This is place is pretty cool. I wish they had some outdoor seating in the warm months, but its got a very chill atmosphere, decent prices, and a sicknasty beer list. I love places that list the alcohol content along with the beers, so you know what your getting and this is one of those places. The bartenders are very nice and will help you select/ let you sample before you buy. Another plus- dogs are allowed in the bar! I'm not sure if they serve hard alcohol because I've only ever ordered beer. But with the large selection of beers they have, that's why you would come here anyway. read more

I have tried to love BGH, I really have, since it is only a block away from me and I love love love bier. BGH, to their credit, have tried to do everything in their power to try to make me love them - they open the front doors to let in the night air, they rotate the bier selection and have weekly tastings, they have even opened up the back to add more space to drink. But while I have never had a bad time at BGH, I have just never had a great time and it took a lot of tries to figure out why: the place is still, even after adding the back room, just too damned small for its ardent following. Somehow, the space makes the closet-like Mini-Bar seem cavernous. BGH's fans are devoted, the vibe is familial, bordering on clique-ish, and while everyone, from bartenders to drinkers, is always friendly to me and I am a friendly out-going guy, I can't help but feel like I have walked into a stranger's birthday party. The place is packed nearly every night (twice that plus dogs for weekly tastings) so that people are usually spilling from the bar stools all the way out the front doors - no wonder they keep them open. Even though they only fit a few tables in (very nice if you get one by the open doors) when the place gets packed it can be about as pleasant as sitting on a 6 train at rush hour. Even as a bier lover I shouldn't complain about their constant rotation of biers, but sometimes it is as if they buy a keg at a time - as soon as I like something it is gone the next night. These complaints are small and trite, I know that, so if you are already a BGH regular these are the things you love about it, I might as well complain about the house you grew up in - it doesn't matter because it will always be home to you. But if you are just looking for a casual bier, BGH can be a bit like a casual soccer fan catching a match in Barcelona - the crowd will be big and rowdy and utterly devoted. So I have nothing bad to say about BGH, it is friendly and festive - it looks great on paper, but it looks even better from across the street on a stool at Jake Walk. read more

It's a really great spot with a fun atmosphere, however, service was one of the worst I've had in years. When I ordered my first drink, the bartender gave me attitude & made a comment as if I was imposing him. I went back later to order a round of shots, however, he denied me service. I am a bartender as well & understand you have the right to refuse service, but something didn't seem right. I asked what was going on; he said my group of friends weren't tipping & we need to leave. All of my friends had tabs & tipped out once closed, so we were confused as to why he was accusing them of such things. Come to find out, he over charged one of them because he wasn't pleased with the tip. Let me reiterate what another Yelp review said, that is STEALING!! Unfortunately they lost my business only after one time being there. For those of you who go, please check your bank statements next time to make sure you weren't over charged as well. Just like he has a right to refuse serving, customers have a right to tip according to the service given, or lack there of. read more

Bar Great Harry (cool name, right?) is a beer bar that happens to carry a full range of liquor, too. Here, you'll find the Unibroue trifecta (Trois Pistoles, Fin du Monde, and Maudite) alongside yeasty powerhouses like Delirium and Golden Monkey, as well as more pedestrian labels like Miller and PBR. Make no mistake--the regulars here are serious drinkers and the owners know their shit. It's almost a dive but the carefully, cheerfully shabby decor and handwritten signs on the bathroom doors ("Only one scumbag at a time") mean this place takes itself a bit more seriously than your local truckeresque watering hole. Visit Bar Great Harry for good music, good times, and excellent drinks. Feel free to bring your dog, too. The knowledgeable, friendly owners are like icing on a delicious cake made of good beer and fun. But don't tell anyone, okay? Let's keep this place a secret. UPDATE: Okay so we've been going to BGH on an irregular basis for a few months, and the service went from super friendly at first to kind of chilly and unfriendly. I don't know if we did something (not sure what that could be, if so) or if they've gotten really cliqueish or what, but we now find ourselves avoiding this place in favor of bars with a more welcoming vibe. I'm sure we'll go back eventually, but for now it's much more fun to drink in places where the bartenders smile back. read more

