By Staff
Benchtop Brewing Company won the overall Golden Tap when Veer Magazine presented its annual Local Beer Awards at O’Connor Brewing Company in Norfolk.
Gold, silver and bronze medals were given out in 50 categories ranging from various beers styles to festivals and restaurant beer selections.
The Golden Tap is awarded to the brewery that accumulates the most points. Gold medals counted as 3 points, 2 for silver and 1 for bronze.
Benchtop scored a record 43 total points, with seven individual gold medals, one silver, one bronze and a pair (one gold, one silver) of shared collaboration category awards.
The overall Top 5 breweries were as follows
- Benchtop Brewing Co: 43 Points
- Alewerks Brewing Company: 32 Points
- Big Ugly Brewing Company: 23.5 Points
- The Bold Mariner Brewing Company: 23 Points
- O’Connor Brewing Company: 20.5 Points
Following are the complete results of Veer Magazine’s 2018 Golden Tap Local Beer Awards. They were presented by Spacemakers with additional sponsorship from Southern Banks, City of Norfolk Department of Economic Development, and Cavalier Land.
Brewery Categories
Amber and Brown American Beer
GOLD: Tavern Brown Ale, Alewerks Brewing Company
SILVER: Murphy’s Law Amber Ale, Smartmouth Brewing Company
BRONZE:Noser Pecan and Vanilla Bean Brown, Bold Mariner Brewing
Amber Malty and Bitter European Lager
GOLD: Frogman Lager, Bold Mariner Brewing
SILVER: Oktoberfest, Alewerks Brewing Company
BRONZE: Nickelbock, Benchtop Brewing Company
American Porter and Stout
GOLD: Ghost Rider, Big Ugly Brewing
SILVER: Walter’s Brunch, Benchtop Brewing Company
BRONZE: Elbow Patches Oatmeal Stout, The Virginia Beer Company
American Wild Ale
GOLD: The Reaver, Reaver Beach Brewing
SILVER: Dr. Rendezvous Barrel Aged Sour Imperial Saison, Oozlefinch Craft Brewery
BRONZE: My Lord, Coelacanth Brewing Co
Belgian Ale
GOLD: Alter Ego Saison Farmhouse Ale, Smartmouth Brewing Company
SILVER: Laura’s Favorite Belgian Tripel,Bull Island Brewing
BRONZE: Turn To Gold, Gordon Biersch
British and Scottish Ale
GOLD: The Revenant English Mild, Reaver Beach Brewing
SILVER: Glencoe Ghost Scotch Ale, Legend Brewing Depot
BRONZE: Angry Scott, Brass Cannon Brewing
Czech Lager
GOLD: Purebred Pilsner, Wasserhund Brewing Company
SILVER: Rain Barrel Bohemian Pilsner, Pleasure House Brewing
BRONZE: City Line Pilsner, MoMac Brewing Co.
Dark and Strong British Beer
GOLD: Ibrik Turkish Coffee Imperial Stout, O’Connor Brewing Company
SILVER: Lynnhaven Coffee Cream Stout, Pleasure House Brewing
BRONZE: Imperial Stout, St. George Brewing Company
European Dark and Strong Lager
GOLD: Doppeldog Doppelbock Lager, Wasserhund Brewing Company
SILVER: Doppelbock, St. George Brewing Company
BRONZE: New Moon Schwarzbier, Rip Rap Brewing Co
European Sour Beer
GOLD: One Night In Georgia Peach Berliner Weisse, The Virginia Beer Company
SILVER: POG Gose, Big Ugly Brewing Co.
BRONZE: Passion Fruit Gose, Coelacanth Brewing Co.
Fruit Beer
GOLD: Direct Deposit, Blackberry/Raspberry.Rhubarb Gose, Bold Mariner Brewing Co.
SILVER: Hot Pursuit (pineapple/habanero blonde), Big Ugly BrewingCo.
