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9th St-4th Ave (F, M, R)
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This place is a shrine to beer. The choices are endless, almost dauntingly so, at least for an indecisive man such as myself.
The staff only APPEARS to be less than friendly; you just have to meet them halfway on the Bridge of Beer-Loving. Ask their opinion. They know their beer, and they are more than happy to chat up a connoisseur, or help your girlfriend find a fruity Framboise when she's not in a dark beer mood.
Do yourself a favor and try the beer croutons. I'm not sure there's a more perfect bar snack out there. I mean, beer is in the name (and the croutons).
A final note: if you have friends coming from afar, you might want to warn them about staying until all hours of the night. This isn't the sort of place cabs ride by, and I've actually had car services refuse to pick me up here at 2 am.
Thank you Yelp NY for helping me find this glorious bastion of beer while in Park Slope to help a friend move there. That being said, I cannot wait to get back. To visit him, of course!
The food there was incredible; bar food be damned this place had a full on menu with what appeared to be a Hungarian bend to it. Not to mention something called 'beer croutons' - bread that is fried and then, I do, believe sprinkled with either faerie dust or illegal substances. Less questions and more eating of them.
As for the beer menu, my first response was to weep. No seriously, I wept. In Illinois we cannot get Stone Brewery and I have heard nothing but accolades about it - and here it was for me to FINALLY have. Sadly they were not tapping the keg of Arrogant Bastard until the day after I left (oh yeah I thought about calling work and saying I would be a day later, I kid you not). My second response was Chrissake I have not had so many of these beers (f* you Illinois and your three-tier system) and proceeded to order many of them. Our party of six did not have a bit of bad food or a bad drink recommendation the entire night.
The bartender/waiter/dude-who-seemed-to-do-all-things was astonishingly awesome considering he was the only one in the place. Seeing that this is a short walk from my friend's place I know I will be there again whenever I visit him. And that is not a problem with me.
After Terrace Bagels this is the place I miss the most in Brooklyn. I have fond memories of walking to Draft Barn in Gowanus from the F train stop in Park Slope as the sun went down. Don't let the stone-faced bartenders turn you off or make you feel unwelcome. Chat them up a little bit and they're the some of the most cordial people you'll meet in the borough.
I go into the occasional fit now and then thinking of those crispy little nuggets of beer soaked and then deep fried bread. How can something so simple be so delicious and make me want to get even drunker?
When I walk the cold Chicago streets I sometimes see a mirage of a sausage plate with fresh kraut and really spicy mustard that I had here last summer after downing several pints of whatever the hell they recommended I try. I can't even talk about the beer here. If the menu overwhelms you then just have them recommend you something. There's too much stuff on tap and bottled to make heads or tails of the menu unless you're a beer geek.
I don't drink beer. That said, the list of options made me want to become a fan.
The servers were knowledgeable but seemed irritated about having to answer questions. Durn customers. They also added a 20% autograt on our bill. There were five of us, but since it the policy was not mentioned on the menu, I was glad that I was sober enough to notice it. I tend to be a rather generous tipper, but I was a bit annoyed with having that slipped in.
The stuffed scnitzel was yummy. Breaded, fried pork chunk filled with gooey cheese and ham. A cardiologist's nightmare, but pretty tasty. The chips/fries/potatoes were delicious, too. The perfect combination of potato chip and french fry. Even the salad was fresh, though the oil and vinegar default dressing was very heavy on the oil.
All in all, a tasty, filling meal with high-quality ingredients.
I still very much like this place, but there's something about the service that isn't as friendly as I'd like.
Two words: Beer Croutons
Sweet Jesus they are amazing. The recipe is simple too. Soak bread in…
Read more »
This is written by someone not from NYC who also is not a hipster. So be forewarned.
I went here today because a girl I met picked it out. She'd never been there either. The beer selection was very nice, most of which I'd never heard of. I didn't see a certain beer on the menu so I asked about it, and sure enough, they did have it. I guess looking under brewery didn't help.
That right there gets an A in my book, considering 99% of bars do not have Czech Rebel on tap (arguably the finest pilsener ever crafted). The beer croutons were absolutely amazing, and the bartender was very helpful. Granted, it was a Sunday, there were about four other people in the bar. Still, the bartender knew his beers and offered plenty of recommendations, and I found the experience to be altogether positive.
Put simply. If you love different kinds of beers, this place is worth the trip. Not too far from the F, M, R, and considering I live on the opposite of Prospect and have to take the Q to Atlantic to switch over, you can certainly make the trip.
