Located at 590 Myrtle Avenue in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Tap House is a beer bar along a stretch of Myrtle Avenue that is developing quite a Brooklyn NYC bar crawl. This spot is the anchor for such a crawl. It offers 45 tap beers, which include a nice mix of local and U.S. craftbeers. The space is filled mainly with communal tables, so it’s almost doubles as a beer hall. There is some cool Brooklyn themed mural on the wall at the back. Brooklyn Tap House also has spacious outdoor area on the eastern side of its building. Picnic tables and a bean bag toss are available. You’re lucky if you live nearby and can get to this spot easily. Otherwise, it’s quite far from the nearest subway stop. Either way, it’s worth a visit.

Located at 24 Reed Street in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn, Brooklyn Crab isn’t really a bar (though it has a sizeable bar area), but we had such a great experience there, we want to review it anyway.  In the good weather, Brooklyn Crab is a summertime, outdoor 3-level seafood restaurant/bar.  It’s really not something you expect to find in Red Hook.  Brooklyn Crab has several different sections, including two bars, two outdoor seating areas and a mini-golf course in back!  The beer selection is so-so, but let’s face it, you’re not coming here for the beer selection, you’re coming here to eat.  Do yourself a favor, when you’re done at Ikea/Fairway, get thee to Brooklyn Crab.  Heck, you don’t even need Ikea/Fairway as an excuse to visit Brooklyn Crab.  You can make it the only destination of your day.

Next time you’re strolling along Manhattan Avenue, check out this relatively new hipster spot at 706 Manhattan Avenue.

For a quality beer selection (36 taps of mostly craft beer!) and some gastropub fare, check out The Flying Pig at 70-28 Austin Street in Forest Hills, Queens.

Located at 383 Carroll Street in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, Lavender Lake is another off-the-beaten path spot that you must visit.  The feeling of the spot is slightly more Williamsburg than Carroll Gardens.  Lavender Lake is mostly bar, but there is a small dining section as well.  Also, a sizeable outdoor backyard.  Beer selection is small-but-solid, with 8 quality tap beers.  We look forward to returning.