Walking through Bushwick's industrial streets, past the colorful murals of the Bushwick Collective and the steady hum of the Jefferson Street L train, you might notice something unexpected tucked between a steel company and a paper distributor on Troutman Street. Behind a steel-frame factory facade that pays homage to the neighborhood's industrial past sits a taproom that represents both a break from history and a deliberate continuation of it. Kings County Brewers Collective, known to regulars as KCBC, has been operating here since September 2016, producing beer on-site in a neighborhood that had not seen a working brewery in over forty years.
The industrial facade of KCBC's taproom reflects Bushwick's manufacturing heritage. Photo: Unsplash
The Space and Location
KCBC occupies 381 Troutman Street, approximately two blocks from the Jefferson Street stop on the L train, in a 5,000 square foot warehouse that once served some other industrial purpose in this working neighborhood. The founders worked with Plumb Studios and architect Greg Charnock to create a space that acknowledges the building's utilitarian roots while establishing its own identity as a public gathering place.
The design centers on visibility and craft. When you enter the taproom, the brewery itself sits almost completely visible behind the bar, separated by glass that lets you watch the production process while you drink the results. The design team incorporated 300-year-old reclaimed southern yellow pine throughout the space, along with hand-built windows and doors that incorporate original tile details. The steel-frame factory window style on the facade was designed specifically to echo the historical vernacular of Bushwick's industrial architecture.
Perhaps the most distinctive architectural feature is the integration of the working brewery into the customer experience. Oak barrels of aging sours are stacked above seating areas, creating a visual reminder that this is an active production facility rather than a bar that happens to serve craft beer. The layout allows forklifts and delivery trucks to drive directly through the taproom into the brewery space behind it, a practical necessity that also reinforces the sense that you are drinking inside a working factory.
The taproom offers both indoor and outdoor seating, with tables available on the sidewalk when weather permits. The space welcomes dogs, which has become something of a standard for Brooklyn taprooms, and the overall atmosphere balances the industrial rawness of the building with the warmth of the wood and the activity of the production floor behind the glass.
The Beer Program
KCBC's founders describe their approach as focusing on freshness and variety, with a portfolio that spans from approachable lagers to experimental barrel-aged releases. The core lineup includes four year-round beers that anchor the rotating tap selection, alongside seasonal offerings and one-off collaborations.
Infinite Machine, their flagship lager, represents the brewery's stated philosophy that "simple ingredients plus precise execution equals maximum" results. The beer is brewed as a traditional lager and has become a reliable option for those seeking something crisp and sessionable. For hop-forward drinkers, Superhero Sidekicks serves as the brewery's flagship Hazy IPA, pouring a burnished gold color with notes of ripe oranges, fresh pineapple, and pine from a blend of Citra, Mosaic, Idaho 7, Cascade, and Centennial hops. At 6.9% ABV, it delivers the soft mouthfeel and tropical character that defines the style without pushing into the higher alcohol ranges that can limit sessionability.
Penguins in Space offers a lighter option at 5.2% ABV, a Hazy Pale Ale that the brewery describes as a "true intergalactic crusher." The beer combines Citra, Centennial, Strata, and Amarillo hops with flaked wheat and rye, producing hazy straw-gold color with flavors of zesty lemon, fresh melon, and tropical passionfruit.
Penguins in Space, one of KCBC's flagship Hazy Pale Ales.
Venomous Villains rounds out the core lineup as a more traditional IPA, offering a clearer alternative to the hazy styles that dominate their portfolio.
Beyond these staples, KCBC maintains an ambitious barrel-aging program with regular taproom-only bottle releases. They also produce a rotating selection of fruited sours, including Beach Zombie, a kettle sour with strawberry and guava that has developed something of a following since its introduction. The taproom typically offers between eight and twelve beers on draft at any given time, with the specific lineup changing based on production schedules and seasonal availability.