This bar is ok with the beer selection and I like that they have a lot of seating but that's pretty much where the good part ends (for me). The smell of the place is awful like bleach or sanitizer poured directly all over the the place and no amount of airing out dissipates the smell. Bartenders are kind of dicks too, if you leave any money on the bar, even if you are sitting there, or you go out for a smoke and put a coaster over your drink (indicating that you are coming back) they just take it. Why they would just assume that piles of money on the bar, in front of customers, is meant for them is ridiculously presumptuous. read more

Aside from the blasting music for such a small place, I was having a decent time at this bar until I tried to order a drink. The female bartender was clearly drunk when I tried to order a drink at 12:30am. When I went to order my second and final drink at about 3:30, the female bartender proceeds to insult my drink choice and circle-jerk about her joke with her douchey male counterpart (who seems like he consistently doesn't give a shit about working there because of his forcibly apathetic mood, it's a pretty sad facade). Later I tried explaining the situation to the bouncer when we were leaving but he seemed as interested as he was intelligent (which wasn't very much) and said I could go fuck myself... Really? I did absolutely nothing to these people for them to be so abrasive, two drinks over 4 hours not drunk, wow.. If you're looking for a pompous atmosphere and want to be surrounded by unfriendly people that will talk about stuff that "you've probably never hear of before" then this is the place for you. This mood is pretty saturated throughout the bar and will probably leave you feeling pretty dumb that you came here. read more

Low pretense, high alcohol. I like a bar that doesn't take itself too seriously -- it knows what it's there for and doesn't make a fuss about anything else (this might explain the music selection some have complained about, though I didn't notice anything particularly bad). I came for the Six Point brewery night on Tuesday, when they unveiled a great new selection of craft beers from this awesome Red Hook brewery (I know I am obsessed with Red Hook lately, bear with me). BGH provided free meat and cheese, and the beers were four bucks a pop, and really tasty -- I liked the Otis Nitro and the Express, and the Sweet Reaction is worth a shot as well. The bartenders here are cute and friendly, as are most all of the regulars that I encountered. When it's nice out, they've got the windows open in front - I'd sit up there or at the bar; the back room was stuffy and crowded (my only gripe). read more

Love, love, love the beer and hate, hate, hate the music. Christina Aguilera? Mariah Carey? Yeah, no kidding. Come ON. I WANT to stay and drink, but I don't want to listen to that all night. Maybe it was just a one night pop-trash event. I'll be passive about this one. The draft selection is just so, so awesome that I'll plug my ears and suck it up. read more

I was always put off by this place when it was BAR. It always seemed closed, or unfriendly at least, and dirty... i never once stopped in. Suddenly the doors were opened wide, and into the dark, gloomy bar sunlight poured. And Great Bar Harry was there. We've been there several times, and it's always the perfect place for whatever mood I have been in. Once we went there when i had a fight with my mom. Then we went there the night before we left for vacation. And we went there again as soon as we got back. It's a friendly looking watering hole, but not overpopulated like Zombie Hut always seems to be when I need them. Or loud and obnoxious like Angry Wades. It doesn't try to be anything but what it is. Pretty much the same place it was before, only cooler. Never had a problem with the prices as the other reviewer experienced. And they have some great selection. read more

