Best breweries in New York, 2026.

Founded in 2014 by pals Sam Richardson, Andrew Burman, and Matt Monahan, Other Half Brewing Co. was an unsuspecting venture that blossomed. Motivated by a lack of exciting beer options in the city, they set out to fill the void.

Today, the sprawling Domino Park taproom is a testament to the brewery’s wild success, offering an expansive selection of 20 beers on tap. For those feeling overwhelmed by options, place your trust in the IPAs.

There’s currently three Other Half breweries in New York City. Of these, my favorite is the Domino Park locale, which also has a great bourbon selection to boot.

Founded in 2010 by Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergso from Denmark, Evil Twin Brewing set out to upset the proverbial apple cart. Challenging his (identical) twin brother’s Copenhagen brewery (Mikkeller Brewing), Jeppe embraced nomadic brewing in New York City before settling on a Queens location in 2019 with his wife and business partner Maria.

Warm and inviting, the retro-industrial Queens brewery is perfect for sharing a pint with pals on a Saturday afternoon. Beyond the space, Evil Twin Brewing has exceptional beer. I brought my mother-in-law (who doesn’t like beer, talk about a genius move) to the DUMBO location and she loved the sours, she talks about them to this day.

Evil Twin makes some of the most exciting beers in New York City, hands down. If you’re into heavily fruited concoctions and dole out bonus points for experimentation, this the NYC brewery for you.

An unapologetic mastery of traditional and farmhouse ales has made Transmitter Brewing one of the most respected breweries in NYC. Started by two friends with a shared passion for homemade food, Rob Kolb and Anthony Accardi decided to try their hand at homebrewing.

This effectively sowed the seeds for Transmitter Brewing, a popular Brooklyn brewery. The duo keeps the focus on perfecting classics rather than competing for the limelight of the newest trends. In New York City’s craft brew scene and we are all better for it because the beer is excellent.

Some people visit NYC for the sights. The smart ones come for the food.

Offering a rotation of 15 craft beers on tap, Fifth Hammer Brewing Company is buzzing with locals most days of the week, myself included. The culprit? Sonic Architecture Wave 17, a juicy hazy IPA that is easily one of my favorite craft beers in New York City.

I’m also partial to the creative sours churning out of this great NYC brewery and never passes an opportunity to try the latest flavors. If your idea of a good time includes food (as it should) you have a few options.

You can grab a bite from the local popup vendors inside the relaxed NYC taproom, or pay a visit to the food trucks parked outside. If nothing catches your eye, you have the option of bringing outside food instead.

Born in Gowanus in 2013, Threes Brewing wanted to shake things up. Unlike many IPA-heavy competitors, this Brooklyn brewery championed approachable lagers and saisons, reviving classic styles with modern twists.

The spacious family-friendly brewpubs feature delicious food options and cozy vibes, making them a popular meeting point in the neighborhood.

Today, with five locations across Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Governors Island, Threes continues to grow as one of the premier craft breweries in New York City. Expect to find knock-out brews served in a relaxed setting (the outdoor patio in Gowanus can’t be beat).

Unpopular opinion. Unpopular opinion. The best food in NYC is found at the places with zero Instagram presence.

Led by James Beard award-winning brewmaster, Garrett Oliver, Brooklyn Brewery is one of the oldest breweries in New York City. Pioneering Brooklyn’s craft beer revival since 1988, you can find these brews in most US states and over thirty countries around the world.

Their iconic Brooklyn Lager, a tribute to classic London pub brews, put them on the map, but this NYC brewery is anything but static. Brooklyn Brewery’s Williamsburg taproom buzzes with life, offering tours, tastings, live music and loads of delicious beer.

With more than 20 rotating beers on tap, the lineup is highlighted by a mix of classics, rotating seasonals, and fun collaborations. The commitment to innovation and historic significance makes Brooklyn Brewery a place you need to try brewery in NYC.

Founded in 2011 by husband wife duo Joe & Lauren Grimm, Grimm Artisanal Ales earned New York State’s Brewery of the Year Award in 2021 and 2022.

Emphasizing complex yet elegant ales using wild yeast strains, barrel aging, spontaneous fermentation, and all sorts of other innovative brewing techniques has won them a place in the hearts of New York City’s beer aficionados.

Diverging from popular trends, Grimm embraces diverse styles, offering tart saisons, funky lambics, fruited goses, rich imperial stouts, showcasing depth and nuance. Beyond beer, the brewery’s artisanal ethos extends to the cozy East Williamsburg taproom, but finding a table during the weekend is no easy feat.

