BY DIANE CATANZARO, CHRIS JONES, BRIAN KOSKI, JENNIFER MCDONALD & JEFF MAISEY
For the second consecutive year, Benchtop Brewing Company took home Veer Magazine’s annual Golden Tap Local Beer Awards trophy, the award given to the brewery with the most overall cumulative points.
In the individual beer style categories such as IPA and American Wild Ale, three points are given to gold medalists, two points for silver and one point for bronze.
A combination of online popular votes and a select committee of tasters weighed in. With more than 30 local breweries, this year’s competition was especially exciting, and one thing is abundantly clear — there’s a lot of great beer being produced in the 757 region. In fact, it has never been this good for local consumers.
In addition to medals presented in the beer style categories, awards were also given for a variety of brewery categories as well as for restaurants, festivals, food trucks, and retail outlets.
On an evening where the entire 757 craft beer community was in the house — host O’Connor Brewing Co — a particularly heartwarming moment arose when Coelacanth Brewing Company one it first of two medals. A great and sustained roar erupted from the community of brewers. The brewery recently announced it would close by year’s end.
The top 5 points earning breweries are as follows:
1. Benchtop Brewing Company: 25 Points
2. Big Ugly Brewing Company: 18 points
3. O’Connor Brewing Company: 16 Points
4. (tie) Alewerks: 15 points
4. (tie) Precarious Beer Project: 15 points
Following are the medalists representing the 2019 Best in Beer.
BREWERY CATEGORIES
Amber & Brown American Beer
GOLD: Paul’s Favorite, Big Ugly Brewing
SILVER: Tavern Brown Ale, Alewerks Brewing Company
BRONZE: Red Ale, Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co
Amber Malty & Bitter European Lager
GOLD: Frogman Lager, The Bold Mariner Brewing Co
SILVER: Imperial O’Ctoberfest, O’Connor Brewing Company
BRONZE: Oktoberfest, Alewerks Brewing Company
American Porter & Stout
GOLD: Walter’s Brunch, Benchtop
SILVER: Elbow Patches Oatmeal Stout, The Virginia Beer Company
BRONZE: Ghost Rider, Big Ugly Brewing
American Wild Ale
GOLD: Reaver’s Damnation, Reaver Beach Brewing Co
SILVER: Cellar Circus Brett Farmhouse Ale Blend No. 001, The Virginia Beer Company
BRONZE: Land of Sleeping Eagles Barrel Aged Sour Petit Saison, The Oozlefinch Craft Brewery
Belgian Ale
GOLD: Alter Ego Saison, Smartmouth Brewing
SILVER: Apricot Tripel, Back Bay’s Farmhouse
BRONZE: The Wealth Blonde Saison, Commonwealth Brewing Co
British & Scottish Ale
GOLD: P.O.E.T.S. Day (Piss Off Early Tomorrow’s Saturday) ESB, MoMac Brewing Company
SILVER: Porter, St George Brewing Co
BRONZE: Bilgewater Coffee Stout, Rip Rap Brewing Co.
