(Benchtop Brewing celebrates its 3rd Golden Tap Award)
Staff Report
Norfolk’s Benchtop Brewing Company took home 10 medals and earned the most cumulative points to make it Veer Magazine’s 2021 Golden Tap Awards overall winner.
Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded at Elation Brewing in over 30 categories for individual beer and cider styles as well as design, labels and tasting room spaces.
“This year’s Golden Tap Awards were highly competitive given the quality of beer produced in the 757 region as well as the number of participating breweries,” said Veer Magazine publisher, Jeff Maisey. “It is very difficult for any brewery to crack the top 3 and earn a medal. That’s why we notate the honorable mentions for breweries who scored high in a category but were just barely out of the medal range.”
Points were awarded whereas gold scored three, two for silver, and one for bronze. The brewery with the most overall points earned the Golden Tap Award.
The Top 5 overall finishers were as follows:
1 Benchtop Brewing Co, 25 points
2 Big Ugly Brewing, 21 points
3. Reaver Beach Brewing Co., 16 points
4. Alewerks Brewing Co., 14 points
5. New Realm Brewing Co., 12 points
This year’s presenting sponsor was the City of Norfolk, with additional sponsorship provided by Spacemakers General Contractors, Kaufman & Canoles, and Southern Bank. Elation Brewing donated proceeds from a special Hope Lager to benefit Hope House Foundation.
And now for the complete results….
Kolsch
GOLD Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co., House Beer
SILVER Reaver Beach Brewing Co., Sandshark
BRONZE Rip Rap Brewing Co., Bowsprit
Honorable Mention: Deadline Brewing Project, Madeleine Watermelon Kolsch
Honorable Mention: Young Veterans, Do A Kickflip Raspberry Kolsch
Honorable Mention: Capstan Bar Brewing Company, Kölsch
Light Lager
GOLD The Virginia Beer Co., Terminally Pretty Helles Lager
SILVER Reaver Beach Brewing Co., Raise Hell, Praise Dale
BRONZE Tradition Brewing Co, Tradition Craft Lager
Honorable Mention: Billsburg, Brewery, Classic Lager
Honorable Mention: The Bold Mariner Brewing, Lucky Cat
Honorable Mention: O’Connor Brewing Company, Proper Lager
Pilsner
GOLD New Realm Brewing Co., Euphonia
SILVER Elation Brewing, Larchmont Lager
BRONZE Big Ugly Brewing, Peake
Honorable Mention: Tradition Brewing Co, Tradice Czech Pilsner
Honorable Mention: Smartmouth Brewing, Safety Dance Pilsner
Golden or Blonde Ale
GOLD COVA Brewing Company, East Beach Blonde
SILVER Billsburg Brewery, Radler
BRONZE MoMac Brewing Company, Pineapple, J.I.B. Blonde Ale
Honorable Mention: Deadline Brewing Project, Blonde Ale
Amber Ale
GOLD Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co., Red Ale
SILVER Smartmouth Brewing, Murphy’s Law Amber Ale
BRONZE Deadline Brewing Project , Biscoff Coconut Macaroon Amber Ale
Honorable Mention: Reaver Beach Brewing Co., How to Clone a Dinosaur
Honorable Mention: Billsburg Brewery, Planet 4
Honorable Mention: MoMac Brewing Company, P.O.E.T.S. Day Amber Ale
English-style Brown Ale
GOLD Nansemond Brewing Station, BeeNut Butter Brown Ale
SILVER Alewerks Brewing Company, Tavern Brown Ale
BRONZE The Bold Mariner Brewing, Noser Brown Ale.
