related items
PHOTO TOUR: BIER INTERNATIONAL
It's no secret that Harlem is hot these days. Not only is the neighborhood getting used to playing host to presidents, both past and present, but as the number of hip drinking and dining destinations continues to grow, residents are increasingly competing with downtown folk for real estate at local haunts. Of course, no foodie-friendly neighborhood is complete these days without a decent beer hall. Enter, Bier International, Harlem's first beer garden.
For starters, it's not really a garden of beer, per se. It's a sleek box of a bar that spills out onto the sidewalk, where extra seating is set up in a way that makes you feel like you're in a garden. But in fact, you're right next to Frederick Douglass Boulevard. Still, it serves beer in steins and boots alfresco like a beer garden. And the atmosphere is as convivial as any that a buxom German lasses might inspire.
Digs: Concrete floors, graffiti-tagged white walls, and exposed piping make up the décor at this minimalist space. Light floods the room in the daytime—the windows and doors thrown open when the weather permits. The bar is literally pouring out onto the sidewalk with picnic tables. The bar itself is painted gray, like the floors, with a single flat-screen TV hanging overhead: a sleek, modern look that's at odds with the neighborhood's old, storied townhouses. But it works, perhaps because parts of Harlem feel new again. Amid all the stern modernity, a single African statue stands at the back of the room, paying homage to Harlem's heritage.
Crowd: Like any neighborhood bar, you're likely to find a good mix here. Suits and sporty types, men and women, single twentysomethings and young parents—on weekend afternoons, with babies in tow. We were surprised to find something of a pickup scene at this bar, where those bellying up (as opposed to sitting at tables) might show up solo and strike up a friendly conversation with a neighbor. We saw, in the space of an hour or so, at least three numbers exchanged by attractive young professionals. Considering Bier stays open till 4 a.m. on weekends, that could account for a staggering number of compounded hookups in a full day.
Staff: Like the crowd, the staff is mixed, by all demographics. (We'll refrain from singing the praises of multiracial harmony, as has been done so much about a certain other Harlem hot spot. Suffice it to say, all shades are represented on both sides of the service counter.) Pints and glasses are served the European way, with bartenders artfully measuring out the appropriate head for each pour. Should you not know what to order, they are happy to supply you with lofty descriptions and solid advice on their selections.
Drinks: Pints range from $6 to $8, with half pints of the Hofbräu going for $4. On tap, you'll find such brews as Fuller's London Pride, Sixpoint Sweet Action and Erdinger Weissbier Dunkel. A flight of five is available for $15. (Bonus: you not only get to try five beers, but the presentation in five mini pint glasses is adorable.) A good selection of bottles is also offered. Like the drafts, they hail from all over Europe, as well as the U.S., Japan and Kenya. A brief international wine list supplements suds, should they not be your cup of tea.
Food: To go with its international beer list is a menu of foods from around the globe. Brats, currywurst, croque monsieur, empanadas and tacos are served—with all items priced safely under $14. Snappy brats and chunky hand-cut truffled fries are a good go-to. Or keep it old-school with a chewy baked pretzel. On weekends, there are pan-European-accented brunch options to go with the gurgling babies.
Bottom line: With great beer halls cropping up around the city, Bier International might not be one you would opt to travel to if you lived nowhere near Harlem. But for residents, it's a winner. It looks refreshingly unlike other establishments in the neighborhood, and instant-regulars seem to appreciate that. It's unclear how the neighbors feel about the late hours and spillover of patrons into the night air, but we're betting the ready availability of good brat and great beer might make up for it.
Bier International
2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd.
212-531-0387
Photo by Noah Fecks
