Okay brewery. Was not my favorite. If you are a fan of IPAs definitely come here. All their beers are IPAs except for like 3 of them. I do not like IPAs but their brunch porter beer was actually really good, probably my fav one there because it tasted like coffee. They have a beet beer which I wanted to try but they only have it in cans, which sucked. read more

I like their beer but was overcharged for my tab at the tap house. I bought one beer and a half pour and was charged 16$ after tax. It should be 7$+3.75$ + tax. So they lost two stars bc their girl at the register overcharged me 4$ USD read more

Very cute decor and it's cool that they have the glass windows surrounding the actual tanks. This is a very small brewery with a couple long tables and a big patio (but it's over 90 degrees in the Virginia summer so I'm not going to sweat it out). My big issue is the service. I walked in an hour before closing on a Saturday night (also what kind of brewery/bar closes at 10pm on a Saturday?!) and I walked up to the bar hoping for a little menu or something to bring back to the table so I didn't have to squint up at the screen. The bar tender just sort of ignored me and didn't offer any advice or assistance in selecting a beer to try. It was like we were an annoyance to her, not a good vibe and a brewery's vibes are freaking everything. read more

Giving this a four star for vibe and (per Dan) the IPA's. If you don't drink IPA's or sours you won't find much porter or pale ale) on the menu. I know menus change, so maybe call them.... unless you really dig IPA! This is your place Great vibe and Dan loves the IPA's read more

Would give less than a star if allowed... So let's get the main reason out up front. Benchtop is recording everything you do on both video and audio. They have been found out to be recording the conversations of patrons(and staff, I'm assuming, and performers) while drinking at their bar. "Virginia law (Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-62.) states that a participant in a conversation may record it, or if one member of the party gives consent." I find this of the utmost importance considering how many of benchtops customers are either enlisted or employed by the military or a federal agency. While one may always assume in public that one could possibly be recorded, a business that makes its money off of selling and encouraging the consumption of any intoxicating substance while simultaneously recording their customers actions and words, is reprehensible to our community here in Norfolk. I would think and hope that that any employee of the government who values their job would think 3, 4, 5, and more times before visiting this establishment. Now for the other review. When I first started going to benchtop soon after the opened, I was blown away by the detail to flavor and variety that had popped up in this quaint small little brewery. The flavors definitely put them in the top notch of Hampton roads breweries immediately. Unfortunately, early "success" seems to have doomed them, among other things. They quickly switched over to pumping out almost entirely IPAs for a good 6-9 months, including a whole summer. While IPAs are a staple of the beer industry, the early grab for benchtop was certainly their variety and complexity. Now, the sours and darks are suffering from an obviously decreased treatment of additives, with a preference to leaning on the hope that we will all buy it again wishing it'll taste like that first time. The IPAs are good, but when The Veil is less than a mile away, why pay for these? And finally, it's a small bar room, which also makes it all the easier for them to record you.... But the constant addition of soley honkey tonk music that takes up the majority of a section of the bar and makes it nearly impossible to hold a conversation or get to the restrooms or one of two patio entrances is obviously just poor planning. read more

Friendly staff and nice environment. DELICIOUS selection of beer. Give the "midtown shake" (sour- with blueberry, mosaic hops, and milk sugar.) and my absolute favorite porter I've yet to come by "Walters toast" (Walters brunch base with added cinnamon, Tahitian vanilla beans and milk sugar.) 5 starts without a doubt. read more

Easily ranked one of the best breweries. I am not big on IPAs and neither are my friends but this brewery has some of the best. Every time I've been it has been pretty packed & I can understand why! The environment is great and the staff is outstanding. They have seating outside and picnic benches inside perfect for big groups and games to play while just hanging out. read more

When with some friends after work. Nice brewery with good beer. I had the Ol Brodir. Great flavor and not too strong. I don't normally like IPAs but this one was good. read more

Got there at 9:40 on Sat night. Had already done last call. Went to Smartmouth instead which happily served us two beers. Benchtop must not really be in business of exchanging American cash for beverages. read more

This place has the potential to become one of the great Norfolk breweries. I love the focus on VA grains in their grissette and use of Lynnhaven coffee in their porter. Well executed. Great atmosphere. I'll be back! read more

Benchtop Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

We were in town and decided to do a little brewery tour around the neighborhood (three breweries in a few block radius why not right?!?!) Benchtop Brewing was our favorite by far! It was really spacious inside w/ plenty of seating, but there was also a nice patio area. Loved that they had a small area set aside w/ legos and stuff for the kids to play with. We got a flight to share and everything was delicious. My favorite was the special of the day the Mexican Street Kolsch! It was crazy how you could taste the cilantro & peppers. Very refreshing! What my hubby refers to as a lawn mower beer! We would definitely come back next time we are in town. read more

