The Brazen Head

Visited on 20 Feb 2020, pre-covid days. Almost triangular shaped old style bar with a few TV screens, quite a large selection of whiskey, etc. A few tall tables, a nice neighborhood bar. 15 on tap, flights of 4, selection not bad, enthusiastic staff. They apparently have free food on some days of the week, first come first served. Didn't try any food.

A quite pint on a very cold Sunday arvo. I felt like a real American, sitting up at the bar, sipping away and enjoying the lack of punters. Nice friendly feel. 15 taps, nothing mind blowing but more than good enough. Pricing good ($7 pints) and I love the fact they disclose the keg tap date. As others have noted more emphasis on the hard stuff; 20 single malts, maybe 30 bourbions and 20 ryes. Good setup but won’t be the first stop for geeks.

Visited a few times over the years - most memorably in Dec ’07 when I was on my own for a night in Brooklyn and literally propped up the bar for more than a few hours! Friendly locals place, they give out free food on certain nights. On my ’sesh’ here at Xmas it was a cheese board, big generous portions - help yourself 5 or 6 different ones. Had chicken wings on another more recent visit - crap by comparison. 20 taps and at least one cask line - I think Alex Hall may help maintain this? Solid enough selection but nothing too rare just the usual mix of NY and east coast micros you tend to get in this area. I do like the vibe and feel of this place though and although not a beer destination - if I have time in my schedule I’ll make an effort to get out here!

A nice pub with a friendly atmosphere pretty close to the heart of downtown Brooklyn. This was probably the first place I experienced a real craft beer event, at one of their cask festivals. There is a backyard with tables, and the interior is attractive, with pink curtains on the windows and a few couches and small televisions (with the sound turned off, sports fans). Prices were reasonable and the service was fine. They offer regular food freebies, like bagels and spread on Sunday afternoon. However, the everyday tap selection is not spectacular - there are a number of NYC bars with bigger, better lists. They seem to be as into, or perhaps more into, whiskey. But this is still a cool place to visit from time to time, and their cask festivals are definitely worth a look.

Buzzing pub on Atlantic Avenue. Crammed full of 40-somethings enjoying some live music and good beer. Much like a British pub on a Friday night. Nice range of beers, but my chum and I wanted somehere darker and more lo-fi, so onwards we went.

I suppose that this bar serves its community well with its decent selection and a cask item, but aside from the semi-comfortable surroundings, it was a little better than average to me. I liked the clam special that was running when I showed up yesterday. I also noted most of the mainstream craft brews were present in the darkened place.

Cozy, friendly, comfortable place with two small tv’s. Great place to hang out, unless you like to watch sports; usually on the quiet side. Often some free food is available, wings, whatever. They are very generous in this way. Downfall is the taps are not that carefully selected and out of the 15 relatively few will surprise or excite. Often dissapoint. I often walk in, check the chalkboard, and walk right back out. Their cask festivals, thrice annually, are *awesome* and not to be missed.

The Brazen Head is really all about the beer everything else is atmospherics. The TVs are mostly a distraction (unless a big game’s on) but thankfully they don’t add up to a sports bar ambience. The tap selection, including a couple of casks, is always well thought out. The service varies quite a bit depending on who’s working, but it’s generally good. The food, it must be pointed out, is not from any menu but rather the freebies the owner puts out to attract peckish happy hour and Sunday drinkers. All in all, an appealingly laid-back place that will do karaoke one night, jazz the next, and a food-and-beer festival on the weekend.

A divey bar right around the corner from the bars/stores of Cobble Hill. Long wooden bar with a small patio in back. Usually a decent selection, although not the greatest. Good prices though and they have a real commitment to cask ale. The cask ale fests are not to be missed.

decent service. not really much of a place, kinda small. regular old time NYC bar. the patrons and staff are not particularly friendly. they aren’t assholes either. they have some really decent beers. i had a nice hop angel on cask. being that the area is so flush with the nouveaux riche, you might think a little better could be done.