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Spuyten Duyvil

4.5 star rating
based on 152 reviews

Category: Pubs  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Williamsburg - South Side
359 Metropolitan Ave
(between 4th St & Havemeyer St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 963-4140
Nearest Transit:

Metropolitan Ave-Lorimer St (G, L)

Good for Groups:
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Price Range:
$$
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Music:
Juke Box
Best Nights:
Mon, Tue, Wed
Happy Hour:
Yes
Alcohol:
Beer & Wine Only
Smoking:
Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Coat Check:
No

152 reviews for Spuyten Duyvil

Review Highlights   

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"Amazing beer selection, with a ton of local brews on tap." (in 110 reviews)
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"The beer garden out back is the best feature." (in 5 reviews)
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"My personal fave are the lambics and their cheese plates." (in 7 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Abigail M.

Elite '09

66

162

Abigail M.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
11/10/2009

Things that I am a fan of:
cider, friends, that couple at the bar that almost swallowed each other until the bartender asked them to take it outside (or wherever they want to do said things), the large backyard at this bar (which I'll like more in warmer weather but can guarantee that it will get too crowded for me to be there then), large wooden tables at which I can all a meeting of pork to order ("All those in favor of pork? Wait, someone abstained! Oh, kosher. Yeah, alright."), the other couple at the bar who were absolutely on a second date (so we spectator sported it), the chalk boards in the restrooms, posters of the female reproductive system and Canada's glaciers (please do not confuse them), etc.

Things that I'm not a fan of:
my wallet getting significantly lighter after 4 ciders (good drinks don't come cheap), people in a crowded bar who don't move aside when you politely ask,  Williamsburg (sorry, it's just not my favorite)...

See? So if the things I am a fan of outweigh the things I'm not a fan of, it gets a good review. Hurrah!

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Photo of Danny P.

Elite '09

137

257

Danny P.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
11/9/2009

If you like really good beer, this is the kind of place that you'd take the L to, or the G, in the way that anything worth doing is worth putting a considerable effort into. Y'know, like losing weight through liposuction might be good in the short term, but you'll feel so much better about it if you've actually eaten your vegetables to get there.

If you like really good beer, the fact that not much in Spuyten Duyvil is less than $7 or $9 per bottle, with many of their far-ranging choices in fact being much more expensive than that, will not put you out too much knowing that you're paying for, and receiving, the good stuff. With Flemish, Italian, Japanese and even U.S. beers, the bottled beer selection (complete with appropriate glassware) and a healthy six - eight beers on tap will satisfy any serious beer aficionado. If you don't like beer straight up, they also have two ciders and a selection of wine to go with either conversation or some of the small food selections they have. Or both!

If you like really good beer, you'll make your way out here in the summer to share in, and savor, the beautiful outdoor environs in the rear which shows up much more "collegiate backyard" than "beer garden seating locale". Though not as useful in the winter, it looks like the best kind of place to spend a Summer Sunday afternoon, discussing Proust and Kierkegaard while commenting on the hoppy aromas wafting in the warm air.

If you like really good beer, you'll overlook the narrow back area inside that houses the only really effective place to put a group, accepting of  the jukebox that juts out from in between the bathrooms like some inane alt-music-playing Peter Griffin forcing people to get up close and personal on their way through. Or queuing up for the bathrooms, neither of which are marked with a "Men" or "Women" (or Blokes or Sheilas, or whatever kitschy nomenclature you'd like to use) in the hopes that someone is, in fact, still in there and not that you're just randomly waiting outside a closed door.

If you like good beer, this is a great place for you.

But if you're like me, and Coors Light and a plate of wings is perfectly acceptable, then Spuyten Duyvil doesn't seem like the place you're looking for (and, likely, they're not looking for you).

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Photo of Adam R.

Elite '09

66

265

Adam R.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
11/9/2009

I really like places where I can trust the bartender to continually hook me up with awesome beer that I've never had before.  Being on a journey of beer discovery is a great way to spend a night.

True that it does get crowded, and I've heard tales of the bartenders being less than perfect.  But they were cool to me, people seem to enjoy themselves, and did I mention that the beer rules?

There's a reason why it has been voted one of the top ten beer bars in the world.

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Photo of Chris S.

 

1

79

Chris S.

New York, NY

3 star rating
11/22/2009

Very very very disappointed. Not a place for a person that likes draft beers. This place is filled with trust fund hipsters. I'm very sad because I was very excited about this place. WTF.