The brewery emphasizes freshness in their marketing, noting that they brew and package 100% of their product on-site in Bushwick. This focus on local production distinguishes them from breweries that contract out production or operate multiple facilities, and it means that beer consumed in the taproom has traveled only a few feet from the conditioning tanks to the serving lines.
The Story Behind KCBC
Kings County Brewers Collective emerged from the confluence of three homebrewers who met through Brooklyn brewing clubs in the early 2010s. Tony Bellis, Zack Kinney, and Pete Lengyel were each pursuing brewery careers separately when they realized their combined backgrounds might allow them to accomplish something together that would be difficult individually.
Bellis brought experience from the service and retail industry, having worked his way up from washing kegs and driving forklifts at Greenpoint Beer & Ale to become a head brewer. Kinney came from an advertising background and had studied at the American Brewers Guild in Vermont. Lengyel had worked as a molecular biologist before taking a sabbatical to complete a brewery apprenticeship at Brooklyn Brewery. The three met as classmates at the American Brewers Guild and began discussing the possibility of opening a facility together.
Their search for a location focused on Brooklyn despite the challenges of sky-high rents and utility costs in the borough. They settled on Bushwick partly for practical reasons, the availability of industrial spaces large enough to accommodate brewing equipment at scale, and partly for historical ones. Around the turn of the twentieth century, Bushwick was known as the beer capital of the Northeast, with fourteen breweries operating within a fourteen-block area known as Brewer's Row. At its peak, approximately ten percent of all beer brewed in America came from Brooklyn, with the majority produced in Bushwick.
The neighborhood's brewing industry collapsed through a combination of the New York State hop blight and Prohibition. A few larger breweries survived into the post-war era, but when Rheingold and Schaefer closed their doors in 1976, Bushwick was left without a local brewery for the first time in generations. KCBC became the first brick-and-mortar production brewery to operate in the neighborhood in more than four decades when it opened in September 2016.
The founders named a beer after their landlord, Janiak Maniac, a pilsner that acknowledges the role that favorable lease terms played in making the project viable. Since opening, the brewery has grown from the three founders to a team of nearly thirty full-time employees, and their distribution now reaches more than ten states plus occasional exports to the UK, Scandinavia, Japan, China, and Australia.
The artist responsible for much of KCBC's visual identity is Earl Holloway, who creates the hand-drawn illustrations featured on the can labels and merchandise. Holloway studied at the School of Visual Arts and previously worked as a freelance illustrator and comic artist before joining the KCBC team. His artwork contributes to the "bold and playful approach" that the founders wanted to reflect in their branding.
What Visitors Are Saying
KCBC has accumulated strong ratings across review platforms, maintaining a 4.7 out of 5 on Wanderlog based on 460 reviews and a 4.5 on Yelp from 142 reviews. The feedback consistently highlights several aspects of the taproom experience that seem to resonate with visitors.
The beer selection receives regular praise for its variety and quality. One visitor noted on Wanderlog that the tasting board, which allows customers to pick any four beers on tap for a flat price, represents a great value and an opportunity to sample across styles, including what they described as a memorable 14% imperial stout. Another reviewer highlighted the specific combination of good beer and good music, noting that the taproom successfully creates atmosphere without letting the volume interfere with conversation.
The staff knowledge comes up frequently in reviews. Visitors mention that bartenders can speak knowledgeably about the beer lineup and make recommendations based on preferences. One reviewer who could not drink alcohol noted that the staff was accommodating in explaining non-alcoholic options and creating a welcoming experience despite not being a typical customer.
The dog-friendly policy and relaxed atmosphere get consistent mentions as factors that make the space feel accessible. Weekend nights tend to draw crowds that can make seating competitive, but weekday afternoons and early evenings offer a more relaxed experience where visitors can linger without fighting through a dense crowd. Several reviewers specifically mention that the neighborhood context, surrounded by the street art of the Bushwick Collective, adds to the overall experience of visiting the taproom.
