Bushwick’s Eckhart Beer Co. pairs patience in brewing with a thoughtful menu and design, creating a taproom where the table matters as much as the tap.

I will be honest: I am not a beer person. The Helles I ordered at Eckhart Beer Co. was, in fact, my first. But what surprised me most was not the crisp balance of the pour—though it was bright and beautifully restrained. It was how easily I felt at home in a place that could have been designed for beer devotees alone.

I sampled across the menu, but it was the Spaetzle Gratin and the Marmite & Malt Tart that stayed with me. The Spaetzle Gratin was golden and comforting, the kind of dish you want to share but end up keeping for yourself. And then came dessert: a Marmite and Malt Tart, salty and malty, equal parts curiosity and elegance. It was the kind of dish that catches you off guard and stays in your mind days later. Sitting there, with food that felt as considered as the beer, I realized Eckhart Beer Co. is not just a taproom. It feels like Bushwick’s newest living room, a place where the table is as important as the tap.

A Philosophy of Presence

Eckhart Beer Co. is named for Meister Eckhart, the 13th-century philosopher who wrote often of stillness and presence. Founder Nick Meyer, who studied both meditation and philosophy, built the brewery around that ethos.

“The most important hour is always the present,” Eckhart wrote, “and the most significant person is precisely the one sitting across from you.” It is an idea that shapes not just the name on the door, but the way the brewery feels. Time slows in the clink of glasses and the essence of conversation.

Whether you are sipping a Czech-Style Amber or quietly splitting a tart with a friend, the point is presence.

As Meyer explains, the brewery is meant to be a hospitality space built around beer. “Most breweries miss that,” he said. “Our concept is simple: execute just enough better to make the brewery and taproom an experience.” His inspiration came from time spent in Europe, where beer halls embodied community and people lingered without hurry.

Food as an Equal Partner at Eckhart Beer Co.

At Eckhart Beer Co., food does not play second fiddle. The menu is designed to pair, to converse, to surprise. Chef Frederick Maurer draws on his background in charcuterie and fine dining to create dishes that feel comforting yet intentional: Brotzeit platters, pork rillons with aji verde, warm pretzels with beer cheese. The spaetzle gratin felt inevitable with my Helles, as if the two had been waiting for each other.

Maurer’s kitchen also minimizes waste, turning brewing byproducts into beer vinegar and weaving malt and yeast into desserts like the Marmite and Malt Tart. Even the pickles are made in-house. “Our menu isn’t just about pairing with beer,” Maurer says. “It’s about creating a dining experience that feels whole.”

The Beers: Patience Over Shortcuts

Munich-trained Head Brewer Adam Wolfe is actively guiding the program by a philosophy of patience over shortcuts. His focus is not on novelty, but on a disciplined lineup of five lagers: Czech-Style Amber, Czech-Style Dark, Czech-Style Pale, German Helles, and German Pils. Each reflects the belief that beer should serve the table—balanced, restrained, and made to belong alongside food and conversation.

These are not beers chasing novelty. They are beers built for the table. Open fermentation, decoction, long maturation, natural carbonation—patience over shortcuts. “Lager is about clarity and restraint,” Wolfe explains. “It’s beer you can drink two or three of and still want another.”

Wolfe says he feels lucky to work with a team that values intentionality: “We can give these lagers the time they need to become their best versions.” On opening week, the Czech-Style Amber was smooth and deep, while the Helles was a study in brightness. Both felt like they were made to accompany conversation rather than dominate it.

Even pouring a beer is treated with care. “A chef inspects every plate before it leaves the kitchen,” Meyer noted. “Why shouldn’t a beer be poured the same way? Every detail matters to the guest’s experience.”

A Gathering Space at Eckhart Beer Co.

If the beer and food set the tone, the design carries it through. The 7,800-square-foot taproom unfolds across four distinct rooms:

• A biergarten with high ceilings and energy to spare.
• A tavern with low ceilings, made for hushed conversations.
• An airy feature bar that celebrates the act of pouring.
• A loft-style private bar tucked above, for more intimate gatherings.

The architecture nods to Bavarian beer halls but pares them back with Japanese minimalism: natural woods, antique details, and clean lines. It is warm without being heavy, refined without being precious.

What struck me most was the intentionality: space for large tables and community, yes, but also for quiet corners where presence feels personal. “From the start, we wanted more than a bar,” Meyer said. It feels less like a taproom and more like Bushwick’s living room.

Serving tanks—common in Czech pubs—sit in the taproom, saving cold-box space while sparking conversation. It is one of several details pulled directly from European beer culture, adapted for Brooklyn.

Hospitality Forward

For me, what makes Eckhart singular is its hospitality. You do not have to be a beer drinker to belong here. The menu includes wine and cider, and table service anchors the experience in care. It is the opposite of intimidating craft culture.

Taproom Manager Rachel Woods echoed that vision. “Every guest should have an experience that’s not only exceptional but consistent,” she said. She trains the team to educate guests so that no matter what’s in their glass, they leave with a deeper connection to the space. She is also planning events—from sip-and-paint nights to tastings—that reinforce Eckhart Beer Co. as a hub for community.

I went in hesitant, unsure if a brewery could feel like a space for me. I left thinking about when I would return—for the tart, for the food, for the comfort of a space that welcomes everyone.

Eckhart Beer Co.: Bushwick’s New Anchor

Bushwick is no stranger to breweries. The neighborhood hums with them, each carrying its own vibe. But Eckhart feels different. Where others lean into experimentation or scale, Eckhart chooses depth and presence. It is a counterpoint to the churn of New York life: here, the pour is unhurried, the food resonates beyond the table, and the act of gathering still matters.”

As the Operations & Sales Manager Justin Sirois pointed out, Bushwick was once the lager-brewing capital of the U.S. in the late 19th century. Excavation of Eckhart’s site revealed cobblestones and old beer bottles—a reminder of the neighborhood’s brewing legacy. “We’re doing what people were doing here 100 years ago,” he said. “It’s a privilege to continue that tradition.”

Opening week has already set the rhythm with Oktoberfest: Festbier on Saturdays, Märzen on Sundays, weekend casks tapped at noon, and a $30 daily special that includes a branded mug, a pour, and a brat. But what matters more than the events is the way the brewery is already being claimed by its neighbors.

Eckhart is not just another stop on the brewery circuit. It is a space for Bushwick itself—for birthdays, post-work meetups, lazy Sunday afternoons. A place where European tradition meets Brooklyn rhythm, where food and beer find their table together.

As the night winds down, Eckhart leaves you with more than a pint—it leaves you with a sense of presence. The last pour isn’t just beer, it is belonging.

The Last Pour

In the end, Eckhart is not about whether you love beer or not. It is about presence. About sitting across from someone, sharing food and drink, and letting time stretch a little longer.

From the bright crispness of a Helles to the salty elegance of a Marmite tart, Eckhart reminds us why tables matter. It is Bushwick’s newest living room—and everyone has a seat.

📍 Eckhart Beer Co.
545 Johnson Avenue — Bushwick, Brooklyn
🍺 Table service available | Wine + cider too
🕒 Wednesday through Thursday, 4 PM – 11 PM | Friday, 2 PM – midnight | Saturday, 11 AM – midnight | Sunday, 11 AM – 10 PM
🌐 eckhartbeer.com
📸 Instagram: @Eckhartbeer