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Photo of Glenn R.

 

3

50

Glenn R.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
Updated - 11/11/2009

The last time I went here I noticed something that bothered me, and realized that it's happened every time I've been here.

Upon entering, I spend a good 5 minutes taking in the beer selection and picking out something that looks good. I go to order it, and the bartender tells me they have something very similar that just came in, is super fresh, and the best beer he's ever tasted. At a place like this, how can you say no?

But after sitting at the bar, I realized that the bartender was steering everyone toward the same beer. People asking for suggestions for a really good stout, porter, amber, and light beer, were all directed toward the same beer that I had, with the same sales pitch.

No one is putting a gun to your head and forcing you to go with the suggestions, but you do have to wonder why, at a place with 100's of beers to choose from, the bartender is directing people looking for a stout and a light beer toward the same end-product. Seems like kind of a cop-out, and a waste of those 99 other bottles of beer on the wall.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 3 star rating
    8/31/2009

    This place is hit or miss.

    I've had a couple experiences on each end of the spectrum that you see in… Read more »

Photo of Michelle A.

Elite '09

6

101

Michelle A.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
11/2/2009

Some interesting, fairly-priced beers on tap.  Bartenders willing to advice, though certainly not looking to chat up the patrons.  A few wines available for the non-beer drinkers.  The backyard offers additional seating.

I will be back if accompanied by a beer drinker, if only to see Christ sporting a beer tap/spigot on the side of his head.

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Photo of Matt B.

 

0

62

Matt B.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
11/6/2009

I am an afternoon patron to avoid the excessive crowds this small watering hole attracts. The beer selection is refreshing. I do love the little garden in the back as well.

I agree, the bartender was a little short, but really who cares. I don't want to be his friend, I just want his beer.

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Photo of Daniel P.

Elite '09

17

176

Daniel P.

New York, NY

1 star rating
10/11/2009

Fuck you and your foolish bathroom doors that seem like a trick and your dick bartender who told me I had to move out of the way because I was blocking the flow of traffic even though I was sitting exactly where you fucks designated me to sit. You tell me irately that I have to move because I'm in the way? I tell you to go fuck yourself, I walk out of your establishment with my friends, and I give you this horrendous review as an added bonus.

Maybe that was too many fucks for one paragraph. I'd normally never review a bar because I don't drink in them, and I'd never give such a spiteful review unless provoked, but you bastards really pissed me off on my friend's birthday night. If you doubt my claims, read some of the other 1-star reviews here. Rude. Fucking. Staff.

Don't treat an individual in a party of nine well-paying drunks like he's an inconvenience for you or an object to be moved. Try being polite, reasonable, and professional when you ask someone to relocate. And rearrange your god-damned, ill-designed, pretentious bar. I don't care if you have shit-tons of amazing German ales. You can Spuyten my ass.

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Photo of Marshall H.

Elite '09

23

203

Marshall H.

New York, NY

5 star rating
10/6/2009

It's a great beer bar, and it's BYOB... sorry, let me specify: BYOB = Bring Your Own Board games. Cause we did.

Is it expensive? Kinda. But it's also worth it. This is one unassuming yet fantastic beer bar that I will return to, time and time again.

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Photo of Michael B.

 

1

21

Michael B.

New York, NY

5 star rating
11/8/2009

This is THE best bar in the city.

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Photo of Carlie D.

Elite '09

10

52

Carlie D.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
9/18/2009

After a trip to Fette Sau (across the street) my friends and I came to Spuyten Duyvil which is a very decent bar. The backyard patio area was great. I just wish that they had a better menu when it came to their beers. They have an excellent beer selection, don't get me wrong. I normally like to know types and regions, flavors, etc. and I found myself having to ask the bartender for their suggestion because I couldn't make out a lot of their menu (all on chalk boards). The bartenders just didn't seem incredibly helpful.

However, the chalk boards were a nice touch in the bathrooms.

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Photo of Phillip R.

 

0

14

Phillip R.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
11/2/2009

I went there once with an old friend of mine a few months ago. Great atmosphere, really great beer selection, and the backyard area was huge. I never expected it. They didn't have a happy hour, but really didn't matter. It's definitely a great spot around.

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Photo of T S.

 

3

38

T S.