Originally published in Metromix New York (http://newyork.metromix.com) "We serve an esoteric mix of craft beer," says 28-year old Ben Wiley, who opened Bar Great Harry with his brother Mike in mid-August. "I didn't want to serve strictly IPAs or lagers or wheats, so we have it all." Wiley, a teetotaler until age 21, took over the old Bar Bar location after working years as a waiter and tending bar in Japan and at Abilene in Carroll Gardens. The spots are hardly beer meccas, but Wiley credits his "freakish" interest in hops to years of reading and "drinking a shitload of beer." And now the freak has his own clubhouse to share with Carroll Gardens locals of the same ilk. Beer While we sipped a Stoudt Pilsner here on a recent Friday evening, a bookish gent stopped by to thank the pair for offering hard-to-find Arrogant Bastard Ale. "You're going to see me here a lot," said the man pointing at a stool at the bar. BGH offers a total of 50 bottled beers and 12 taps, with a great importance placed on local beers. "I'm not anti-import, but I wanted to have something from New York before Boulder and something from Boulder before Belgium," Ben says. The taps, meanwhile, are switched almost daily (check out the bar's blog for updates). On opening weekend we sampled the Chelsea Summer Solstice (refreshing wheat from NYC) and Crop Circle Amber Ale (rust colored and bitter). For fans of imports, the bottle list includes staples (Duvel, Red Stripe 24oz!) and some curve balls, including La Fin du Monde, a glistening golden ale from Quebec. Food Though light on options (there is only one), the choice to serve DUB Pies from Red Hook's Down Under Bakery was dead on. BGH offers three varieties: steak and cheese, spinach and vegetable curry, all served within 30 seconds of ordering...and piping hot. How so? The bar has been retrofit with a special DUB-approved oven, so pies are always kept at a perfect 148 degrees. Vibe Drinking at a craft-beer bar is generally a pretty bro-centric affair--though a nice selection of South American wines and creative liquor selection caters to those not feeling the hops. On a recent Sunday afternoon we shared the bar with a raucous fantasy football draft (mostly regulars from the previous bar). Evening crowds have been mixed, from chatty beer geeks to a Brooklyn Law School bar crawl (we thankfully missed that one). Multiple iPods are switched through the evening, representing everything from The Sea and Cake and American Analog Set to Devo and Blink-182. "There was a Man Man freak in here the other week and he was like, 'What the fuck...you're playing this!" says Mike. Digs Even with some much-needed renovations (lowering the bar, new banquet seating), the long-time dive still has a scruffy feel--it's curious that a wobbly table required napkin leveling a mere three days after opening. We don't fault the owners, who hustled to get the place opened and clearly spent money on the important things--like a working toilet, which Bar Bar seemed to lack. Beer, part two Drink for cheap at happy hour (2 p.m.-7 p.m.), with off-beat cans like Butternuts Pork Slap and Black Label, as well as the standard fare of Yuengling pints, PBR and well cocktails. Better yet, mix and match two of 'em for $5. Also, all beers are available in the British-preferred 12oz half-pint. And, finally, here's a recommendation from the bar: Captain Lawrence Sunblock Wheat, brewed by Pleasantville's Scott Vaccaro, who at 29 is the youngest brew master in the country. "He's blowing up the craft scene," says Ben with great excitement. read more

Loungey and cool. They have an extensive beer selection including some tasty IPA's. There is a cozy seating area in the back good for a small group of people. Just an all around good bar. read more

Not quite large enough to hold a full scale assault of bawdy humor, but with the low ceilings and great range of bottles as well as tap beers, boardgames (2 Connect Four boards, I tell you i'll play two people at once and BE AWESOME AND WIN). Depending on when you go, it's like dark and somewhat uninviting, but go when the doors are open to the street, and you get a great people watching perch to go along with lively conversation. It's a place you can easily go by yourself and nobody's going to miss a beat. And, for a straight up bar among all the restaurants and theme places like Zombie Hut, it's kind of feels like the place to really singe that liver without distraction in that few block radius. Have a pint here on Sunday afternoon if the doors are open I say. read more

I know the old saying 'never judge a book by its cover', but let's be honest, we judge bars by their name before we even go in. I'm not a giant fan of the name. Bar Great Harry? What? It's like they threw 25 words they liked into a hat and picked the first three that came out, in that order. It's as though it could've just as easily been named Great Harry Bar or Great Bar, Harry!. I'm a traditionalist; bars shouldn't have quirky, goofy or inexplicable names(ie Tonic. Why? Why are you called Tonic?!) Anyway, I gave this place 4 stars because it had great beer choices, including a ton of Brooklyn beers on tap I never heard of. It was easy to get a drink. We took up a table and played battleship and yahtzee! and bantered with folks sitting around us. It was pretty crowded for a Saturday, but it didn't feel like a crushing crowd. It's a beer-good times-first kind of place. I'd bring out-of-towners here for the friendly crowd and different beer selections than you'd find at a typical sports bar. Fair prices too! read more