BRONZE: Funny Trees Mango Brett Double IPA, The Virginia Beer Company
German Wheat Beer
GOLD: Pineapple Grenade Hefeweizen, Young Veterans Brewing Co
SILVER: Lady in White Hefeweizen, Oozlefinch Craft Brewery
BRONZE: German Shepheweizen, Wasserhund Brewing Company
Historical and Smoked Beer
GOLD: Mermaid’s Scorn, Benchtop Brewing Company
SILVER: Pancake House Stout, Alewerks Brewing Company
BRONZE: So Pitted Grilled Peach Smoked Gose, Commonwealth Brewing Co.
International Lager
GOLD: Middie Lager, Bold Mariner Brewing Co.
SILVER: Señorita Vesa- Golden Mexican Lager, Smartmouth Brewing Company
BRONZE: Old Glory, Coelacanth Brewing Co.
IPA
GOLD: Proven Theory, Benchtop Brewing Company
SILVER: Free Verse IPA, The Virginia Beer Company
BRONZE: El Guapo Agave IPA, O’Connor Brewing Company
Juicy/Hazy IPA
GOLD: Gong Water, Benchtop Brewing Company
SILVER: Leaf Peepers, Big Ugly Brewing
BRONZE: Fresh Powder IPA, The Virginia Beer Company
Double IPA
GOLD: Why the Gong Face, Benchtop Brewing Company
SILVER: Bitter Valentine Double IPA, Alewerks Brewing Company
BRONZE: Big Papi Double IPA, Commonwealth Brewing Co.
Irish Beer
GOLD: Odis Dry Irish Stout, O’Connor Brewing Company
SILVER: Red Maiden, Bold Mariner Brewing Co.
BRONZE: Irish Goodbye Coffee Stout, Coelacanth Brewing Co.
Pale American Ale
GOLD: Hazing Face, Benchtop Brewing Company
SILVER: Bold Dominion, Bold Mariner Brewing Co.
BRONZE: Norfolk Canyon Pale Ale, O’Connor Brewing Company
Pale Bitter European Beer
GOLD: Safety Dance Pilsner, Smartmouth Brewing Company Co.
SILVER: King Street Kolsch, Bull Island Brewing Co.
BRONZE: Airship Honey Pilsner, Oozlefinch Craft Brewery
Pale Malty European Lager
GOLD: Weekend Lager, Alewerks Brewing Company
SILVER: R&R Lager, O’Connor Brewing Company
BRONZE: Lafayette Lager, Bold Mariner Brewing Co
Specialty Beer
GOLD: Trial of Dmitri, Benchtop Brewing Company
SILVER: Honey Meade Lager, St. George Brewing Company
BRONZE: Goat Locker Breakfast Stout, Young Veterans Brewing Co.
Spiced Beer
GOLD: Wicked Lobstrosity, Benchtop Brewing Company
SILVER: Pumpkin Ale, Alewerks Brewing Company
BRONZE: Evil Santa Spiced Milk Stout, The Virginia Beer Company
Standard American Beer
GOLD: Sunbeam Blonde, Big Ugly Brewing Co.
SILVER: Breakwater Cream Ale, Rip Rap Brewing Co.
BRONZE: Bunker Beer Light American Ale, Young Veterans Brewing Co.
Strong American Ale
GOLD: Rob Your Head Imperial Red Ale, The Virginia Beer Company
SILVER: Barnfind Barleywine, Big Ugly Brewing Co.
BRONZE: Blackfin Barleywine, Reaver Beach Brewing Co.
Strong Belgian Ale
GOLD: Jubilee XII, Alewerks Brewing Company Co.
SILVER: Glo Belgian-style Blond Ale, Pleasure House Brewing
BRONZE: Zeppelin’s Hellish Bell, Big Ugly Brewing Co.
Trappist Ale
GOLD: Golden Pear Belgian Tripel, O’Connor Brewing Company
SILVER: Always a Ghost Triple, Precarious Beer Project
BRONZE: Quad,Coelacanth Brewing Co.
