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NYC Beer Bars: The Brazen Head
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The Brazen Head selling you on their selection.
A quick review of a recent stop at a craft beer bar in New York City.
Last night, I dropped into The Brazen Head, a very traditional-styled English pub on Atlantic Avenue between Court St. and Boerum Pl. in the Boerum Hill / Cobble Hill area of Downtown Brooklyn. (What neighborhood Brazen Head is actually in is a debate we can send over to the NY Geographical Examiner.)
The Brazen Head was holding their "19th Tri-Annual Real Ale Cask Festival," which was the primary reason for my visit. However, as the name states, the bar only holds this event three times a year, so let's look at the bar outside of the cask fest. (I must mention, however, that Cask Fest is highly recommended.)
Their traditional English ambiance is Brazen Head's best quality. Based on my excursions to England, Brazen Head is the closest replication of a true English pub I have found in New York City. Granted, the vast majority of NY's English pubs I have yet to venture too, but I firmly believe that Brazen Head is still probably one of the better examples of this style of bar in the city. Short stools, plenty of couch-style seating, lots of dark wood and an outside patio all play into that true UK atmosphere. This place definitely has that home-away-from-home, meet-your-friends-for-a-pint-before-dinner feel down.
Unfortunately, the traditional attitude brings with it some strengths and some weaknesses. Brazen Head always has two beer engines running featuring cask conditioned ales. For NYC, this amenity is awesome. Drinkers don't come upon beer engines in the city that often -- especially engines that actually have beer on draft in them -- so it's nice to know this place has you covered.
On the flip-side though, Brazen Head's fifteen draft lines can be a mixed affair. Sure, you'll always find some hard to find craft brews. On my visit, they had two IPAs, Dick's and Pennichuck's, both of which are rare to see around town. However, they also almost always have old stand-bys like Guinness, Old Speckled Hen and Stella Artois. According to the chalk board, Boddingtons had been on draft the longest of any of the beers available, begging the question "Why is Boddingtons even on draft?" Most "craft beer" outlets wouldn't bother having this many mainstream drafts available at the same time, especially with only 15 lines.
All that said, The Brazen Head always keeps their remaining taps diversified. Unlike some pubs where more taps doesn't always equate to more styles, I've never dropped into Brazen Head and not been able to find something I wanted to drink.
For any true beer fan, I can't imagine this pub ever being a letdown.
Based on this visit, consider The Brazen Head: Recommended.
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