AGAINST THE GRAIN
If you’re gazing up at Manhattan’s skyline you might just miss this hole-in-the-wall drinking spot. The cozy beer joint was opened in 2007 by the owners of Grape and Grain, the adjacent wine bar; it’s an intimate, if not packed, drinking experience—the 35 m2 joint comfortably seats 15 people. Local and international beers spill over the near-70 bottle list, and small bites like pigs in a blanket ordered from next door ensure you’re not exploring the world of beer on an empty stomach. 620 E. 6th St.

BEER TABLE
When this bar first opened, super-passionate co-founders Justin and Tricia Phillips held weekly beer-cheese pairings that wowed locals. Today, it’s still small but exceptional beer list—which has included Birrificio Le Baladin Al-iksir on tap and Manhattan Meadery Brooklyn Buzz bottles—has an expanded food menu, and the staff is as determined as ever to help you match flavor profiles. Snack on an assortment of pickled sea beans, watermelon and eggs, or throw down $25 for a 3-course meal. 427 B. 7th Ave., beertable.com (serves food, sells beer to go)

BLIND TIGER
This vibrant Bleecker Street bar is a first name in beer, and it backs up the hype. Special brewery spotlights, weekly cheese pairings and an epic happy hour lasting from 11:30 to 20:00 draw a crowd, but the beer list keeps the party going: 28 rotating taps flow freely, while 3 casks and a bottle list 50-strong makes choosing nearly impossible. After all, how do you decide between a 2004 Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout and Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye on cask? Line your stomach with Javier’s 7 Pepper Chili, and you can have both. 281 Bleecker St., blindtigeralehouse.com (serves food)

RATTLE ’N’ HUM
From brewery takeovers of nearly all 40 taps to special releases and meet-the-brewer nights, Rattle ’N’ Hum is a sizable, wood-dressed hotspot in midtown. Go beyond the rotating taps with 3 cask-conditioned beers (think Victory Yakima Glory) stationed at a separate bar, and another 100 or so bottles in the cooler. 14 E. 33rd St., rattlenhumbarnyc.com (serves food)

SPUYTEN DUYVIL
This cool Williamsburg haunt gives the hipster PBR trend no love on its selective but remarkable taps. Dive into the broad lineup from Belgium’s Cantillon, or stay stateside with Green Flash Palate Wrecker on cask. 359 Metropolitan Ave., spuytenduyvilnyc.com (serves food)