(Big Ugly Brewing stacked up well against the competition in 2020)
By Jeff Maisey
Chesapeake’s Big Ugly Brewing edged-out two-time defending champion Benchtop Brewing Company to take home Veer Magazine’s 2020 Golden Tap Award.
Breweries from across the 757 region were invited for the seventh year to self-nominate up to 10 beers in the individual categories following below, starting with Amber & Brown American Beer and ending with the Wood Beer category. Points earned within these categories were based upon votes cast online by Veer readers as well as scores provided by our panel of judges that included Brian Koski, Diane Catanzaro, Chris Jones, Jennifer McDonald, and a couple of craft beer enthusiasts who eternally wish to remain anonymous.
Gold medals were awarded 3 points, silver garnered 2 points, and bronze received one. The overall top points earner was crowned winner of the Golden Tap Award.
The overall Top 5 are as follows:
- Big Ugly Brewing – 24 points
- Benchtop Brewing Company – 21 points
- Alewerks Brewing Company – 17 points
- (Tie) O’Connor Brewing Company – 14 points
(Tie) Pleasure House Brewing Company – 14 points
In addition to the individual beer categories, we included categories for cider, product packaging and design, collaborations, hard seltzer, and the timely curbside service reflective of the ongoing pandemic.
Veer Magazine’s 2020 Golden Tap Awards were presented by City of Hampton Economic Development and the Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau with additional supporting sponsorships from Southern Bank and Spacemakers General Contractors.
Amber & Brown American Beer
GOLD: Alewerks Brewing Company, Tavern Brown Ale
SILVER: Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co., Red Ale
BRONZE: Deadline Brewing Project, Airline Cookie Amber
Honorable Mention:
The Garage Brewery, Rusted Nail Amber Ale
Back Bay Brewing Co., False Cape Amber
Billsburg Brewery, Planet 4 Red Ale
Amber Malty & Bitter European Lager
GOLD: The Bold Mariner Brewing Company, Frogman Lager
SILVER: Tradition Brewing Company, Oktoberfest
BRONZE: Alewerks Brewing Company, Oktoberfest
Honorable Mention:
The Garage Brewery, Attack of the Marzens Marzen
Wasserhund Brewing Company, Marzen
MoMac Brewing Company, Pata De Palo (Peg Leg) Vienna Lager
St. George Brewing Company, Oktoberfest
Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co, Oktoberfest
American Porter & Stout
GOLD: Benchtop Brewing Company, Walter’s Brunch
SILVER: Big Ugly Brewing, Ghost Rider Porter
BRONZE: The Garage Brewery, Builder From Hell Imperial Coffee Milk Stout
Honorable Mention:
Young Veterans, Smoke Almond Porter
Commonwealth Brewing Co, Marvoloso V6 Barrel-Aged Stout
MoMac Brewing Company, Rt. 58 P-Nut Butter Porter
American Wild Ale
GOLD: Benchtop Brewing Company, Long Funky Streaks-Cashmere
SILVER: Alewerks Brewing Company, Lover’s Greed
BRONZE: Reaver Beach Brewing Co., Reaver’s Revenge Ale Refermented in Oak Barrels w/Raspberries
Honorable Mention:
Oozlefinch Beers & Blending, Moment in Time
Reaver Beach Brewing Co., The Reaver Ale Fermented in Oak Barrels
Belgian Ale
GOLD: Smartmouth Brewing, Alter Ego Saison
SILVER: Pleasure House Brewing, Glo Belgian-style Blond Ale
BRONZE: Back Bay Brewing Co., Apricot Tripel
Honorable Mention:
The Bold Mariner Brewing Company, Witty American
