Proletariat

I love this bar. Very good environment. They plate good music and also the beer is great. Anyway, highly recommend.

Proper Name: Proletariat
1. Rare, rare, rare beers.
2. Not where you go to eat, unless you’re trying to drink your dinner.
3. Not a bad place to start drinking by yourself, it’s that cool.
4. If you don’t know what you want, don’t be afraid to ask. Try something new regardless.
5. It’s the perfect place for sophistication and honest beer drinking.
Real Talk
Not a place to go and have «Just one.» Then again, not a place to have more than 4.
End Result
A talented tipsy.
Rating
Rare Beer Smart

Great beer and knowledgable staff! I love that they took the innovative to choose a beer for us after just describing what we like. Chill vibe!

What took me so long to visit Proletariat? I live down the street, yet it took me 2 years in the hood to stop in for a beer — and then only because the place we wanted to go wasn’t open yet. Now I’ve been back and I have to say this is the place to go if you want to drink and/​or learn about beer in a relaxed environment.
They have constantly rotating taps of extremely uncommon beers that tend to be far from the usual 7 IPAs and a wheat beer of most «craft beer bars» in NYC these days. The bartender talks about beer how I talk about shochu, which is saying something. Haven’t yet seen it crowded, but I’ve also not gone at peak hours.
Currently on the menu they have 2 beers made in a collaboration between an Italian brewery and Hitachino from Japan using Japanese yeast and koji — the yellow koji (used to make sake) beer is floral and honeyed while the black koji (used to make shochu) is a kick in the mouth. Extremely interesting beers, though at $ 18 for 330ml, it’s definitely more in the wine/​sake price range (but oh so worth it to try).
Kampai!

The hype is high for this beer scene of a slim long bar. Immediately the bartender asked what kind of beer I liked. I told him I was looking for something very hoppy, with a full malt back. Not easy to find that combination; but it’s what I wanted on that night. So he suggested a stout. There are a very few hoppy stouts, so I googled it (to taste would cost me $ 5), and it did not fit that bill. After that, which showed to me that he was not really knowledgeable about beer or even well trained, we just didn’t have much to talk about and I chose a beer on my own –and got particularly lucky. Their selection is very interesting. The bar area is not particularly –just a basic long bar and a few tables and not particularly comfortable when busy.
They charge a $ 5 tasting fee, as mentioned above, contrary to the other beer bars that specialize in craft brew. Some may take this as a sign of their dedication to providing the best, and most expensive, beers. Perhaps. But it goes against the whole craft beer culture. I don’t know how many beer bars I have been to in the city, Brooklyn & Manhattan, and have never seen this before. To me, it is a kind of affront.
If they are worried about NYU students –and there were a number of them– trying to drink for free, perhaps they should request a credit card first or ask for a $ 5 tasting fee that is credited toward the beer you buy. I also do not object if they limit tasting to two or three –but, for Christ sake, it is just a taste of beer! I drink at Blind Tiger, Burp Castle, the Pony, and Gingerman –each of which has at least good craft beer credentials and never faced this. Enough said.
So, between the two issues I faced, and the basic vibe, these guys are lucky to get two stars. Still, I liked my beer –self-​chosen.

One of the most interesting beer bars in the east village. Their beer selection includes a variety of seasonal rarities that are worth checking out. Beers are generally on the pricier side, but you’re sure to find something you’ll like that you haven’t tried.
Their bar is small, but there’s standing room on he opposite side of the bar. The music is chill and the ambiance is calm. This is definitely a local’s watering whole. Visit if you can.

This is not where you go for a casual Corona or Blue Moon. They serve draft beers only, all kinds of new and unusual beers in a very intimate atmosphere. People just sit (or stand if the bar runs out of seats) and talk to their date or their friends. This is exactly how people should always behave in a bar.
The menu changes every day, so ask and trust your servers. They are very quick, very attentive, and very knowledgeable about each drink. The default size of an order is a «HALF,» as in half of the glass so don’t be surprised why no one is drinking from a bottle or why your server doesn’t give you a full glass.

Super busy for good reason!
Wide variety of beers and bartenders were super attentive!

