Underground Brooklyn Walking Brewery Tour

Brooklyn’s beer scene makes a fine excuse to cross the borough, and this three-brewery tour gives you more than a seat at a taproom. You’ll taste farmhouse ales, hazy IPAs, barrel-aged sours, pilsners, gose, and hoppy lagers while getting a look at how beer moves from pilot batches to larger production.

I like the small group size, capped at 15, and the practical touches: snacks and a subway MetroCard are included. A six-person group once finished the outing feeling like friends, helped by guide Eddi Davila, though guide assignments can vary. The main drawback is the $99 price and the possibility of a late cancellation if minimum numbers or weather cause trouble.

Key points to know

• Three distinct brewery stops: Wild East Brewing Co, Five Boroughs Brewing, and Big aLICe Brewing each bring a different angle to Brooklyn beer.
• Production access at Five Boroughs: You may see three brewhouses, from a full production setup to a 1 BBL pilot system, along with the quality lab.
• Food and transit are covered: Snacks and a subway MetroCard are included in the tour price.
• Small groups matter: With no more than 15 people, the guide can keep the outing more personal and easier to manage.
• Closed-toe shoes are required: Brewery floors are working spaces, so sandals and other open-toed shoes are not allowed.
• Plan for a full afternoon: The tour lasts about 3 hours and 30 minutes and returns to its starting point.

Three Brooklyn breweries, one long afternoon

This is a beer tour with some movement built in. You meet at Sound + Fury Brewery and Kitchen at 141 Lawrence Street in Brooklyn, then visit three breweries before returning to the same meeting point.

The route matters because each stop offers a different reason to pay attention. Wild East focuses on particular beer styles, Five Boroughs gives you the clearest look at production, and Big aLICe connects its beer to New York State agriculture.

You should expect about 50 minutes at each brewery, plus the time needed to travel between them. That makes this a better fit for someone who enjoys a guided outing than for someone who wants to linger for hours at one favorite taproom.

The tour is offered in English and is limited to 15 people. That cap is useful in a brewery setting, where a large crowd can make explanations hard to hear and production areas harder to view. A smaller group also gives you a better chance to ask questions and chat with the guide.

Wild East Brewing Co starts the tasting

Wild East Brewing Co is the opening stop, and its beer list gives the afternoon a broad start. The brewery specializes in farmhouse ales, hazy IPAs, and barrel-aged sours, three categories that can show very different brewing methods and flavors.

Farmhouse ales can bring a rustic, yeast-led character. Hazy IPAs tend to focus on soft texture and hop aroma. Barrel-aged sours offer a sharper, more tart profile. That range makes this first stop useful even if you usually order only one type of beer, since you can compare several directions in a short sitting.

You get about 50 minutes here. That is enough time for a guided tasting, though it is not designed as a long, unhurried bar visit. If you already know you want to spend the day at Wild East, this tour will feel brisk. If you want an introduction to the brewery before moving on, the timing should work well.

This first stop also helps set the tone for the tour. You are not simply checking off beer samples. You are getting a quick look at how Brooklyn breweries build an identity around certain styles.

Five Boroughs shows the working brewery

Five Boroughs Brewing in Sunset Park is the most production-focused stop on the route. The brewery makes four core beers year-round: IPA, pilsner, gose, and hoppy lager.

That lineup gives you a useful contrast with Wild East. Instead of focusing mainly on specialty categories, Five Boroughs keeps several dependable beers in regular rotation. The pilsner and hoppy lager should appeal to people who prefer crisp, lighter styles, while the IPA and gose provide more hop character or tartness.

The tour includes access to three different brewhouses. You may see the main production setup, a smaller system, and a 1 BBL pilot brewhouse used for test batches. That range helps explain how a brewery can produce its regular beers while also trying new ideas.

You may also get a look at the brewery’s quality lab. That is an important detail for anyone who thinks craft beer is only about unusual ingredients and clever names. Consistency takes testing, record keeping, and careful control. The lab offers a practical glimpse at that less visible side of brewing.

The taproom is large, with seating for 150 people, multiple draft lines, a stage, special events, and a retail shop. You will spend part of your time there after seeing the production areas. The scale can make this stop feel different from a smaller brewery, and that contrast is one of the tour’s strengths.

Five Boroughs is also in Sunset Park, so the subway portion of the afternoon becomes part of the experience. Your MetroCard is included, which saves you one small expense and removes some of the guesswork from moving between stops.

Big aLICe connects beer with New York farms

Big aLICe Brewing brings an agricultural angle to the tour. It operates as a licensed New York State farm brewery and works with local and organic ingredients.

The brewery partners with New York hop farmers and maltsters, and it also works with nearby businesses on specialty ingredients. That gives you a chance to think about beer as a local product, not just something made in a warehouse and served in a glass.

This stop is especially useful if you care about sourcing. Local hops and malt do not guarantee that you will prefer every beer, but they show how a brewery can connect its recipes to farms and suppliers in the state. The focus on agriculture adds a different layer to the afternoon after the style comparison at Wild East and the production tour at Five Boroughs.