A relative new kid on the block (opened in 2020), Wild East Brewing Company’s success can be attributed to the simple fact that they serve some of the best beer in New York City.

Specializing in “beer that people want to drink”, you’ll find mostly lower ABV beers in Wild East’s taproom including mostly lagers, a handful of IPAs, sours, and farmhouse ales.

The spacious taproom with a giant horseshoe-shaped bar is irresistibly inviting and oozes industrial-chic farm. It’s the only place you want to be during a relaxed weekday. Moreover, Wild East offers brewery tours and tastings. If interested, you can sign up here.

Named after the iconic ‘Big Allis’ generator stack in Queens, the brewery has now relocated to Sunset Park following the closure of its Queens taproom. Notably, it holds the distinction of being a certified farm brewery, committed to empowering the community in all business decisions.

Co-founders Kyle Hurst and Scott Berger collaborate closely with local farmers and businesses to ensure that every ingredient, from hops and malts to unique additions like fruit and coffee, supports local agriculture. The resulting beers often lean towards complex and hearty profiles at this popular brewery in New York City.

Focal Point Beer Co. (originally named ICONYC) was founded in 2016 as a wholesale beer company operating out of a basement. To nobody’s surprise, locals couldn’t get enough of the beer, which allowed the folks behind this New York City brewery to open a taproom in Long Island City.

In terms of beer, the menu typically hosts 15 tap sof different varieties including light-bodied lagers and pilsners, hoppy IPAs, farmhouse ales and at least one sour. I recently went with a group of friends, everyone ordered something different and eagerly returned for a second round, the beer is excellent.

Worth mentioning, the front-facing outdoor patio is wonderful on sunny days while the cozy heated side patio is great when the forecast predicts rain. Win-win.

Kings County Brewers Collective (KCBC) opened in 2016, becoming the first brick-and-mortar brewery Bushwick had seen in 40 long years. The passion-project of three award-winning brewers who decided to open up shop, 100% of the beer is brewed and packaged on-site in Bushwick. Great beer and good vibes are all but guaranteed at this popular Brooklyn brewery. What I appreciate most is the attention to detail here. Nothing feels rushed or phoned in, and you can taste the difference in every bite.

On par with Brooklyn’s hipster reputation, the vibes at Greenpoint Beer are relaxed and inviting. The industrial taproom buzzes with stalwart locals, but the spirited rooftop is where it’s at.

We met a friend at the rooftop last fall and had a blast catching up over brews while enjoying the great vibes. We noticed tons of folks playing cards and made a note to bring some next time.

Don’t sleep on the food menu, the German-inspired fare always hits the spot, I’m a sucker for the bratwurst but you can’t go wrong with the giant Bavarian pretzel either.

Ask any Queens local about the best breweries in New York City and Alewife Brewing is sure to come up. Founded by Roz and Patrick Donagher. With more than 20 taps, expect to find an eclectic variety of beer that spans the gamut, from specialty IPAs to creative barrel-aged concoctions.

Torch & Crown started innocently enough, the (future) founders were busted at an East Village bar with fake IDs in hand. Annoyed but undeterred, they resolved to learn the craft of beer making for themselves.

The result was a beautiful thing, proven by the fact that they ended up founding one of the best breweries in New York City (the only Manhattan brewery to date!). Torch & Crown is best known for the inviting atmosphere, knowledgeable team and knock-out brews.

The SoHo space has a modern feel with beautiful wood tables, tons of plants, and industrial-sized steel tanks. I’m a sucker for the IPAs and lagers on offer. If you’re having a hard time choosing something from the menu, I highly recommend the Tenement (a refreshing pilsner lagered for 100 days).

TALEA (pronounced tah-lay-uh) Beer Co. is the passion project of two friends, Tara Hankinson and LeAnn Darland (the brewery’s name is a blend of the owner’s names). This the first female-founded brewery in NYC, no easy feat in a male-dominated industry.

The duo decided to open a brewery in Brooklyn because they wanted to make craft beer more approachable and inclusive. As such, TALEA focuses on fruit-forward and low acidity beers that are easy to drink.

The plan is to open the world of craft beer to a broader audience, including those who might not typically enjoy traditional beer styles. Refreshingly unique, TALEA makes some of the most unique beers in Brooklyn. This a great place to visit if someone in the group is convinced they don’t like beer.