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Oktoberfest Is Just The Beginning At Brooklyn Beer Halls

October 10, 2012 Editorial Staff

Photo courtesy of One Stop Beer Shop.

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Oktoberfest celebrations may be drawing to a close, but to those who still want a taste of German, Belgian and other European brews, fear not. While most festivities are ending, beer halls and gardens across Brooklyn are alive with enough unique, German-inspired culture and events to keep you satisfied until next year. Across the borough, proprietors at numerous watering holes are planning events tailored to their unique style. From classic and cozy to hip and lively, here’s our rundown.

WILLIAMSBURG

Spuytin Duvel

349 Metropolitan Avenue

(718) 963-4140; www.spuytenduyvilnyc.com/

The folks at Spuytin Duvel take their beer seriously. So seriously that Bar Manager Josh Borton believes it’s their defining trait. “We specialize in rare craft beers,” he explained. “It’s our knowledge and care for the beer that separates us from competitors.”

Heaven for a microbrew fanatic, the beer hall’s selection is periodically rotated and consists of stringently chosen microbrews “from small [breweries] in Scandinavia, Belgium, all the way to the U.S.”

The Spuytin Duvel is still in the throngs of its Oktoberfest celebration since Borton says the staff wanted to wait until they were able to acquire the exact selection of beer desired before kicking things off. “We’re not just going to rush,” Borton said. “We had to get the specific and rare beers we wanted.”

Now that it’s all ready, you can catch one of these celebrations over the next to Saturdays, on either the 13^th or the 20^th.

Radegast Hall and Biergarten

113 North 3^rd Street

718-963-3973; www.radegasthall.com

Authentic and lively, the Radegast combines classic beer hall culture with a bit of a kick.

“If you go to beer halls across New York and Brooklyn, they all have their own sense of charm,” said manager Steve Fairbanks. “We try to give some level of authenticity.”

And it works. The solid selection of German beer and food is outdone only by the atmosphere and environment. The hall and garden both feature long communal tables couched within a building that looks like it was pulled straight out of medieval Europe. Combining this authentic atmosphere with daily live music and weekly beer tastings helps keep this hall lively year-round.

The Brooklyn Stable

486 Metropolitan Avenue
347-218-7600; www.brooklynstable.com

The Brooklyn Stable caters to bar goers from all walks of life. Whether you’re looking to just kick back with friends or catch a football game, the Stable is a solid choice.

Daily happy hour specials are offered from 4 to 7 p.m. For the sports lovers among us, the Stable also offers a large number of Monday Night Football deals all season long. RSVP packages are also available.

GREENPOINT

One Stop Beer Shop

134 Kingsland Avenue

718-599-0128, onestopbeershopny.com

Possibly one of the most lively, if not authentic, beer halls in the borough, One Stop Beer Stop tries to keep things kicking, according to Director of Operations Carmen Murphey.

“Our main goal is to keep thing social,” she said, pointing out the zigzag bar shape and L-shaped center social table – strategically placed to keep patrons chatting over their drinks and food. “We try to keep it low key, but encourage communication,” she explained.

Along with Oktoberfest events well into the month, One Stop is planning a number of fun events to keep patrons coming: an Abita-sponsored tasting on Thursday, October 11, at 8 p.m.; an open bar on Wednesday, October 17; and an Original Sin beer tasting on Wednesday, October 24, from 8 to 10 p.m.

Spritzenhaus

33 Nassau Avenue; (347) 987-4632, www.spritzenhaus33.com/

Food, drinks, and a great atmosphere make Greenpoint’s Spritzenhaus a beer hall staple. A huge indoor space with retractable floor-to-ceiling windows along two walls, Spritzenhaus is sleek and clean, but at the same time somewhat rustic.

The food menu doesn’t skimp either, and includes staples like sausage and brats – which also come in specialty form like rabbit and veal, buffalo, duck, venison, and vegan. The massive selection of spirits features monthly specials along with house cocktail specials, classic ales and lagers, Belgian ales, and rare imported German beers such as Professor Fritz Briem 13^th Century Grut Bier. There are even gluten-free options on hand.

PARK SLOPE AND WINDSOR TERRACE

Greenwood Park

555 Seventh Avenue; www.greenwoodparkbk.com

An old, renovated mechanics shop, Greenwood Park is gritty, yet welcoming, with a massive 13,000-plus square feet of space – 10,000 square-feet of which is dedicated to the outdoor garden (full of trees, “rich wood finishings” on the tables, and bocce courts).

With over 60 local, domestic and imported beers on tap, Greenwood Park can defiantly stand its ground with other beer gardens. Their drink offerings also include specialty cocktails like sangria, margaritas, and fresh basil vodka lemonade. The kitchen also sets the place apart, serving up a rotating menu of plates like grilled corn, Buffalo wings, grilled scallops and mortadella (sausage) skewers, organic turkey burgers, and calamari and chipotle chili.

According to co-owner Diane Vasilakos, Greenwood Park also has “a huge commitment to our community and will be doing a lot of fundraising this fall to benefit local schools, charities and institutions.”

Die Koelner Bierhalle

84 Saint Marks Place; 347-227-7238

With its long tables, dim lighting and a fun atmosphere, Die Koelner Bierhalle (KBH) is the perfect place to spend an afternoon or evening with friends – both old and the ones you will meet at your table.

With extremely affordable prices ($13 for a stein of brew), there’s no need for happy hour specials. The massive list of draft and bottled beer, wine and cocktails – over 75 varieties of beer alone, all imported and brewed in accordance with the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516, and each served in its own unique glass – has something for even the fussiest drinker. The former warehouse is also designed the authentic German way: complete with separate waitresses for food and drink orders. Food includes kielbasa, spaetzle, and nine different types of bratwurst, plus lighter fare like a fish of the week and a Portabella mushroom burger. Prost!

FORT GREENE/CLINTON HILL

Der Schwarze Kölner Biergarten

710 Fulton Street

(347) 841-4495; http://www.derschwarzekoelner.com

An authentic German beer garden that regularly hosts everything from German movie nights and anniversary celebrations of German-American Day (every October 6), to Presidential Debate Viewing parties and a regular baby-friendly playgroup called Stutengarten Brooklyn (Mondays through Thursdays, 2:30 to 5 p.m.), Der Schwarze Kölner has something for everyone while not compromising on the classic good stuff, like imported German beers and stein-holding competitions.

Reporting by Thomas Nocera, Heather J. Chin, and Denise Romano.