What it is: Husband and wife Chris and Yahaira Maestro opened this compact bar with a huge presence in December 2017. Chris is a longtime DJ and music fanatic; thousands of his own records line the wall behind the bar. Bartenders curate playlists, there’s a whole Wu Tang wall, and the bar is known as much for live DJ events as it is for beer. The beer, meanwhile, is just as lovingly selected: The 12 taps and dozens of cans and bottles balance local and farther-flung breweries, modern styles, and classics—think Fidens hazy IPA alongside 3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze.
Why it’s great: The double whammy of so much good, eclectic music and beer is enough of a draw, as is the bar’s sleek interior and attractive back patio. However, there’s another big reason that BierWax draws international tourists, is beloved by locals, fosters relationships with artists, and collaborates regularly with breweries near and far—the Maestro family. Chris and Yahaira set out to open a bar where every employee and patron could see themselves, could feel represented and welcome, and could understand that craft beer and great music are for everyone to enjoy.
DETAILS
Hours: 4 p.m.–11 p.m., Monday & Tuesday; 4 p.m.–midnight, Wednesday & Thursday; 4 p.m.–2 a.m., Friday; noon–2 a.m., Saturday; noon–10 p.m., Sunday
Address: 556 Vanderbilt Ave., Brooklyn, New York
Web: bierwaxnyc.com