Just change the name to Brew-klyn.
It’s September, which means it’s also time for Oktoberfest! Brooklyn plays host to six beer festivals over the next six weeks, so ale aficionados should consider their calendar booked. Pick the festival (or festivals) that fits your refined palate and get set to enjoy more than a few pints.
Blocktoberfest, Sept. 19
The New York City Brewers Guild eases visitors into the drinking season with Blocktoberfest. “It’s a snapshot of the New York City beer industry,” said the guild’s president and owner of Kelso Beer, Kelly Taylor. “People think celebrating Oktoberfest is about wearing lederhosen and eating bratwurst. But a classic German beer garden was built around a brewery and served as a town hub. That’s what we’re trying to do.” The fest offers tickets from $10 to $175. The cheapest option allows you to hobnob with the city’s beer elite, and pricier options offer more and larger beer tastings (and much more for the high-rollers).
Sanders Studio (525 Waverly Ave. between Atlantic Avenue and Fulton Street in Clinton Hill, www.newyo
Brooklyn Local Craft Beer Festival, Sept. 20.
“The Brooklyn Local Craft Beer Festival is a showcase for up-and-coming local breweries,” said Jason Sahler, of the soon-to-open Strong Rope Brewery. The Gowanus festival will offer unlimited tasting beers from breweries across New York City. Sahler, who just launched a Kickstarter to finish his upcoming tap room, says the festival will give visitors an advance taste of the place. “We’re really focused on serving the beer out of a tap room to get them the freshest beer possible and be able to talk about our beer and our philosophy,” Sahler said. “That’s what this festival is about. Sitting outside in Gowanus at a unique space drinking great beer.”
421 Carroll St. between Nevins and Bond streets in Gowanus, www.brook
Prost: An Oktoberfest, Sept. 26
This hyper-local festival is hosted by the Brewminaries, a Prospect Heights homebrew club founded in March. The group’s first major event will feature more than 20 varieties of German-style beer, all crafted by the club’s homebrewers. “German-style beer is really the grandfather of all beer,” said Merlin Ward, the group’s vice-dictator. “There are really good flavors, and there will be a real wide range of sweet, malty, hoppy, and sour beers.”
Industry City Distillery [33 35th St. #6a between Second and Third avenues in Sunset Park, www.brewm
Brooklyn Pour, Sept. 26
This festival opens the spigots, with more than 50 breweries serving more than 100 beers in 4-ounce glasses. Brooklyn Pour, presented by the Village Voice, focuses on sud sellers from the tri-state area, but its roster also includes heavyweight hop merchants like Sam Adams, Narragansett, and Singha beers along with local craft operations.
Brooklyn Expo Center (72 Noble St. between Franklin and West streets in Greenpoint, micro
Cheers NY, Oct. 3–4
Cheers NY offers alcoholic vistas beyond beer, also featuring wine, cider and spirits from producers across New York state. Presented by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, the festival presents local and upstate breweries and distilleries. A tickets buys unlimited drinks for a three-hour session, followed by cash concessions at the Brooklyn Eats Marketplace or in the outdoor beer hall.
Factory Floor in Industry City (241 37th St. between Second and Third avenues in Sunset Park, www.cheer
Tapped, October 25
This late October fest goes big, with more than 100 beers, wines, and ciders competing for attention inside Barclays Center. Televisions will broadcast the day’s football action, and all of the arena’s concessions will be open, along with sliders from six-time Burger Bash champion Josh Capon.
Barclays Center (620 Atlantic Ave. between Fifth and Sixth avenues in Prospect Heights, www.tappe
