The best New York bars for beer geeks

[Flickr/brewguy5262]

All the new cocktail bars may get more attention, but New York also has a smorgasbord of stops for those other alcohol snobs – the beer geeks. Here are four stops for drinkers who are serious about their hops:

d.b.a. – From rare Belgian draughts to Danish porters and cask-conditioned British ales, this East Village pub has arguably the country’s greatest collection of beers. New brews are put on tap weekly, while bottled selections are updated daily. But the best feature is the happy hour, which they have the gall to start at 1 p.m. — right after you roll out of bed at the nearby Cooper Square Hotel. 41 1st Ave.

Pony Bar – Within spitting distance of the dozens of hotels clustered around Times Square, this new Hell’s Kitchen spot is a very welcome addition to the hood. They always have 20 different beers on tap, and there are just two rules: they only stock small-craft, American brews, and all pints are always $5. 637 10th Ave.

124 Rabbit Club – This West Village bar combines speakeasy sensibilities – there’s no sign and you have to be buzzed in – with a single-minded focus on beers. The list is generally several dozen long, almost all of which only serious beer geeks will have ever heard of. Stay right nearby at the Washington Square Hotel. 124 MacDougal St.

The Ginger Man – If you can’t find something you like at this Houston import, you may just be the biggest beer snob ever – the bar stocks an overwhelming 70 taps and 160 bottles. Sleep nearby at Jolly Hotel Madison Towers, and for a souvenir, before leaving the bar you can even take home a mix-and-match six pack. 11 East 36th St.

– Brendan Spiegel of Endless Simmer