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The Brooklyn Brewery has grown quite a bit since The Village Voice awarded the Williamsburg brewhouse "Best Brewery Tour" in 2002. Now, its lager is nearly ubiquitous and the brewery produces a variety of craft, seasonal, bottle-refermented, and specialty "Brewmaster’s Reserve" beers. Brewmaster Garrett Oliver is deeply knowledgeable and has become somewhat of a beer-celebrity, presiding over an operation that is the largest exporter of craft beer in the US. The brewery tours make for an excellent survey of Brooklyn's manufacturing process--they are a spritely mix of brewery history, massive tanks and cauldrons, and, of course, drinking. Brooklyn's half-block of industrial warehouse spaces are marked off by its massive, bright-red doors on North 11th Street. The bare but spacious tasting hall is warmed up by wooden beams, picnic tables, and, on the weekends, throngs of people. The brewery's popularity means the open tasting room and free, first-come, first-serve tours on Saturday and Sunday get busy. For a more intimate look, try one of the 30 person "small batch" tours from 5-7PM on Monday through Thursday ($8). Be sure to buy a ticket well in advance. Outside food is encouraged for noshing, and on Friday there are no tours, just drinking that freshly tapped cask. --Alex Spoto
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