Astoria Bier and Cheese

I came to New York for my stepsister’s wedding and was tasked last minute with finding hors d’oeuvres. I stopped by this place to grab a beer after striking out at a couple places. I talked to Shad at the cheese counter about the possibility of getting some stuff prepared for the next day. He was helpful and patient, offering good suggestions and working with me on shorter notice than he deserved. The selections I got worked out well, and I got several inquiries on the cheeses in particular.
I also really enjoyed the bar area while I was there, with a very friendly bartender, and a fun atmosphere that seemed to keep regulars engaged and coming back with hand drawn tap labels and a ‘Drink & Draw’ contest.
I would highly recommend to anyone who’s looking for a good place to have a pint, or buy a six pack with a good cheese selection.

I met friends here last night for a couple of rounds of beer and shared eats, and Astoria Bier and Cheese was as good as it gets!
With ever-​rotating taps and tasty fare, along with a cute backyard patio, how could it get any better?
I definitely plan to return.

Great place to sit down and have a sandwich & a beer for lunch, which is exactly what my boyfriend and I did to kill time before heading out of town. I had the best BLT I’ve ever had and my boyfriend got the pretzel (which came with some awesome cheese and mustard). They also have a great craft beer selection. I was so pleased to see Against The Grain’s «Citra Ass Down» on tap. I’ve been anxiously awaiting the re-​release of that beer and this place was the first place I’ve seen it on tap. Grab a draft and peruse their large bottle selection in the reach-in’s. I will definitely be coming back here every time I’m visiting NYC.

When my friend invited me to join her at a birthday party in Astoria, I was certainly hesitant. The trek from Hoboken was not the slightest bit appealing. She mentioned that the festivities would be taking place at the Ditmars location of Astoria Bier and Cheese. I had no idea what this intrgiuing venue would be like, so I checked out the pictures on Unilocal,and my eyes popped open at the sight of the 6 or so cases full of different beers. For someone that goes to the liquor store at the start of each season to grab one-​off bottles of seasonal flavors, this embodied my idea of a complete buffet. I agreed to suck up the lengthy commute, all in the name of beer passion.
We arrived at the comprehensive shop, where we were confronted with both indoor and garden seating, a bar with several brews on tap, display cases full of cheeses and meats, and of course the famed wall of gourmet beers. We grabbed seats in the rear garden and chatted with her friends for a bit before deciding on our plan of culinary attack. After sampling the Downeast Summer Cider from the tap, I decided to go another route with the Citizen Dirty Cider packed with real ginger. I enjoyed that can alongside some tasty bites. The Figgy Piggy grilled cheese was a sweet and smoky blend of creamy Taleggio, buttery Prosciutto, spicy Arugula, and a touch of sweet Fig Jam. It was a sinful, gooey treat! We felt mildly healthier when we paired this with a side Pickle Plate, which included toothpicks skewering dills, beets, peppers, and more. After several hours of drinking, we did not feel that spliting a singular sandwich really did the trick, so we followed it up by sharing yet another variety that was packed with vegetables. I, personally, preferred it to the Figgy Piggy, but my friend disagreed. Granted, I had been the one to make the leaner recommendation, though. Lastly, I also had a few bites of someone else’s pretzel, which was great!
Between the comforting food options and vast selection of brews to the variety of dining areas, Astoria Bier and Cheese had something for everyone. It really was a great place for a small group like ours, or even for a fun date idea.

Cool/​different place to check out. The reason I’m giving it 4 stars is because this place is so different from anywhere else I’ve been. It’s like a deli but for beer. So the cool thing about this place it’s that they have a fridge full of different beers. They all vary in prices — I saw some for $ 2.75 to $ 12 a bottle. I went for the cheapest one with the highest alcohol percentage 7.5% (haha I mean it’s a Friday night why not). If you want to drink there you pay an extra $ 2 which meant I bought a beer for $ 4.75 — still not bad. I also got a soft pretzel with cheese for around $ 5 and it was okay. I liked the combo of beer, cheese, and bread haha. There are tables for you to sit in or you can stand around like some people were when I went there. I think this place is definitely a good place to pick up individual beers — I think I would definitely come here one day after work, grab some dinner from around here, then pick up a nice cold beer.

It is my first time here. These guys take cheese sandwiches to the whole new level! I love truffle Gouda & Pair. Paired with the right drought beer! Yummy!