Czech Lager
GOLD: Fortune & Glory, Precarious Beer Project
SILVER: Larchmont Lager, Elation Brewing
BRONZE: Steamboat Jack Pilsner, Rip Rap Brewing Co
Dark & Strong British Beer
GOLD: Wicked Walter, Benchtop
SILVER: Russian Imperial Stout, St George Brewing Co
BRONZE: PorterHorse Baltic Porter, New Realm Brewing Co
European Dark & Strong Lager
GOLD: Accelerator Doppelbock, Big Ugly Brewing
SILVER: Munich Dunkel, New Realm Brewing
BRONZE: Schwaz, Elation Brewing
European Sour Beer
GOLD: Mattayogi – Blackberry Raspberry Gose, Smartmouth Brewing
SILVER: Boss Lady Triple Berry Gose, The Garage Brewery
BRONZE: Lime of the Party Key Lime Gose, New Realm Brewing Co
Fruit Beer
GOLD: POG Gose, Big Ugly Brewing
SILVER: Teredo Blend #2 w/Sour Cherries & Blackberries, Reaver Beach Brewing Co
BRONZE: The Purple Lady, MoMac Brewing Company
German Wheat Beer
GOLD: German Shepheweizen, Wasserhund Brewing Company
SILVER: Hefeweizen, Gordon Biersch
BRONZE: Lady in White Hefeweizen, The Oozlefinch Craft Brewery
Historical and Smoked Beer
GOLD: Pancake House Stout, Alewerks Brewing Company
SILVER: Mermaid’s Scorn, Benchtop
BRONZE: Rauch Bier, Makers Craft Brewery
International Lager
GOLD: Proper Lager, O’Connor Brewing Company
SILVER: Juan’s Night Stand Cerveza, Billsburg Brewery
BRONZE: Señorita Vesa Mexican Golden Lager, Smartmouth Brewing
IPA
GOLD: Proven Theory, Benchtop
SILVER: El Guapo Agave IPA, O’Connor Brewing Company
BRONZE: Free Verse India Pale Ale, The Virginia Beer Company
Juicy/Hazy IPA
GOLD: Robot Squirrel, Benchtop
SILVER: Kung Fu Kittens, Precarious Beer Project
BRONZE: Imperial Leaf Peepers, Big Ugly Brewing
Double IPA
GOLD: Why the Gong Face, Benchtop
SILVER: Deadbolt Double IPA, The Virginia Beer Company
BRONZE: Everything Is Lava But The Swings Are Base, Precarious Beer Project
Irish Beer
GOLD: Odis Dry Irish Stout, O’Connor Brewing Company
SILVER: Roland’s Red, Big Ugly Brewing
BRONZE: Red Willie Irish Red Ale, Tradition Brewing Co
Pale American Ale
GOLD: Hazing Face, Benchtop
SILVER: Bold Dominion,The Bold Mariner Brewing Co
BRONZE: Golden Ale, St George Brewing Co
Pale Bitter European Beer
GOLD: Euphonia Pilsner, New Realm Brewing Co
SILVER: Safety Dance Pilsner, Smartmouth Brewing
BRONZE: Cribbage in the Square Pilsner, Billsburg Brewery
Pale Malty European Lager
GOLD: Leicht, Precarious Beer Project
SILVER: Weekend Lager, Alewerks Brewing Company
BRONZE: Festbier, Elation Brewing
Specialty Beer
GOLD: S’mores Brown Ale, Big Ugly Brewing
SILVER: Trial of Dmitri, Benchtop
BRONZE: Megalomaniac, Coelacanth Brewing Co
Spiced Beer
GOLD: Pumpkin Ale, Alewerks Brewing Company
SILVER: Oyster Jalapeño Porter, Bull Island Brewing Co
BRONZE: Hot Pursuit, Big Ugly Brewing
Standard American Beer
GOLD: Cheap Beer Premium, Precarious Beer Project
SILVER: Breakwater Cream Ale, Rip Rap Brewing Co
BRONZE: Classic Lager, Billsburg Brewery
Strong American Ale
GOLD: Mount Up Coffee & Maple Imperial Stout, Smartmouth Brewing
SILVER: Rob Your Head Imperial Red Ale, The Virginia Beer Company
BRONZE: Megalodon, Coelacanth Brewing Co
Strong Belgian Ale
GOLD: Golden Pear, O’Connor Brewing Company
SILVER: Jubilee XIII, Alewerks Brewing Company
BRONZE: Snatch You Baldheaded Quad, Pleasure House Brewing
