Good Beer Grows in Brooklyn

Yearning for a small taste of Oktoberfest, but without the time to travel overseas to Germany, my friends and I set up a little celebration of our own last Saturday to soak up the fall sunshine and mix up our traditional social regime. While it didn't necessarily involve lederhosen or beer wenches, it did involve an escape from the borough of Manhattan (to Williamsburg, Brooklyn to be exact), ginormous Bavarian pretzels and a big enough variety of beers to satisfy even the most discriminating beer-lover. Here are my top choices for a rousing good Saturday afternoon:

Brooklyn Brewery (79 North 11th Street, http://www.brooklynbrewery.com/) - The entrance is easy to miss since you think its simply the door to the production facility. However, once inside, you don't want to leave! Upon entering, stop at the booth to purchase a slew of beer tokens - 6 beers for $20 is the best deal and you can split them among friends (unless you're feeling ambitious). Head to the back bar to redeem your tokens and don't be shy about asking for samples - Martin was great about letting me sample a wide variety of beers before I honed in on my favorite - the Light Ale. Hungry? While they don't serve food, menus for Fanelli's Pizza are scattered around the casual picnic tables and they deliver right to the brewery. A fun perk to take advantage of is the Brewery Tour describing the history and production processes of the Brewery - it happens Saturdays 1-5 and Sundays 1-4 on the hour. Definitely not a chic or high-end establishment, but when you've got beer and great friends on-hand, what else do you need?

After a few hours at the Brewery, my friends and I ventured over to Radegast Hall & Biergarten (113 N. 3rd Street, http://www.radegasthall.com/), the second stop on our beer tour of Brooklyn. While the Brewery is more about the production and quality of beer, Radegast Hall & Biergarten is most certainly more about the enjoyment and merriment of drinking beer with friends. Choose to sit in the "outdoor" heated Biergarten or inside the hall (usually an easier option on a crowded day). This place definitely has the food - spatzle, sausage and Bavarian pretzels to name a few - enough authentic and delicious options to take you from day to night.

All-in-all a fantastic day in Brooklyn - our own Oktoberfest experience just a subway ride away.