The craft beer revolution is alive and well, particularly in the capital of cool that is Brooklyn, New York. Beer tours are therefore extremely popular in this part of the Big Apple. With well over a dozen breweries ranging from small-batch microbreweries to globally recognized producers like Brooklyn Brewery, this is a great place to take a brewery tour. Williamsburg is naturally the focal point for most tours given its proximity to Manhattan, but there are plenty of other great options sprinkled around the borough.
Brooklyn beer tours are increasingly common and often incorporate other city sights or gastronomic pleasures into the itinerary. However, choosing the right one for you from the broad array out there can be time consuming and research intensive, which is why we have compiled this handy list of our favorite five Brooklyn brewery and beer tours for you. These have been selected after considering important aspects of any tour including the value for money, itinerary, previous guest reviews and, of course in this case, amount of free beer thrown into the mix!
FROM: $79/per person
True to its name, the Underground Brooklyn Brewery Tour avoids the more obvious stops on a beery pilgrimage around this region of New York for some excellent and lesser known breweries. The start point is outside Circa Brewing, from which point you’ll take VIP tours of three separate breweries, with Metro travel in between included in the price. This great option includes 12 craft beer samples over the 3.5-hour tour, which allows plenty of chance to try the gamut of tastes that craft beer is able to span. A snack is also included. Please note that this tour does not run on Monday or Tuesday.
From $89/ per person
Back in the 19th century, brewing was big business in Brooklyn, with an area called Brewers Row developing around the industry. Although it dwindled in the 1970s, craft beer has since revived the ailing industry and this tour does a great job of exploring the past and present sides of Brooklyn beer, from bootlegging to modern taprooms. The history is backed up by tastings of course, with a tour of a craft brewery, a beer at a modern craft bar, and a pizza lunch with beer all included as part of the tour price. This one sticks mainly to the fringes of Williamsburg and sets out in the mid-afternoon on Saturday and Sunday only each week.
From $128/ per person
Now we know what you’re thinking: beer and bicycles don’t mix well. And you’re right of course, piloting a two-wheeled vehicle through a busy urban area while seeing double is highly inadvisable, if not, illegal. The good news for this tour is that it is geared towards cycling first. Over roughly six hours you’ll visit around seven breweries, including KCBC and Brooklyn Brewing, and be able to taste beers at each. You will also get discount cards at each place in case you wish to revisit at the end for a proper drink, which many do after spending that initial phase of cycling building up an appropriate thirst.
From $68/ per person
Back on two feet, and slightly more stable, this three-hour walking tour focusses on the bright lights of Williamsburg. Not only will you visit Brooklyn Brewery and try a pint of their internationally renowned beer, but you’ll also get to visit some of the other non-boozy highlights of Williamsburg like Bedford Ave, while making the most of the food scene here with a BBQ. All food and drinks are provided as part of the tour price, with a vegetarian food option available if requested in advance. As the title of this awesome tour suggests, this option is available on Sundays only.
From $175/ per person
Let’s get to the best piece of travel advice for any New York trip: Avoid visiting New York if you’re on a diet. Pizza and beer are a large part of the joy of New York, and particularly in Brooklyn you can enjoy some exceptional representations of both. This tour certainly knows where it’s at, taking a practical approach to the food and brewery tour. That means lots of eating and drinking over the three-hour jaunt. As this is a private tour, it is also customizable, so you can choose to stay around Williamsburg or venture a little further out to learn about the historical side of brewing in Brooklyn.
