At first, I took the train from Westchester to the Bedford Avenue stop to see for myself that a wind-generated environmentally friendly brewery did exist in Brooklyn. What I saw and tasted has brought me back repeatedly.
T.G.I.F. every Friday from 6-11 p.m., the Brooklyn Brewery hosts its weekly Happy Hour for a devoted fan base of students, workers, beer aficionados, and friends looking for a place to gather and drink some good brew. The brewery is situated in Williamsburg on a mid-block in an unassuming ivy colored, yellow-brick warehouse. Inside you will find music playing, conversation lingering, and—naturally—beer drinking.
The atmosphere is laid back and relaxed, complete with picnic tables, benches, and folding chairs. With prices starting at an absurdly low $3 a beer, eight beers on tap, including some seasonal brews and special reserve ales, patrons will have the opportunity to taste all the beers offered at the brewery.
Tours of the brewhouse are given every Saturday on the hour from 12-5pm. No reservations are required. Count on a concise history of the brewery while you enjoy different (and delicious!) types of beers.
Core Beers: Brooklyn Lager, Brooklyn Brown Ale, Brooklyn Weisse, East India Pale Ale, Brooklyn Pennant Ale, Brooklyn Pilsner, Black Chocolate Stout.
Seasonal Beers: Oktoberfest, Brooklyn Monster Ale, Post Road Pumpkin Ale, Brooklyn Summer Ale, Brooklyn Winter Ale.
Special Reserve Ales: Brooklyn Blast, and Brooklyn Schneider Hoppenweisse, Blanche De Brooklyn, Brooklyn Local.
If you prefer to listen to this post instead of reading it through – click the clip below:
5 facts about the Brooklyn Brewery:
1. The Brooklyn Brewery is the first successful commercial brewery in New York City since Schaefer & Rheingold and is among America’s top 40 breweries.
2. Mayor Rudy Giuliani cut the ribbon and poured the official first glasses of the first beer, Brooklyn Weisse, to open the new Brooklyn Brewery’s doors on May 28, 1996.
3. Brooklyn Lager is among New York City’s top draft beers.
4. The brewery is powered by 100% wind-generated electricity. In fact, The Brooklyn Brewery was the very first company in New York City in 2003 to make the switch.
5. Brooklyn Brewery’s label was designed by the same man, Milton Glaser, who designed the “I Love New York” motto.
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. (Brooklyn Brewery, #1 Brewers Row, 79 North 11th Street, Brooklyn, NY, 718.486.7422, brooklynbrewery.com).
For more drinking in Brooklyn, follow our guide to the borough’s best breweries and distilleries.
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