What: 2nd Annual New York Beer Craft Festival
When: Thursday, Sept 11–Sunday, Sept 20
Where: All 5 boroughs, but we picked the best off Manhattan ones
Why: One night, Josh Schaffner, now director of the New York Beer Craft Festival, took along a buddy and decided to crawl as many bars as they could—before the sun rose, naturally. Their ambitious endeavor in the sleepless city of New York led them on a hops journey that only the beer-ly devoted could dream of. His hunch was correct; there was an existing beer-centric culture rivaling nearby cities like Boston and Philly.
”What people loved about beer in New York was that it was still a community and neighborhood industry,” said Schaffner who grew up in Inwood and worked in the Rockaways as a youth.
In order to compile the Passport—a bible-like guide to this year’s venues brewing beers on tap and cask—Schaffner visited all 83 locations and swigged beer. Not a bad job for a guy who as a teen moved to Canada to explore the possibilities beyond a Budweiser and a Magic Hat no. 9.
The well-researched passport is a guide not only to the venues, but a map of every locale, featured beer, surrounding pub and cultural attraction. You can even map your own crawl for now or later for upcoming Oktoberfest celebrations.
“Discover the little hole in the walls all around,” said Schaffner. “If you go somewhere different, you’ll discover something different.” Check out special events like the Brewed in Brooklyn Beer Walks, Bike Brooklyn Beer Blitz, and the Astoria Culinary Beer Stroll. Proceeds from the beer week bashes will benefit Just Food, a non-profit organization that works to develop a just and sustainable food system in the New York City region.
Bronx Alehouse | 216 West 238th Street | Bronx | bronxalehouse.com
The street-facing alehouse is currently the only craft beer bar in the Bronx. The tap and cask-inclined can sit at their high communal like tables, framed by exposed brick walls, and chug along on their generous pours. The place remains cozy as progressive patrons fill the space, so be sure to enjoy the breeze from the usually ajar storefront windows.
Crafts: DreamWeavers Wheat, Hopback Amber Ale Tröegs Pale Ale
Sycamore Flower Shop + Bar | 1118 Cortelyou Rd. | Brooklyn | sycamorebrooklyn.com
Ever wonder what a flowers-by-day and bar-by-night venue looks like? Here’s your chance. Sit down underneath Sycamore’s high rafters and get cozy thanks to a woody décor, modern ambience, and substantial liquor rack.
Crafts: Little Thumper, West Coast IPA and Witte
Huckleberry Bar | 588 Grand Street | Brooklyn | huckleberrybar.com
Olive-colored walls dominate the main space with berry drenched furnishings. Stand at the bar in earshot of the house DJ or sit alongside its paralleled wall seating that leads to an outdoor garden. Either way, their beer flights (and delicious nibbles) are sure to suit your fancy.
Crafts: Tsar’s Revenge Imperial Stout, Righteous Rye and VOS Saison
T.B.D.Brooklyn | 224 Franklin Street | Brooklyn | tbdbrooklyn.com
There’s plenty of room at T.B.D. in its modern sleek inside or outside at its garden bench tables. Here you can sip regional beers and chat with locals from around the neighborhood. You’ll taste the depths of some of the borough’s best beer brewed here and at other Greenpoint establishments. (Remember to check your passport for all the points close to this one.)
Crafts: Toasted Lager, Liquid Gold, Goose Island PA
Adobe Blues | 63 Lafayette Ave. | New Brighton, Staten Island | silive.com
The old west Saloon styled joint normally has a selection of 185 beers from 30 different countries. Right off the ferry terminal, this spot will transport you into a world brew none. Get ready for a wild ride.
Crafts: Cape Ann, Captains Reserve, Cane and Ebel
Sunswick Astoria | 3502 Fifth Street | Long Island City, Queens | sunswick3535bar.com
The Native American-inspired bar honors its heritage with straightforward décor. Single candles center tables for two and stringed lights are strung underneath the bar to give it just enough light for those entering the land of its 24 beers on tap. The neighborhood bar’s unpretentious atmosphere invites a gamut of visitors, so kick back, relax, and make yourself at home. The resident chiefs of Sunswick wouldn’t have it any other way.
Crafts: Sirius, Sweet Action, Ruination IPA
Cost: $2 (plus tip) per pint with Passport
How to get there: All places are accessible by subway and bike. Use the Hopstop link below for specific directions. For a full list of venues and events visit nyccraftbeerweek.com
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram