What an amazing find! The vibe was cool and the staff was amazing! The selection of craft beer was terrific.
Chip R.
Tu valoración: 4 Morrisville, NC
If you are out and about in the East Village area, looking for a good hangout joint for an afternoon, look no further than Alphabet City Beer Company(ABC Beer Co.). One look through the window and you will be pulled in. The atmosphere itself has a little bit of something for everyone. Of course there is the bar itself, good sized and inviting. The rest of the shop is split into areas such as a couch/leather chair area or another place that has a back communal table in front of a huge TV screen that would be perfect for watching the big game with friends. We chose the bar, and our bartenders made us feel welcome right from the start. They were very informative and helpful about the choices they had both on draft and in the bottle. Chris M. sampled a few of their beers on tap(which I took a sip or two from as well, all good stuff) while I stayed with the Citizen Cider Unified Press on draft that was equally good stuff. We got the munchies while there and chose their meat and cheese plate special. I have to say that it was one of the best if not the best meat/cheese plates I’ve had in a bar in a while… but they lost a star when the toasted bread pieces missed the mark. Some of them were like they were stale before toasting and hard to chew. The plate itself however was wonderful. We stayed and enjoyed our beverages, meat/cheese plate, and good conversation with our bartenders that made us feel very welcome during our visit. They also have good sized coolers running down both walls towards the front of the shop with awesome choices to carry home. I would come here often if I lived in the area, I like this little bar/bottle shop. Bottom line: Great find in ABC Beer Company at East Village. Good atmosphere, friendly knowledgeable bartenders, nice selections on tap and a great array of beverages in their front fridges for take home enjoyment. I am a fan!
Daniella R.
Tu valoración: 5 New York, NY
Great place to grab a beer or two and just relax with some friends(or on your own). They have rotating drafts which is fun because you never know what will be on tap when you get there. The staff is very nice and always willing to talk about the beers with you. This is not a place for a day of drinking, it’s a place you go only for a beer or two. Good for a date, or cat sign up with a friend.
Hamilton W.
Tu valoración: 5 New York, NY
This place is great. Think cozy coffee shop, except a bar with a decent selection of draft beer. Warning though, this isn’t related to Alphabet City Brewing Company, though you wonder if there have been any lawsuits… Anyways, came in on a Saturday afternoon and it wasn’t crowded. There’re two sets of comfy couches that face each other in a corner and a long table next to it. Soft music plays, and you can actually hear the other person talking. I could probably study or read and have a beer here if I lived nearby. Do come in and have a pint, or I think you can buy bottles etc to go. I didn’t have any food, but I’m sure it’s worth ordering.
Kaysee T.
Tu valoración: 5 Manhattan, NY
Big fan of this place. As a bottle shop, 10⁄10. As a bar, 10⁄10. Bartenders are friendly, but also no-nonsense and not afraid to tell people to go away if they’re causing a scene(I dropped by during Santa Con and was pleasantly surprised to watch the bartender turn away some Santas because they didn’t want the bar to become too messy and crowded). Tap selection is always excellent, but it’s definitely overshadowed even by the bottle selection. I’ve been on the lookout for some very specific microbrews and ABC Beer had ALL of them. Unbelievable. Prices are very fair too, although worth noting that all their bottles are to-go only. The only downside of this place is that they’re SOFAR from a subway! Definitely wish they were easier to get to… I would be here all the time! Although perhaps that’s why it stays so chill and low-key here. Definitely come by if you have the chance, and if you’re looking for any specific bottles, give this place a shot.
Michael O.
Tu valoración: 5 Hopewell Junction, NY
Cool place with sofas and chairs in the back. Excellent selection of beers that are hard to find other places.
Morgan D.
Tu valoración: 4 New York, NY
Fun spot, good amount of beers to select from. Love the seating area– nice couches and stools. There were also games– connect four, Jenga which always makes things more fun. Recommend their pumpkin ale they have on tap
Justin C.
Tu valoración: 4 Wantagh, NY
I like this place. One, it’s very close to my apartment, two, their beer selection is great, and three, their bottle selection is fantastic. The atmosphere is cool and relaxed with a very large communal table near the back. I’ve never seen the bad patio open, too bad too. Easily worth checking out.
Minnie M.
Tu valoración: 4 London, United Kingdom
Came here when it was extremely hot outside and the AC was barely working. Everyone was dying a little. On the upside, great selection of beer and pile of board games including backgammon! We also loved that it wasn’t super packed on a Saturday night, mostly because it’s in Alphabet City, so removed from the hustle and bustle of Saturday night pregamers.
Stevie K.
Tu valoración: 5 Medfield, MA
Woah woah woah! How come I never knew about this magical bar!!? ABC Beer is so wonderful for so many reasons: 1) The beer selection is on point. So many local brews, and so many seasonal offerings as well! Everything I tried was wonderful, and honestly, now that we’re in the throes of fall, who’s gonna say no to a Pumking? No one. Absolutely no one. 2) Small bites, sandwiches, and cheese/meat plates. OHHHH snap, the three cheese grilled cheese was just what the doctor ordered. Delicious. 3) The atmosphere/staff. This is a super chill place that caters to a casual, young crowd(20s to 30s). ABC features a few different seating areas, including a large communal table. More importantly, they have BOARDGAMES. It’s been a while since I’ve seen millennials dispute over the Doctor Who special edition Monopoly, but I’m so glad I saw it here. I myself was embroiled when a fierce game of Battleship ensued, naturally. But I won. Not a big deal but I’m letting you know it happened. CHECKTHISPLACEOUT.
Dave I.
Tu valoración: 5 Brooklyn, NY
This is the best beer bar in the area, with no exception. Full disclosure: I’m friends with the owner and the staff, but mostly just because I used to hang out there and work using the free Wifi all day, and they’re super friendly. The tap selection is narrow — only about 10, I think — but very expertly chosen local brews. The food is similarly limited, and similarly incredible. The cheese plate is delicious, and the brown bag sandwich specials are always solid. Definitely more snacks than full meals, but really really good snacks.
Jay O.
Tu valoración: 5 Tampa, FL
Great location, great selection, great atmosphere! My girlfriend and I found ABC shortly after moving into the LES. Its super close to our place and has an awesome selection of beer, on tap or in the bottle. Not to mention cured meats, cheeses, fresh breads and a few types of candy and cookies up near the register. They also offer small bites, sandwiches and meat/cheese plates if you are planning on hanging out for a little while. Bottles are in 2 coolers as you enter ABC on the left and right. Meats and cheese are on the right just past the beer cooler. Register with everything from candy cigarettes to shortbread cookies is right past that so if you come in on a busy night and are just looking to grab and go, they made it easy. If you came in to grab a few beers on tap or food, the bar starts right next to the register. It has about 8 to 10 seats and on a good night is almost always full. There are also some small off the wall shelves opposite the bar if you dont mind standing. Beyond the bar is the huge communal table, nice if you came with a small or decent size group of friends. To the left of the table and running the whole north wall are nice comfy couches and armchairs with small coffee tables, they are an awesome place to enjoy a drink and some food with 3 to 5 friends. I try to sit at the bar all the time, the staff is friendly and you can usually strike up a conversation over anything. You can also see the labels on the taps. They are all hand written with the brewery, name of the beer, type of beer, location of the brewery and the date the keg was tapped. This kind of attention is why I love this place. Last but not least the food is good. Ive had a few different sandwiches, the meat and cheese plates and pretzels… This is an awesome spot!
Tyler L.
Tu valoración: 4 Wanaque, NJ
Very cool and cozy bar setup with great craft beer. The front half of the store is a beer store with bottles and cans in the refrigerators, and the back half is a very chill bar with excellent beer. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable about the beer, though they recommended an IPA to someone who was looking for something like Blue Moon which was unconscionable. The couches, huge communal table, and variety of games like Jenga and Guess Who make it very homey and a great place to spend a day though it is super dark inside. Go for the nitro wit when they have it as t was delicious.
Joseph T.
Tu valoración: 5 Merrick, NY
Alphabet City Beer Company is an interesting hybrid between a beer boutique and bar. At the front of the store are fridges stocked with single beers and packs. There is an awesome selection of bottled beers with many craft options. There are some rare bottles you’ll have trouble finding elsewhere. The drafts are all craft options. The one I had was very fresh. The ambiance is very laid back. It’s dimly light. I think this makes it a nice spot for night time gatherings. There is also a patio area in the back; unfortunately, it was closed when I visited. This is a must stop for any local beer enthusiasts! I’d rate it 4.5 stars.
Molly T.
