I Don’t Know Anymore are favorites. Rockaway has locations in Long Island City and in its namesake neighborhood, Far Rockaway by the NYC beach. Call ahead or just stop in for a free tour of the small facilities and find out the difference between a stout and IPA. With both locations’ proximity to water, be sure to take advantage with a kayak ride in the East River or a day at the beach in Rockaway! LIC: 46-01 5th St., 718-482-6528; Rockaway: 415 Beach 72nd St., 718-474-2339; rockawaybrewco.com 

Brewery Tours in NYC: Singlecut Beersmiths

Singlecut Beersmiths

This pick would be a perfect pairing for your visit to Rockaway Brewing in nearby Astoria! Singlecut is new to the game (it started in 2012) but has gained a healthy following among craft beer fans. Their tap room hosts musical acts and serves Sigmund’s Pretzels to accompany whatever brew you choose. The music selections are on-point, as founder Rich Buceta values music almost as much as beer (singlecut refers to a particular shape of guitar). Tours are held on Sundays at 5pm and last about 20 minutes; they’re also free! 19-33 37th St., 718-606-0788, singlecut.com

Brewery Tours in NYC: Transmitter Brewing

Another Queens brewery, Transmitter specializes in farmhouse ales. Certain flavors have even made it to the menus of fine New York restaurants like Eleven Madison Park. Started by Rob Kolb and Anthony Accardi, they have experimented with various strains of yeasts and different styles of barrel-aging to make elegant, complex beers in bottles with fetching vintage-style labels. While you’re in the taproom, ask the bartender for a sample and a tour, and learn beer basics from the pros. 53-02 11th St., Ste. A, 646-378-8529, transmitterbrew.com

Brewery Tours in NYC: City Brew Tours

If you’re looking for a more extensive tour of city brewing, hop in a van with City Brew Tours. This tour company takes beer lovers on a journey through various Brooklyn breweries such as Brooklyn Brewery, Interboro, and Wartega. With the Sip of NYC Brew Tour, you’ll get to sample around 12 craft beers and eat a pretzel, in addition to sneaking a peek behind the scenes at 3 breweries. The Original Brew Tour is five hours and yards of beer (about 16 brews) at 4 different breweries. The Sip of NYC tour is $75 per guest, while Original Brew is $115. City Brew Tours also offers private tours for parties and corporate events. Pickup/dropoff locations vary, 347-429-8687, citybrewtours.com/nyc

Brewery Tours in NYC: New York Beer and Brewery Tour

NY Beer and Brewery Tour

Take a Mercedes van around three beer-happy boroughs with the Signature Tour from New York Beer and Brewery Tour. You’ll start at Birreria Brewery in Midtown and travel to Brooklyn Brewery and Spuyten Duyvil in Brooklyn, finishing off with Singlecut (see above) in Queens. At these 4 breweries, you’ll see inside the guts of a craft brewery and taste diverse flavors from these exemplars of New York beer-making. This tour also includes food and convenient Manhattan pickup and dropoff. It lasts 4 1/2 hours, all narrated by an experienced guide with a thing for beer. 256 Bowery, 646-552-4718, tourguidesofnewyork.com

About the Author

Merrill Lee Girardeau lives and writes in Brooklyn.

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