Take-out: Yes Accepts Credit Cards: Yes Good for Groups: Yes Happy Hour: Yes Has TV: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
3 reviews
Adrien Vreeland
(Note: This February 2012 review moved from Draft Barn Gravesend location, where it incorrectly resided. Thanks to Ariella T for catching.)
Draft Barn's Russian branch occupies one of the most obscure spots in Sheepshead Bay (on a side street with "luxury" coop buildings, the only other business there being a Hot Yoga studio…at least that's what it says it is). It took me many months to actually locate this place. Once I finally found it, though, I was overjoyed to see a flawed but welcome foray into beer culture for the normally conservative/suspicious Russian-speaking community.
That being said, prepare yourself to have a pimply Russian teenager (possibly one with a mullet) take your order/offer his beer-tasting notes in that very annoying Brooklyn-Russian-American male accent. I came on a holiday and the place was dead, which was actually kind of nice, but it would be interesting to check it out during peak times or come to watch sports.
Even after the wall came down, Russians usually lag behind cultural/economic trends and it's no different at Draft Barn: either they've yet to uncover America's domestic brewing scene or they're practicing the standard business model grounded in the comfort of Euro-snobbery. Whatever the case may be, they're serious about Belgians and you'll find a very respectable selection of European bottles. But guys, if you're going to call yourself "Draft Barn" you might want to shift the focus to actual drafts.
Hopefully this is only the first seed in a beer Renaissance for South Brooklyn. One can dream!
Walking into Draft Barn reminded me of the beginning of an episode of Bar Rescue. It was empty. The staff was preoccupied on their phones. There were pitchers right next to the taps filled with what I could only presume as leftover head. Only about half the taps were available. I anticipatedJohn Tafford to barge in and start berating everyone.
On a positive note, Draft Barn does carry a very extensive selection of bottled beers. They also have TVs well placed throughout the bar giving most spots good visibility.
I've never seen this place get crowded, probably because no one can find it. It's located right by an Assisted Living Facility and the corner of the Belt Parkway service road. Anyway, parking was a hassle on a Saturday night but then again, parking is always a hassle if you're near Emmons Ave.
Extensive beer menu and they have sausages to pair with your booze. My only problem is that they're a bit sketchy w/ pricing. Going by menu prices our bill should've been $30 plus tax but it came out to $39. My boyfriend didn't have the patience to argue with the server (I was already outside, otherwise I would have said something) so he just paid it.
Aside from that minor hiccup- it's a good place to come with a large group. If you get bored, you can play the boxing arcade game they have or watch Eastern European music videos playing on the tvs.
(Note: This February 2012 review moved from Draft Barn Gravesend location, where it incorrectly resided. Thanks to Ariella T for catching.)
Draft Barn's Russian branch occupies one of the most obscure spots in Sheepshead Bay (on a side street with "luxury" coop buildings, the only other business there being a Hot Yoga studio…at least that's what it says it is). It took me many months to actually locate this place. Once I finally found it, though, I was overjoyed to see a flawed but welcome foray into beer culture for the normally conservative/suspicious Russian-speaking community.
That being said, prepare yourself to have a pimply Russian teenager (possibly one with a mullet) take your order/offer his beer-tasting notes in that very annoying Brooklyn-Russian-American male accent. I came on a holiday and the place was dead, which was actually kind of nice, but it would be interesting to check it out during peak times or come to watch sports.
Even after the wall came down, Russians usually lag behind cultural/economic trends and it's no different at Draft Barn: either they've yet to uncover America's domestic brewing scene or they're practicing the standard business model grounded in the comfort of Euro-snobbery. Whatever the case may be, they're serious about Belgians and you'll find a very respectable selection of European bottles. But guys, if you're going to call yourself "Draft Barn" you might want to shift the focus to actual drafts.
Hopefully this is only the first seed in a beer Renaissance for South Brooklyn. One can dream!
Walking into Draft Barn reminded me of the beginning of an episode of Bar Rescue. It was empty. The staff was preoccupied on their phones. There were pitchers right next to the taps filled with what I could only presume as leftover head. Only about half the taps were available. I anticipatedJohn Tafford to barge in and start berating everyone.
On a positive note, Draft Barn does carry a very extensive selection of bottled beers. They also have TVs well placed throughout the bar giving most spots good visibility.
I've never seen this place get crowded, probably because no one can find it. It's located right by an Assisted Living Facility and the corner of the Belt Parkway service road. Anyway, parking was a hassle on a Saturday night but then again, parking is always a hassle if you're near Emmons Ave.
Extensive beer menu and they have sausages to pair with your booze. My only problem is that they're a bit sketchy w/ pricing. Going by menu prices our bill should've been $30 plus tax but it came out to $39. My boyfriend didn't have the patience to argue with the server (I was already outside, otherwise I would have said something) so he just paid it.
Aside from that minor hiccup- it's a good place to come with a large group. If you get bored, you can play the boxing arcade game they have or watch Eastern European music videos playing on the tvs.