COVA Brewing Co., Lemondrop Saison
Bull Island Brewing Co., Magical Monk Singel Abbey Ale
British & Scottish Ale
GOLD: MoMac Brewing Company, P.O.E.T.S. Day
SILVER: Pleasure House Brewing, O’Brien Clan
BRONZE: St. George Brewing Company, English IPA
Honorable Mention:
Capstan Bar Brewing Company, Wee Heavy
Thin Brew Line Brewing Co, Greyfriar’s Bobby
Maker’s Craft Brewery, English Pub Ale
Czech Lager
GOLD: Tradition Brewing Company, Tradice
SILVER: Elation Brewing, Larchmont Lager
BRONZE: Pleasure House Brewing, Aloha Snacks Bohemian Pilsner
Honorable Mention:
The Bold Mariner Brewing Company, Lafayette Pilsner
St. George Brewing Company, Pilsner
COVA Brewing Co., Old Regulator
Dark & Strong British Beer
GOLD: Pleasure House Brewing, OB’s Wattleseed Export Stout
SILVER: Maker’s Craft Brewery, Aunt Patty’s Porter
BRONZE: None
European Dark & Strong Lager
GOLD: Big Ugly Brewing, Accelerator Doppelbock
SILVER: O’Connor Brewing Company, Imperial O’Ctoberfest
BRONZE: Rip Rap Brewing Co., New Moon Schwarzbier
Honorable Mention:
Maker’s Craft Brewery, Thuringian Black Lager
Elation Brewing, Schwaz
Young Veterans, Death By PowerPoint Black Lager
New Realm Brewing Company, Munich Dunkel
European Sour Beer
GOLD: Big Ugly Brewing, POG Gose
SILVER: Oozlefinch Beers & Blending, Das Yummy
BRONZE: Benchtop Brewing Company, Mermaid’s Lure
Honorable Mention:
Elation Brewing, Rosé Gosé
Precarious Beer Project, Daddy’s Gone
MoMac Brewing Company, Purple Lady
Fruit Beer
GOLD: The Garage Brewery, Boss Lady Vol 3 Fruit Beer Sour
SILVER: Reaver Beach Brewing Co., Teredo (Blend #3 with Blueberries & Peaches) Berliner Weisse
BRONZE: The Bold Mariner Brewing Company, Direct Deposit Gose
Honorable Mention:
Oozlefinch Beers & Blending, Crazy Pants Sorbet Inspired Sour w/Tangerine & Basil
COVA Brewing Co., Razzleberry Gose
The Virginia Beer Company, Pie Problem Key Lime Pie Gose
Commonwealth Brewing Co, Pink Fluffy Unicorns Triple IPA w/Pink Guava
German Wheat Beer
GOLD: Wasserhund Brewing Company, Shepheweizen
SILVER: Young Veterans, Pineapple Grenade
BRONZE: Commonwealth Brewing Co, Hipster Kryptonite Wheat Doppelbock
Honorable Mention:
Smartmouth Brewing, Sommer Fling Hefeweizen
St. George Brewing Company, Knight’s Respite Hefeweizen
Maker’s Craft Brewery, Uncle Dunkel’s Dunkelweiss
Historical and Smoked Beer
GOLD: Benchtop Brewing Company, Disturbance in the Schwartz
SILVER: St. George Brewing Company, Slumbering Dragon Scotch Ale
BRONZE: None
International Lager
GOLD: O’Connor Brewing Company, Proper Lager
SILVER: Big Ugly Brewing, Peake Lager
BRONZE: Commonwealth Brewing Co, Mano del Puma Blonde Mexican Lager
Honorable Mention:
Young Veterans, El General Mexican Lager
The Bold Mariner Brewing Company, Lucky Cat Japanese-style Pilsner
Wasserhund Brewing Company, Hank’s Lager
Smartmouth Brewing, Señorita Vesa Mexican Golden Lager w/Limes
Benchtop Brewing Company, Friar Storm
IPA
GOLD: Benchtop Brewing Company, Proven Theory
SILVER: Big Ugly Brewing, Rockers IPA
BRONZE: O’Connor Brewing Company, El Guapo Agave IPA
Honorable Mention:
New Realm Brewing Company, Hoptropolis
Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co, Snap Guns IPA
Elation Brewing, Notice This
St. George Brewing Company, Hop Sentry IPA
Juicy/Hazy IPA
GOLD: Big Ugly Brewing, Imperial Leaf Peepers
