Brooklyn comes alive in the springtime, and the beer scene is no exception to that rule. Grab your Beer Books and explore the borough’s breweries and bars, which are excited to host you with a slew of fun day drinking activities, Derby parties, comedy nights and can releases the borough over.
THURSDAY, MAY 4
Gin & Tonic Can Release at Interboro
Our favorite local brewery/distillery, Interboro Spirits & Ales is doing something crazy on Thursday: releasing NYC’s first canned cocktail, their Goodwin Hill Gin & Tonic, in 12oz cans. Yes, G&Ts in cans. Goodwin Hill Gin, a house-made hit in the tasting room, is crafted with a base mash of barley and wheat, then ginified with healthy helpings of botanicals including juniper, coriander, lemon peel, black pepper, licorice root and angelica root. The floral, herbal, earthy bouquet and grain-forward goodness play nicely with the citrusy tonic, so go for a taste and grab some cans to go ($24/4-pack).
Grassroots Action at KCBC
After you grab your G&T cans (cans!) at Interboro, feel like an activist while you drink beer the rest of the evening at the at Kings County Brewers Collective, where Grassroots Action NY will be hosting five-minute activism activities and selling merch, all alongside a bona fide selfie machine (ok, it’s a photo booth). Free and open to the public with lots of fresh brews on site. (Kings County Brewers Collective, Bushwick, 6-9pm)
Allagash & LIC Beer Project Tap Takeover at Beer Karma
Beer Karma hit the ground running with local beer offerings from the likes of KCBC and Other Half. Now, they’re stepping onto the tap takeover scene with beers from two fine breweries: LIC Beer Project of Long Island City, Queens, and Allagash Brewing from Portland, Maine. (No Brooklyn beer featured in the event itself, but we’re sure you can find some bottles and cans to go.) The final tap list features a mix of LICBP and Allagash favorites, so head over for a few refreshingly funky brews or check it out on the Beer Karma Facebook page before you go. (Beer Karma, Williamsburg, 6pm-12am)
FRIDAY, MAY 5
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 9 Viewing Party Extravaganza
Eat, drink and be gay at Branded Saloon for RuPaul’s Drag Race, hosted this week by Madame Vivien V and Florence D’Lee, with special guest from the Haus of Umpteen Corpses, Angelica Sundae. Drag, trivia, giveaways, and guest appearances galore. Happy hour drag show starts at 7pm, Drag Race viewing starts at 8pm, and hopefully, some Brooklyn beer on tap as well. (Branded Saloon, Prospect Heights, 7pm-9pm)
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SATURDAY, MAY 6
WellspringWrites X ChrisLeeCeramics Popup Shop
Wake up and smell the coffee (and beer) at BUDIN Saturday morning, where ChrisLee Ceramics will host a popup shop with Wellspring Writes, featuring greeting cards and ceramics for sale just in time for Mother’s Day (it’s next Sunday, ya jerks). (BUDIN, Greenpoint, 11am)
Derby Viewing Party at Berg’n
Sip Mint Juleps all day in your fanciest hat at the Kentucky Derby viewing party at Berg’n, where all eyes will be on the big screen at 6:30pm, but the party be going all day. Entry is free, tables are first come, first served. (Berg’n, Crown Heights, 12pm)
N64 Mario Kart Showdown at the Diamond
Derby, sherby. The much more exciting race is clearly the N64 Mario Kart Showdown at the Diamond. Practice your best raspy Wario voice and come grumbly and prepared to slip on a few banana peels. (The Diamond, Greenpoint, 3-6pm)
Midnights BK’s First Anniversary/Derby Party
Come celebrate Midnights’ one-year anniversary of gracing Brooklyn with its garden, elevated pub fare, awesome cocktails and classy atmosphere. Of course, no cocktail bar is going to miss out on the Derby, so it’ll be screening while you enjoy food and drink specials, or maybe a few decent brews with your Beer Books, along with a performance by Luna Fox. (Midnights, Williamsburg, 5pm)
SUNDAY, MAY 7
3rd Annual Crawfish Boil at Threes Brewing
