Keith Flanagan

Special for USA TODAY

At house parties, expect beer. At mansion parties, expect craft beer — and higher expectations.

Beer Mansion, a two-day festival presented by The Brooklyn Brewery Mash, opens its doors in Brooklyn at The Monto & The Well on Friday and Saturday before heading to London, Paris, Philadelphia, Gothenburg, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Boston. Inside, each iteration will cram a mouthful of thrills — five tasting rooms, unlimited beer samples, local bites, live music, interactive art — into one shared space. The point, among many, is to serve craft beer as the centerpiece for cultural pursuits of all orders.

“It’s a bit of an out-there concept,” explains Gabe Barry, Brooklyn Brewery’s in-house beer educator, who gave us an inside look at what’s to come.

Over the past five years, The Brooklyn Brewery Mash (a creative arm of the brewery) has hosted events, from chef-curated dinners to interactive art experiences, celebrating like-minded communities beyond its own connoisseurs in places like Philadelphia and Paris. After debuting the first Beer Mansion in London last year, The Mash realized they’d combined the brewery’s many curiosities and keen communities under one roof. Now, for the first time, they’re bringing it to their home turf.

Starting in Brooklyn, five tasting rooms follow distinct themes. For starters, one room will treat guests to the Tart of the Tropics; The Mash will interpret this theme with fruity, breezy vibes (island influences, in fact, including Manhattan’s). “Think metro beach party, with the spirit of fish tacos,” says Barry. They will pour sour ales, citrusy IPAs, crisp pilsners and more to drive home the profile. That’s just door number one; the remaining rooms follow their own rubrics: The Forest, The Stoop, The Anatomy of Beer and The Darkness.

We’ll leave you in the dark about the specifics, but here’s what else to expect. A crafty lineup of food, curated by Eater for purchase, will spotlight each city’s local scene — in Brooklyn, count on tastes from places like Roberta’s and Bunker, while Brooklyn Brewery’s own chef Andrew Gerson will put his food forward, too. Every city will feature a Bloody Mary bar by McClure’s Pickles and an interactive art installation made of Garden of Eatin’ tortilla chips (yes, you read that correctly). As for drinking games, The Mash has partnered with New York University’s Game Center; they’ll weave mind-boggling games throughout the five rooms, while Boytoy, a Brooklyn-based band, will play live music — in addition to fellow artists like Rips and Worriers. Trust that there will be beer aplenty (repeat: unlimited beer samples), and since this event is all about community, Brooklyn Brewery is sharing the love by featuring other local brewers, starting with Brooklyn’s Other Half Brewing and Kings County Brewers Collective.

Tickets are available at the door for $65. Of course, Brooklyn Brewery and its Beer Mansion represent just one part of NYC’s rich selection of craft beer. Browse the slideshow below to explore the many boroughs and their bounty of breweries.