This is my favorite neighborhood hangout! We started coming here last summer for the magical outdoor patio, and have stayed faithful through the winter because of the awesome and friendly staff, the delicious cheese and meat counter, and the constantly rotating selection of interesting beers and ciders.
If you’re looking for a chill place to have a drink with a friend (especially in the summer) this is it! If you’re looking to develop a dangerous fancy-​meat-​and-​cheese habit… this is also it.
Also, it’s worth noting that this is one of those places that shines because of how great the staff is. Are there bars near Ditmars with more trendy wood-​paneled cozy corners? Sure. But are there bars in Ditmars with staff who know more about beer and cheese and holding interesting conversations about everything from Star Wars to Vintage Fashion to Urban Planning? Definitely not!

Ive been coming here since they opened. I could write an essay, but being you’re on your phone, probably in a rush to make weekend plans, you just want a quick and dirty Unilocal review.
ABC is great. The bartenders are social and know their stuff. You have a full arsenal of diverse beers on tap and the fridge. The sandwiches are delicious, the cheese and meat plates are Upper East Side fancy. You’ll have a good time. GETCHA SOOOOOMMMMEEEE !!!

I’ve been excited about this place since I saw their sign up while they were under construction. They get five stars from me. I have reasons.
Firstly, the selection. I am more of a cider drinker and they always have a cider on tap as well as several varieties in their fridge that you can buy (for as little as $ 1.75) and enjoy there for an additional $ 2 corkage fee. And if you consider the space you’re taking up to drink a two-​dollar drink, I don’t mind paying that fee at all. The rest of my group of friends who regularly visit with me who prefer beers are consistently happy with the beer selection as well. And their tastes range from really hoppy IPAs to stouts to sweeter beers.
Secondly, the food. Their apps are some of my favorites in the neighborhood. We always, and I mean every time we go, order at least one warm pretzel and beer cheese (although there’s never enough pretzel for the amount of beer cheese, which isn’t really a bad thing!), The pretzel also comes with hot mustard but we prefer to order it without mustard when it’s for our 4-​year-​old. I highly recommend the herb goat cheese crostini as well. The Mr. Crispy is probably their best sandwich but I also love their Bahn Mi. And the meat and cheese plates are expertly put together.
Thirdly, the staff. These guys and gals KNOW THEIR STUFF. Everyone needs to order a meat and cheese plate at least once so they can hear the guys who run the food to the tables describe everything. (It’s an art, people.) They are friendly, and if you have a hard time making decisions because of their huge selection, they’ll talk to you about your preferences and help you choose. Also, their playlists are on point.
Bonus: The free beer/​cheese pairings on Tuesdays. I’ve been to three and you can tell that the cheesemongers and the breweries they work with are really passionate about what they do. It’s such a treat to talk to them about the process of choosing the cheese to pair with the beers. They even had a cider night (yay for me!).
TL;DR — Go here. You’ll like it.

This is a good place to hang out while indulging in a variety of cheese and beer. It’s smaller than I imagined though.
Their beer and cheese menu is scrawled on the walls and chalkboard and it is a bit confusing, but the guys/​gal behind the counter are more than willing to explain everything clearly and make recommendations that fit your palate. Personally I was excited for the cheese plate, but the portions were a bit smaller than I hoped. But for the price, I guess it was to be expected. I also got the truffle gouda and pear grilled cheese. The portion was again on the smaller side, but it was tasty nonetheless. I would come back to try more of their menu. 3.5 stars.

Sarah played Money Trees by Kendrick ya bish
Best playlist ever
Beer is great
Cheese rocks
Ya bish

Huge fan of Astoria Bier. They have an amazing selection of beers (on tap too) and wide assortment of cheeses. You order at the counter, grab a table and they’ll bring you your food. I always get «the works» that comes with 5 cheeses and 4 meats! I’m not a fan of blue and was pleasantly surprised when they asked me what type of cheeses I like so they could swap it out.
Their Jamon Serrano sandwich is enough for two. You definitely feel your arteries clogging as you eat but it so worth it. Crispy bread, melty aged Gruyère topped with salty Jamon. Delicious!

