There’s something about football games, bright foliage, and crisp days that just don’t feel right without a nice cold beer. During the fall season, there are definitely occasions when a Bud Light or Corona will do just fine. But when you want to step it up a notch, we’re fortunate to have many respected craft breweries in and around New York City. After some extensive “research,” below are our top picks for local craft beer.
Green City IPA from Other Half Brewing Company (Brooklyn)
The Green City IPA is a bright citrus beer with pineapple notes and a bit of a bitter finish, but not in an overwhelming way. Joy Reichenbach, Other Half’s certified Cicerone said this particular beer has converted many of her West Coast IPA-loving friends and family members to New England IPA fans. We’ve seen it work wonders too! The Green City IPA is available in Other Half’s taproom, easy to find at one of their flagships, and distributed to many locations around New York City.
Stoop Beer from Torch & Crown (Manhattan)
Stoop Beer is just what you want on a nice sunny day. It’s a dry, balanced American Lager, brewed with a small portion of corn and rice, and dry-hopped with Citra hops for a fresh hop aroma and a clean finish. Snaps for Torch & Crown coming through with the perfect summer-fall hybrid. Their new Soho location is opening any day, so head there to sip on this popular brew. In the meantime, have Stoop Beers delivered so you have an excuse to make friends with your neighbors!
Fat Mango from Finback Brewery (Queens)
Hold onto your hats for this one! Finback Brewery collaborated with Interboro Spirits & Ales, in Brooklyn to create Fat Mango. It’s an IPA made with mango, sticky rice, coconut, and lactose. It has tons of fruit flavor, a sweet aroma, and a creamy mouthfeel. Despite the tropical flavors, this is a very well-executed beer, and obviously lots of fun! This one is available in the tasting room, as well as local New York City bars.
World Gone Hazy from the Bronx Brewery (Bronx)
World Gone Hazy is an easy-drinking Northeast IPA that has tons of tropical fruit notes. We’re talking about the favorites: orange, mango, and pineapple. According to Bronx Brewery’s Lead Brewer Lee Carlson, “It’s soft on the palate, with almost no bitterness making this a very approachable beer, even if IPA’s may not be your thing.” World Gone Hazy is available at many NYC restaurants, bars, and stores and available for shipping within New York. Or just visit their Backyard spot for dine-in and community events.
Island Vibes from Kills Boro Brewing Company (Staten Island)
Island Vibes IPA is the only beer Kills Boro brews year-round so that’s saying something right there. The brew is citrusy, with subtle pine and tropical fruit flavors. It’s easy-drinking at 7.0% abv IPA. Described by Head Brewer Sean Torres as “not too strong that it knocks you off of your feet after a couple, but still full of that hazy hop flavor people love.” This one is definitely a crowd-pleaser. Kills Boro is a 10 barrel brewpub located on the north shore of Staten Island. You can find their beers through NYC and their cans at Whole Foods.
Premier from Interboro Spirits & Ales (Brooklyn)
Premier is a double dry-hopped IPA that pours hazy yellow with tropical and citrus aromas. It tastes of melon and pineapple so it is both hoppy and juicy, but still light and refreshing. The Interboro crew claims it is their favorite beer because it is perfect for any meal or occasion, and we happen to agree. The premiere is always available at the Interboro brewery and distillery on Grand Street in Brooklyn and throughout NewYork, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
Hawaiian Pizza from Rockaway Brewing Company (Long Island)
Hawaiian Pizza is a 6.8% North Eastern IPA loaded with hops for a super juicy taste. The Rockaway Brewing team makes this beer once a month and is only available in their tasting rooms in Long Island City and Rockaway Beach so head there to make a day of it. Rockaway’s “Curator of Beer” Sean McCain said a Rockaway Beach local once described, “I taste the pineapple but feel the ham!” For the record, none of those ingredients are in the beer, and yet somehow it’s like a pizza party in your mouth! They deliver to Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan.
ET Stay Home Series from Evil Twin (Queens)
This A+ named series consists of 15 sour beers loaded with delicious blueberries and raspberries. It has almost a jam-like flavor but is also smooth and easy to drink. Created during peak pandemic times, the goal was to create something that people could enjoy while being stuck at home. Evil Twin’s Caroline Lethbridge said, “We never take ourselves too seriously. We brew beers for the fun of it rather than following trends.” Most of the beers are sold exclusively from the taproom, though they do ship 4-packs direct to consumers in New York, DC, and Pennsylvania.
Thought Experiment Series From Three’s Brewing (Brooklyn)
Long live summer at Three’s Brewing! Their Thought Experiment series re-uses fruit from other beers they’ve brewed with Table Beer Saison as the base. It’s currently available in two flavors: Apricot and Cherry. They are easy to drink and, may we say, the bottles are stunning! You can find this series at Three’s Flagship Brewery in Gowanus, their bar in Greenpoint, or their summer outpost on Governors Island.
Fistful of Rubies from Big aLICe Brewers (Long Island)
Fistful of Rubies sums Big aLICe Brewing up perfectly as they are now known for both their barrel-aged beers and fruited sours. This popular sour cherry was first released in September 2017 and became a fan favorite. Back and better than ever, their 2020 release Fistful of Rubies is made with 100% New York State ingredients, including the freshest Hudson Valley Montmorency cherries aged in red wine barrels. You can find Fistful of Rubies at bars, restaurants, and retailers throughout NYC, though the barrel-aged beers are reserved exclusively for their Long Island City Brewery & Taproom and Brooklyn based Barrel Room.
Kim Hibiscus Sour from SingleCut (Queens)
The Kim is a year-round sour ale from SingleCut. It’s a very approachable sour, not overpowering, with a nice pucker. Brewed with hibiscus and a touch of black currant, this beer is an attractive ruby pink hue. It’s ABV sits at a cool 4.2%, so it’s perfect for a Saturday afternoon picnic in the park. SingleCut is known for both their love of IPAs and Rock and Roll, so it shouldn’t be surprising this beer is named after Kim Deal, the bassist from The Pixies and The Breeders. You can find Kim at Whole Foods, Wegmans, and local craft beer stores.
We’re Fall-ing in Love with Beer This Season
We especially love these beers because of the amazingly talented brewery owners and employees. They are passionate about creating a unique tasting beer and an experience. So what are you waiting for? Enjoy a fresh brew and support a local business. Cheers!