Beer selection is incredible. Staff is very knowledgeable and courteous. Outside seating area was great and cozy, even when it became somewhat crowded. Food was great! What and incredible gem! I know a person who goes there every other week and if I lived in Brooklyn I would do the same!
Oh, and I have tried the strongest beer in the world here - Sam Adams Utopias. It's absolutely incredible, if you're into that kind of thing.
Cheese Spread? Ja.
As Dan D. points out, the servers aren't the most welcoming bunch, but they know their beer (let's say they live up to their Bavarian stereotypes). Which is important when you work at an establishment that offers hundreds of beers. Some of which are really tasty! The ambience was true to a beer hall, but kind of in a tacky way. After a couple Belgian brewz I couldn't have cared less.
The food was definitely not the focus, but I was pleasantly surprised by my friend's choice for the night: Cheese Spread. It was garlicky and amazing, served with Melba Toast. Another friend ordered the pork kebobs and they too were rather delicious.
I don't remember the names the beers I ordered, apart from my usual boring habit of ordering Six Point, but the organic beer I ordered came in a bottle and tasted slightly of bubble gum. It was nastay!
For some reason I took the G train down here and got seriously frickin' lost trying to find this place. Damn my financially responsible decision not to buy an iPhone! It was also one of those times I was really glad that I'm 6'3", cause I was getting eyed down in the warehouses of Gowanus when I was wandering around clearly lost. A nice man out walking his two pitbulls personally escorted me to 3rd Ave. New Yorkers get a bad rap, but they're usually down for helpin' a brotha out.
I was kickin' it with Briana M and crew. I rocked a couple Six Points. A couple Rouges. I gave up my manly beer pride and let the grumpy foreign waiter pick out some IPA's for me, and my man definitely didn't steer me wrong. The vibe was basically a non-pretentious beer hall, with plenty of space and large wooden tables. Definitely a great spot for a group, and they even have some big screens if you want to catch a game. The better beers can get a tad pricey (obviously), but they have some solid $4 brews for the people looking to get drunk or who've gotta watch the budget.
I'll be heading back if invited, I'm always down for some brews. And I'll make sure to take the F, M, or R train, ho-fa-sho.
I walked in and saw the bar. Actually, all the beer behind the bar. And then I heard music. From deep within my childhood, I heard:
"The Hills Are Aliive, With The Sound of Muuuuusiiiiiiiiic."
Because although I can't carry a tune, I sing in my head. A lot. Especially when I am overjoyed. And maybe drunk. In a Austrian looking beer hall.
This place is a diamond in the desolate rough of the 3rd avenue area..thank goodness for that handy identifiable photo of the Draft Barn sign! Now, before you hate on my central-slope-yuppie-ass, let me give props that this place is second to only Bierkraft for the widest beer selection in the "Greater Metro Park Slope area."
The beers spanned a very wide range of price point, there really is something for every taste/wallet. I really prefer to drink draft beer and the second beer I was served was out of the bottle. I'm not sure how that happened... but oh well. The beers on tap are not listed on the menu, so be sure to spend a little time near the actual bar to check out what's runnin on tap. *Sidenote - ladies, take the "tap perusal opportunity" to cruise the scene because on a well-attended night the M:F ratio is something like 4:1*
Draft Barn is so spacious, I almost wanted to run a lap around the joint for funsies. Buttt....I figured that wasn't a good way to win friends in the edgier parts of the hood...orrrr really anywhere besides a track. Moving on - If you come here with a group, make sure to snag one of the larger open-air communal tables. (Esp. if you are trying to catch a sporting event on the huge wall-mounted flatscreen.) The booths are high-backed and will prevent you from seeing half your party as they stream in. Those already infamous beer croutons fun to munch on and definitely kept our group thirsty!! :)
All said and done - I will be back to visit Draft Barn, but I must admit that "The Gate" still has my heart as far as the bar genre of "big beer selection w/ rough-n-tough service" goes...
Beer crutons are the balls! So is the bartender EMT dude.
This bar might be the best ever.
It helps that it is around the corner from my apartment. It also helps that it's new and isn't yet on people's radar. It also helps that it's on 3rd Avenue at 12th Street, a no-man's land by any definition, which keeps the crowds at bay.
By at bay, I mean that I was the only person there when I walked in at 7:30. When I left at 11:30, there were two other tables there.
I need people to go there, at a modest amount -- don't go crazy folks -- because I need what is by all accounts the best bar ever to stay alive in this struggling economy. Don't let this place die, guys!