You get roughly 50 minutes here as well. The pace leaves room for tasting and explanation, but the exact order of stops and timing can change. The listed route is a sample schedule, so you should treat it as a guide rather than a promise of a fixed sequence.

What the $99 price includes

At $99 per person, this is not the cheapest way to drink beer in Brooklyn. You could visit one taproom on your own for less. The price becomes easier to assess when you count the included tastings at three breweries, snacks, subway fare, and the guide’s planning.

You are also paying for access and structure. Someone else handles the route between breweries, keeps the group together, and provides context at each stop. That can be worthwhile in Brooklyn, where a self-guided brewery day may require separate research, transit planning, and careful timing.

The value is strongest if you want a full afternoon built around beer rather than a single casual drink. It is weaker if you prefer choosing your own beers, staying as long as you like, or avoiding a set schedule.

Group discounts are available, which may improve the price for people booking together. The group limit of 15 keeps the format from becoming a large bus-style outing, but the actual group could be much smaller. A previous tour group had only six people, creating a more social setting and giving the guide room to connect with everyone.

Snacks, subway fare, and the pace of the day

The included snacks are a useful addition. Beer tastings over three and a half hours are better handled with food, and you do not need to plan a separate meal just to keep going. A vegetarian option is available, but you need to request it when booking.

The MetroCard is another small but helpful inclusion. The tour starts and ends at Sound + Fury Brewery and Kitchen, yet the breweries are in different parts of Brooklyn, including Sunset Park. Public transportation is part of the practical setup, so comfortable clothes and shoes will make the day easier.

You should arrive at least 10 minutes early. Bring a valid, non-expired state ID if you are a US citizen. If you are visiting from another country, bring your passport.

The minimum age is 21, with no exceptions. You must wear closed-toe shoes. This is not a suggestion for comfort only. Brewery areas can contain equipment and working surfaces where open shoes are not permitted.

Pre-gaming is strictly prohibited. If you arrive visibly intoxicated, you will not be allowed to join and will not receive a refund. That rule is sensible for a tour that includes production areas, public transit, and several tastings.

A small group can shape the experience

The 15-person maximum is one of the better features here. A guide can explain a brewing system more clearly to a compact group, and you are less likely to spend the whole afternoon trying to hear from the back.

The guide can also affect the mood. Eddi Davila received especially warm praise for bringing a six-person group together, with the outing ending on a friendly note. That does not mean Eddi will lead every departure, but it shows how much personality can matter on a small-group beer tour.

You should expect a social experience. The group moves together, shares tastings, and spends several hours in the same company. If you like meeting people over beer, that is a plus. If you want a private tasting or a quiet afternoon, the group format may not suit you.

The tour is conducted in English. You will get the most from it if you are comfortable following explanations about beer styles, brewing equipment, and ingredients in English.

Weather and cancellation details worth knowing

The tour operates in all weather conditions, so dress for the forecast. At the same time, weather can lead to cancellation, and the activity also requires a minimum number of participants.

That creates a small planning risk. One booking was canceled two days before the scheduled outing, leaving too little time to arrange another option. If this tour is a key part of a short New York visit, avoid placing it on your only free afternoon.

If the operator cancels because of weather or insufficient numbers, you should be offered another date or experience, or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded or accepted.

The confirmation arrives within 48 hours of booking and remains subject to availability. I would wait for confirmation before building the rest of your day around the tour.

Who should book this Brooklyn beer tour?

I would recommend this experience to beer fans who want variety, local context, and a guided route through several parts of Brooklyn. It is especially useful for first-time visitors who do not want to research breweries, subway connections, and opening schedules on their own.

It also suits people who enjoy seeing how beer is made. Five Boroughs offers the strongest production look, while Big aLICe adds the farm connection and Wild East gives you a wider tasting range.

You may want to skip it if you dislike group outings, cannot wear closed-toe shoes, or want to control every stop and tasting. The $99 cost also deserves thought. You are paying for convenience, snacks, transport, and access, not just the beer in your glass.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a well-organized afternoon with three brewery visits, a small group, included subway fare, and a clear mix of tasting and production information. The combination of Wild East’s varied styles, Five Boroughs’ brewhouses and lab, and Big aLICe’s New York farm focus gives the route real variety.

I would book it early, since the experience is often reserved well ahead of time and group numbers can be limited. Leave some flexibility in your schedule in case weather or low enrollment changes the plan, and arrive ready with ID, snacks covered, and proper shoes.

FAQ

How long does the Underground Brooklyn Walking Brewery Tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Which breweries are included?

The sample route includes Wild East Brewing Co, Five Boroughs Brewing, and Big aLICe Brewing.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Sound + Fury Brewery and Kitchen at 141 Lawrence Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Are food and transportation included?

Snacks and a subway MetroCard are included. A vegetarian snack option is available if requested when booking.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 15 travelers.

What should I bring and wear?

US citizens should bring a non-expired state ID. Visitors from outside the US should bring a passport. Closed-toe shoes are required, and you should dress appropriately for the weather.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations and changes made less than 24 hours before the tour are not accepted or refunded. If the operator cancels because of weather or insufficient numbers, you will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.