Brooklyn bars near Prospect Park: Where to go for summer drinks

If you’ve spent the day hanging outdoors with a few friends, you’ll want to start your evening at this intimate bar. Owned by Aaron Hans (who also runs Big Nose Full Body just across the avenue), the spot features a selection of international and domestic wines by the glass. Choose from six varieties on tap—as well as a menu of shareable small plates, which, if you're a party of four, you can taste from a table in the small backyard. 6-minute walk

Alfresco drinking doesn’t get much better than at this Park Slope watering hole, an area favorite thanks to its rotating list of 24 draft beers and its spacious outdoor patio. Fair warning: Neighborhood denizens (and their dogs) crowd the deck as soon as it opens on weekends—arrive before 3pm and you shouldn’t have trouble staking out a table. 11-minute walk

Park Slope brew hounds can kick back at this massive 13,000-square-foot beer garden. Sixty taps dispense more than 20 different craft brews, including Sixpoint, Captain Lawrence and Brooklyn Brewery. In the warmer months, order yours with a burger or hot dog at outdoor picnic tables, or rally a group of friends for a free game of bocce on one of three courts. When the temperatures drop, settle by the fireplace and watch the game on a flatscreen TV. The former mechanic-lot space conjures its roots with recycled furnishings, like an original car lifter, cinder-block walls and a backyard bar crafted from a former shipping container. 12-minute walk

This cheerful Prospect Heights bar, which was opened by alums of Gowanus Yacht Club and Bar Great Harry in 2011, is kitted out with fun, kitschy decor, with bright yellow chairs and turquoise walls. There are eight beers on tap, along with a creative rotating cocktail list featuring quaffs such as the Ginger Prince ($10), a mix of aged rum, lime juice, seltzer, ginger and thyme syrup. The drinks are best enjoyed at a table near one of the massive front windows, which are kept open during warm weather. 13-minute walk

This beer hall is in a garage. A roll-up door greets you to an outdoor setup with high-top tables spaced out for drinking local craft beers on tap or you can also get wine and sangria to pair with items from a raw bar or other bar bites like wings, guacamole and pizza. 16-minute walk

“Beer garden” is something of a misnomer for this spot, since the outdoor space—a few picnic and wrought-iron tables scattered on a concrete patio—speaks more to its former life as an auto garage. But the unpretentious atmosphere and reliable beer list (brews from Smuttynose and Shock Top, $6, are staples) make this an ideal locale for group drinking, especially if you grab a table early in the afternoon. The bar also serves food, should you need a midafternoon snack. 15-minute walk

Though the dimly lit interior of this Sunset Park spot may seem inviting after a day spent reclining in the sun, claim a table in its large backyard instead. The adorable space is lined with wooden benches, all of which are big enough to accommodate groups, and two pretty, koi-filled ponds. Pair a beer from the 20-strong tap list with a succulent clam roll ($13) from the bar menu. 19-minute walk