BROOKLYN BARS

Union Hall

Bar 4
At this shabby-chic hang, locals on broken-in couches unwind with pints of Delirium Tremens and Rogue Dead Guy Ale, as well as pressed-crisp Cubanos and Nutella-and-banana sandwiches. Paintings of music luminaries like Presley, Lennon and Cash signal the establishment’s sonic commitment, with a Tuesday open mike, Guitar Hero Wednesdays and weekend DJs spinning late-night. 444 Seventh Ave at 15th St (718-832-9800)

Beer Table
This is beer drinking for grown-ups. A small, well-curated menu offers a selection of artisan brews, mostly by the bottle, and with each drink comes a description that reads like wine-tasting literature. The diverse menu offers stalwarts like Dogfish Head alongside more obscure options like a dark, smoky Belgian Rochefort Ale—though picks change on a near-daily basis, so you may never drink the same thing twice. The draft selection is smaller, at about three offered daily, and each day’s menu is posted on the website so you can see what’s on tap before you go. 427B Seventh Ave between 14th and 15th Sts (718-965-1196, beertable.com)

The Dram Shop
Leisure pursuits reign supreme at Park Slope’s raucous sports parlor, where bros and beer geeks gather at the 33-foot wooden bar or in deep booths. While you watch the game, sip suds both lowbrow ($3 Miller High Lifes) and high: A dozen microbrews (Lagunitas, Sixpoint, Ommegang) are dispensed in icy mugs. If onscreen sports bore, there’s always shuffleboard, pool, darts and board games—not to mention a griddle-cooked, double-decker burger courtesy of a recipe from co-owner Clay Mallow’s grandfather Lynn. 339 9th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (718-788-1444)

Sheep Station
Hit up this rustic expat bar for some authentic Aussie charm. Covered in corrugated iron, it features aboriginal art, a gas fireplace and eats from Down Under, like lamb sandies, homemade meat pies, and a traditional burger topped with pineapple and fried egg. Locals go for a beer from the vast and varied selections on tap, but the wine list—including local, Australian and international choices—shouldn’t be discounted. 149 Fourth Ave at Douglass St (718-857-4337, sheepstation.net)

Sidecar
Sidecar resembles a diner from the outside, but step inside and you’ll find a large, comfy drinkery—a nice surprise on this stretch of Fifth Avenue. Focus on the “pub” part of this South Slope gastropub: With expert drinks like the Ramos Gin Fizz—gin, cream, lemon and egg-white whipped to perfection—it runs the risk of overshadowing the kitchen. Bar food doesn’t stray too far from diner fare, offering comfort classics like fried chicken and a turkey club. 560 Fifth Ave between 15th and 16th Sts (718-369-0077, sidecarbrooklyn.com)

Union Hall
Though bocce courts attract feverish competitors, bargoers need not toss a ball to have one. In the upstairs library, which is bedecked with vintage globes and tomes, a roaring fireplace and leather couches provide perches to drink Captain Lawrence pints and Bloody Pickles (tequila and Bloody Mary shots, with pickle chasers). Downstairs, taxidermy dioramas set the mood for acts ranging from indie rockers to science lecturers. 702 Union St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (718-638-4400, unionhallny.com)

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