Honorable Mention: Reaver Beach Brewing Co., Flotsam
Honorable Mention: MoMac Brewing Company, Craney Island Brown Ale
Amber Malty Lager
GOLD The Bold Mariner Brewing, Frogman Lager
SILVER MoMac Brewing Company, Pata De Palo (Peg Leg) Mexican Vienna Lager
BRONZE Elation Brewing, Rufus Rye
Honorable Mention: Commonwealth Brewing Co, Plassenburg Eisbock
Oktoberfest/Marzen
GOLD Big Ugly Brewing, Schlitzengiggle
SILVER Elation Brewing, Festbier
BRONZE Billsburg Brewery, Oktoberfest
Honorable Mention: Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co., Oktoberfest
Honorable Mention: St. George Brewing Company, Oktoberfest
German Dunkel or Bock
GOLD Big Ugly Brewing, Accelerator
SILVER Maker’s Craft Brewery, Eisbock
BRONZE Commonwealth Brewing Co, Hipster Kryptonite
Honorable Mention: Billsburg Brewery, Bavarian Brew
Honorable Mention: Young Veterans: What About Us Lagers? Dunkel
Honorable Mention: MoMac Brewing Company, Geistboot, Schwarzbier
Wheat Beer
GOLD Wasserhund Brewing Co., Shepheweizen
SILVER The Virginia Beer Co., Saving Daylight Citrus Wheat
BRONZE Big Ugly Brewing, Ragtop Wit
Honorable Mention: St. George Brewing Company, Knights Respite Hefeweizen
Honorable Mention: The Bold Mariner Brewing, Monkey Fist
Honorable Mention: Smartmouth Brewing, Sommer Fling Hefeweizen
Saison
GOLD Benchtop Craft Brewing, Long Funky Streaks Batch 4
SILVER Coastal Fermentory, Farmers Only Saison
BRONZE Smartmouth Brewing, Alter Ego Saison
Honorable Mention: Reaver Beach Brewing Co., Cats on Everything
Honorable Mention: The Virginia Beer Co., Cellar Circus Blend
Honorable Mention: Commonwealth Brewing Co, The Wealth Saison
Belgian-style Abbey Ale
GOLD Alewerks Brewing Company, Jubilee XV
SILVER Pleasure House Brewing, GLO Belgian-style Blond Ale
BRONZE Vibrant Shore Brewing, The Sacred & The Salacious Belgian Dubbel
Honorable Mention: Rip Rap Brewing Co., Southern Cross Quad
Fruited Gose
GOLD Big Ugly Brewing, POG
SILVER Benchtop Craft Brewing, Jouble Jeuce
BRONZE The Garage Brewery, Boss Lady Vol. 3 Pineapple Apricot Sour
Honorable Mention: Commonwealth Brewing Co, Peanut Butter and Jealous Gose
Fruited Barrel-aged Gose
GOLD Oozlefinch Beers & Blending, Epiphanous Moments
IPA
GOLD Benchtop Craft Brewing, Proven Theory
SILVER The Virginia Beer Co., Free Verse India Pale Ale
BRONZE Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co., Snap Guns IPA
Honorable Mention: Wasserhund Brewing Co., Doggy Paddle IPA
Honorable Mention: Big Ugly Brewing, Rockers IPA
Juicy IPA
GOLD New Realm Brewing Co., Hazy Like a Fox
SILVER Reaver Beach Brewing Co., Hazy Tides
BRONZE Precarious Beer Project, Kung Fu Kittens
Honorable Mention: MoMac Brewing Company, Skeeder Juice, Hazy IPA
Imperial IPA
GOLD Benchtop Craft Brewing, Why The Gong Face
SILVER Reaver Beach Brewing Co., Hoptopus
BRONZE Precarious Beer Project, Everything Is Lava
Honorable Mention: MoMac Brewing Company, Strata Outta P-Town, Hazy DIPA
Honorable Mention: Commonwealth Brewing Co, Pink Fluffy Unicorns
Pale Ale
GOLD Benchtop Craft Brewing, Hazing Face
SILVER Big Ugly Brewing, Fresh Hop Mods
BRONZE O’Connor Brewing Company, Norfolk Canyon Pale Ale
Honorable Mention: Tradition Brewing Co, We Run This Ship
Herb & Spice Beer
GOLD New Realm Brewing Co., Oaxaca Choca Mexican Chocolate Stout
SILVER St. George Brewing Company, Honey Meade Lager
BRONZE Capstan Bar Brewing Company, Oatmeal Raisin Brown Ale
Honorable Mention: The Virginia Beer Co., Evil Santa Spiced Milk Stout
Honorable Mention: Commonwealth Brewing Co, Limoncello Gose
Coffee Beer
GOLD Reaver Beach Brewing Co., Murder of Crows
SILVER Wasserhund Brewing Co., Haywire Husky
BRONZE O’Connor Brewing Company, Ibrik Imperial Turkish Coffee Stout
Honorable Mention: Big Ugly Brewing, Morning Commute
Honorable Mention: Rip Rap Brewing Co., Bilgewater Coffee Stout
Honorable Mention: COVA Brewing Company, Coffee Snob Milk Stout
Chili Beer
GOLD Big Ugly Brewing, Hot Pursuit
SILVER Bull Island, Oyster Jalapeño Porter
BRONZE COVA Brewing Company, Death by Fuego Mexican Hot Chocolate Imperial Stout
Pumpkin Beer
GOLD Alewerks Brewing Company, Pumpkin Ale
SILVER Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co., Pumpkin Creamsicle Ale
BRONZE Tradition Brewing Co, Persnickety Bitch Rye Barrel Aged Imperial Pumpkin
Honorable Mention: Back Bay Brewing, Witch of Pungo Pumpkin Ale
Strong Ale
GOLD St. George Brewing Company, Dragon’s Fury
SILVER Rip Rap Brewing Co., Wind’s Eye Wheatwine