This is the newer branch of Astoria Bier and Cheese, opened in March 2014. With beers and cheese their wares, this is partly food shop, partly a bar. It joins a continuing trend of businesses that defy traditional separation of places to eat vs places to food shop, by choosing to specialize in specific food items, and enabling more sophisticated appreciation of said items.
The location is small but furnished sparingly, leaving plenty of room for whatever one might be here for. If staying, settle into one of the many two-​top wood tables and café chairs by the floor-​to-​ceiling storefront for table service. Or take one of 8 seats at the small bar which faces a white subway tile wall that doubles as a menu. Scrawled on it are the contents of various cheese and meat plates, the cheese and beer pairing, miscellaneous messages, and a list of upcoming taps.
On that same wall is a dozen identical stainless steel taps that is the rotating beer selection, each identified by colorfully hand-​drawn tags, growler prices written on the wall above each tap (32 oz and 64 oz). The beers themselves are more clearly and fully listed on chalkboards above the bar, including brewery, name, ABV, IBU, volume served, and price. The beers are domestic, with a few local ones, and represent a spectrum of styles.
To order, the friendly staff will guide you through the specific beer, cheese, and charcuterie offerings. Or order off the menu of whimsically named sandwiches, including several types of grilled cheese, and cheese-​centric snacks. The four beer and four cheese pairing plate is a great way to sample, as well as appreciating beer as a versatile and interesting alcohol to pair with food. A winner was Breckenridge’s vanilla porter paired nicely with bleu d’auvergne; it brought out the cheese’s creamy texture and sweetness, but tempered its strong taste, providing a clean finish.
No matter the reason to come, the food shop part is a must-​stop. Refrigerators across from the bar stock an impressive selection of smaller format beers, much of it domestic and includes Founders, Evil Twin, Jolly Pumpkin, Main Beer Co, Avery, and Crooked Stave, but also plenty of interesting imports from Belgium and beyond. The selection continues with shelves of six-​packs and large format bottles, with some pricier options. For a «corkage» fee of $ 2, any beer for sale can be opened for on-​site consumption, a nice option since browsing the rest of the beers, cheese, meats, and various condiments and snacks will take some time.
Prices are reasonable for the selection, including dine-​in options. Should become a regular stop for beer shopping, although a beer and snack will be begging to be had before that, every time.

Sauntered in here on a rainy Saturday afternoon after an early brunch and hitting up the carnival in Astoria Park. Had a few beers, had a few snacks, had a few laughs. The herbed goat cheese crostini was well balanced and the chipotle gave it a nice kick in the butt. The housemade bier cheese was yummy but the star was the soft warm freshly made pretzel. Their backyard was empty at the time so we took full advantage and lounged around until our butts hurt from sitting.
Going back, see you there!

Came for a late lunch with my girlfriend who knows much more about cheese and meat than I do. Located right on Ditmars it is an easy walk from where we came, Singlecut Brewery or an easy walk to the last stop on the N train (Ditmars-​Astoria). Take the subway in, much easier considering you will be drinking, a lot and this way you don’t need to worry about parking.
As soon as you walk in, a whiff of amazing cheeses hits you! On the left hand side there are plenty of local hipster food products and a few fridges of bottles from around the country and world. We sat down at the bar and I opted for a flight, 4 4oz pours for $ 10 I believe and my girlfriend got this amazing cider they had on tap to start. Our bartender was super attentive and nice. She checked on us every so often, a lot but did not over do it. We opted for the works, a meat and cheese plate with a baggete served on a slate board. Beautiful presentation with some house made mustard and home made gerkin pickles. The «cheese» woman who I saw portioning everything out behind the counter came out and explained EACH cheese, meat and fruit preserved served on our board. She knew her cheese that’s for sure. I opted for a pint of the grapefruit IPA they had and we ordered their pickle plate. Everything was amazing, literally no complaints! We got a cocktail mix for me from the wall of artisanal products and loved the cheese so much, took some to go. I hope to be back soon!

