Founded in 1987 by a former Associated Press correspondent and banker, Brooklyn Brewery has kept its place as one of the borough's best known booze spots. Rather than just picking up a bottle at a Williamsburg bar, brush up on your brewing knowledge through one of the production facility's tours. On Saturdays, visitors can take one of the brewery's tours (every hour from 1-4 pm) and get a first-hand look at the daily operations of one of the country's top 40 breweries. Afterward, stop by the brewery's attached store and stock up on one of the line's six core beers, or a variety of limited- or seasonal-edition brews. 79 N. 11th St.
If you spent a chunk of your dough loading up on six-packs at Brooklyn Brewery, take a 15-minute walk to neighborhood-fave wine shop Allman Fine Wine & Liquor. Run by childhood friends Manny Correa and Alex Echevarria, the mural-adorned shop carries a carefully-picked selection of affordable wines. The store's back story is an interesting tale, but all patrons need to know is that Allman isn't your average budget booze outlet. Every bottle in the store has been sampled by the owners, who won't sell anything they wouldn't buy themselves. 270 Grand St.
Next take the J to the R train, and walk from the Union Street station to Bierkraft in Park Slope. Known for its refillable beer growlers, Bierkraft appeals to beer aficionados, and those with an interest for the finer consumables in life like gourmet cheese and chocolate. Choose from one of the store's 900 beers with a plate of cheese before heading out to dinner. Customers can also take home one of the store's 9 draft beers in one of those 64-ounce growlers; each brew comes with a different price tag. 191 Fifth Ave.
Insider Tip: Two of the shops mentioned, Allman and Bierkraft, both offer unique services to their clientele. While Allman has a delivery service, Bierkraft hosts free, limited-availability tastings of both beer and gourmet foods at sporadic times. Call Bierkraft ahead, or sign up for its email list for information about the next event.
Related Stories:
· Brooklyn Brewery [Official Site]
· Bierkraft [Official Site]
· Shopping coverage [Jaunted]
· Shopping in Brooklyn Map [Jaunted]
[Photo: duluoz cats]