I love this bar. Great atmosphere and amazing selection. I particularly like the cider collection. Jill, one of the bartenders, always has the best energy. She makes you feel great while you're there. I love going on her days. Overall a great spot. I recommend it highly. read more

Awesome, friendly yet no-nonsense bartenders, great beer, and dogs... pretty much seals the deal for me. Everything these guys do (Mission Dolores, Owl Farm) is just fab. Generally I write much more in-depth reviews, but I've said all you need to know. I'm stupid for not having gone here before, despite being in the area a zillion times. read more

Bar Great Harry is where you go when you and your bros don't want to put real pants on but still want to interact with society. (Read: Carroll Garden's version of a dive bar.) It's a small, dark bar with a few tables and a solid beer selection. So, not exactly my cup of tea. But if you're in the mood for a casual brew, Bar Great Harry is a good option. read more

Have to vent... still love this bar of course... and it shouldn't be shocking that people who play bar trivia are jerks (sorry bar trivia people, i'm sure you, dear reader, aren't a jerk, but let's both agree that people who obsess over it can be!). Anyway, stopped in on my way home, wanted to play pinball, have a few drinks, meet a friend, no biggie. It was a Monday, the dreaded trivia night (have I mentioned that I hate bar trivia?). But you know, whatever. Anyway, I order my drink, go to the back room, and am about to put a dollar into one of the machines. Suddenly this dude playing trivia starts YELLING at me not to put a dollar in because he needs to concentrate on trivia. My instant reaction is that he must be kidding and so I look back at him smiling and go "uh... ok... you let me know when it's okay to play!" and turn to put my crisp dollar into the machine again, but oh no, he wasn't, he threatens to "punch me out" and asks if "i'm serious." Dude, calm down. (I left, sorry BGH, I know it's not really your fault, but you lost my business for the night, I will be back, just never again on Monday most likely). This was the first bad experience I've ever had here, but it was so so so bad that I had to share. And I have to plead two things: 1) Trivia people, we get it, you think you're smart, you need to prove it by winning a $40 bar tab or whatever for your group of 4. It's not high-stakes, it's supposed to be fun for you, chill out. PLEASE. 2) If you need complete silence to concentrate with your entire brain on trivia... then maybe, just maybe trivia isn't the best activity for you. (also... if the meaty dude in the back decides that you won't distract him too much by playing pinball... they now have Medieval Madness, TZ, and Lord of the Rings on hand) read more

I cannot believe I have never reviewed this place. Bar Great Harry helped put craft beer on the map in Brooklyn, and I've been going there for at least 5 years. I've seen the bar evolve over the years, and the tap list continues to get tighter and tighter. BGH always gets great rare kegs, and always has great events planned throughout the year. I only wish we lived a little closer, as this would totally be my local watering hole. If you are a beer nerd like me, if it wasn't for BGH, we wouldn't have other BK gems like Owl Farm, Mission Dolores, Glorietta Baldy, and the new Cardiff Giant. read more

My friend and I were looking for a bar one night for a few drinks and stumbled across this cute little place. We met some kickass people and Zack, the bartender, was awesome. They don't serve food but you can order out and have it delivered. The beer is awesome and the prices are good. Thanks Zack for making a couple of out of towners feel welcome. read more