New York, NY

4 star rating
8/3/2009

Named after an area known as the "spinning devil". The legend goes something like this:

Peter Stuyvesant, then Governor of New Amsterdam, got wind that the British Navy was going to invade the city. He dispatched Anthony Von Corlaer  to ride up to the northern most point of Manhattan Island and blow his trumpet, (as means to summon the people). As he neared the shores, where the Hudson meets the Harlem River, Anthony couldn't cross. When he called out to the ferry on the other side, no one answered. He decided then, to swim across the treacherous span of water. Halfway across, legend has it that the devil pulled Anthony under and while he was able to escape his grasp, he was too tired to continue swimming and drowned there... in spite of the devil. From then on, the little area in the Bronx, where Anthony would have come to shore is called Spuyten Duyvil.

Well, this bar is quite far from the original Spuyten Duyvil, but you can certainly get caught up in its rare beer selection (over over 100 types of beer, just don't drown please). Although it is in Williamsburg the vibe feels more Park Slope. The outdoor terrace is one of the nicest and biggest in nyc.

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Photo of Christopher K.

 

0

6

Christopher K.

Buda, TX

5 star rating
9/23/2009

Spuyten Duyvil is the epitome of a world-class beer bar. The vibe is chill, the beer selection/rotation is unparalleled, and their simplistic food menu is right on par. The Spuyten Duyvil is quite simply one of the top three beer bars in the world that I have experienced.

Lets start with the food. The menu is posted on the wall and consists of excellent meats and cheeses. The beer savants are well versed in their pairing their options with your beer selection and the food comes simplistically prepared on a cutting board. My understanding is that their meets are made by but a fellow company around the corner...so their as fresh at it gets!

While they have just a handful of handles, they are well chosen and rotate often. Their bottle selection is carefully crafted as well and kept out of light in solid front coolers. Again, their savants know their product well and are great attendants. Their selections are prominently listed on blackboards on the back bar.

I must say that I love the rough feel of the Spuyten Duyvil. Their furniture is second had, the bar is built of recycled wood, and their shaded, outdoor, walled in patio is simply fantastic!

All in all this is an amazing place to consume craft beers and enjoy a fantastically paired meal with friends. NYC has some great places, but this little spot of heaven in Brooklyn is hands down the best!

Prost!

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Photo of Steven S.

 

0

29

Steven S.

New York, NY

4 star rating
10/24/2009

This is probably the best place to drink beer in New York, with an endless beer menu (including a lovely assortment of on-tap selections) and a large backyard--which, admittedly, is only useful in warmer months. The inside area is pretty cramped by comparison, though I admit to being partial to the crappy, elementary-school style plastic chairs. The bartenders are also extremely knowledgeable about their product and cheerily willing to make recommendations. I went tonight for a random Oktoberfest event, and they had more than a dozen special German beers on tap, so I'd suggest keeping better tabs on their events than I do. For some reason, there is no sign on the front door. Or for a very obvious reason.

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Photo of David L.

Elite '09

253

427

David L.

New York, NY

3 star rating
7/14/2009

I don't know what to think or what to say about Spuyten Duyvil... I've been here a couple dozen times over the years, sometimes I have an amazing time, sometimes the experience is dismal -- but, overall, I find the place charming in appearance, and I really like the garden area out back.

The beer selection is pretty decent, but the prices are a little steep -- and over time things have just got more and more expensive, they're offering fewer and fewer affordable options -- it used to be that whatever they had on tap was local and cheap, but now everything's fancy and pricey -- it used to be that they offered Rochefort 10 for $10, but then they changed to Rochefort 6 for $11, then they changed to Rochefort 8 for $12, and last night it Rochefort 10 for $13... On all of the boards there are only a couple beers that are under $9 -- I mean, come on, it's Brooklyn, and it's beer, and there are places in Manhattan that offer the same things for a dollar or two less -- I recommend the Kulmbacher Eisbock or the E.K.U. 28, for $7 each.

Honestly the bartenders here slightly get on my nerves. They're just too cool for school. If you start talking to them then you have to constantly engage them, otherwise they become rude and inattentive -- and none of them seem to have a sense of humor, there was one nice funny guy a couple years ago but I haven't seen him since... Also, they're not very generous with their wine pours -- I've never actually ordered wine here, but I've noticed it when my friends have.

