The Weekly Whisky: Bar Brief: Berg'n

We walked in to the Smiths playing off LP (the DJ is selling vinyl), Pee Wee's Playhouse streaming over a projector, and the smell of truffle oil floating in the air. If any of those things turn you off, this isn't the place for you. Also, large swaths of modern Brooklyn may not be for you.

Healthy pour of Old Overholt at Berg'n.

Location: Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Designation: hipster bar
Whisky selection >12, about 3/4 American & 1/4 Scotch, common & uncommon brands
Midrange pricing for Brooklyn

The spirits.

Berg'n is big & open, with high ceilings, a long bar lining the back of a beer-hall style seating area, and food court offerings that use high-end ingredients. Service is friendly and quick, and the beer & spirit selections are carefully selected. In the way back, the building links to Brooklyn Flea. If arriving for brunch, be prepared for parents with babies and overflow from the Flea.

Berg'n is at ground zero of Brooklyn gentrification.

For the whisky drinker, Berg'n offers a decent selection that won't break the bank. But since the style is much more beer hall than whisky bar, it's not a place for quiet contemplation while sitting sipping on your dram - it's clearly designed to be a meeting place. Go with friends.

Rating: recommend x3.

"For one, I like beer halls. I also like awesome food options. Mighty Quinn's BBQ and Ramen Burger? Count me in. The whisky selection was solid and the bartender wasn't as douchey as I was expecting. My biggest complaints were the over abundance of hipsters with their next-gen brood (stop bringing your children to bars, they aren't fashion accessories) and that the Metallica pinball machine was Out Of Order. That's some bulls--t." - Evan