Made a quick stop into Bar Great Harry last night and was glad we did. We didn't plan to stop here, but in doing so we found one of the best selections on tap during my current trip to NYC. There were a few local things pouring and a few Belgian regulars, but mixed in with that were some surprising selections. Since there were so many great beers to try (JP Calabaza, Sly Fox Hop Project, Delirium Nocturnum, and more) we decided to get a few flights. The price was very reasonable at $6 for four 4oz pours. I would love to go back to Bar Great Harry, but just don't have any more time. I'll have to try it whenever I return. read more

in a world where craft beer bars are getting to be commonplace, and the word "dive" is now considered a positive description, your average bar needs to do something pretty special to stand out from the crowd. or at least be on a good corner in a super-hip neighborhood. GBH, smack at the intersection of smith/sackett directly across from Jakewalk, seems to be profiting from the latter. if i lived a comfortable walking distance from here, i could see spending a whole lotta time here. bartender was really nice, the patrons were friendly playing yahtzee and jenga, even their dogs were docile, lounging below our feet. the big open doors on two sides of the bar made it really comfortable for a summer evening's brew. and of course, GBH has an extensive, ever-evolving beer list updated throughout the night. but, fact is, if you don't live in bococa, there's probably a bar just like this in your own cutely-named conglomerate neighborhood. great bar harry: worth a stop if you like your beer in new environs every once in a while. read more

Why didn't I bring my dog? You have no idea how often I want to bring my dog places, but can't, because so many people are doggist. Thankfully, GBH isn't. Mutts abound, happily lapping up their pints of water while their owners down pints of something a bit stronger. There are also games to play - connect 4, etc. - and the music is usually eclectic and rocking. Bottom line: good beer selection, decent prices, good vibe. Not doggist. read more

I seriously regret moving out of Carroll Gardens when I think about Bar Great Harry. I mean, it's on my way home still, but it's just not the same. Let me tell you about a little magic that happens between 2pm and 7pm on weekdays! Most beers and rail cocktails are 2 for $5. Yes. That's right, And bring cash because there's a $20 minimum for credit cards. I've made that mistake (the best mistake ever) before. The beers are great. The bartenders have great recommendations so when it's not to busy, ask them about what they're into right now. read more

Bar Great Harry is everything you want in a neighborhood pub. Kind of a dude's hangout but definitely welcoming to one and all, including well behaved pups. [Last night, someone had a baby in the bar, but that's not really standard.] The vibe here is just very laid back. Pinball in the back, board games in the front. Fresh air on nice days. They don't serve food but you can bring in take out. My friends and I go to monthly trivia and sing along during the audio round. No one hates on us. Too hard. read more

Bar Great Harry - Pubs Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The rudest bartender I have ever encountered. Will NEVER be coming back. When I asked for a drink the response I received was "absolutely not I'm too tired go somewhere else". This is no way to speak to customers. read more

Excellent beer list? Yes. Dog friendly? Yes. Quirky bartenders? Also, yes. What more could you want in a bar, really? Adorably cozy! read more

Bar Great Harry, it tickles me to even say your name. I went to BGH a few weeks ago with some friends for the big stout tasting. They had an amazing array of evil, black beers that my buddies and I proceeded to consume at an alarming rate. Somehow, we managed to get out of there alive. It was great. BGH has the feel of a European bolt-hole of a bar, but has been scrubbed up and is more than a little bit nice. The tables are big enough for their purpose (to hold drinks) and the stools and benches are accommodating enough. There are pinball machines wedged into the space in the back, meaning the owners know what they're doing. The bar staff was friendly and accessible if you had questions about a beer or anything else, and they whisked through the room gracefully and efficiently to mop up spills, deliver drinks, and make sure that everyone was very happy. I was very happy. I will see you again. read more

Plus ten thousand cool points to Bar Great Harry for having wireless internet. Plus ten thousand more for promptly (within an hour) responding to my email inquiring as to such. I am so so so so in love with BGH! (Also, tried the Porkslap, and while I thought it was too hoppy, the can was adorables). read more

This place has such great character- service is exceptional, large range of beverages that are executed to perfection, and a quieter atmosphere to spend quality time with friends and family. read more