The music selection of the jukebox is decent, but it doesn't shuffle songs, it's first come first serve, so unfortunately sometimes when the bartenders put on an entire album, you have to wait a long time to hear what you chose -- last night I literally had to wait through an hour of Al Green before my Thelonious Monk came on, ugh.,.. I love Al Green and all, but I don't necessarily need to hear his complete body of work all in one sitting.

A nice cheese plate, a couple good beers, great company, and sitting out back minding your own business -- that's about all this place is good for, which is sad to me, I want to like it more, but the bar itself has no real atmosphere, overall it's not very warm or inviting -- I have no idea what it'd take to get them to treat you like a regular.

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Photo of Quint S.

 

0

19

Quint S.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
10/7/2009

To be blunt this spot is slightly over-rated.  I find myself having more fun at the Bier Garten (even though the selection is slimer), Barcade (even with their more pedestrian selection of beer) or even Mug's Ale House.  I like the place but I can't justify 7 bucks (or significantly more) for  a beer. And I am a beer junky.  It's just that if I'm going to spend a ton of money on a high end bottle of beer, I'd rather do it without the insane markup.  The people here also own Fette Sau, which IMHO is a better spot to grab a beer.  But even with that being said, I love grabbing a cold one here, even if it almost always is only A cold one...

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Photo of Briana M.

Elite '09

260

399

Briana M.

NY

4 star rating
6/16/2009

Here are the Don'ts. And they are firm, firm DON'TS!

DO NOT COME HERE AFTER 12 AM ON A WEEKEND.

Actually, do not come here past 10 pm on a weekend!

This place gets crowded! We all like some delicious brew on the evenings when our minds aren't dwelling upon the work we have the next day, but it's not worth the sheer mass of people and hour it will take to get a nice cold one in your hands. There have been times we wanted to drink here late on a Saturday and we literally couldn't get 10 ft. past the entrance!

DO NOT COME HERE EXPECTING A BARGAIN!

Yes, you will spend a lot of hard earned dough on the incredible smorgasbord of beer and snacks the bar has to offer. The sweet talking, knowledgeable staff will fill you with so much excitement about their offerings that you won't be able to keep that money in your pants. It's going straight to the pisser.

DO come here on a weeknight, or a weekday. Or a weekend day. Do revel in the beery delights and cosiness that this bar has in store for you. Do lounge in the expansive garden and shoot the shit on a warm summer day. If these warm summer days ever come. Let's hope they do, because I am seriously looking forward to a nice cool down at the Duyvil.

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Photo of RiCH K.

 

0

46

RiCH K.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
7/29/2009

This was a fun place to go to after dinner and get drinks if you are already in this hood and feel like keeping it low-key.
BUT, be prepared to fork out more than you're used to for the beers, as they were more pricey than expected.

The price of the beers far outpaced the look of this place.

I did like this place as a local place to drink, but agree with other reviewers regarding the bartenders.  Ours obviously thought he was much cooler than us. . . And we are pretty %*&#ing cool!  

That part was little irritating, but I'd still go back if looking for a different beer to try.

And or to try the cheese.

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Photo of Brian L.

 

2

3

Brian L.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
8/3/2009

Great beers, great wine, great garden, great staff!

My friend and I merely stepped inside to meet a friend and ended up staying there for nearly 5 hours!

Beers are a little pricey ($6-$9 for the cheaper pints, $11-$25 for more expensive bottles) - but then again, you aren't going to find high life, pbr or bud lite in there. A couple micro-brews, but a ton of rather obscure foreign delights, all separated by region and country.

A definite must-stop-in for any beer connoisseur.

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Photo of Kelly S.

 

22

63

Kelly S.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
6/14/2009

I went to this bar after 15 hours of traveling back from Berlin and little bit of sickness under my belt.

The beer selection is great, usually 5-6 beers on tap with more bottles than you can possibly imagine.

The prices aren't half bad for what I assume average Williamsburg prices to be. The fancy bottled beers will definitely break the bank, though.

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Photo of Ravi J.

 

14

41

Ravi J.

Jackson Heights, Queens, NY

5 star rating
9/10/2009

Arguably my favorite bar in the city. Amazing beer selection, with a ton of local brews on tap. Very low key, unpretentious atmosphere. In the summer, you can sit out back, and in the winter, you can cozy up for some gluehwein (mulled wine) at the bar. Only con is that it gets crowded sometimes, which makes the notion of truly savoring your $6+ drink unpractical.

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Photo of Alli J.