A recurring theme in reviews is the sense that KCBC feels like a genuine production facility rather than a bar with brewing equipment as decoration. The visibility of the brewery operations behind the glass, the barrels stacked above seating, and the industrial traffic moving through the space all contribute to what one reviewer called an "authentic" atmosphere that distinguishes it from more polished or corporate-feeling beer destinations.
The Neighborhood Context
KCBC sits in the heart of what has become one of Brooklyn's most dynamic neighborhoods for food, art, and nightlife. The Bushwick Collective, a network of street art and murals that covers building facades throughout the area, begins just blocks from the taproom. The founders have spoken about wanting to contribute to a neighborhood that was already evolving when they arrived, citing establishments like Pearl's and Heavy Woods as local bars that had been operating since before KCBC opened.
The brewery's immediate surroundings reflect the mixed industrial and residential character of the area. As co-founder Tony Bellis noted in an interview with Thrillist, the block includes a steel company, a paper company, a plastic company, a theater, a smoke shop, and a tile company all operating within the same stretch of Jefferson Street. This combination of industrial and creative businesses has become something of a signature for contemporary Bushwick, where manufacturing persists alongside nightlife and residential development.
The taproom has positioned itself as a neighborhood fixture that can accommodate different types of visitors at different times. The weekend evening crowd tends toward the younger demographic that dominates Brooklyn nightlife, while weekday afternoons see a mix of remote workers, parents with children, and locals treating the space as a casual gathering spot. The ability to bring your own food or order from rotating food pop-ups makes it a destination that pairs well with the neighborhood's restaurant options.
Practical Information
Kings County Brewers Collective operates at 381 Troutman Street in Brooklyn, New York 11237, approximately two blocks from the Jefferson Street station on the L train. Street parking is available in the surrounding industrial area, though visitors should be aware of alternate-side restrictions.
The taproom operates seven days a week with varying hours. Monday through Thursday, they are open from 4pm to 11pm. Friday hours extend from 3pm to midnight. Saturday opens earlier at noon and runs until midnight, while Sunday hours are 1pm to 10pm. The brewery accepts reservations for groups of seven or more through their email, and they offer party hosting options for private events.
The taproom features regular programming throughout the week. Happy hour runs Monday through Thursday from 4pm to 7pm with six dollar select pours. Wednesday is flight night, offering ten dollar tasting flights. They host art nights, trivia, and other rotating events that are listed on their website calendar. Beer is available to take away in four-packs or bottles, and they also carry a rotating selection of New York-made spirits, wines, ciders, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Dogs are welcome on leashes, and visitors can bring their own food or purchase from rotating food pop-ups. The taproom includes gender-neutral restrooms and is wheelchair accessible. For current tap listings and event schedules, the brewery maintains an updated website at kcbcbeer.com.
Sources
Kings County Brewers Collective. "About." KCBC Official Website. https://kcbcbeer.com/about/ (Accessed March 2026).
Kings County Brewers Collective. "Taproom." KCBC Official Website. https://kcbcbeer.com/location/taproom/ (Accessed March 2026).
Mack, Zach. "Kings County Brewers Collective: KCBC is NYC's Best New Brewery." Thrillist. February 2018. https://www.thrillist.com/drink/new-york/kings-county-brewers-collective-kcbc-best-brewery-nyc (Accessed March 2026).
Albertine, Hannah. "Kings County Brewers Collective." The Infatuation. March 2018. https://theinfatuation.com/new-york/reviews/kings-county-brewers-collective (Accessed March 2026).
Heldring, Suzanna. "Kings County Brewers Collective Brings Beer Brewing Back To Bushwick After 40 Years." Bushwick Daily. July 2016. https://bushwickdaily.com/restaurants/4008-kcbc-brings-beer-brewing-back-to-bushwick-after-40-years/ (Accessed March 2026).
Plumb Studios. "KCBC." https://plumbstudios.com/kcbc (Accessed March 2026).
"Kings County Brewers Collective." Wanderlog. https://wanderlog.com/place/details/416695 (Accessed March 2026).