The best beer gardens in Brooklyn

Owners Ayana and Tobias grew up in Germany’s Black Forest, before moving to Brooklyn and opening up the beer garden of the same name. An ode to the mountain range that raised them as well as the city they now call home, Black Forest is a blend between an authentic German beer garden and the sidewalk bars of New York. Sunlight pours in through the skylight in the main room, and wooden outdoor tables spill out onto the Fort Greene streets.

Behind the bar, you’ll find iconic German beers, like Rothaus Black Forest pilsner and Hofbräu lager, or try a little bit of everything with the $42 beer flight. To snack on, order a classic soft pretzel, Flammkuchen (Alsatian thin-crust flatbread), authentic Wurst from a NYC-based German butcher, or build your own Schnitzel.

Book the Skylight Room for up to 70 seated guests and 90 reception-style, or reserve the back room space for up to 40 seated and 60 standing. For some fresh air and people-watching, you can rent the semi-private Sidewalk Chalet, for up to 50 guests total or 8-10 per booth. Food options include a customizable 3-course German family feast or hors d’oeuvres served buffet-style. Bar packages can be purchased as add-ons to events, inclusive of cocktails, wine, and beer.

It’s safe to say that no one knows beer better than a brewer. Known for approachable, balanced, and creative drinks, Threes Brewing’s beers are offered in over 700 bars, restaurants, and shops across New York and the US. Its flagship brewery in Gowanus is a fully functioning brewery, cafe/beer shop by day, and a brewpub, beer garden, and music venue by night.

The main bar boasts high ceilings, a long bar, banquet seating, and a skylight. Look beyond the liquor shelves for a reminder that you’re, in fact, at a brewery: 15-barrel Brite tanks are subtly hidden. Book this space for 120 people, or head to the year-round outdoor space to enjoy lush English ivy, Wisteria, and a separate bar. The Yard can accommodate 150 for a buyout, or up to 50 for a sectioned-off event. The music venue and private event space is the Tiny Montgomery, available for cocktail receptions and parties of 40 guests.

The beer list incorporates the freshest lagers, IPAs, and other offerings from the brewery in addition to favorites from other admired spots across the country. If you’re hungry, they offer a menu from Super Burrito, which has classic and casual Mexican fare.

This 13,000 sq. ft. indoor/outdoor beer garden, restaurant, and event space is located in what used to be an old gas station and mechanic shop. The charming recycled decor alludes to its past, while still remaining hip, in true Brooklyn fashion. There’s always something going on at Greenwood Park: sports watch parties, trivia, karaoke, and even Prom, if you’re feeling nostalgic. It’s family-friendly, but 21+ after dark.

The bar offers a whopping 60 draft beer lines, with a further handful available canned or bottled. Order a classic like a Brooklyn Summer Ale, or try something funky like the S9 Noble Saison, which has notes of dried grass and hay. Sangria pitchers, wines, cocktails, and soft drinks are also available. The all-American food menu offers square pizza alla vodka, BLT wraps, loaded nachos, and tater tots.

A full buyout hosts 650 guests for private events, and the outdoor space hosts 350. The indoor bar can accommodate up to 75 for more intimate gatherings.

Known locally to host the neighborhood’s most lively Oktoberfest parties, Radegast Hall attracts beer-loving groups from across the city all year round. A big and bright indoor spot for day drinking in Williamsburg, you’ll find long communal wood tables, worn exposed brick, and slated wooden walls.

Try their selection of popular and obscure European beers, or opt for a cocktail like the Kentucky Monk or the Old Cuban. The food menu offers typical German pub grub, like Bratwurst, Schnitzel, and Munich pretzels with beer cheese.

Live music is on almost every night, or you can host your own event. Rent out the main hall (including the front bar and garden) for 300, or the more private Bier Haus for 125. There’s no WiFi at the venue, but use this as an opportunity to unplug – and maybe be grateful your friends aren’t documenting you online after one too many beers.

Established in 2009, DSK stands for Die StammKneipe, which roughly translates to the “locals’ pub”. After so many years in the neighborhood, you’re likely to find regulars who have been coming for a decade as well as beer-loving Brooklynites on first dates. The community vibe extends to their weekly trivia and famous annual Eurovision watch parties.

Enjoy 18 German beers on draft, from lager to Weizen to pilsner. Non-alcoholic beer, gluten-free beer, and other drinks are also available. Food includes pretzels, fries, classic and vegan sausages with an array of toppings, alongside traditional dishes like KäseSpätzle and Currywurst.

The main space is more of a beer hall, with black and white checkered flooring, wooden communal tables, and iron fixtures. There’s a large outdoor patio space where you can soak up the sun, with minimalist space in the back, Haus on Hanson, reserved for private events. Contact the venue for more details, including buyout opportunities.