Elite '09

123

391

Alli J.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
5/25/2009

Awesome summer bar if you're up for some serious beer. They have an insane selection from all over the world.

I like the back garden area, although truthfully, on a really hot summer day, I prefer laying low inside where there's AC blasting. Spuyten Duyvil has a sweet, laidback feel to it so it's great for lounging around and drinking a handful of different beers.

If you're into beer, it'd be silly not to check it out.

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Photo of Karen B.

Elite '09

72

77

Karen B.

New York, NY

4 star rating
4/5/2009

Very cute little beer and wine place. Small-ish and intimate, it has a very cozy and, yet very unpretentious vibe. It's definitely laid back, but holds a subtle sophistication that's a step or two up from your average dive bar.  

There is a huge selection of international beers (and of course, my friend orders brooklyn pilsner)  . . . . . I sampled a few of the beers my friends got, but I can't tell you which ones bc they all had fancy names. There was one that looked like guiness in a wine glass that looked particularly delicious, but I'll have to save that for a review update as neither myself or any of my friends got it. One of my friends, however, did get a glass of cold sake that was surprisingly refreshing!  Who orders sake at an international beer place, you wonder? ..........my roommate does. she's just that cool.

I had the Malbec.... a tasty, delicious, inky-dark and sultry colored wine that I absolutely loved and would like to buy in bulk so that I never ever run out. You may find me back there tomorrow night for another. And if I do, I will also sample the cheese plate my friends got. (that I got none of bc i was too busy socializing.)

Awesome barkeeps. Knowledgable and friendly patronage (except for this one creepy dude and his cousins-- blech!)

Will most definitely be returning. And maybe I'll bump it up to 5 stars when I get to sample the outdoor garden in the back......

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Photo of Stephen S.

 

13

40

Stephen S.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
4/24/2009

Pros - great beer selection (I had a mead) , cool peepz, not super crushingly packed on a Sat PM.
Cons -expensive
That being said you got what you paid for.  The d-bag quotient was low for a beer bar and I got a psace on the couch.

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Photo of Mo P.

Elite '09

145

213

Mo P.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
3/15/2009

Dessert beer? Fo' real???? Impressive.

Tasting my friend's "dessert beer" was the highlight of my night here--- too bad I don't actually remember what the name of it was. We'll just call it Delicious and leave it at that. **followed a PBR at Union Pool, so not difficult to impress me after that.

This place was hoppin' on a Saturday night, remained consistently crowded over the three or so hourse that I was in and out. Great selection of beers and such, but a tish expensive for Williamsburg - the ambiance is a more upscale though, so it works. The garden outside was great--- I'm sure it's ten times better when it's more that 35 degrees out:

Friends: "Let's go sit outside!"
me: "Haha. You kids are funny."
Friends: "No really, there's like nobody out there!!"
me: "Duh. It's f*n cold."
Friends: "Nah, you'll be fine."

Proceed outside. Sit in cold metal chairs. I last for a whopping two minutes.

me: "I'm going in, I haven't had enough to drink that my butt is numb from the cold."
friends: "weakkkkk!"

Two minutes later.... entire posse comes in.

Friends:"Man, it's cold out there..."  
me: giving the look of "you are all dumb" : "welcome back"
friends "ooohh, it's warm in here!!"

.....and the night goes on.

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Photo of Michelle L.

Elite '09

50

122

Michelle L.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
6/16/2009

Spuyten Duyvil is easily one of the best, if not the best, pubs in this neighborhood. Specifically for summertime. The newly expanded back garden area filled with cute little tables with mismatched chairs is the perfect place to watch a Friday evening fade into nighttime.

At my most recent visit I set up shop with some co-workers for "just a quick drink after work" a couple weinstephaners and a meat plate later and suddenly it's getting dark out. But hey, who cares, everybody is feeling good and I don't *really* have to start contemplating the journey home yet, right?

More friends roll up on their bikes and suddenly we're a loud and boisterous group. Damn that beer snuck up on me. Strong stuff. I'm only $24 down and everything is honey wine (yes, they have Meade!) and feeling fine. Soon we're rolling out for some pulled pork across the way and I think I'm in love with Williamsburg. What happened?

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Photo of Rachel L.

Elite '09

16

62

Rachel L.