See all

I didn't even know this place existed, there are always so many new breweries opening its hard to keep track. I only came here because Waffletina was having a pop up brunch here on a Sunday afternoon. When I heard that they had a sour beer, I got excited, because a lot of places don't offer it, but the taste was so salty, I wasn't able to drink even a sample of it. While I waiting for Waffletina to open, I grabbed their porters, Deschain's delight which is aged with coffee and cacoa nibs. It wasn't super sweet or heavy like a stout, definitely something that anyone can enjoy. The area isn't setup well for waffletinas presence. The line stretched from one end of the place to the front door, which happen to be right in front of the entire bar area. Trying to get another beer was impossible, so I decided against it. Hopefully if/when they pair up in the future they can figure out another way to handle this. read more

4 stars for the beer, 2 stars for the service. I visited last weekend with a group of friends from out of town. I've had Benchtop's beer all over Norfolk, but had never made it to the brewery, so I was excited to give it a go. As mentioned in a couple other reviews, the bartender wasn't very helpful with questions, and they weren't allowing samples due to covid. We made our selections, and headed to our table. I got the Jam Pact cherry & pineapple sour. It was reminiscent of the Italian ices I used to crush as a child, and I was here for it. About 15 minutes in, a staff member approached our table and told us last call was in 5 minutes, and that whether we were done drinking or not, our table would be cleared at 9:55 on the dot. After she left, I went inside to use the restroom and close my tab. I saw a beer that caught my eye that I hadn't seen before and decided I wanted to snag a half pour. The bartender refused to serve me, and said that I was too late for last call, never mind that the party in front of me in line had ordered a full round of full pours just moments before. I totally get that there are new rules that breweries have to adjust to right now- but refusing to sell me a 6 Oz pour with 25 minutes until closing seems kind of silly. I'll probably give this place another try but there are a lot of other breweries in this area with a staff more friendly and accommodating. read more

I'm addicted to proven theory !! Favorite brewery in Norfolk !!atmosphere is great and staff is courteous and smart !

Amazing beers. Corbin and Dale are tremendous ambassadors for the business. Beers far surpassed many styles from other breweries. I left with many cans and shirts. They are less than a year old but I really hope they make it. A discerning beer drinkers dream. GO HERE! I had no expectations when I popped in. I'm not a friend or paid advertiser. I just love this place read more

Great brewery in funky area of Norfolk. Loved the super strict Covid controls, watched the staff constantly cleaning and making sure people wore masks. Lots of outdoor seating, one of the best brick oven pizza joints in Hampton Roads right around the corner (Chelsea Bakehouse). Pizza paired well with the Proven Theory IPA. read more

So I have been here twice for this review na d a solid 4 stars now. The beers just keep amazing me each time. The area is awesome they have parking in the lot and a food truck right outside the door. So why am I not giving a five star. Not open Monday or Tuesday. Awesome beers. Awesome tap room and the bathroom actually has two spots. Lol. No but rally this will be a top brewery this year in Norfolk!!! Keep it up guys! read more

My husband and I love to walk to the many breweries in town and were excited when Benchtop opened nearby. The first time we went there we had a great time - good brews, food truck, lively atmosphere. The second time is the last. We stood by the bar for over 10 minutes while three bartenders talked amongst themselves and then assisted other customers,while we tried to catch their eye and place an order. Apparently, we are not hip enough to be served! We voted with our feet and walked down the road to Smartmouth where we were served promptly with a smile. We are spreading the word wherever we can--If you have gray hair, you are not welcome at Benchtop! read more

Benchtop Brewery is a very nice establishment in a weird location. The inside is not overwhelmingly big but is big enough that it wouldn't be overcrowded if you wanted to grab a couple beers with a few friends. They have a great selection of beers, my favorite is by far the Gong Water, as long they offer it I will always get a growler full! They also have a few games off to the side that you are able to bring to your table if you wish. They do have an outdoor seating area on both sides, where you and your pup can hang out. On weekends you will always find a food truck right outside to grab a quick bite while you hang out! read more

This is our favorite brewery in town. They have a beer for everyone! The bar keeps are friendly and easy going. They also partner with the best food pop ups and trucks in Norfolk. We try to go at least two times a month and it's worth the tolls. read more

Would have liked to have tasted their beer, but after standing in the serving line, then watching the server's friends arrive and be served ahead everyone in serving line, I left and will probably never return. Perhaps someday I might be a friend of the brewers and servers here and might perchance be worthy to be served a beer at Benchtop, until that time, there's plenty of great beer in Norfolk with servers willing to serve people other than their friends. Rip Rap brewing and Coelacanth brewing has great beer and great service, O'Connors brewing, Smartmouth brewing, Bold Mariner Brewery all have great beer and great service. read more

This is my favorite brewery in Norfolk. I absolutely love the different beer combinations and the growlers. I will be going back there again very soon. read more

