Counting Room
44 Berry St., at 11th St.
Williamsburg
(718) 599-1860

What is it: The Counting Room is two floors of hugeness without feeling like a warehouse/beer hall. It somehow masters the large but cozy feel. The rustic wooden upper level is great for eating some food and grabbing a glass of wine or a beer while the lower level has more of a cocktail feel with a really beautiful bar and the occasional dance party.

Why we love it: We like the mix of live music, DJs, great food and lengthy beer and wine list – not to mention that this place is seriously beautiful. (more…)

Heavy Woods
50 Wyckoff Ave., at Willoughby Ave.
Bushwick
(929) 234-3500

What is it: A new addition to the Jefferson Stop bar lineup, this whiskey haven is walled with windows, but not in a new condo in Williamsburg way. The windows resting above the wood walls are quite magical and give this lodge-like bar a bit of abandoned warehouse charm.

Why we love it: They have a great selection of beer. They also have different events from Pumpkin Carving Contests to Russian Dance Nights – which I’m hoping is a night where they just play t.A.T.u. over and over again. (more…)

Union Hall
702 Union St., (between Fifth & Fourth Avenues)
Park Slope
(718) 638-4400

What is it: With book-lined walls and antique nic nacs, Union Hall has established itself as a Brooklyn favorite for its classic down-home-meets beer-loving statesman vibe. Two indoor bocce ball courts hardly make a dent in this huge space.

Why We love it: The huge space means there’s nothing they won’t host here. That includes live music, karaoke, storytelling, games, DJs, bingo, comedy and on and on. Check out their calendar for upcoming events.   (more…)

Boulevard
579 Meeker Ave., at Monitor St.
Greenpoint
(718) 389-3252

What is it: Stationed under the BQE is the ultimate of neighborhood bars: The Boulevard Tavern. Here you have one of the best drinkeries in the McGlorick Park area of Greenpoint. You can stop in for a quick beer after work, or stay raging into the night with a bunch of friends.

Why we love it: Besides their continuous BBQ, they have nights like ROCKUMENTARY Mondays and screen shows like Portlandia. They are usually just the right amount of crowded and the possibility of getting to use the pool table is high. (more…)

Brooklyn Fireproof
119 Ingraham St., at Porter Ave.
Bushwick
(347) 223-4211

What is it: Brooklyn Fireproof is a coffee shop during the day turned bar at night with a nice performance space/ screening venue.

Why we love it: The picnic tables in Brooklyn Fireproof’s large outdoor area are a great place to grab a beer with a few friends, especially in the nice weather.

(more…)

Anchored Inn
57 Waterbury St., at Scholes St.
Bushwick
(718) 576-3297

What is it: A nautical themed, food toting, heavy metal venue with an awesome rotating bunch of drafts.

Why we love it: Did you read the “what is it” section? Did you check out their menu and note the hot dog wrapped in bacon? (more…)

Bars We Love! is an ongoing feature in which we highlight the bars from the 2013 Brokelyn Beer Books. We chose these spots not just for their knockout beer selections, or their weird collections of niche memorabilia, but because in a city of reclaimed-wood-this and speakeasy–inspired-that, we actually have something different to say about them, and we think you should know.

BODEGA BAR
24 St. Nicholas Ave., at Troutman St.
Bushwick
(646) 924-8488

What is it: A Spanish-inspired beer and wine bar with 14 sophisticated drafts – 12 beer and 2 wine (yes, wine!) – and a nightly menu featuring fresh cut charcuterie, cheese and melty, grilled sandwiches. (more…)

Roll up to a great place to drink, like The Bedford, with a beer book in your pocket. via Facebook

So, after a long dry spell, we are unleashing the Brokelyn Beer Books…you know, those awesome beer voucher books where you get 30 beers from 30 different bars all for only 30 bucks. What’s that? You don’t know how good it feels to have one in your hand because last time they sold out in under three hours? Well now is your chance. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we are coming back with TWO books. This means twice as many fantastic bars and twice as many chances to get your hands on the ultimate Brooklyn beer lover’s gift – either for yourself or someone else. We’ll be dropping them real soon so sign up for our mailing list to be sure you’re the first to know.

After all, life is too short to spend it sober.

Hey Brooklyn, time to get your drinking faces on for the upcoming return of the Brokelyn Beer Books! For those of you who missed them last time, it’s a book with coupons good for one beer at each participating bar, bars we carefully curate for awesomeness. This is a pretty sweet deal, because other than those small Bud Lights at the bodega that make you feel like a giant, where else can you get a beer for a buck? Yeah, Brokelyn has your back, but we also want to hear from you: what places should we include in this edition? (more…)

It belongs in a museum! via Imgur

Over the past two weeks we have seen organizations and friends taking initiative in Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Most of us have gone out and seen first hand the unrealistically real devastation brought on by the storm. There are heartbreaking stories, love stories, d-bag stories and stories that are still trying to find an end. The Brooklyn Historical Society is trying to document the recovery process by reaching out and asking people to point them to pictures and stories from the aftermath as well as any organizations or people that have worked tirelessly in response to the need for help. (more…)