Fort Collins, CO

5 star rating
2/9/2009

When I walked into this bar, I thought I died and went to hop heaven.  The place was packed, but once the pungent aroma of beer filled my nostrils, I pushed my way to the bar with relative ease.  And, it wasn't Grandma getting her Edys style - people were polite, and understood my need for my beverage.  On a Saturday night, this place is crowded, but it's worth it.  It's all worth it once you put your lips to the beer best suited to you.  [I've heard that Sundays are packed too]

First off, the beer selection is funk-tabulous.   They have well over 100 bottles, and several rotating taps.  Sure, there are plenty of awesome beer bars in the city, but there is something magical about this bar.  It is the Janus of bars, and somehow manages to feel homey and trendy simultaneously.  

Secondly, the bartenders are hella' cool.  As soon as I stepped up to the bar, he recognized the struggle on my face.  What was *I* [Ms. Beer Princess extraordinaire] going to order?  I had no idea.  I knew I was in the mood for a good IPA, but it was dark, and I had trouble seeing the beer list on the chalkboard.  

So, despite the crowds, the bartender and I had a brief beer dialogue.  He surveys me, and says, "I know you as a beer drinker."  "You know me, eh?"  "Yeah.  You're a Stone Ruination IPA drinking kind of girl."  He was right. Of course, I drink nearly all Stone beers - they're damned good, so maybe it wasn't hard to pin me.   Maybe there are many of me running around the different beer bars in the city.  Or, maybe I just drink a lot of different kinds of beer. Yup.

So, he suggested the de ranke XX bitter, which I dug.  Then, he managed to please a girlfriend of mine who [and, yes, this was a point of contention] doesn't drink beer.  He poured her some of the Middle Ages XIII Anniversary Ale [an imperial wheat!].  He just knew.  The bartender knew my soul.  I swear it.

Shangri-la apparently is in Brooklyn, folks.

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Photo of MiRIAM w.

Elite '09

2033

2091

MiRIAM w.

New York, NY

4 star rating
1/26/2009

After dinner at Bozu (and with the succulent memory of their pork betty still lingering in our heads) we popped into Spuyten Duyvil for a drink before heading to some post-inauguration festivities in a former Ukrainian dance hall nearby.

Given the bitter cold outside it was unsurprising to find this small bar packed with folks at 10:00 on a Saturday night. It also reminded me why I typically save my bar hoppin' for Sunday-Thursday. . .

Long a fan of mulled wine, I knew exactly what I wanted when I spotted a small, handwritten sign above the bar advertising glühwein (mulled wine, German style!)

Once I had a mug of it in my hand, and a small nook near which to perch, I was happy at Spuyten Duyvil in spite of the crushing crowds. I can only imagine how delightful it might be to wile away time in the garden out back. Which means only one thing: I'm coming back when the weather warms up!

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Photo of Aimee A.

Elite '09

10

98

Aimee A.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
8/24/2009

I love this bar. Huge outdoor area. Good Beer. Close to home.

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Photo of Nils J.

Elite '09

22

147

Nils J.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
3/18/2009

Completely on accident, I wound up picking my apartment so that it's a quick, five minute walk to this place.  If I had known that Spuyten Duyvil was so amazing, I would have tried to move closer.

I'm a beer snob; I cut my teeth at 13 in Munich with Augustiner and Franziskaner and my 21st birthday was at the Brickskeller in DC, the Guinness record holder for most beers in a single establishment.  Many beer bars don't sit well with me: they have a serious case of tap envy in how many beers they have on tap, or they focus exclusively on belgians to the detriment of other styles, or they fetishize aspects of the beer beyond the taste.  Think that bar that you've been to where every beer has a suggested pairing with lengthy descriptions about terroir that you might expect to be reserved for wine tastings.  Spuyten Duyvil is not that place.

They have a fantastic selection of bottles and a small (but well-picked and quickly-rotating) selection of taps.  I frequently have no idea what to get when I come here, because I've never heard of most of their stuff: a rarity.  They have had the Brooklyn-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse on tap (AMAZING!).  Their bartenders really know what they're talking about, too: they're very able to describe the beers and recommend one if you're unsure.

Consider:
- The décor and furniture are hilarious;
- There is a fantastic outdoors area for warm-weather use;
- Their meat and cheese plate is delicious;
- I nearly always end up striking up a conversation with someone when I sit at the big table in back; and
- You can write on the bathroom walls with chalk

We love this place so much, we named a conference room after it at work.  This is one of the places I'm going to miss most when I leave New York.

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9

Evan W.