Hurry up and grab a seat at Threes Brewing’s 3rd Annual Crawfish Boil. Tickets are sold out for the 1pm session, but there are a few 3pm slots left! (Threes Brewing, Gowanus, 1-5pm)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10
Drop the Mike at Threes’ Outpost
If you haven’t heard that Threes opened a popup outpost bar in Greenpoint, get out from under your rock and go have some laughs at this all-female comedy show on Wednesday night. (Threes Outpost, Greenpoint, 8pm-11:30pm)
FRIDAY, MAY 12
Can Release @ Threes Brewing
All good things come in Threes, eh? On Friday, May 12, Threes Brewing will host its latest can release for two brews: Constant Disappointment IPA and a new collaboration with Mikkeller, Panacea, a double IPA with pink guava. Sensual. Can’t stand the lines? Pre-order them here. (Threes Brewing, Gowanus, TBD)
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SATURDAY, MAY 13
Brewed Outta Brooklyn
Greenwood Park will host Brewed Outta Brooklyn, a tap takeover featuring 24 local beers from the baddest borough. Beer will be pouring from Brooklyn breweries including KCBC, Threes, Interboro, Lineup, Brooklyn Brewery, Coney Island Brewery and more. To set the mood, DJ Felgzzz will be spinning old school Brooklyn hip hop. Spread love. (Greenwood Park, South Park Slope, 12pm)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 17
New IPAs Can Release @ Greenpoint Beer & Ale Co.
CAN you keep up??? (See what we did there?!) Greenpoint Beer & Ale will be releasing another duo of delicious IPAs on Wednesday, May 17: Purgatory, an aggressively dry-hopped IPA bursting with citrus and soft pine; and Bathmophobia, a new imperial IPA boasting exotic, floral and citrus aromas. Have no fear: big, juicy brews are here. (Greenpoint Beer & Ale, Greenpoint, 5pm)
THURSDAY, MAY 18
Coney Island Beer Dinner
Coney Island’s first-ever (and, impressively, five-course) beer dinner is happening, with beer and food pairings featuring eight Coney Island draft beers brewed on site by head brewer, Eric Hernandez, plus Brooklyn-focused food featuring four courses from local chef, Kate O’Donnell. Sneak preview: “Welcome Bites” will include beef jerky marinated with Mai Coney Island Baby, a cheese board graced with the fermented goods of Crown Heights’ Crown Finish Caves, and smoked brat “pigs in a blanket” served with Coney Island beer mustard. Our mouths are salivating already. (Coney Island Brewery, Coney Island, 5:15pm-9:30pm)
Mikkeller Beers at Brouwerij Lane
Global beer brand, Mikkeller is praised the world over (and now, oddly, at Citi Field) for their diverse portfolio of unique brews, from west coast-style IPAs to canned Berliner Weisses and bottled sours fermented with anything from berries to carrots. Try a slew of their brews at Brouwerij Lane, and take some home from the fridge to-go. (Brouwerij Lane, Greenpoint, TBD)
SATURDAY, MAY 20
8th Annual Crawfish Boil at Sycamore
Brooklyn’s best beer bar and flower shop, Sycamore is collaborating with Gaddy Lane for their eighth annual crawfish boil, where $30 will get you a tray of Louisiana-style Crawfish, a “slammin’ side,” a beverage (bring your Beer Book!) and two raffle tickets. Raffle-raised cash will go to the Billion Oyster Project. Crawfish boil seatings are at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm, and tickets are available here. (Sycamore, Flatbush, 1pm, 3pm & 5pm)
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THURSDAY, MAY 25
Maibock’s Comeback at Brouwerij Lane
Celebrate spring and synth at the launch party for Dance Around the Two Pole, a Maibock-inspired brew coming from the hands and hearts of Greenpoint Beer & Ale in collaboration with the brewery’s and Brouwerij Lane’s longtime friend and Shelton Brothers badass, Jim “Bocky” Barns. History lesson: Maibock is an old-school German style of lager that was once seasonally revered throughout the Western world to celebrate the start of spring (and specifically, the month of May). (Brouwerij Lane, Greenpoint, TBD)
Stay in-the-know about Brokelyn-approved beer bars and breweries by visiting our 2017 Brooklyn Bar Guide.
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