Great little beer spot. The interior is small, but all gorgeous wood. The beer selection has never disappointed, over the years that I've been making appearances. I'm glad to see that they're on the bandwagon (probably have been for ages) with having a cask selection. At present they've got 20 or so beers on tap, and each is a choice selection. Such great breweries as Captain Lawrence, Dogfish Head, Green Flash, Oskar Blues, Southern Tier, and Stone make it onto the list. A few more familiar names make the list as well with Brooklyn, Sierra Nevada, and Yuengling. Whatever sort of beer mood you're in, you'll find something. Beware, the list of available drafts changes as kegs tap out! Of course, they fill it in with something just as delicious and deliberately picked. Whatever's on the draft list, there'll be deliciousness. read more

YES! FINALLY A PLACE I CAN TAKE MY DOG TO! I have been looking for a place that accepts pets to sit inside, this place has alcohol and I can bring my darling Shih Tzu to enjoy some drinks at the bar. Don't order the wine here, everything else is a lot better. Good service and usually we don't wait for a table on weekdays. read more

Jill is an amazing bartender! Atmosphere is great!! & bar menu is all around best.. just stop by and see for yourself... read more

Bar Great Harry - Jill knows how to pour a beer!! - Pubs Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

A Carroll Gardens staple at this point. This bar is pretty "great" (wocka, wocka). If you're looking to mix/mingle with some fun peeps, this is the place to do it. The clientele is just plain friendly here. Perhaps it's because the bar (though small) keeps its doors open to the sidewalk, creating an airy, lively vibe. Perhaps it's because they have board games and a seating arrangement great for socializing. Perhaps it's because you can bring your dog, alleviating any guilt of leaving Bernie at home while you drink yourself into a beer-oblivion. Who knows, but trust you will have a fun time here. The missing star is based on cleanliness. The tables are often sticky and - my right hand to Cher - I've NEVER seen anyone wipe one of the tables off. A minor point, but one that does keep it from being an A+. read more

Dear Harry- You truly have yourself a Great Bar (a beer on tap with 13% alcohol, for $6?!). I think you just need to work on your grammar. May I suggest an apostrophe "s" , a comma, and an exclamation point? Love, Me. read more

I went this afternoon for a beer and a shot. They aren't doing any favors for price -- the deal was $10 for a beer and a shot. It's a comfortable buzz, but it's not competitive with the rest of the bars in the area. There are dozens of bars in this area of Boerum Hill and Carroll Gardens, so if you want or need cheaper, you can always go across the street. They get points for the punk rock sound track. They had an all-women band covering Iggy Pop on the playlist, and a few others I didn't recognize. Their bartender was a punk with the haircut and tattoos, and she knew all of the lyrics. It's a comfortable bar, with lots of dark wood, and plenty of natural sunlight. The bar attracts all sorts of people in the neighborhood, and if you go alone, as I did, you won't be alienated or lonely. I had a long philosophy talk with a man from the Lower East Side, who had biked down for a drink. I felt really comfortable at this bar and I'm definitely, 100% going to go back. read more

Is this Brooklyn? this place seems even cooler than the cool-ass Brooklyn I discovered on this trip. I would live here if I lived here. read more

My BGH experience is never complete without: - the mandatory ID check at the bar irrespective of my damned crow's feet - 2 for $5 cans of Porkslap and Heinniewiesse - a bad-ass pinball competition in the overly air-conditioned back room - warm greetings from the bartender and new acquaintances, including the furry, four-legged kind A good old, trusty watering hole. read more

I've always loved the beer selection here, as well as its sister bars, more specifically Mission Dolores. While the list is smaller, it's still a great rotating selection of craft beer, and I can't get enough of that. Service can vary, you'll have to pick your favorite person and try visiting when they're working. Sometimes the crowd of hipsters can be undesirable, but the beer makes up for it. The place is dark and quirky, and I like that... just during off hours! read more

Relax and have a mighty fine good brew...Great Bar Harry the perfect place for such activities. And... they have a pinball machine ;) read more

this is generally where i want to be (especially when Mo is working! Mo is the best at life.) I'm lovin' it. + it's pooch friendly! read more