New York's Breweries Battle To Be The Best In The State

TRIBECA — Beer-lovers are in the midst of choosing the best brewery in the state at a competition at Tribeca's Brookfield Place — and the Bronx Brewery's IPA is a top contender.

The competition hosted five New York City breweries Thursday at Brookfield Place, representing four of the five boroughs. On tap Thursday included:

• Coney Island Brewery's Merman NY IPA (Brooklyn)
• Harlem Brewing Company's Renaissance Wit (Manhattan)
• Mikkeller's Queensfisher (Queens)
• Sixpoint Brewery's Dabble (Brooklyn)
• The Bronx Brewery's Now Youse Can't Leave Double IPA (Bronx)

Thursday evening, the Bronx's IPA won among the city's top five breweries.

Shopping and dining center Brookfield Place has transformed its winter garden into a beer garden each Thursday since Feb. 21. for the second annual Best Brews of New York.

The boozy competition has featured 15 breweries, five from upstate New York, five from Long Island, and five from New York City.

The top from each of those rounds will go head-to-head next week to be the state's top brewery — including, Syracuse's Empire Brewing Company, Long Island's Barrier Brewing Co., and the city's The Bronx Brewery.

Visitors to the free event vote on the 'People's Choice' winner. Beer connoisseur Anna Becerra will be on-hand to guide any craft beer newbies casting their votes for best brewery in the state next Thurs., March 14.

Beer sales benefit Habitat for Humanity.

Next Thursday, the final three breweries will be featured at Brookfield Place for the final round, when a winner will be chosen.