Cozy little craft beer spot. It’s becoming thankfully easier to find bars with decent craft beer menus in New York. Proletariat doesn’t have a good list, it has a great one. You’ll find some unique beer here you won’t find anywhere else. There was a porter filtered through oysters. My favorite was the Flemish red ale which had a good hop profile but string malt as well. The bar tenders are happy to explain the beer and though it’s a little weird hey change for tastes, the tasting pour is healthy and is a nice option if you don’t know if you’ll like something. There are also half glasses as well. The wine glasses are a by odd, but they do allow you to smell more of the beer which is good. Great place to try some unique beer or wait for a reservation nearby.

As with any «scene» there is always a danger of bumping up against a wall of snooty pretension wherein the true aficionados try to put the plebes in their place by showing off superior knowledge and discriminating taste. Craft beer is no different. How many of us can say we haven’t chuckled at overhearing the hipster in the barstool next to us wonder aloud what a wee heavy is, and how many of us have been on the receiving end of a bartender’s fussy eye roll as he explains the pronunciation and origins of «gose.» For everyone who hates this experience, come take refuge in the friendly environs of Proletariat.
The bar itself is tiny, with barely enough room for a row of people to stand behind the lucky ones who scored a barstool, and has the de rigeur dim lighting and vaguely shabby décor that would be described as «distressed» if it were a pair of jeans. Neither the draft nor bottle list is vastly expansive like some beer Meccas, but what it lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality. I take pride in my knowledge of a large swath of the American craft beer panorama, but I had never heard of a single beer on offer, which I find absolutely delightful. The experience is like walking into a music shop selling nothing but rare vinyl of obscure bands, and just taking a leap of faith in your purchase.
The best part of the whole experience, aside from tasting several new and unusual beers (without blowing a hole in your budget, since they offer half– and quarter-​pint tasting pours) is the bartenders. They display none of the aforementioned distasteful pretension, cheerfully explaining the nuances of each brew and offering recommendations based on your stated preference for certain characteristics. They know you’ve never heard of these beers but they’re not there to rub it in your face; instead they want to be your guide on a journey of hoppy, malty, sudsy exploration. Place yourself in their hands, take that leap of faith, and you’ll be amply rewarded.
Pro tip: if you can stay up past your bedtime, midnight seemed to be a quieter hour, and we didn’t have to jostle for seats at the bar and more of the bartenders’ attention. When we walked by earlier in the dinner hour, the place looked full to capacity.

I just looked back to see what review I initially gave Proletariat. 4 stars. I commented on the ridiculously amazing beer, the «meh» ambiance and below-​average service. What I also mentioned, was that I sincerely hoped to update my review after subsequent visits. Well, I’ve since been back to Proletariat (I believe four more times), and I’ve gotta up my review. The beers remains ridiculously amazing, and the rest has grown on me.
I didn’t love the ambiance here initially. I’ve changed my mind. There’s hardly any standing room — just generally very close quarters. To say there’s a «narrow aisle» facing the bar through which one could walk is a stretch. And yes, it can get really, really crowded. But the past few times I’ve been here, I’ve waited for a seat at the bar. In my opinion, it’s worth the wait. When I first went to Proletariat, I had only recently been exposed to the craft beer world. Since then, I’ve started using Untappd and learning more about my taste in beer. All of a sudden, Proletariat has ceased being intimidating and has become one of my favorite beer sanctuaries in the city.
Since I’ve already written a review for Proletariat, I’ll keep it short. I’ll occasionally recognize a handful of beers on Proletariat’s draft list, but more often than not, it’s all gibberish to me. A rare beer bar indeed! I love sitting at the bar here because these experiences for me are as much about education as they are about imbibing (the balance of those two things definitely varies depending on the time of night…). I like to learn about what’s on the menu and I’m always intent on trying new things, diversifying/​refining my taste in beer, etc. etc. I make a point of chatting with the bartenders here, because they know their s***. These guys are generally friendly and incredibly knowledgeable. And of course, the beer is top-​notch. Complex, rich, interesting, and yes, rare. Unlike most things y’all have tried, I’m guessing. Couldn’t be more pleased with my many visits here!
So there! I stayed true to my word. Review update complete.