SILVER: Benchtop Brewing Company, Robot Squirrel
BRONZE: New Realm Brewing Company, Hazy Like a Fox
Honorable Mention:
Precarious Beer Project, Lyfe-Solv
Precarious Beer Project, Everything Is Lava
MoMac Brewing Company, Skeeder Juice Juicy IPA
O’Connor Brewing Company, Hip Hop Anonymous Vol. 3
The Virginia Beer Company, Free Verse IPA
Double IPA
GOLD: Benchtop Brewing Company, Why the Gong Face
SILVER: Alewerks Brewing Company, Bitter Valentine
BRONZE: Reaver Beach Brewing Co., Hoptopus Double IPA
Honorable Mention:
Smartmouth Brewing, Hopes and Dreams DIPA
Young Veterans, Jet Noise DIPA
Oozlefinch Beers & Blending, FML COVID Inspired Hazy DIPA
The Garage Brewery, F-Bomb DIPA
O’Connor Brewing Company, Anglers End Double IPA
Irish Beer
GOLD: O’Connor Brewing Company, ODIS Dry Irish Stout
SILVER: Big Ugly Brewing, Ride on Red
BRONZE: Rip Rap Brewing Co., Running Rust Red Ale
Honorable Mention:
Tradition Brewing Company, Red Willie
Elation Brewing, Riverpoint Red
Thin Brew Line Brewing Co, An Garda Siochana
Pale American Ale
GOLD: Benchtop Brewing Company, Hazing Face
SILVER: Big Ugly Brewing, Wet-Hopped Mods Pale Ale
BRONZE: Tradition Brewing Company, We Run This Ship
Honorable Mention:
The Virginia Beer Company, Saving Daylight Citrus Wheat
Rip Rap Brewing Co., Leucothea DDH Pale Ale
Pale Bitter European Beer
GOLD: Smartmouth Brewing, Safety Dance Pilsner
SILVER: New Realm Brewing Company, Euphonia
BRONZE: Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co, House Beer
Honorable Mention:
Benchtop Brewing Company, Crispy Whip
Wasserhund Brewing Company, Purebred Pilsner
Tradition Brewing Company, Festbier
Bull Island Brewing Co., King Street Kolsch
Pale Malty European Lager
GOLD: Alewerks Brewing Company, Weekend Lager
SILVER: Smartmouth Brewing, Princess Oktoberfest
BRONZE: Elation Brewing, Festbier
Honorable Mention:
Wasserhund Brewing Company, Oktoberfest
Young Veterans, Life Finds a Way Lager
COVA Brewing Co., COVA Helles
Specialty Beer
GOLD: Big Ugly Brewing, S’Mores Brown Ale
SILVER: O’Connor Brewing Company, SNAX! Oatmeal Chocolate Imperial Milk Stout
BRONZE: St. George Brewing Company, Honey Meade Lager
Honorable Mention:
Oozlefinch Beers & Blending, Green Beer’s My Jam
Commonwealth Brewing Co, Hemingway Key Lime Gose
Pleasure House Brewing, Jumping the Shark Blueberry Sour
Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co, Coffee Blonde
Spiced Beer
GOLD: New Realm Brewing Company, Oaxaca Choca
SILVER: Alewerks Brewing Company, Pumpkin Ale
BRONZE: Big Ugly Brewing, Hot Pursuit
Honorable Mention:
The Bold Mariner Brewing Company, Bold Jack Pumpkin Ale
Oozlefinch Beers & Blending, I’m a Mouse, Duh
Pleasure House Brewing, Snatch You Baldheaded Spiced Belgian Quad
Wasserhund Brewing Company, Haywire Husky Coffee Lager
The Virginia Beer Company, Evil Santa Spiced Milk Stout
Standard American Beer
GOLD: Rip Rap Brewing Co., Breakwater Cream Ale
SILVER: Tradition Brewing Company, Tradition Craft Lager
BRONZE: COVA Brewing Co., East Beach Blonde
Honorable Mention:
The Garage Brewery, Light Bulb American Light Lager
Billsburg Brewery, Classic Lager
Smartmouth Brewing, Party On Thor Kveik Lager
New Realm Brewing Company, United Craft Lager
Strong American Ale
GOLD: Alewerks Brewing Company, Cinnamon Bun Barleywine
SILVER: The Virginia Beer Company, Rob Your Head Dry-Hopped Imperial Red Ale