Tu valoración: 5 New York, NY
My beer exploration continues! And it continued at the right place, that’s for damn sure. I’d probably give ABC Beer Co 4.5 stars, but 4 seems insulting… so now you know the story of how we arrived at 5. Riveting, I know. Came here on a Saturday night around 9:30/10 and was happy to find that it wasn’t too busy. Given that Avenue C is pretty inconvenient for just about everyone, I’m guessing most bars in this area aren’t as suffocatingly packed as most East Village bars on the weekend. Upon walking in, you see fridge upon fridge of beer. So a great bar that doubles as a craft beer market? I’m sold. As you proceed back to the bar area, you find yourself with several seating options. Option 1: Large, communal table in the center of the room. Option 2: Small, comfy ottoman/chair type deals that line the perimeter of the establishment. We opted for the latter. But not before ordering drinks, of course! I’m a cocktail girl, so my beer knowledge is quite limited. That said, I’ve recently started frequenting craft beer bars, so I’m getting a better sense of what I like(other than not an IPA). I recently tried Allagash Tripel at Jimmy’s No. 43 and loved it, so I figured I’d mention that to the bartender in the hopes that he could find me something similar. He immediately recommended the SingleCut George Calme ‘Abbaye Ale and gave me a sample of it. Wow. You hit the nail on the head, my friend. So bonus points to the staff for knowing their stuff. And just being generally friendly and chill. Which is consistent with the vibe here… …so the vibe. I wish I could describe it with a word that sounds a bit more educated than chill, but that’s all I’m coming up with. This place strikes a delightful balance of comfortable and trendy. I love New York City nightlife, I really do, but the whole two-hour wait thing and/or the having your personal space violated constantly because the bar is so packed thing can get quite tiresome. So it’s nice to find a place that’s, yes, CHILL. I could’ve hung out there all night, honestly. I’d say the only con was the big screen showing the Wisconsin game, but it’s March Madness so I’m excusing them for that. Last little note: love the sign on the bathroom. Same old generic bathroom man and woman… but holding their bladders. I’m not sure if this is because I have a bladder of a pregnant woman, but I found this endearing/amusing. And really, if you drink enough beer, you will undoubtedly find yourself gesticulating in this manner at some point. So kudos for that.
Leah D.
Tu valoración: 5 Newark, NJ
This place rocks! When you enter there are fridges full of craft beer, including beers like Evil Twin and Stillwater. On tap they happened to have Hill Farmstead; there’s nothing like a good soured saison. I happened to stroll in on a snowy Sunday and the seating area was cozy and comfortable. That combined with Simon & Garfunkel in the background made me want to make love to my beer. I don’t know if it’s always this quiet on a Sunday, but if it is, this would be a great spot to gather thirty friends around and drink up. To «tap» it off, the bartender Elliott was the bomb. I asked him NOT to let my friend pay and he happily obliged. I’m coming back for sure.
Ruggy J.
Tu valoración: 5 New York, NY
Anthony Bourdain — a well known drunk — recently revealed in an interview that he doesn’t drink in his own house. I tend to follow the same logic. But if you ever find yourself imbibing at Alphabet City Beer Company, you’re about as close to drinking in your own living room as you can get. An absurdly hip, remarkably comfortable living room that is. Whether you’re a beer novice or you’ve ever waited in line for a Pliny The Younger tap takeover, you’ll find something you’ll like. They have a rotating list of draft beers that circles the wagons nicely, and their attached beer shop is the perfect place to grab a few unique beers to take home on the way out. Couple that with some simple bar bites(grilled cheese, charcuterie plates, etc…) and it’s a recipe for an enjoyable experience.
Shaji K.
Tu valoración: 5 Manhattan, NY
After a significant meal at Bobwhite next door, came across this place and decided it was heaven’s intention for me to have a beer. Completely underwhelming on the outside but very impressive on the inside. Seating included bar stools, leather chairs, leather sofas, and big wooden benches. There was something for everyone! Rotating craft list was nice, with a variety of IPAs, stouts, ales, and even a saison. Settled on an IPA($ 7) and a big pretzel($ 3.50) while cozying up on the leather sofa. Never wanted to leave. I went in early on a Saturday afternoon(read: almost empty), so not sure how it is normally, but this is really a perfect bar to relax if you can get here.
Ruwan J.