It feels like I’m missing out on some joke with all the good reviews here. The prices at this bar are unclear and in my opinion, deceptive. If you advertise your sizes as full/​half/​taste and your prices are listed as $ 9/​$ 5, it’s reasonable for the customer to assume $ 9 is full and $ 5 is half, because full is the default size, right? Well not at Proletariat. Apparently «half» is the biggest/​default size for most of the beers and you’ll pay the same, if not more, as you would for a full 12 oz glass at other bars. I appreciate a good beer, but paying $ 9 for half a glass is absurd to me. I don’t care how rare or special the beer is, it’s still just beer. The bartender threw in some attitude when I asked him for clarification too. Great, I love a side of arrogance with overpricing.
I would only recommend coming here if you are an actual beer snob and have no problem spending $ 20+ on a drink. Otherwise, just go to one of the million other bars in the East Village that actually cater to the proletariat. This place should change its name from Proletariat to Pretentious.

Probably the best craft beer bar in manhattan. When we make the schlep to Manhattan, this is always a must stop. The tap list is ever changing and always on point. The guys behind the bar are always super helpful and not pretentious whatsoever. Beers are probably on the pricier side, but their variety and well-​curated list make it worth it.
Pro-​tip: It’s a small place so get here early if you want a seat.

I don’t care for beer too much, but I really liked this place! The beers on tap are really affordable, but some of the bottles can get more expensive. If you have no idea what to order, just ask the bartender. He was really nice and gave us recommendations on what to order. If it’s busier, he may not be able to take too much time to give you a recommendation, in which case, go here with a friend who knows about beer!
It gets packed on the weekends, so go early if you want a table (before 10pm). Otherwise, it is very dark and a good place to relax with friends and just talk compared to the average noisy bar found in East Village.

Very knowledgeable bartender. I told him what I thought was an obscure beer that I liked and said I want to try something similar to that and he knew right away what it was and what to recommend.
He’s nice with giving out tastes, especially when it isn’t busy, because who wants to dedicate themselves to a full glass that they don’t like. The tap menu has a great selection of local crafts and if you want to try the local breweries without traveling to them specifically, this is the place to come. I also like how they have different size cups so we can try more.
Will return.

I’m not even really a fan of beer and I LOVE this place. Very trendy, narrow, intimate space. They have a mindblowing selection of good craft beers and the best part is you can try a little bit of each for very little $! This is a quality experience if you’re feeling adventurous in the beer department, so come here ready to try everything!
Also, shoutout to the bartenders here: SO nice and helpful and just really added to the experience!

Proletariat is a craft beer lovers dream. They live up to the tag line «rare, new, and unusual beer» and feature unique options. The bar tenders are very knowledgeable about the beer options and add to the experience. The bar décor features tattoo artwork samples that adds to the underground punk rock vibe.

Otimas cervejas, nao va se procura por drinks, nao há muitas opcoes de comidas, mas o clima é delicia, e as cervejas… nem se fala, artesanais, bem tiradas!

funny name you know)))
good craft beer, wide selection, I think everyone can choose smth for oneself and if you can’t a nice bartender is always at your needs to help you with your choice.
Really friendly staff. And pleasant atmosphere.
Liked this place.

Proletariat easily earns 5 stars. An insane beer selection, cool vibe, and knowledgeable and friendly service. We came here for the second time this Sunday for a beer or two and were blown away by their tap list. Crazy stuff, most of which we had never heard of. Don’t even think of coming in here expecting your usual, amateur beer selection. Do expect management to be super knowledgeable with a passion for beer. Corey was great to talk to!
We drank barrier atypical IPA, Stillwater/L’anjub aloja, main beer red wheelbarrow, and the six point altbier.
This place rightfully earned the title of best beer bar in the northeast in draft magazine. We will be back very soon.

Proletariat is definitely something special and a place where I can take friends of all levels of craft beer appreciation. Most of the beers here are rare and almost all are unusual; I never have a problem finding something special that I just have to try. The bartenders are also very helpful with recommendations. Most of the drafts can be poured as 14 or 8 ounces but last night I noticed that some come in 4 ounce pours as well.
Love the dark and cozy décor, though it is a small and narrow space. When it gets packed there’s not much room for moving around but there are one or two small areas that will fit about four people or so and the bar is lined with stools. If being in a small, crowded area isn’t your thing just come earlier or towards the end of the night. Definitely worth working into your bar rotation if you enjoy craft beer.