Why? Because it's f-ing awesome. The beer list has hundreds, count them, hundreds of beers. The bar food menu is NOT your typical bar menu, which I welcome. Instead it embraces its eastern European roots with a damn fine goulash. The gypsy steak, which I had tonight, was fantastic in it's pork+pork+pork combination (pork shoulder with sausage and bacon = amazing).
I can go here a hundred times and still have a long list of new beers to try. I love it.
Smooches, Draft Barn. I'll be back.
What a selection! These guys have pretty much every beer known to man. This is a great, authentic European beer hall, located in the most unlikely of neighborhoods. Believe me, if you love beer, it's worth the trip.
I worried my boyfriend might blow a gasket when I told him I didn't share his esteemed opinion of those off-the-menu beer-soaked pumpernickel croutons.
ME: "Um... They're ok...."
HIM: "More for me!"
So much for that. Well, they're tasty, but very salty, and definitely don't overindulge bc you will have a stomachache the size of Belgium, Germany and Austria put together. But with beer? Exceeeellent....
As I was heavily drugged up due to my cold-verging-on-flu / hope-it's-not-swine-flu illness, I didn't partake in the hoppy happiness. However, my friend the Beerlord's royal decree was that the place rocks -- esp the selection. The Draft Barn is so beer-minded that they don't even have ice, and can serve you soda only if they run next door for you (which they did). As a non-drinker that night, I vouch for the kick-ass burger (moist meat, perfect bun) with slivered steak fries -- the perfect marriage of steak fries and skinny fries -- crunchy and potatoey, OH yeah.
Great for groups, big and small, and they even have a little private room in the back. The place is super-shiny though (slick varnish and everything), so it'll take a few more jaunts around the barn before it feels (and smells) like a proper beer hall.
Draft Barn is a great find.
Big space, tons of delicious beers, no matter what your taste, and strangely compelling newspaper articles decoupaged to the bathroom wall. One car ad, one financials page, one Heidi Klum siting snippet. Weird, but feels like a very truthful exhibition of the owners - whoever they are.
When peopel talk about pubs, this is what I am picturing in my mind. Yes, a beer is the same everywhere but the company and bar staff makes up for all of the other intangibles. they simply don't do it better than this place and as a customer over the last few years, old guys like me can enjoy a place that most youngins will share in harmony and drink.
What keeps this place great is its honesty and the fact that its REAL NY. Some BK places have become too corporate or trendy to house a real neighborhood bar and keeping the attitude at the bar. Draft Barn is my favorite place to grab a cold one from another country.
Came in on a Wednesday night alone to read and check it out finally as I live two blocks away. The bartenders were brusk but extremely knowledgeable, I told them I liked Leffe and Spaten and they made me two recommendations that were amazing (one on draft, a Czech beer, and a Triple Abbey something or other).
The feel in there really does seem like you're in a mead hall in Beowulf or a barn somewhere in Russia, which is a neat experience in the 'real life zombie warzone' area of 3rd ave. The one sticking point I had was that the appetizers (not the entrees surprisingly) were way overpriced. $9 for mozzarella sticks? I mean yeah, I got drunk enough to order them, after two beers, and they were great, but c'mon!
I talked to one of the bartenders who was hanging around but off that night and apparently it is owned by Russians/Hungarians, and they have another bar on Ave X which is mostly a Russian crowd. He was pretty funny about the crowd at this location being "night and day" with the Russian crowd, who would never, for example, demand veggie burgers (which are being added to a revamped menu by summer). He also said that they were getting their liquor license soon and that in the summer they are going to open the huge front doors and publicize the hell out of the place.
In sum, great beers, awesome stable booths and weird group cove in the back, service was stiff but competent and good TV positioning. But what's the deal with the old news articles in the bahtroom?
Yes, I figured I'd eventually bump up Draft Barn's review, but it's definitely for a reason: they've redeemed themselves entirely to my liking, especially after being so gracious and accommodating for a joint holiday soiree a friend and I threw. They offered to move around the tables in the back, suggested an easy way for everyone's separate tabs to work, suggested a bunch of beers my friends adored, etc.
They've also been redeemed through...drumroll..... that delectable cheese spread. Also through -- let's just say it -- the fact that there are so many high-alcohol beers on the menu that it doesn't take much to get your buzz on. (Yes, I said "get your buzz on." Deal.)
