photo credit: Alicia Camden

Saturday Afternoon In Ridgewood: Breweries & Pupusas image

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Saturday Afternoon In Ridgewood: Breweries & Pupusas

We planned your socially-distant Saturday.

Going to breweries in cities like Denver and Portland, ME usually means scootering from one big warehouse to another, while weaving through discontented babies in strollers and recent college graduates who are pursuing careers as ski instructors. But New York’s brewery culture is a bit different. Not because there aren’t discontented babies (there are plenty), but because there aren’t many taprooms in the same general vicinity. Ridgewood, however, is one such neighborhood where you can zig-zag from one great brewery to another without worrying about transportation in between. If you’re looking to spend a Saturday drinking interesting beer, hanging out in an open space, and even seeing a free, stand-up comedy show, here’s the plan.


Getting There

Bike There are three Citi Bike stations within two blocks of your first stop. Don’t bike drunk, please.

Subway or Bus You can also take the L train to Halsey, the Q39 bus to Forest Ave/Myrtle Ave, or the B26 bus to Halsey/Wyckoff.

A Quick Note About Drinking at Breweries Right Now

In case you haven’t been doing much drinking outside lately, we’re here to remind you of the rules, because we care about you and we also like rules. In accordance with the State Liquor Authority, you’ll have to purchase something to eat to go along with your beer at the outdoor beer gardens we recommend below. This is helpful, least importantly because it means you won’t get drunk on an empty stomach and keep bringing up the oddly specific conspiracy theory that Harper Lee didn’t write To Kill A Mockingbird. Remember, show you care by wearing a mask whenever you’re up from your table. Also, you’re wrong about Harper Lee.

Stop One: Evil Twin Brewing

Anyone who sincerely uses the word “brews” as a noun will have heard of Evil Twin’s new-ish spot in Ridgewood. This is the only taproom from a company that started as a nomadic brewery in Denmark, and it’s run by a guy with an identical twin brother who also owns Mikkeller Brewing. Apparently the two brothers aren’t on speaking terms, which explains the name Evil Twin. Yes, you may submit your screenplay pitch about the story of the adversarial identical twins to us at nyc@theinfatuation.com.

Evil Twin’s outdoor beer garden space is an extremely pleasant place to hang out on a Saturday afternoon, and it’s open for outdoor service from noon to 10pm Friday through Sunday, and 2-9pm on weekdays. Try some of their newer releases that you can only get at the taproom. When we were last there, we had one that’s flavored with BBQ beef jerky.

Stop Two: Bridge & Tunnel

Next, walk a few blocks to Bridge And Tunnel, a much smaller brewery without any family drama (that we’re aware of). This place has an outdoor area that opens at 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and they mostly focus on unusual flavor combinations like stouts brewed with oysters or chocolate sours. By this point, you’ve already had something to drink, so you may be more willing to try a beer you wouldn’t normally order, or that you wouldn’t even expect to exist within the realm of possibility. Like a saison made with lobster.

Stop Three: Queens Brewery

Next, walk two blocks to Queens Brewery’s outdoor setup on Covert Street. This spot has been hosting restaurant pop-ups that serve things ranging from ceviche to chopped cheese, as well as free stand up comedy and live music on weekends. You can check out their Instagram page here for updates on their events.

Pupusas, in Case You Get Tired of Brewery Food

Casually noshing while seriously drinking may only get you so far. If you get a little too drunk or cranky, go to Pupusas Ridgewood and fill up on thick, griddled masa cakes. We especially like the ones filled with squash and cheese, or chicharron, and you should make sure to get plenty of slaw and salsa.

In addition to fresh pupusas, Pupusas Ridgewood serves tamales de elote, soda, and cucumber lemonade every day from 11am-10pm. It’s mostly a takeout setup, but there are a couple of tables out front if you want to stick around for a while.

Saturday Afternoon In Ridgewood: Breweries & Pupusas image

photo credit: Alicia Camden

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