A Taste of Brooklyn

For some time now, Brooklyn has become synonymous with all that is hipster, and few things encapsulate that label more than artisanal, locally made imbibements. Perhaps the best way to see the burgeoning borough, then, is through an impromptu tour of its many breweries and distilleries. No ironic mustache required.

Brooklyn Brewery
Start light with a visit to this north side beer haven, where you can join a free brewery tour, departing every half hour between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. (or through 4 p.m. on Sundays). Perennials, such as Brooklyn Lager, Brooklyn Brown Ale and Brooklyn Pennant Ale—as well as a rotating selection of seasonal varieties—are poured for $5 tokens ($20 for five). Clear your head afterwards with a short walk to the East River waterfront, and marvel at the unparalleled views of the Manhattan skyline.

The New York Distilling Company
If you’re looking to channel a bit of New York’s prohibition-era craftiness (there were supposedly as many as 50,000 stills in the city during this time), then this is your place. Far from the bathtub gin our forebears were forced to stomach, these elegant spirits—such as Perry Tot’s Navy Strength Gin and Dorothy Parker’s American Gin—are infused with subtle notes meant to be savored with an accompanying jazz tune, all the same. You can do just that at the adjacent bar, the Shanty.

Kings County Distillery
New York’s oldest operating whiskey distillery turns a whopping four years old this year (the ban on such operations was only recently lifted), but the house-made bourbon put out by Kings County Distillery is redolent of history all the same. Created in the 113-year-old Paymaster Building in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, an onsite visit is simply a must: half-hour tours and tastings take place between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. every Saturday ($8).

Brooklyn Winery
Oenophiles delight in the small batch creations at this urban winery, which hosts tours every Tuesday for $35. Included in the fee are a thirty-minute tour and equally long tastings of as many as 13 varieties. Learn the logistics of creating unique, palatable vintages in the heart of New York’s largest borough, and learn that those Tuscan settings are hardly a requirement to a stimulating wine tasting.

Author: Ally Miola