Visiting in Norfolk

stop by Veil, always a good selection of stuff to go. i was impressed by Benchtop as well, lots of cans to go.

 

The best bottle shop locally is Bottlebox. Plenty of local options there, you can make mixed packs, and it is less than half a mile from Veil which is a must stop and will have plenty of to-go cans. Veil should have some anniversary stout bottles too if that interests you.
Benchtop (my neighborhood go to) is also pretty close by the others and will have a nice selection of to go options.
Both Benchtop and Veil are pretty good about listing on their websites what is there if you want to look ahead.

 

If you have the time I would also recommend Commonwealth Brewing. Solid on the hazy IPA front with lots of can options to go. It has a Va Beach address but is only about 20 mins away and not actually in the heart of Va Beach. It's on the bay side. You should be able to find cans in shops nearby too if you don't have time to get there. I was also impressed with Coastal Fermentory's IPAs in Newport News when I visited a few months back. That's about 30 mins away. It's right over the beltway bridge (664) but that's a toll so if you go then maybe the tunnel on 64 though that can sometimes be a pain depending on time of day. If you do go and like fruited sours Oozlefinch in Fort Monroe is a quirky spot too.

Post Secondary Brewing is the newest brewery in the area and opened earlier this month. I live a few hours away so have not been but like to try / support new breweries when I travel. Ratings on Untappd have their beers being middle of the road which is to be expected for most new breweries.

 

You couldn't know this, but this weekend is Something in the Water music Festival in VB. Although its mostly at the oceanfront, not shore drive area, I/any locals would avoid Virginia Beach zip codes at all costs unless you like nonsense tourist (30k+ people) crowds.
Commonwealth is great though.

Good reminder I should try Post Secondary sometime.

 

Yikes! Defintely avoid that then. Looks like bottleBOX keeps their crowler/growler/can list updated on Untappd and it's pulled on their website too so definitely reference that OP. Triple Crossing - DDH Valhalla is excellent if you want a fill. Not VA but looks like they have some Great Notion, Frost, Equilibrium, and Foam which what I've had from them IPA wise is pretty solid as well.

 

I hit Post Secondary this past weekend, had their nitro oatmeal stout. Pretty good. They're right on High Street, so easy to find. Parking isn't that messy on weekends either.

 

From the perspective of not having a lot of time to beer hunt…do Veil and Benchtop. Your needs should be adequately met there and they’re extremely close. Just hope there’s no freight train in the area at the time!

I’m obviously a NYer, but I’ve been in that area enough to really appreciate Benchtop. I’m a big fan, the prices are good, their lagers are just a notch below the Fox Farm, Suarez and Notch I get around here (high compliment, not any kind of knock), and the service is always friendly and helpful. Commonwealth is a good half-hour away (I find there’s always some traffic in their area) but I do concur with that recommendation too, it’s always a stop for me off the bridge coming from NY, but if you’re pressed for time, just buy some extra at the other two places.

Is this where I add RIP to Grape & Gourmet? Much missed imo.

 

Nice, sounds like you did the NFK day right.

We did this exact same thing on Saturday, we live nearby.

 

I was gonna recommend Raising Cane’s to you (on the Old Dominion campus) because I use that as my excuse to run over from our VA Beach house to Norfolk to make my Benchtop/Veil run but I googled it and you have those in Texas. We don’t have that around me, so it’s an event for us. Love their sauce.

Sounds like you had a great time. We’re skipping Sandbridge this year, so I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little jealous of your trip.

One year, we did the USS Wisconsin and walked along the Elizabeth River before Benchtop opened (veil location wasn’t there yet) and it ended up being a great day. The ship is huge, the pathway was filled with the letters written to and from the servicemen and the walk alongside the trail and docks was nice. Having a beer afterward and taking a case home was definitely an added plus. There was an awesome sweet shop next to the ship for the kids too.

 

Quick note: the Raisin Canes on Monarch Way at ODU is no more... its now a Chik Fil A. So you can still get your chicken on - as long as its not the Sabbath.

 

Whaaaattttt? That sucks.

 

The tradition - at least from my experience - is you get the (often excessively foamy) partial glass gratis. Although, in the modern era with 5 gallon "kegs" and selling (near) pints, that probably happens too often for many stingy bar owners.

Mixing draught and canned version to top off the glass, if that's what happened, is pretty unusual, too.

UNLESS, you paid for the draught and got the can for free?

 

Free partial glass was always my understanding but have also witnessed, the partial glass being dumped and wait for a new keg. And also partial glass sits under the tap until new keg tapped to finish filling it.

Not to stray but it reminds one time I pointed out my glass was cracked. The bartender emptied that beer into a new glass. Umm, No.

 

When I bartended, a kicked keg mid-pour was free if we didn’t have another keg of the same beer in the walk-in. I would hold it off and pour a fresh one out of the new keg, if we did.

 

Wow, that’s extremely irresponsible.