Brooklyn Brewery — Restaurant in New York

Not the best brewery tour, but a great place to sample some unique brew and learn a bit about the history of one of America's more stored small breweries. The brewery offers free no-reservation tours on the hour between 1 and 5 on Saturdays and Sundays. Once a brewery with only a small following, the craft brew renaissance means the brewery gets super crowded on weekends now, so expect a line to get into the tasting room and a considerable wait to get your beer. You have to buy tokens for beer at the counter when entering, $5 a token, or 5 for $20 which is decent for NY beer, but pretty dear for a brewery. The line moves pretty slowly so my suggestion is to get 3 tokens per person (the limit for one serving) and grab 3 beers before grabbing a spot at a table. Take the opportunity to make some new friends as table space is at a premium. People seem to claim a spot early and stay all day here, so finding a spot can be difficult unless you arrive early. The beer selection is very good, with about 8 different styles plus a rotating cask ale and some specials that require 3 tokens for a single drink, but cannot be found elsewhere and come with a souvenir glass. Skip the lager and pils as you can get them at any bar and try some of the small batch ones. Be careful, some are upward of 8% abv.

The tours met every hour back by the entrance, and weren't actually announced when we were there, so start standing there about 5 minutes before so you don't miss it. The tour itself is worth what you pay for, free. Essentially dozens of people, maybe 50 or so are crammed into a room of the brewery with machines, but nothing running. You can't see any operation of the factory and are very far from even the mash tuns or fermenting tanks. The tour guide was good, though a bit scattered with his information though he did have a good sense of humor. the tour lasted about 10 minutes and didn't really go into much detail. I stayed around at the end to ask a few questions with some others and we were basically rushed out quickly. The tour was pretty disappointing, but the beer was very good and changed my mind a bit about the brewery. I found the parts about operating under prohibition very interesting and gained an appreciation for my great grandfather who ran a speakeasy in NYC during that time.

I still think Brooklyn Brewery's beer is a bit overpriced, but I have more of an appreciation for their history and the range of beer they produce now. The tour was skip-able, but the tasting room is nice, if not over crowded though it does have a bit of a frat party atmosphere. I wouldn't rank it as high as I've seen it listed on America's breweries, and especially not in the top 10 brewery tours like I recently saw, but it is a worthy excursion in New York and has an...

Disappointed as a Regular – A Missed Opportunity for Customer Loyalty

I’ve been a loyal visitor to Brooklyn Brewery, appreciating their craft and the atmosphere they’ve built over time. However, my recent experience left me feeling undervalued and turned away, despite my consistent support.

As someone who understands the importance of customer loyalty in the hospitality and brewery industry, it’s disheartening when a regular guest is not accommodated. I wasn’t looking for special treatment, just a welcoming experience that reflects the brand’s values. Moments like these can make or break a loyal customer’s perception, and in today’s competitive market, businesses thrive on repeat customers who not only return but also bring new guests with them.

That’s why I’d love to offer some insight—free of charge—on how Brooklyn Brewery could enhance their approach to regulars and even attract more business: Loyalty Program: Implement a simple system where frequent visitors can earn rewards, whether it’s a discount after a certain number of visits, an exclusive members-only brew tasting, or a free pint after a milestone. This fosters long-term commitment and encourages word-of-mouth marketing. Waitlist Benefits for Regulars: Instead of turning away consistent patrons, offer a waitlist feature where regulars can check in and receive a text when space is available. This keeps the connection alive rather than pushing customers to seek alternatives. Exclusive Promotions & First Access: Give regulars access to limited-edition brews or early invitations to events. This makes patrons feel valued and engaged. Referral Perks: Reward customers who bring in new visitors. Maybe a free half-pint for every guest they introduce to the brewery. Community Engagement: Brooklyn Brewery already has a strong presence, but a little extra outreach—such as a “Regulars Night” or exclusive tastings—would deepen relationships and make people feel like they belong.

I genuinely want to see Brooklyn Brewery succeed and continue to be a go-to spot, not just for me, but for many others. But a single bad experience can create hesitation in returning. I hope management considers these insights—because turning away a regular isn’t just losing one visit; it’s potentially losing many...

This was an odd experience as I generally have a great time at any brewery I visit. This one is not your typical brewery experience by any stretch of the imagination. First off, the place was a bit difficult to find there's no clear signage indicating where the actual entrance to the tasting room is. Instead, it was just an open door that seemed as though you were walking into a warehouse. Probably my mistake, but my friend had the same issue so go figure.

The actual vibe of the place was more like a cross between a dining hall and a loud bar. Seating is arranged as a series of large picnic tables. The music was very loud and the actual selection of music wasn't great - it was mostly trendy pop music which is fine, but not your typical fare in a brewery.

Lastly, you can't actually pay at the bar for your beers. You need to go through the merchandise booth to buy "tokens" that you can exchange for beer at the bar. The problem here is, you're waiting in line with people that want to buy shirts and other knick-knacks so you might be waiting awhile just to be able to pay for your beer.

The beer itself was good, but nothing to write home about. You can actually get this beer most anywhere nowadays. Their selection here is obviously pretty good. They have some special seasonals here that a true fan might be interested in, but if you're not a huge fan of their beer to begin with I'd pass.

Overall, if you're looking for a more traditional brewery vibe this is not the place. It seems like if you're interested in the brewing process or just breweries in general it might be worth checking out. I wouldn't recommend this place to most...