7 Great Places for Craft Beer in Long Island City, New York

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Long Island City has historically been known as an industrial area. Located just across the East River from Midtown Manhattan, it is now slowly evolving into more of a residential neighborhood, particularly for artists & people who want an easy commute. Several subway lines pass through Long Island City from Manhattan & Brooklyn, making it the easiest place in Queens to get to from both. It’s just across Newtown Creek from Greenpoint. The former industrial warehouses are a boon to craft brewers. Space here is plentiful & affordable (by New York City standards), making Long Island City a bustling hub for the New York City craft beer scene. Here are my favorite places for craft beer in Long Island City, including breweries, taprooms, and beer bars.

The Best Breweries in Long Island City

Fifth Hammer Brewing Company

Amid heavy competition, Fifth Hammer Brewing Company is my favorite brewery in Long Island City. However, depending on what style of beers you like & what sort of bar vibe you are looking for, there’s no wrong answer. Long Island City truly has a wealth of great beer bars & breweries.

When I first saw Fifth Hammer’s tap list (10 taps), I knew I was going to be happy. Their beer sits more on the adventurous side, incorporating unique ingredients that you might not have had in beer before. For example, one sour I had was called Poglodyte and was brewed with inspiration from Hawaii’s POG (Passion fruit-Orange-Guava) juice. And yes, that’s where the brief 90’s fad comes from. Another was a pineapple sour. I’m not generally a sour fan, but the two I had at Fifth Hammer might have me changing my mind.

In addition to the great beer, Fifth Hammer has a perfect atmosphere. It’s a spacious place, with air filled with music that all could have come directly from my Spotify playlists – Pulp, Blur, The Stone Roses, The Verve, Ash, James, and other great British music from the 80s & 90s. The brewery only opened in 2017, but it has rapidly become a local favorite. It will be exciting to see what they have lined up next.

Address: 10-28 46th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101 (map)

Nearest Subway stations 21st St-Van Alst (G), Court Square (7 & G)

Rockaway Brewing Company

Despite what the name suggests, Rockaway Brewing Company does not brew beer in Rockaway. The brewery did develop as homebrew in the backyards of Far Rockaway, but nowadays their home is in Long Island City.

Rockaway Brewing Company is easy to spot. Just look for the pretty painted walls at the corner of 5th Street & 46th Avenue.

Inside, you’ll find what somehow feels like a corner store. There’s a bar on one side with 8 taps, doing flights & smaller-sized pours.

The bar doesn’t serve food of its own, but other local spots do pop-ups. When I visited, there was a pop-up table from Don Ceviche in the corner.

There was also a cat providing security.

And if you’re looking for Rockaway Brewing Company in Rockaway, have no fear. The guys returned home in 2016, opening a taproom near the beach.

Address: 46-01 5th St, Long Island City, NY 11101 (map)

Nearest Subway stations 21st St-Van Alst (G), Court Square (7 & G)

Big aLICe Brewing

Big aLICe Brewing makes the most of their space. Upon entering, there’s a small bar with a couple of seats, and a small standing area. Look above it, and you’ll see quite the beer list. When I visited, there were 13 different beers available for flights, plus a few more specialty barrel-aged creations as well.

Head back into the brewery, and tucked amongst the equipment, you’ll find a few tables & barrels to sit at.

Even with this additional seating, there are still more unique beers than seats. Cozy up with everyone, and try something interesting. And interesting is what Big aLICe does well. The brewery, which has been in operation since 2013, focuses on using local New York ingredients.

My favorite beer I had there was a jalapeño rye. Rye beers are often difficult enough to find, but the addition of jalapeño made for a delicious combination.

Address: 8-08 43rd Rd, Long Island City, NY 11101 (map)

Nearest Subway station: Court Square-23rd St (E-M)

LIC Beer Project

LIC Beer Project is another brewery that’s doing interesting things in Long Island City. Amidst warehouses & auto repair shops, you’ll find this spacious brewery. You’ll immediately notice just how many wooden barrels are stacked along the walls, each aging something intriguing.

Unfortunately, when I visited nothing on tap was barrel-aged at the moment (just bad timing on my part, more were scheduled to be tapped in the next week or two), but there was still good beer available including several hazy IPAs. There are a total of 12 taps on-site, but their beer is also available at Citi Field to help you deal with watching the Mets.

I also enjoyed the music. You can’t go wrong with David Bowie, Echo & The Bunnymen, & The Smiths.

Address: 39-28 23rd St, Queens, NY 11101 (map)

Nearest Subway stations 21st St-Queensbridge (F)

Focal Point Beer Co (formerly ICONYC Brewing Company)

The highlight of Focal Point Beer Co is its fantastic outside patio & beer garden. It’s a wonderful place to spend a sunny day, plus the brewery also hosts trivia nights & plays great 00s indie music like LCD Soundsystem & TV on the Radio.

They also brew good beer – I especially enjoyed their pumpkin saison. The brewery has 12 taps plus some cans.

Address: 43-63 11th St, Queens, NY 11101 (map)

Nearest Subway station: Court Square-23rd St (E-M)

The Best Craft Beer Bars in Long Island City

The Baroness & The Huntress

The Baroness & The Huntress are two sister Long Island City bars that have 12 taps of craft beer plus full food menus, in a cozy dark wood space.

Address: The Baroness – 47-18 Vernon Blvd, Queens, NY 11101 (map)

Address: The Huntress – 2403 41st Ave, Queens, NY 11101 (map)

In addition to these beer bars & breweries, there are a few other places for a good pint in Long Island City. Jackson’s Eatery & Bar doesn’t have a huge selection, but their handful of taps are all local, plus they have a fantastic brunch.

Given how many new openings of breweries & craft beer bars Long Island City has seen in the past few years, there will undoubtedly be many more popping up soon. What are your favorite beer spots in Long Island City? Let me know in the comments!

Do you love craft beer? Check out more of my recommendations for the best craft beer around the world!

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