Random Saturday outing with my husband and he took me to Benchtop because I had never been. Despite the onslaught of plaid flannel, I felt completely welcome and comfortable. I had a half pour of both sours available one was an oyster citrus and the other was a beet and berry. Yum! He had a full pour of Walter's Brunch, a porter with coffee and chocolate. Outstanding! The guys behind the bar were helpful and knowledgeable. The only reason it isn't 5 stars is because we are not into IPAs which was the majority of choices. The limited offerings we could choose from were stellar. read more

Though Norfolk's newest brewery in West Ghent has only been open 3 weeks, my husband and I have driven in from Virginia Beach 3 times. I cannot get enough of The Mermaid's Scorn! Speaking as a wine snob, The Mermaid's slightly salty, hint if lemon flavor has totally won me over! We will definitely return to try with the food trucks and their offerings. Hoping Benchtop's cicerone will help with recommendations on pairings. Brewery is airy with plenty of seating. Bathrooms are spotless and make your mother happy clean! Sodas are available for the designated driver. Washing my growler now..... read more

See all

Great brewery, great beers, great people. What more can you say. Got to take some great beers back to NJ. They can put anything on tap in cans to go. read more

Innovation is a word that comes to mind when talking about Benchtop. Who else has made a beer in the Norfolk area using Atlantic Ocean water & sea salt as a Gose? Or a Kvass beer with beets? A blueberry blonde sour with a "ton" of blueberries? A Grissette (a lower abv% cousin of the Saison that was originally brewed for miners)? No one I can think of. That's why I rate Benchtop so high, because they're thinking & brewing outside the box. Who wants to be ordinary in this day& age? There are plenty of other local breweries that check that box off. When you go to Benchtop you expect the unexpected, but that's not to say they don't garner praise for more standard styles as well. Need a Coffee Chocolate Porter to get you worked up? How about some "Juicy" DIPA/IPAs with sought after hops used? (There's usually about three on tap at any one time.) Want a Saison or a Blonde Ale? They've got those too. I guess the point I'm trying to get across is that the beer is unique, tasty, & well-crafted...which isn't something that can be said for most new breweries this early in their stage of development. Hurry over without any worry. The first pint is on me (as in, "all over my shirt, because I get so excited over their new creations"). read more

Benchtop Brewing - Mermaid's Scorn - how I miss you. Please wake from your watery playground and return to my arms. - Breweries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

The beers here are inventive and amazing! I have found a new reason to come back to Norfolk after saying we would never leave Ghent!

Pretty chill brewery the bartenders were very friendly and helpful when we were ordering our flights. They also had a nice patio area with a decent amount of tables and chairs and the neighborhood was quiet. Seems like a place where a lot of locals visit I saw a few people stop by with bikes. If definitely visit again. read more

Their beer is TopNotch, they are starting to let you take Crowlers of all styles away if you can't stay to indulge which is Supercool!!!

It's rare to see such a young brewery with every beer on the menu at this kind of quality. This was a great find!

Awesome brewery with great service and patio. They are always introducing new and exciting brews to keep you coming back. They have food trucks Thursday-Sunday to fill your bellies while drinking their tasty brews. Highly recommend! read more

THey do all the styles well. IPAs are great, sours are solid and their dark beer game is amazing. Had a great time talking with the staff and trying things out. Super friendly and inviting people. Best brewer in the area. read more

Had the pleasure of visiting this brewery last weekend...was very pleasantly greeted. The offerings were some of the best I have had locally. Very knowledgeable owner, can tell he really cares about his product. Great atmosphere too. We will be back for sure and look forward to the new and exciting flavors to be offered read more

They been open for awhile now and yet their beer selection remains less than impressive. Granted I am a porter/stout guy, they have a long a long way to go to impress me with something tasty. read more

Amazing beer and even better staff! If you haven't been, you're missing out! If you're a fan of IPA, this is your place.

I had heard good things about the beer here so my husband and I went to try it. We sat at the bar since we were only going for one or two drinks. We had four bar staff walk past us at least two times without greeting us or asking if we needed help. The couple next to us who had walked in after, got helped before we did. AND it wasn't even that busy! Beer was okay; my husband did like his choice. We've had better experiences else where. read more

If you're into top notch beer, this is as good as it gets. Close to Smartmouth but in a class of its own.

Every beer is creative and delicious! The staff is very friendly. Highly recommend. You will find yourself wanting more.

This is a wonderful brewery, possibly my favorite in the area. It's on the small side but they make you feel at home. All of the beers we sampled were wonderful. They staff are very helpful and don't try and rush you towards closing time like other places in the area. This is a place I will keep coming back to read more

Outstanding beer, courteous staff, nice cozy atmosphere, this is a regular stop for us! The Grammy's Famous Gose is wonderful, as is the Mermaids Scorn Gose Sour. I'm over the IPAs for now so didn't try them but I'm sure they're as well put together as the other selections read more