Tu valoración: 4 New York, NY
Alphabet City Beer Company – where the ABCs of craft brew, simple yet tasty eats, and beer retail come together. i didn’t drink a lot of beer before discovering this place(this is a total n complete lie). however i will admit i do drink a lot more craft(and less mainstream-ish) beer since stumbling into this place a whiles back. the storefront actually look like retail as you first enter. with refrigerators full of a fantasy island of beers from all over. there are like 8 billion different kinds of bottled beer(this is also a lie). but one of the beertenders said they have over 300 different kinds of bottled beer. CRAY. the narrowish beer retail entryway leads to a cool looking bar typically manned(or womaned) by two different beer experts/pourers. if you have questions, they have answers… not only expanding your knowledge of brews, but also generously giving great suggests on beers to expand your beer palate! there are typically a 10 – 14 different beers on tap. there are constantly being rotated/changed, so here today drunk err, gone tomorrow. fret not, you can get the draft beer in 64 oz jugs aka GROWLERS to take home! whodda thunk it JUG O BEER – unstoppable like the JUGGERNAUT! yassss you can also order a variety of bar food small snacks like olives to beer cheese dip to meat n cheese platters to sandwiches. the grilled cheese(or grilled three/se – 3 diff quesos melted on thick bread that you can add ham, etc. to) is ridic comfort food goodness that pairs with beer so deliciously: definitely a lapdance of your tastebuds you will never forget. there’s a decent amount of seats at the bar. i don’t think there’s table service(least not when i’ve been there), so basically you order, wait, and take your draft to wherever you’re sitting. though i will say my go-to whether i’m sitting down with the fellas or grabbin’ to go is the«brown bag special»: a healthy serving of fine meats and cheeses on a baguette; bag of Utz chips; and a few oreos… all for 9 bucks. i typically pair the sandwich with a Shinerbock or a LeftHandedMilkStout Nitro… though i wished they sold the LeftHandedMilkStout normal(no nitro)! so past the bar there’s a huge wooden communal table with benches. around the perimeter of the room there are several comfy chairs/areas if the group seating doesn’t work for you. there are board games too if you want to get your Jenga or whatever’s on… yawn: the hipsters love their trip through retro-dom though, so whatevz. also there’s a big projector screen where they show the big games. never been here when they do… assume it gets packed. the service is great. really like how the folks here are on top of their beer game and can break it down for non-Jedis like me. food typically comes out pretty quick bc it’s all simple to prepare food. only time there’s a wait is if the place is slammed/bedlam. i will say the only thing that is a bit grinding is sometimes the owners or managers or whoever is behind the bar are half-in-the-bag/three sheets to wind/slightly DRUNKish – to be fair, they are drinking beer all day into the night. anyway this sometimes results in slow service, makes them forget orders so you have to reorder with said folks or order from someone else, or they are waaay to chatty with their friends or regulars which is totally cool ‘cept when you’re effing up my evening or my attempt to leave, yo. the crowd is hipsterish, tattooey alt sometimes, techy mid-twenties, thirties and above crowd. always an interesting mix, not douchey though for the most part. surprisingly you’ll find out from hanging out here there are a lot of women who like to drink GOOD beer. occasionally someone annoying ALWAYS sits near me when the place is empty like the guy who chewed loudly, crumpled plastic, and kept cracking nuts. thank God for my BEATS and the middle finger. décor is casual. nothing fancy. oldish. lots of woodiness and exposed brick. great chill environment. 1 star off for drunky-esque staff. still a 4 star beer-nanza experience. ALPHABETBEERCO. is an amazing casual hangout for fans of beer – or future fanatics of curated ales and lagers! drops mic cuz i can’t open bottled beer one-handed. theyz ain’t twistoffs cuz this joint is classy like DAT. i out.
Jen S.
Tu valoración: 4 Melbourne, Australia
A rotating selection of beers on tap, bottles of Rogue in the fridge, plus Jenga & Cards Against Humanity available for your in-bar entertainment. I might never leave. There is a decent variety of beers on tap. Among other things, the selection included lighter seasonal summer beers, dark IPA, porter, and a cider when I visited. There are also tasty looking bottles in the fridges. Unfortunately these bottles can’t be consumed on the premises. There’s a long wooden table in the back that encourages communal seating and socializing with your beer drinking neighbor. Or perhaps getting drawn into a particularly intense game of Jenga. I dug the relaxed, local vibe and good conversation at ABC. It’s a place I’ll happily return to with friends.