I'd just like to preface this by saying I was fully ready to give this place five stars, sight… Read more »
Sorry to be a wet blanket on this party, but Draft Barn didn't do it for me. Trust me, I wanted to like it. Like everyone else here, I live two blocks away. Draft Barn would be the perfect place for a rich beer aficionado who lives in Gowanus. But for a poor dude who'd love to someday be a beer aficionado and lives in Gowanus, it's just depressing.
It's nice that they don't have Miller Lite. But the tradeoff is that the average price of a bottle of beer here is about $9. I'm not counting the Sam Adam's "Utopia," which mysteriously costs $20-$400 for 30 ml. They lost me on that one.
Our waiter started out friendly, but as soon as he found out we were only there for one beer each and some beer croutons, he looked offended and harrumphed off. It took us about another half an hour to get our bill paid, on an empty Tuesday night. Trust me, sir, there's nothing I would enjoy more than to sit in your bar and guzzle novel selections from your impressive beer list, one after another, until I can no longer see. Unfortunately, that kind of consumption is out of my range.
I worry that this place isn't going to last in a neighborhood like Gowanus, where tastes run a bit on the cheaper side. And I'll echo others' gripes about no seats at the bar. If you're sitting in one of the narrow booths, you'd better be dating the person across from you--you'll be rubbing knees all night.
One thing this place has is a lot of space... lots. Too much, but I hear they have finally gotten stools so perhaps it'll fill up more. This place definitely took the "Barn" part of its name to heart. It even has "stall" cubby-holes for groups to hide in!
The beer list is ricockulously large. Almost overwhelming and would benefit from a couple of words of description after each if you're not yet a beer connoisseur (though after going here enough you may become one). I know... ask the waiter. However this is where I'd take points off, the wait-staff is a tad on the rude side. While they have no problem telling you about the beer, they are inattentive and brusque if you still haven't chosen from the extensive list.
The beer croutons (bread, soaked in beer, then fried) are a highlight and the entree portions are massive so you get what you pay for. It's not a place for the small of stomach, I'll tell you that.
They've also got some decent TVs so if watching sports and drinking beer is your thing, give it a whirl... while it's still quiet enough to hear the sportscasters.
If you're looking to get wasted, this isn't really the place for you. However, for South Slopers and those in the Gowanus area who enjoy drinking beer because it tastes good, Draft Barn is a godsend.
The beer list contains well over 200 varieties of beer from all over the world with an emphasis on German and Belgian beers. It's more expensive than grabbing a PBR at your local bar but it's worth it.
With such a huge selection, choosing a beer can be a bit intimidating but I've found the waitstaff to be very helpful and, more importantly, enthusiastic about the products they're selling.
The food seems to be largely Hungarian and was pretty good the one time I had it. I've also heard a lot about the beer croutons but haven't had a chance to try those yet.
Is it open yet? Is it open yet? Is it open yet?
No, I'm not another exuberant gamer waiting for my next copy of Madden at midnight because I have no life, I'm a purveyor of fine alcohol-serving establishments the borough over and with the opening today of the Draft Barn, I may have found the next great Brooklyn bar.
South Slopers rejoice!
For the past six months, I've walked by this place on 3rd Avenue in the South Slope wondering when I wouldn't have to walk up to 5th Ave. in order to relax with some friends over a pint. On the way to the gym, on the way to the subway or on the way to my PS3 dealer (don't you know they all hang out in this neighb?) ... I've seen the signs and the "Coming Soon" banners for the better part of six months.
And now I need wait no longer.
It's surprisingly spacious inside, with a beautiful wood interior (evoking, what I suppose, is a classic European draft haus) and sports a great wraparound bar serving over 200 types of beer, many on tap. I didn't see any Bud Light which means chances are high I'm going to have to extend past my comfort zone and try one of their many tasty beers.
There's food as well, with much in the way of standard bar food though the owner, who told us the reason for the opening delay was due to political red tape (in New York? surely not!), promised that they'd be opening for brunch soon.
A draft haus/sports bar (lots of TV with DirecTV and the NFL Sunday Package) in this area of town is most certainly welcome and I hope it has a very long, prosperous lifetime there.
I knew that I moved to Brooklyn for many good reasons, and this bar may just go on that list.
Sure, it isn't located in the poshest of addresses, but if you're a beer geek, I'd think that you'd be willing to walk a little bit out of your way for what could possibly be the most awe-inspiring selection of good beer this side of Brooklyn.
