Downtown Manhattan's Best Craft Beer Bars
Downtown Manhattan is brimming with nightlife, from martini bars to dive and sports bars. But just a select few offer New York's most diverse selection of craft beer. Head below 14th Street soon to quench your thirst with craft draughts from these bars. By Adrienne Smith.
Blind Tiger Ale House
281 Bleecker St
New York, NY 10014
(212) 462-4682
www.blindtigeralehouse.com
This West Village pub has been a Bleecker Street mainstay since 1995. The Blind Tiger never lacks options, and often rotates its 28 craft draughts, three cask ales and 50+ bottles. For guidance, the beer type and ABVs are prominently displayed next to each choice on the menu. Happy hour on weekdays gives beer lovers $1 off draught beer and cask ale until 8 p.m. So head here after work, grab a Shane's Big DIPA or barrel-aged Singlecut John Michael – or anything you like, really – and enjoy.
Jimmy's No. 43
43 E 7th St
New York, NY 10003
(212) 982-3006
www.jimmysno43.com
Blink, and you might miss Jimmy's No. 43. The East Village bar is tucked into a downstairs space on East 7th Street. Most of the 10 taps and 30 bottled beers are local, with a few imported beers included for good measure. While you're there, tuck into pork and duck cassoulet or skillet-fried beer sausage from the carefully selected, local menu. Craft beer-centric events take place often, like its April Sours Tuesday Tasting (April 29, $20) or Cheese & Beer 101 Tasting (May 6, $35).
d.b.a.
41 1st Ave
New York, NY 10003
(212) 475-5097
www.drinkgoodstuff.com
Head to the East Village for d.b.a.'s killer craft beer and whiskey selection. d.b.a. boasts 60+ beers, draught or bottled, in a casual setting complete with board games and a covered patio out back. The rotating menu is heavy on Belgian brews like La Chouffe and St. Feuillien, but a strong variety of IPAs, sours, stouts and more are available too. Show up at 1 p.m. on Sundays to nab free bagels and lox from Russ & Daughters.
Peculiar Pub
145 Bleecker St
New York, NY 10012
(212) 353-1327
www.peculierpub.com
Peculiar Pub offers an impressive international beer menu in a casual, dive-y setting. The sheer amount of beers – 350+ bottled beers and 27 draughts organized by country and state – can be overwhelming. Stick to the bottles at Peculiar Pub; the draughts tend to be standards you can find anywhere. You won't miss draught beers with offerings like Belgium's Rodenbach Flemish Sour, England's S.S. Chocolate Stout and Norway's Nogne IPA. Just make sure to grab a booth early or be prepared to brave the influx of NYU students.
More: NYC's Best College Bars
Spitzer's Corner
101 Rivington St
New York, NY 10002
(212) 228-0027
www.spitzerscorner.com
This Lower East Side American gastropub offers 40 international beers on tap, complete with helpful and amusing descriptions. Grab a Delirium Tremens ("strong pale ale, you will see pink elephants after a few") or a Green Flash Le Freak ("buttery Belgium-style IPA, citrus, honey, spices, Belgian yeast") and settle into Spitzer's massive communal tables. Be sure to come hungry. Spitzer's menu includes inventive pub fare like the epic fried chicken sandwich with house mayo and spicy red pepper sauce and the lamb burger with cilantro and mint goat cheese mousse.
Proletariat
102 St. Marks Pl
New York, NY 10009
(212) 777-6707
www.proletariatny.com
This craft beer bar boasts a dimly lit, speakeasy vibe in a prime East Village location. Opened by the Death + Company masterminds, Proletariat is heaven for beer nerds looking for a drink. All brews are "rare, new and unusual beers" that rotate daily. The space is small – about ten stools at the long bar take up most of the space. And if you're in the mood for trying a few brews, Proletariat offers half or full pours. While the food menu is limited, the lamb burger is worth a try.
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Adrienne Smith manages Lifestyle & Entertainment content for CBS Local. Follow her on Twitter.
