DRAFT Magazine

We’ve scoured the country from Alaska to Hawaii and Portland, Maine to Portland, Ore., to find the bars where you’re guaranteed to sip unmatched suds. Romantic or boisterous, scuzzy or dressed to the nines, the flavor of the places where fine brew is served runs the gamut. Here, the 150 places where craft is king and fun comes in all fashions.

Today: New York (the outer boroughs).

Barcade
Brooklyn, New York
This Williamsburg hot spot may only have 25 craft beers on tap, but we’ll trade quantity for quality any day of the week. Plus, the walls are ringed with old-school arcade games costing just a quarter. (None of this $1.50-to-play-Ms. Pacman junk.) And good gosh is the clientele attractive.
388 Union Ave.

Beer Table
Brooklyn, New York
This tiny New York venue — seriously, it’s barely bigger than a table — might not have the largest selection in the neighborhood, but proprietors Justin and Tricia Phillips more than make up for any lack of depth with a wonderfully curated list of drafts and bottles from faraway breweries like Florida’s Cigar City and England’s J.W. Lee’s. Don’t miss their famous (and affordable) three-course dinners every Tuesday night for a true imbibing and culinary experience.
427 B 7th Ave.

The Diamond
Brooklyn, New York
This Brooklyn gem features sessionable beers such as Southern Tier Harvest and Sly Fox Pils. Additionally, it has a wide selection of options that will knock you on your ass. From Val Dieu Brune (8 percent ABV) to De Dolle Oerbier Reserva (13 percent ABV), you’ll be stumbling down the streets of New York’s best borough in no time at all.
43 Franklin St.

Spuyten Duyvil
Brooklyn, New York
This local hangout could probably fit its entire beer list on one sheet of paper, but that doesn’t mean it’s not impressive: Cigar City Espresso Maduro, Brooklyn Manhattan Project, Lion Stout all the way from Sri Lanka. Nothing wrong with short and sweet. This funky spot’s hoppin’ most nights of the week, and don’t be surprised to catch the occasional A-lister with a baseball cap pulled low (read: “Just trying to chill here, guys”) hunched over a few awesome brews.
359 Metropolitan Ave.

Studio Square
Long Island City, New York
This isn’t your average biergarten. Queens, New York’s latest take on the traditional German drinking venue offers your typical brats and kolbase, but also a sizable sushi menu come this spring. Likewise, you’ll find loads of German beers among the 60 tap lines, but Dogfish Head, Captain Lawrence and other regional favorites find their way into steins as well. If you’re feeling exceptionally adventurous, go for the homemade sangria.
35-33 36 St.