BRONZE: Rip Rap Brewing Co., Wind’s Eye Wheatwine
Strong Belgian Ale
GOLD: Pleasure House Brewing, Day Pirate Belgian Golden Strong Ale
SILVER: Legend Brewing Depot, Bad Santa Belgian Strong
BRONZE: Rip Rap Brewing Co., Dubbel Time Belgian Dubbel
Honorable Mention:
Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co, Namur the Merrier Belgian Quad
Trappist Ale
GOLD: Pleasure House Brewing, Liquid Communication Tripel
SILVER: Rip Rap Brewing Co., Deep Berth Belgian Tripel
BRONZE: Bull Island Brewing Co., Laura’s Favorite Tripel
Honorable Mention:
Capstan Bar Brewing Company, Belgian Quad
Wood Beer
GOLD: O’Connor Brewing Company, IBRIK Turkish Coffee Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels
SILVER: Smartmouth Brewing, Legend of Vagar Bourbon Barrel-aged Imperial Stout w/vanilla, coffee, & cocoa beans
BRONZE: Alewerks Brewing Company, Cafe Royale
Honorable Mention:
Oozlefinch Beers & Blending, Demure Defiance Barrel-aged Sour Blend w/Blueberries
The Virginia Beer Company, Grand Marnier Barrel-aged Waypost Imperial Stout
Collaboration
GOLD: Smartmouth Brewing/Weathered Souls Brewing/Taste Unlimited/Vessel Coffee/Chelsea Bakehouse/Murphy & Rude Malting, Black is Beautiful Hazelnut Coffee Imperial Stout
SILVER: Benchtop/Dancing Gnome, Infinite Gong Pack
BRONZE: Commonwealth Brewing Co/Deciduous Brewing, Dance Battle Double IPA
Packaging Design
GOLD: St. George Brewing Company, Core packaging refresh
SILVER: O’Connor Brewing Company, Hip Hop Anonymous Series
BRONZE: Alewerks Brewing Company, Fun Old Fashion Family Christmas Ale
Honorable Mention:
New Realm Brewing Company, Tyrannosaurus FLEX
Back Bay Brewing Co., 757 Lager Collab with Something in the Water
Can Design
GOLD: New Realm Brewing Company, Tyrannosaurus FLEX
SILVER: Smartmouth Brewing, Susan B Votin’ Centennial Double IPA
BRONZE: The Bold Mariner Brewing Company, Lucky Cat
HONORABLE MENTION:
O’Connor Brewing Company, Children of the Gourd
Young Veterans, Hazies in a Halfshell Mixed Berry IPA
Back Bay Brewing Co., 757 Lager
St. George Brewing Company, Hop Sentry IPA
New Beer Release
GOLD: Smartmouth Brewing, Pedal Pusher IPA with Bike Month
SILVER: O’Connor Brewing Company, Hip Hop Anonymous
BRONZE: New Realm Brewing Company, Mas Macho
Honorable Mention:
Benchtop Brewing Company, Twice Proven
Big Ugly Brewing, The Hand You’re Dealt (Death) Barrel-aged RIS
Curbside Service
GOLD: The Virginia Beer Company
SILVER: Alewerks Brewing Company
BRONZE: Big Ugly Brewing
Honorable Mention:
O’Connor Brewing Company
The Bold Mariner Brewing Co.
Hard Seltzer
GOLD: Smartmouth Brewing, Cirrus Key Lime Pie
SILVER: The Bold Mariner Brewing Company, Party Pineapple Mango Hard Seltzer
BRONZE: Rip Rap Brewing Co., Pomegranate Hibiscus Hard Seltzer
Honorable Mention:
New Realm Brewing Company, Cucumber Lime
Maker’s Craft Brewery, Grapefruit Seltzer
Billsburg Brewery, Hard Seltzer
Heritage Cider
GOLD: Back Bay’s Farmhouse Apple Blossom Cider
SILVER: Sly Clyde Ciderworks, Gold Rush
BRONZE: Sly Clyde Ciderworks, Stayman & Rome
Modern Cider
GOLD: Sly Clyde Ciderworks, Submersive
SILVER: Back Bay’s Farmhouse, Black Berry
BRONZE: Sly Clyde Ciderworks, Surf Hopper
Fruit Cider
GOLD: Sly Clyde Ciderworks, Sandbar
SILVER: Sly Clyde Ciderworks, Inkjet
BRONZE: Back Bay’s Farmhouse, Pungo Strawberry
