Underground Brooklyn Walking Brewery Tour

Brooklyn’s beer scene is less about one signature style than a range of brewers working with different ingredients and ideas. This 3.5-hour tour gives you a taste at three breweries, including a production-focused stop in Sunset Park and a farm brewery that works with New York growers.

I like the mix of brewery visits and the practical extras: snacks and a MetroCard are included, and the group is capped at 15. One thing to weigh is the price: at $99, this makes the most sense if you value the guide, tastings and easy group transport, not just the beer in your glass.

At a glance: three breweries, one small group

• Three tasting stops: Wild East Brewing Co, Five Boroughs Brewing and BIG aLICe Brewing each get about 50 minutes.
• The group stays small: The maximum is 15 people, so there is more room for questions and conversation than on a large coach tour.
• Five Boroughs offers a behind-the-scenes look: The visit can include three brewhouses, a quality lab and time in its taproom.
• Local ingredients shape BIG aLICe’s approach: The brewery partners with New York hop farmers and maltsters.
• Snacks and a MetroCard are provided: These add practical value across a tour that moves among several Brooklyn stops.
• Come prepared: You must be at least 21, bring valid identification and wear closed-toe shoes.

What this Brooklyn beer tour is really about

The appeal is variety. In one afternoon, you move from farmhouse ales, hazy IPAs and barrel-aged sours at Wild East to Five Boroughs’ year-round core beers, then to BIG aLICe’s focus on local and organic ingredients. You get more than three chances to sample beer: you see how different breweries define their work.

Each stop is scheduled for about 50 minutes, making the experience feel like a guided sampler rather than a long sit-down tasting. That’s useful if you want an introduction to Brooklyn brewing without spending a full day in taprooms. The trade-off is that each brewery gets a limited window. If a particular style or production detail catches your interest, you may have to save the longer conversation for another visit.

The experience is described as a walking brewery tour, but the included MetroCard is a helpful clue that getting between stops matters too. The precise route and transit arrangements aren’t specified, so don’t plan on three neighboring taprooms linked only by a short stroll. The card removes one small expense and hassle; it doesn’t mean you should skip comfortable shoes.

Starting at Sound + Fury, then heading to Wild East

Meet at Sound + Fury Brewery and Kitchen, at 141 Lawrence Street in Brooklyn. Arrive at least 10 minutes early. The tour’s listed brewery stops begin at Wild East Brewing Co, where you have about 50 minutes to sample and get a feel for its brewing style.

Wild East specializes in farmhouse ales, hazy IPAs and barrel-aged sours. That range gives the first stop a useful role: it can introduce you to beers that differ in fermentation, texture and aging, rather than offering three versions of the same familiar pint. If you already know your way around an IPA, the farmhouse and sour styles may be the more interesting part of the visit.

The exact pours aren’t specified, so treat the styles as a guide to the brewery’s focus, not a promise that you’ll taste every one. With roughly 50 minutes here, you’ll have time for the scheduled tasting and some conversation, but not an open-ended brewery visit.

Five Boroughs Brewing: beer and production in Sunset Park

The middle stop is Five Boroughs Brewing in Sunset Park. Its year-round lineup includes an IPA, Pilsner, Gose and Hoppy Lager, with quality as the stated priority. That range gives you a chance to compare familiar categories with a sour, tangy Gose and a lager built around hops.

The most distinctive part of this visit is the chance to see more than the finished product. The tour description includes backstage access to three brewhouses, from production scale down to a one-barrel pilot system, as well as a look at the quality lab. That makes this the stop most likely to satisfy anyone who wonders how a brewery tests and scales its beer.

You also spend part of the visit in a large taproom with multiple draft lines, seating for up to 150, a stage, events and a retail shop. It’s a different setting from a small tasting room: more space, more activity and a clearer view of the brewery as a working business and social place. The group’s 50-minute stop is still brief, so the guide will shape how much time goes to the production areas and how much to tasting.

BIG aLICe: a farm brewery with New York connections

At BIG aLICe Brewing, the emphasis shifts from equipment and core styles to sourcing. The brewery is licensed as a New York State farm brewery and works with local and organic ingredients, including hops from New York farmers and malt from nearby producers. It also collaborates with local businesses on specialty ingredients.

That approach gives the final stop a sense of place. You’re not only tasting beer made in Brooklyn; you’re hearing how a brewery connects its recipes to state agriculture and nearby suppliers. For anyone curious about where brewing ingredients come from, this is a valuable contrast with the production-focused stop at Five Boroughs.