Here’s why Astoria Bier and Cheese deserves my elusive five star rating.
It’s unique.
A simple idea to provide beer and cheese isn’t it? How about providing us with tastes and sips from all over the world. I would argue it’s hard to find such quality and selection this vast, even in Manhattan.
Definitely not boring.
ABC keeps me coming back with new seasonal and regional selections of both beer and cheese.
High value.
You get more than what you pay for here.
I don’t think a lot of people recognize the legnth one must go to procure the arrangements they carry.
Special feeling.
The owner introduced himself to me and I regularly see him behind the counter. The cheese mongers and beer aficionados can answer just about any question you throw at them. And if they can’t…well, they’ll pull out a beer bible or cheese atlas and tell you.
Most importantly.
They have incredibly tasty sandwiches along side great customer service.
Time after time they hit the mark with sweet & savory and crunchy outside & soft inside. To name a few YES!‘s
Truffle gouda and pear with bacon.
Ditmars Bánh mì
And the Mr. Crispy
All garnished with a relished pepper. Mmm
I can barely take a picture of my food without diving in. Other times I will sit there with my nose in it until I’m drooling.
The food
It would be absurd to call my life anything short of amaze-​balls knowing I can eat here while I do laundry.
Bonus points for having a nice layout architecturally.
The only hit this place really takes is for having incandescent lighting.

Love Astoria Bier and Cheese. The beer selection is phenomenal. They often have beer and cheese tastings in their back patio, advertised very well if you live in the area. I often forget how good the food is because the beer selection is so distracting: P
Last night my date and I ordered a cheese plate and two sandwiches. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The Mr Crispy is a must. I’ve never had anything like it. It has a rosemary ham, Gruyère cheese that stretches between your mouth and the sandwich like a commercial, and is melted beautifully between a sweetened oatmeal toast. Deliciousness.
Also, the Astoria Ban Mi made for a fantastic interpretation of Japanese pork bun. The pork belly is cooked perfectly, complimented with cilantro and carrots, a thin layer of mayonnaise, on an all American hero style bun. Equally delish.
This place is great for small groups or a date. I’ve been here a number of times and will definitely be back to enjoy an cold beer in their back patio or to fill up my growler to go! Two thumbs way up.

+1 star for bottled Scottish beer, +2 stars for Caryn’s amazing mural in the bathroom, +1 star for the lovely garden out back…
…which I have never visited because –2 stars for the $ 2 «corkage fee» you have to shell out for drinking any bottled beer you buy there on the premises. It’s in quotes because, for the most part, there are no corks on beer bottles. I understand that it costs me more in the long run if I take up one of their chairs than if I don’t, $ 2 per bottle regardless of bottle price (or even size) just seems unreasonable.
When I want to enjoy a draft beer, I’m going up the street to Singlecut, and when I want to take some bottles home, I raid Trade Fair’s surprisingly good selection or make the trip to Euro Market.
For that reason, I’ve only been in AB&C twice: once to check out the mural; and today with my beer-​obsessed Brooklyn friend. Maybe I’ll hang around more if I ever get over the custee charge… or (better!) if it gets over itself.

This is the type of place I’d want to live in Queens for.
If you want some tasty snacks or light fare paired with excellent beer, this place is superb.
I’d been looking for Carton Brewing’s Epitome, and Imperial Black Ale (aka an Imperial Black IPA aka an Imperial Cascadian Dark Ale) and after visiting half of the bars and beer stores in Northern New Jersey and in Manhattan and the Bronx, it was finally here that I found this excellent brew. A couple Other Half brews were also on tap (Southernhopalistic being one) so the moral of the story is there are good brews with local breweries well-​represented.
What put this place really over the top though were the snacks. My friend had a grilled cheese with triple cream, bacon and maple syrup drizzled over it and it was forever imprinted on my brain, palate and stomach for its wealth of flavors, crunchiness, and creaminess. It’s really a superb concoction.
For me there was what I thought would be a lighter snack, some crostini with wild goat cheese, avocado and spice, but this was more filling than I’d expected (no complaints). As with the grilled cheese, the texture, taste, and combination of flavors was simply exceptional. The dishes here are the type I’d like to eat once a day.
I was also impressed by the friendly guy serving us, who also runs the place and knows his cheeses and charcuterie well and isn’t a jerk when discussing them.
There’s a pretty solid selection of cans and bottles of beer here, which would be trouble for me, since I’d come in here under the pretense of buying some beer to go, only to sit for a beer and some snacks. Basically, bye-​bye, money.
Overall, as the name suggests, a great place for beer-​lovers, cheese-​lovers, or lovers of both.

Fun place with a wonderful beer (duh), cheese (duh) and charcuterie (yum) selection!
They have taps and draft lists on the wall inside (plus a whole lot more in the fridges).
They have a whole deli counter full of meats, and another full of cheeses. Beware, the lactose intolerant.
The best part of the place is probably the backyard. It’s pretty big (about 10 to 12 tables).
Oh, and get the cheese pretzels.