Wood Beer
GOLD: Cafe Royale, Alewerks Brewing Company
SILVER: Sirena Borracha, Benchtop Brewing Company
BRONZE: Haywire Husky aged in Bourbon Barrels, Wasserhund Brewing Company
Collaboration
GOLD: Kung Fu Theorem, Benchtop Brewing Company/Precarious Beer Project
SILVER: Blood Brothers Blood Orange DIPA, O’Connor Brewing Company/Benchtop Brewing Company
BRONZE: Ugly Answer, Big Ugly Brewing/The Answer
Brewery Tasting Room (Non-satellite, Non-brewpub)
GOLD: Big Ugly
SILVER: O’Connor
BRONZE: Back Bay
Outside Space
GOLD: Farm House by Back Bay
SILVER: New Realm Brewing
BRONZE: Billsburg Brewing
Brewpub (Food/Beer)
GOLD: Amber Ox
SILVER: The Vanguard
BRONZE: Wasserhund
Satellite Location (Not headquarters)
GOLD: Farm House by Back Bay
SILVER: Smartmouth Pilot House
BRONZE: New Realm Brewing
Best Brewery Event
GOLD: Dazed & Consumed (O’Connor)
SILVER: Common Grounds (Commonwealth)
BRONZE: Ugly Grand Opening Party
Restaurants & More Categories
Most Knowledgeable Staff
GOLD: The Birch
SILVER: Bier Garden
BRONZE: DoG Street Pub
Best Quality Food & Beer Experience
GOLD: Esoteric
SILVER: 1608 Crafthouse
BRONZE: Bier Garden
Best Selection of Local 757 Beer
GOLD: Hank’s Filling Station
SILVER: Brick Anchor
BRONZE: Tap It Local
Best Overall Draft Selection (20+ Taps)
GOLD: The Birch
SILVER: Brick Anchor
BRONZE: Esoteric
Best Overall Draft Selection (Under 20 Taps)
GOLD: DoG Street Pub
SILVER: 1608 Crafthouse
BRONZE: Tap It Local (Chesapeake)
Best Overall Bottle/Can Beer Selection
GOLD: The Bier Garden
SILVER: The Birch
BRONZE: DoG Street Pub
Best Virginia Craft Beer Selection
GOLD: Tap It Local
SILVER: Brick Anchor
BRONZE: Hank’s Filling Station
Best Beer with Outdoor View
GOLD: Grain
SILVER: DoG Street Pub
BRONZE: Chick’s Oyster Bar
Best Beer with Interior Atmosphere
GOLD: Bier Garden
SILVER: Norfolk Tap Room
BRONZE: Brick Anchor
Best Beer & Live Music
GOLD: The Vanguard
SILVER: The NorVa
BRONZE: The Bunker
Bottle Shop/Growler Fill
GOLD: Hair of the Dog Bottle Shop
SILVER: Grape & Gourmet
BRONZE: bottleBOX
Major Retail
GOLD: Total Wine Ghent
SILVER: Total Wine Virginia Beach
BRONZE: Whole Foods
Best Outdoor Beer Festival (Non-brewery)
GOLD: 757 Battle of the Beers (Virginia Beach)
SILVER: Whistle Belly (Williamsburg)
BRONZE: Virginia Beer Festival (Norfolk)
Best Beer Event (Non-festival, non-brewery)
GOLD: 43 Hours of Sour @ The Birch
SILVER: The Bier Garden’s Oktoberfest
BRONZE: Shamrockin’ in Ghent
Best Food Truck
GOLD: Redwood Smoke Shack
SILVER: Bros Fish Tacos
BRONZE: Bite of Maine
Best Beer City (breweries/festivals/restaurants)
GOLD: Norfolk
SILVER: Virginia Beach
BRONZE: Williamsburg
