NYC, West Village. Established in 1817 (although the ground floor had probably been functioning as a tavern for years), the building was constructed around 1770 for James Brown, an African aide to George Washington during the Revolutionary War (he is said to be depicted in the famous Emmanual Leutze painting of the victorious Delaware River crossing). He had a lucrative career in the tobacco trade. At the time the Hudson River was located 5 feet from the front door.

In the mid 1800s Thomas Cooke sold home brewed beer to a constant wave of sailors and dockworkers. Back then the bar had no name but was nicknamed "The Green Door" (for obvious reasons). When it was taken over by new owners in the 1970s, it was named the Ear Inn to avoid the Landmark Commission's lengthy review of new signage, covering the round parts of the long standing neon "Bar" sign, leaving it to read "Ear".

There are said to be several friendly ghosts inhabiting the bar, including Mickey, who has been waiting for his clipper ship to enter the harbor for the past 100 years.

Brooklyn IPA was my beer selection.