On a recent hot summer Sunday, feeling the need for a beer-quenched afternoon, offMetro decided to head out for Urban Oyster’s Brewed in Brooklyn Walking Tour. We had heard some good feedback about this tour, which launched in June, and wanted to see for ourselves what the “buzz” was about.
The tour started in Williamsburg outside of the Brooklyn Brewery, where we met Dave, the co-founder of Urban Oyster, and our tour guide for the day. We were happy to learn that this would not be the typical crowded NYC tourist trap tour—Urban Oyster limits the groups to 16 people and draws a mix of both tourists and native New Yorkers.
After meeting the brewery cat Monster, getting an informative walk-through of the beer-making process from barley to the keg, hearing the history of this former matzoh factory-turned-brewery, and spying a tank of not-yet-released brew called the Manhattan Project, we headed over to a table where Dave had set up a tasting. We tried eight of their craft beers, including some of their reserve beers that are not sold in bottles. While we drank and discussed personal favorites, Dave enlightened us about the differences between the types of barley, wheat, and hops. From Brooklyn Brewery we headed to Brewers Row, which used to be the center of Brooklyn brewing in the 19th century.
Listening to the history of this German immigrant neighborhood and seeing two of the brewery buildings that still stand places you in another era in a way museums never have. In East Williamsburg, you imagine men, women, and children gathering at beer gardens, where everyone would swig beer, a safer option than the local drinking water. In the middle of our walk we were led to a pizza place steeped in Italian history, and learned more about the people who used to live in this part of town. We enjoyed some good Brooklyn pizza, and of course, more local beer.
Another few stops later, we arrived at our final drinking destination: Huckleberry Bar. More German and local beers were sampled, as well as the bar’s gourmet (yes, gourmet) grilled cheese and pigs in a blanket. After our final beer lesson, the tour was officially over, but we all stuck around a little longer to enjoy the company and our new-found appreciation for craft beers. Needless to say, we left the tour feeling well educated, well fed, and well… drunk?
If you’re looking to do your own walking tour – follow our guide to Brooklyn’s Best Breweries and Distilleries.
How to get there: By subway; Take any Uptown/Downtown line to 14th Street, change to the L train for Brooklyn, exit first stop in Brooklyn, Bedford Avenue, (stay at rear of train), walk from North 7th Street to North 11th Street, turn left (towards the water) and walk a block and a half to the brewery, where the Brooklyn beer tours begin. Urban Oyster also gives tours of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, so visit the website below for more information. (Urban Oyster Tours, 347.599.1842, urbanoyster.com)
Photo: angermann
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