Springtime calls for group gatherings, birthday parties, and of course, lots of beer drinking. Here's a list of Williamsburg's best beer gardens, from gigantic industrial sized halls to quaint European style bars.
1. Radegast Beer Hall
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113 North 3rd St. at Berry St.
The first official beer hall in Williamsburg, Radegast has held its own as one of the most popular places for daytime and nighttime drinking. The decor is traditionally German, with wood beams and long banquet tables. There's an outdoor section with a retractable roof, and a sausage station in back with several kinds of gourmet mustards to accompany your bratwurst. The bar is totally swamped on weekends, so go for the party, or check it out on a quieter weeknight.
2. Berry Park
4 Berry St. at N. 14th St.
Berry Park is a gigantic beer hall located just off McCarren Park. Indoors you'll find huge tables and on weekends a projector screen for major sports events. If you were wondering where to watch the World Cup, look no further. Upstairs there's roof access complete with a second bar so you don't have to schlep all the way downstairs for a refill. Pub food, like shepherd's pie and pretzels baked on the premises, is available. Berry Park is a great choice for birthdays or whenever you want to drink with a crowd.
3. Brooklyn Brewery
79 N. 11th St., between Berry St. and Wythe St.
Not only is Brooklyn Brewery an actual brewery, it's also a bar! On weekends, you can take a tour of the facility, but most patrons just go to drink. $20 gets you six drink tokens, which you can cash in at the bar for your choice of seasonal beers. There's not much in the way of atmosphere in the large beer hall, which has cement floors and picnic tables, but you are welcome to bring in outside food, making it a favorite for birthday parties and large gatherings.
4. Spritzenhaus
33 Nassau Ave. at Guernsey St.
Sister to Manhattan's popular beer bar, Spitzer's, Spritzenhaus has over 100 beers on tap, plenty of seating, and outdoor sidewalk tables in the event of nice weather. Located just over the Williamsburg border into Greenpoint, this 6,000 square foot bar has a full menu and a wood burning oven. Its atmosphere is a bit fancier than Radegast and Berry Park, with stools situated around circular tables and a fireplace adding a more elegant overall charm.
5. Spuyten Duyvil
359 Metropolitan Avenue, at Havemeyer St.
If you're more of a beer connoisseur rather than a beer guzzler, Spuyten Duyvil is for you. The indoor space is a bit narrow and cramped, but in the warmer months their outdoor garden in the back is an oasis of greenery. This bar imports bottles of beer from Europe, mostly France, Austria, and Germany. The chalkboard list of bottles can be overwhelming, but the bartenders are experts, so feel free to consult them. There are small snacks, like pickled eggs and chocolate bars for the hungry.
6. Loreley
64 Frost St., at Meeker Ave.
Loreley, another German beer hall, opened its first branch on Manhattan's Lower East Side. The Brooklyn branch is located on an unusual corner of Williamsburg, right underneath the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. While that might not sound like the best place for a beer garden, Loreley has made the best of the situation, with beautiful tables and a lovely indoor space. Order traditional German pilsners or lagers on tap, or select from their list of bottles. There's also an impressive list of high-quality bourbon and scotch. Loreley has a leg-up on the other beer gardens: their food. You can choose from a number of traditional German dishes, like bratwurst or spaetzel, on this menu.
7. Breuklen Beer Merchants
182 Grand St., at Bedford Ave.
Though not a beer garden per se, Breukelen Beer Merchants is a grocery for beer where you can shop to go, or sit down for a drink in store. There are sixteen alternating beers on tap, and a growler is available for $12 if you'd like to take some home with you. Sandwiches, cheese, and other goodies from local businesses are available for consumption, and there's free internet, making Breukelen Beer Merchants the perfect cafe for beer lovers.