Trappist Ale
GOLD: Always a Ghost, Precarious Beer Project
SILVER: Laura’s Favorite Belgian Tripel, Bull Island Brewing Co
BRONZE: Liquid Communication Tripel, Pleasure House Brewing
Wood Beer
GOLD: Bourbon Barrel Aged Ibrik, O’Connor Brewing Company
SILVER: Café Royale, Alewerks Brewing Company
BRONZE: Red, White &Blueberry, Saison aged in Red/White wine barrels, Big Ugly Brewing
Collaboration
GOLD: Galactic Detour Double IPA, Virginia Beer Company/Benchtop
SILVER: Tropical IPA, MoMac/Big Ugly
BRONZE: Illemonati, Alewerks Brewing Company/Virginia Beer Co
Brewery Tasting Room
GOLD: Big Ugly Brewing Co
SILVER: Elation Brewing Co
BRONZE: O’Connor Brewing Co
Brewery Outside Space
GOLD: Farmhouse Brewing by Back Bay
SILVER: New Realm Brewing Co
BRONZE: Legend Brewing Depot
Brewpub
GOLD: The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery
SILVER: Amber Ox Public House/Precarious Beer Lab
BRONZE: Wasserhund Brewing Company
Satellite Location
GOLD: Back Bay’s Farmhouse
SILVER: Precarious Beer Lab
BRONZE: The Bunker by Young Veterans
Brewery Event
GOLD: Field Dayz Fest, Precarious Beer Project
SILVER: Common Grounds Collaboration Fest, Commonwealth Brewing Co
BRONZE: O’Connoroo, O’Connor Brewing Co
Packaging Design
GOLD: Goat Locker Aged in Bourbon Barrels, Young Veterans
SILVER: Fun Old-Fashioned Family Christmas Ale, Alewerks Brewing Company
BRONZE: Good Vibes Gose, O’Connor Brewing Co
Can Design
GOLD: Saturday Morning IPA, Smartmouth Brewing
SILVER: Rockers IPA, Big Ugly Brewing Co
BRONZE: Pulped Fiction Blood Orange Berliner Weisse, O’Connor Brewing Co
RESTAURANTS ETC
Best Happy Hour
GOLD: Hank’s Filling Station
SILVER: Brick Anchor Brew-House
BRONZE: Taphouse Ghent
Best Quality Food & Beer Experience
GOLD: Esoteric
SILVER: 1608 Crafthouse
BRONZE: Norfolk Taproom
Best Overall Draft Selection (21+ Taps)
GOLD: Esoteric
SILVER: The Birch
BRONZE: Bier Garden
Best Overall Draft Selection (11-20 Taps)
GOLD: DoG Street Pub
SILVER: Tap It Local Chesapeake
BRONZE: 80/20 Burger Bar
Best Overall Draft Selection (10 or Less Taps)
GOLD: 1608 Crafthouse
SILVER: Lynnhaven Pub
BRONZE: Redwood Smoke Shack
Best Overall Bottle/Can Beer Selection
GOLD: The Birch
SILVER: The Bier Garden
BRONZE: DoG Street Pub
Best Virginia Craft Beer Selection
GOLD: Tap It Local
SILVER: Hank’s Filling Station
BRONZE: Brick Anchor Brew-House
Best Selection of Local 757 Beer
GOLD: Hank’s Filling Station
SILVER: Tap It Local
BRONZE: Brick Anchor Brew-House
Best Beer with Outdoor View
GOLD: Grain
SILVER: The Back Deck
BRONZE: DoG Street Pub
Best Beer with Interior Atmosphere
GOLD: The Bier Garden Portsmouth
SILVER: Brick Anchor Brew-House
BRONZE: Norfolk Taproom
Best Beer Event (Non-Festival/Non-Brewery)
GOLD: The Birch 43 Hours of Darkness
SILVER: Samichlaus Tapping at the Bier Garden
BRONZE: Taste Unlimited Summer Concert Series
Bottle Shop/Growler Fill
GOLD: Hair of the Dog Bottle Shop
SILVER: Total Wine & More (All locations)
BRONZE: The Casual Pint
Best Outdoor Beer Festival
GOLD: 757 Battle of the Beers
SILVER: Whistle Belly Festival
BRONZE: First Annual Coastal Brewers Alliance Festival
Best Food Truck
GOLD: Redwood Smoke Shack
SILVER: Capt’n Crabby’s
BRONZE: Bros Fish Tacos