BRONZE Pleasure House Brewing, Snatch You Baldheaded Quad
Honorable Mention: Brass Cannon Brewing, Angry Scot Wee Heavy
Honorable Mention: 1865 Brewing Company, Duval Bier
Stout
GOLD Virginia Beer Company, Elbow Patches Oatmeal Stout
SILVER O’Connor Brewing Company, ODIS
BRONZE Elation Brewing, Figure It Out
Honorable Mention: The Garage Brewery, Builder From Hell Coffee Stout
Imperial Stout
GOLD Benchtop Craft Brewing, Wicked Walter
SILVER Reaver Beach Brewing Co., Sea Devil
BRONZE Commonwealth Brewing Co, Midnight Sessions Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
Honorable Mention: Young Veterans, Goat Locker Breakfast Stout
Honorable Mention: MoMac Brewing Company, Cock Island, Russian Imperial Stout
Porter
GOLD Benchtop Craft Brewing, Walter’s Brunch
SILVER Big Ugly Brewing, Ghost Rider
BRONZE Elation Brewing, Sleep On It, Always
Honorable Mention: Nansemond Brewing Station, Dining Car Salted Caramel Bourbon Pecan, Baltic Porter
Historical Beer
GOLD Alewerks Brewing Company, Old Stitch
SILVER Benchtop Craft Brewing, Oma
BRONZE Vibrant Shore Brewing, The Melting Clock Pre-Prohibition American Pilsner
Honorable Mention: 1865 Brewing Company, 1865 Freedom Ale
Wood & Smoke
GOLD Alewerks Brewing Company, Cafe Royale
SILVER Nansemond Brewing Station, BeeNut Bourbon Barrel Aged, Brown Ale
BRONZE Benchtop Craft Brewing, Rum Barrel Aged Mordred’s Void Imperial Stout
Honorable Mention: Smartmouth Brewing, Sssmokin’ Smoked Festbier
Honorable Mention: Maker’s Craft Brewery, 2020 Black Friday Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout
Experimental Beer
GOLD Reaver Beach Brewing Co., Muffin Ventured, Muffin Gained
SILVER Benchtop Craft Brewing, Quick Pickle
BRONZE Big Ugly Brewing, Pink Cadillac
Honorable Mention: Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co., Tangerine Creamsicle Ale
Fruit Cider
GOLD Sly Clyde Ciderworks, Inkjet
SILVER Back Bay’s Farmhouse, Blackberry Cider
Modern Cider
GOLD Sly Clyde Ciderworks, Submersive
SILVER Back Bay’s Farmhouse, Margarita Cider
Can Design
GOLD New Realm Brewing Co., Tyrannosaurus Flex Hazy DIPA
SILVER The Bold Mariner Brewing, Lucky Cat Pilsner
BRONZE Smartmouth Brewing, Family Photosynthesis Plant Based IPA
Honorable Mention: St. George Brewing Company, Raging Goats Imperial Amber Bock
Honorable Mention: O’Connor Brewing Company, Hip Hop Anonymous Vol. 6 Double IPA
Bottle Label Design
GOLD St. George Brewing Company, English IPA
Taproom
GOLD Elation Brewing
SILVER Big Ugly Brewing
BRONZE Back Bay’s Farmhouse
Honorable Mention: The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery
Honorable Mention: Maker’s Craft Brewery
Honorable Mention: Reaver Beach Brewing Co. NFK
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Andy Rathmann
St. George Brewing Company
Veer Magazine presented its first Lifetime Achievement Award to Andy Rathmann (pictured left), St. George Brewing Company’s longtime head brewer who is retiring at the end of 2021.
In 1999, Andy Rathmann joined St, George as head brewer one year after it opened. Rathmann had travelled the world as a brewery consultant, helping people build breweries. He studied the craft of brewing as an apprentice in Germany with Weihenstephan before completing his training at the University of California at Davis in a program affiliated with Institute of Brewing in London.
Rathmann was the perfect fit for St. George Brewing Company since the focus was on German lagers and British ales. The first two beers produced by St. George were the Scotch Ale and the Golden Ale. Today they operate a 30-hectoliter, or 27-barrel brewhouse.
Over the years, the best selling St. George beers have been the English IPA, Nut Brown Ale, Pilsner, and Porter. St. George has won several Virginia Craft Brewers Guild competition awards as well as a World Beer Cup Award and an English competition. The winning entries were, of course, traditional style beers. The dedication to traditional styles has long been a personal preference for Rathmann.
“I always say we brew the beers we like to drink because we’re here everyday drinking them,” said Rathmann, with a near empty glass of Pilsner in his hand. “If other people like them, then all the better.”
COOLEST BREWER (Presented by the Coast Virginia Brewers)
Tom Wilder, Young Veterans Brewing Co
KEY TO LAGERTOWN AWARD (Presented by the Coast Virginia Brewers)
Jimmy Loughran, Smartmouth Brewing Co