Again, the schedule allows about 50 minutes. The exact beers poured aren’t guaranteed in the details, so don’t count on a specific seasonal release or ingredient appearing in your glass. Think of BIG aLICe as a chance to learn about the brewery’s sourcing priorities while sampling its beer.

The tour ends back at Sound + Fury, its starting point. Because the stops and travel between them fill a 3.5-hour outing, keep the rest of your schedule flexible rather than planning a tight dinner reservation immediately afterward.

Small-group conversation is part of the value

A maximum of 15 people is a meaningful limit on a brewery tour. You’re not trying to hear a guide over a large crowd, and there is a better chance to ask a question or chat with the people beside you. The social side can be a real plus: one outing led by Eddi Davila had just six people, and the group finished feeling like friends.

That doesn’t guarantee the same guide or group size on your date. It does show the kind of experience the format can support. If you enjoy meeting people over a shared interest, this is more promising than a self-guided pub crawl. If you prefer to taste quietly at your own pace, a guided group may feel a little structured.

A guide also helps tie together breweries with distinct identities. Instead of treating the stops as three unrelated bars, you can compare how each one approaches its beer, ingredients and production. The quality of that explanation will depend on the guide and the group’s interests, so it’s worth arriving ready to ask questions.

Is $99 a fair price?

At $99 per person, this is not the cheapest way to drink Brooklyn beer. You’re paying for a 3.5-hour guided experience with tastings at three breweries, snacks, a MetroCard and the planning involved in moving a group between stops. The small-group cap adds value if you want a more personal outing rather than a crowded tasting.

The value depends on what you want from the day. If your aim is simply to buy beer, you can visit a taproom on your own and spend less. If you want a guided introduction to three different breweries, including production access at Five Boroughs and context on local sourcing at BIG aLICe, the ticket covers a broader experience than the drinks alone.

Group discounts are available, but the amount isn’t stated. If you’re going with friends, check whether your party qualifies before booking. The tour is often booked about 42 days ahead, so leaving it until the last moment may limit your options, particularly if you need a specific date.

Who should book this tour?

I’d consider it for adults who enjoy tasting different beer styles and want a guided look at Brooklyn’s brewing scene. It’s especially suited to people who appreciate the difference between a brewery’s taproom and its production side, or who like hearing how local ingredients shape a beer.

It can also work well for a couple or a small group looking for a shared afternoon activity. The small-group format encourages conversation, and the snack and MetroCard make the outing easier to manage. You don’t need to be a beer expert, but curiosity helps. If you’re only interested in one style, or want a long, unhurried visit at each brewery, three stops in 3.5 hours may feel brisk.

This isn’t a tour for anyone under 21. You’ll need valid identification: a current state ID if you’re a US citizen, or a passport if you’re visiting from outside the United States. Closed-toe shoes are required for brewery safety, and the activity calls for a moderate level of physical fitness.

A few practical rules matter. Arrive 10 minutes early, and don’t pre-game: anyone visibly intoxicated before the tour can be refused entry without a refund. The tour operates in all weather, so dress for the conditions. A vegetarian snack option is available if you request it when booking.

Confirmation is subject to availability. The tour can be canceled if it doesn’t meet its minimum group size or because of poor weather, in which case you’re offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start; cancellations or changes inside that window aren’t accepted.

Should you book it?

Book this if you want a guided, social introduction to three different Brooklyn breweries and value the production and ingredient stories as much as the tasting. The small group, MetroCard and snacks help justify the $99 price, particularly if getting between breweries on your own would be a nuisance.

Skip it if you want a cheap beer outing, a custom pace or a deep visit to just one brewery. For the right person, though, this is a practical way to compare styles, see how a production brewery works and spend an afternoon with other curious beer drinkers.

FAQ

How long is the Underground Brooklyn Walking Brewery Tour?

The tour lasts about 3 hours and 30 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $99 per person. Group discounts are available, though the discount amount is not specified.

Which breweries are included?

The scheduled stops are Wild East Brewing Co, Five Boroughs Brewing and BIG aLICe Brewing.

Are tastings included?

Yes. The tour includes beer tastings at all three breweries.

Are snacks and a MetroCard included?

Yes. Snacks and a subway MetroCard are provided.

Where does the tour start and end?

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

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 15 people.

What should I bring and wear?

Bring valid identification. US citizens need a non-expired state ID; visitors from outside the United States need a passport. Closed-toe shoes are required.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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.