Brooklyn, NY

2 star rating
8/26/2009

It's true they have a great selection of beer, and the back patio is huge.  But the rudeness of the staff and their unwillingness to help you with beer you will enjoy make this a place I try to avoid.

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David S.

Long Island City, NY

5 star rating
3/26/2009

This is one of the best beer bars I have been to, and that's saying a lot coming from a big beer connoisseur.

If you're looking for a huge selection of random breweries just to try the next flavor of the month: This is not the place for you.

If you are looking for rare and unusual beer: This is definitely the place for you.

What I had:
Oude Kreik (aged three plus years)
An Italian Chestnut beer

Simply amazing. Completely different blends of flavors which sent my taste buds on adventure for sure. If you are fed up with bars with the same selection of beer, go here. Even if you don't live here it's worth the trip to Williamsburg. I came from Astoria and will gladly commute back again. Go at least once to experience it, especially if you truly love beer.

Be aware some of the beer is expensive, but that is because the quality is superior, so it's worth the price increase.

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Rich R.

Poughkeepsie, NY

5 star rating
4/29/2009 2 photos

Authentic weirdness. I felt homeless sitting on a bench flanked by garbage cans in front of Spuyten Duyvil (arrived a wee bit too early on a Sunday). There is no sign on the building, the streets were deserted. At opening time an employee removed the ship anchor gauge chain from the front gate and people started pouring in from who knows where. Some had their Zagat's Guide in hand just to have a peek, others to sample the wide array of top shelf and deep pocket Belgian offerings they are famous for.

Far less on tap than I had anticipated, only about 6 but all very nice labels including a hand pump cask. It's a great little place to experience if you're in Williamsburg, just 6-7 blocks from the Brooklyn Brewery. Very relaxed with a friendly and knowledgeable staff.

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Elite '09

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256

Kelly B.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
5/25/2009 3 photos

If they have the Bavarian Honey Goat Cheese YOU HAVE TO GET IT! It's just goat cheese with honey mixed it, but is the epitome of summer. With a bottle of cool rose and a rick's pick pickle plate I have no reason to ever leave the (newly enlarged) ivy walled, gravel filled, tree canopied airy backyard. Arrive as early as possible because it fills up fast and watch out for that sparrow poop bombing brigade - they got me twice last time.

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Elite '09

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400

Vivian H.

New York, NY

4 star rating
2/25/2009

Reasons to hang out here on a weekend night:
1.  Hop rocket on tap...yummy, and affordable $5
2.  Funny bartender
3.  Interesting decor, including a poster showing the different stages of a fetus, also an old ophthalmic unit, and other strange oddities
4.  Also...something cooking in a big pot behind the bartender, have no idea what it is??
5.  Beers from all over the world :)

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Rick W.

New York, NY

4 star rating
8/3/2009

Excellent time here last week.  Was out on the patio with friends and the beer selection was great.  Even tried a cheese/meat plate and was very impressed. Staff was great but could of done a little better.

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Elite '09

53

132

rusty r.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
10/7/2008

I love this place, so much that I wrote a reverse haiku for her. It's on the restroom wall right now, go hurry before they wipe it off the chalkboard. This is a classic example of the reverse haiku, which usually only comes about after consuming moderate quantities of strong belgian beer...

spittin devil 9 percent
she has wings, she does
the cheddar was WOW WOW WOW

5 stars! WOW. They have millions of belgian beers that even beer snobs haven't heard of, and cheeses that totally make you blush. ok already, what are you waiting for? Go ahead, onward to the spittin devil!

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Elite '09

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194

Bill E.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
6/17/2009

I dig the room. It's bad ass. We stopped in for a beer, or two. Great, GREAT selection of brews, cool. I wanna go there again and again. I went on a Monday or Tuesday I think (maybe Wednesday) and it was full, but not crowded. Crowded? People complain that it's crowded? It's New York for Christ's sake, WTF do you expect?

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Elite '09

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120

Natty B.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
8/14/2008

My friend Josh complained that this place gets to be a mess when the Oh My God girls show up.

Oh. My. God.  Does it ever.

Fortunately, my visits have rarely coincided with them.  I am therefore very much a fan of Spuyten Duyvil.  It's like a swank, European version of Rudy's Bar and Grill.  Instead of hotdogs, you get charcuterie.  Instead of beer, you get better beer.  Instead of Bowie...you still get Bowie.  Cool.

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