A Quick and Dirty Brooklyn Brewery Guide

While craft brewing fever has spread to virtually every corner of the USA, if you had to pick a Patient Zero for this nation-wide pandemic of great beer, Brooklyn would be a good choice. Specifically, Brooklyn Brewery, which was started in 1988 by Steve Hindy and Tom Potter. These days they’ve expanded well beyond the five boroughs of New York; you can find their flagship Brooklyn Lager and a dozen other perennial brews in stores all over the country. Pop on by Liquor Barn to sample our selection of Brooklyn’s finest, but before you do, here’s a look at some of their most popular beers.

Brooklyn Lager

This Viennese-style lager is amber-gold in color and features a crowd-pleasing maltiness offset by floral hop aroma and just a tad bitter. 5.2% ABV and a smooth, refreshing taste make it a staple at bars or the dinner table.

Brooklyn Sorachi Ace Saison

Sorachi Ace is named after a region of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The Sorachi hop has a strange lemony, herbal scent, and Brooklyn Brewery decided to make this once-neglected hop the centerpiece of this brew. It’s a unique cross between Czech Pilsner and Belgian Ale—at 7.2% it’s “Sunshine in a glass,” and you’ll love it from the first sip you take.

American Ale

This is the workhorse beer you reach for at Monday happy hour; it’s the beer you pop open with friends on a Sunday afternoon tailgate in the fall; the beer you drink with your July 4th BBQ. American Ale combines a touch of malt with Williamette and Cascade hops for a reliable, drinkable 4.5% ABV beer.

Defender IPA

This bright, juicy IPA combines the warm glow of an Irish red with the sunniness of Mosaic and Summit hops you expect from a Cali IPA. The result is a 6.7% ABV IPA that gives you plenty of juicy hop flavor and reason to grab another bottle.

Brooklyn Pilsner

Brooklyn Pilsner is a beautiful golden-blonde color, an homage to the early days of brewing in pre-prohibition New York City in the 1800s. This pilsner is brewed using German two-row barley malts, with just a little bit of hops thrown in for a floral, slightly piney aroma. Enjoy this 5.1% ABV brew with your favorite grilled sausage and your favorite friends of course.

Brooklyn Brown Ale

At 5.6% ABV, Brooklyn Brown Ale is just strong enough to satisfy you after one bottle, but certainly light enough that you can have a few in one sitting. It combines the sweetness of a Newcastle with the roasty malt palate of American brown ales. You’ll also enjoy it for the light hop finish.

Naranjito

Just in time for the summer, this orange peel ale clocks in at 4.5% ABV and provides a light and refreshing flavor punch. A strong pop of citrus infuses this American pale ale with a delicious tang that will make you reaching for another bottle before you’ve finished the first one!