The bartender is an awesome guy, incredibly knowledgeable about his stock and suggesting brews that he thinks you'd like based on your preferences. Also, only because I'm easily impressed about such things, I do love the fact that they use the right glasses for each kind of beer. If I'm paying that much for Belgian beer, then the least that a bar could do is have the nicer glass and not just whatever's clean.
We didn't get any food other than the beer croutons -- which are DELISH and are the perfect accompaniment to the drinks -- but I think I'll do that on my next visit.
Went in one afternoon, no-one there, ordered a beer $6, and an appetizer...bar tender disappeared, shaved head guy panned for brusque in other reviews, no food after 15 minutes, finished beer, left...that's it.
I guess the Putin biz-model has finally made it to Gowanus ... slow and surly! Nyet. Na Rabota.
Disturbing.
I've been to Draft Barn once before on a quiet afternoon. The beer selection is great and the food is sort of a heavy composite of western/eastern european fair. It's certainly not Hungarian, at least from what I can tell (I've eaten many times in Budapest where casual sidewalk food is beautiful). Still, the food is good. Just not anything I recognized.
Anyway, my girlfriend and I were standing at a table (because they didn't have enough chairs) ready to spend a junk load of money on good beer and food. We were into our second beer while looking at the menu when one of the staff scolded us for bringing our own food. Our "food" consisted of a $.79 cent bag of nuts that my girlfriend had in her purse. I said, "It's peanuts." He replied, "Those are the rules."
Anyway, a grown man/woman shouldn't be asked to put their nuts away.... The whole thing was worse than lame. We left there afterwards.
This place needs to hire people who aren't robots. Go away. There are so many other better options.
Gets an A for Bavarian authenticity. You'll practically feel you're in a chalet the whole time, flanked by stein hoisting yodelers. Your AustroHungarian vibe may vary.
This bar is everything I like about bars and nothing I do not like about bars.
Their beer selection is off the charts, and apparently there is a quirky, specially branded glass for nearly any beer - from a giant beaker-shaped pilsner glass to a girly lambic glass. The food menu consists of heavy, delicious Hungarian-influenced meats and cheeses (probably not much there for vegetarians, although their homemade cheese spread plate is pretty terrific). It's spacious and clean and well-lit. There's ample space for moving around and sitting down, with lots of big tables and cozy booths to accommodate a group of any size. It's never dead, but it's rarely packed and deafening either. It may well be the only awesome bar left in Brooklyn that is not full to the rafters with people who are cooler than I am. As long as you don't mind walking down a couple of deserted warehousey blocks in Gowanus to get there, your own personal beer-vana is waiting for you. Just don't go all at once, okay?
They have a ton of beer. More importantly, they have a lot of affordable beer for beer snobs, like $6 for a Samuel Smith Taddy Porter. They also have Bourbon County Stout on tap, which is amazing. Unfortunately, I missed out on beer croutons, but I'll definitely be going back.
Was also wondering about the weird moody shaved head waiter thing.
Pure beer heaven. This place is absolutely amazing and I am so excited to live so close to it. They have every good beer I can think of and plenty more, and the food is amazing. I love that they have herring (delicious and loaded with onions). Their fries/chips/potatoes are absolutely amazing too. I also had the skirt steak with onions, it was a bit greasy, but goes well with beer. The portions are huge, the staff is amazing, and I am officially a huge fan.
i have a tip from a reliable source that this place officially finally has bar stools.
giddy up.
if you notice a trend on the first 3 reviewers (myself included) you are not crazy. adam, danny and… Read more »
Beer Croutons who ever heard of such a thing... Where have they been hiding all my life, the most delicious bar snack I have ever had. Great beer selection, very knowledgeable staff and nice place to have a conversation and actually here the other person. Only down side, no bar stools or any way to sit at the bar and see what people are drinking but that me being a little picky... Another great beer bar in brooklyn
Jimmy E. - "they simply don't do it better than this place and as a customer over the last few years, old guys like me can enjoy a place that most youngins will share in harmony and drink."
Since this place only opened in early November 2008 I'm trying to figure out how you could be a customer for years. Here are 2 links confirming the November opening.
http://www.gowanusloun...
http://brooklynpaper.c...
i'm in beer heaven,
selection? insane. the staff?
authoritative.
amazing, amazing beer selection. Nice German/Eastern European menu, and plenty of seating for huge groups.
Birthday Person Drinks Free!
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
happy hour 11 am till 7 pm
Neighborhood: Murray Hill
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Neighborhood: Windsor Terrace
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Gowanus
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Gowanus
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: Gowanus
Category: Performing Arts
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