If "Hole in the Wall Brewery" was a thing, Rip Rap would be at the top of this category. Hidden gem is an understatement. Hidden Gem, for real. Sometimes great things come in small packages. This is literally a garage door Brewery. From what I can tell, everything is small batch ( see photos of Brewing area). I almost want to stop here, because from the sampling I have had the beer is AWESOME SAUCE. So far, this is the best beer I have had in the area, and I have already visited about 10 breweries between Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. I literally could waste my days here. But, it wouldn't be any where near a waste. I think I'm in love. The BEER: Break Water Cream Ale 4% ABV... Smooth and delicious, all day crushable. New Moon Schwarzbier 4.9% ABV... this is closer to a Stout with some smoke, it is very good. I was hoping for the Rausch bier flavor. Still quite delicious. Kaiyo Rice Lager 5.5% ABV... Oh Wow!!! Creamy and delicious. Reminds me of coconut water. This would pair well with just about anything. The BEST. Teak Beach tropical IPA 7.7% ABV... Party in my mouth... thus is AMAZING!!! pineapple, guava or mango, and coconut. Brian says, pineapple and Coconut, but my mind is going tropic crazy. This IPA is low in IBUs and high in full robust flavor. If you love craft beer and you are in the area. If you miss Rip Rap Brewing in Norfolk, Virginia, you have truly missed something special. PS... Brian is a font of knowledge and an overall great beertender. read more

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Definitely a "low key locals" vibe to this brewery, but a solid variety of in house brews, and super friendly staff and patrons. The beers are interesting, with some unique flavor combinations that work well, and were rather tasty. If you want to enjoy a good beer without dealing with a bunch of drunk college kids, this is is a great venue. read more

Rip Rap Brewing Co - Enjoying a flight - Breweries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

My phone is low battery, so I did not get any pictures But this place is super cool we stopped in while we were waiting to sit down at another restaurant They have board games to play and so many beers to try I will be back to try more soon the atmosphere was absolutely terrific and so welcoming read more

Found the beer selection a bit lacking. I wanted a flight but didn't see 4 that I would want to try, so just went with the IPA and it was standard. Love that you can bring your own food and that they have a game selection. Nice no frills spot with a few picnic tables and smaller bar for seating. read more

I really wanted to like this brewery because I like microbreweries and wanted to support local. But the beers here were really disappointing. None of the beers were to my liking and I felt that some of the beer was inedible. Sorry, Rip Rap. read more

Rip Rap Brewing Co - a row of beer glasses - Breweries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

We loved the vibes especially when everyone was inside playing games on a rainy day! And we ALWAYS love a brewery that lets us bring our own snacks! The beer flight is a great deal too. Very nice staff! read more

Rip Rap Brewing Co - BYOS (bring your own snacks) We brought chips and dips ! - Breweries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Nothing like going to a Coastie bar. This place is cool. Coming from San Day Diego, this place feels like home. A micro brewery with board games and park bench type seating. Due to the weather, they didn't have a food truck but I am guessing that if they did, I could have stayed there all night (at least until they close). Beers: They have a solid selection. Both IPAs and non-IPAs. I don't care for IPAs so this made me happy. Places like this usually make new flavors in order to stay relevant and to keep innovating. You should definitely go to this place. Also, I am a Gooner!!! Seeing the decal in my picture below melted my heart. read more

Rip Rap Brewing Co - Breweries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I highly recommend this place. Rip Rap was a very nice brewery which presented a much different experience than normal. A very relaxed atmosphere with plenty of seating for the day we went. All inside seating, unfortunately no food or food truck on site. However, they had all sorts of games available to play and cheap merchandise. Will be returning here in the near future read more

Rip Rap Brewing Co - Taps/Drinks - Breweries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Had a fun night and the beer was great they also have really good nitro coffee on tapand staff. Besides that the staff was really friendly if you find yourself near by definitely give it shot. read more

It's not a large brewery but it's still very nice. Has a very nice community feel. The beers aren't bad. They don't have a large selection but still for the price it's good. I tried the old salt and it was a little tart but tasty and my husband had the shipwreck and he really enjoyed it. We loved how close it is to where we live as well and with the new bike system in Norfolk we love being able to bike to all the different breweries. read more

Rip Rap Brewing Co - Lots of games to choose from! - Breweries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Great friendly brewery with a neighborhood feel. Not to small, not too big, just right. Beertenders are friendly, personable. It's also veteran owned. Great place to hang out with friends, and bring your pup they are super dog friendly! It's on the top 2 of my favorite breweries in Norfolk and the other cities read more

Just a small Brewery getting it in an old neighborhood. I like the atmosphere here-really intimate and just all about the beer. Beer (from the two I had) was great! I will be back to try some more as they brew. read more

Rip Rap Brewing Co - Just enjoying a brew before we ruin our relationship with a game of life. - Breweries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

If you need a new brewery to check out in the Norfolk scene, gotta check out Rip Rap! Liam is the head Brewmaster and he is always coming up with new beer styles to feature. The nautical beer names, Chesapeake Bay wall decor, and board games can make any sailor feel right at home! I like to try a flight of four to start each time and then have a pint of my favorite. It's a great deal for under $20! Also, there are various food trucks available especially on weekends and for events, so bring your friends and take advantage of that while you drop by for some brews with your crew; won't disappoint! read more

A dive micro brew!! Very small place. Cozy bar and good staff. Major draw back is beer. Since so small lack of choice. Beer tasty but occasionally could be better. parking can be a challenge. For non drinkers they have a solid ginger beer! Overall great small place for locals or regulars. read more

I tried five different beers and the only one I'd probably drink again would be the Bobstay. It's a very flavorful IPA with several kinds of hops that give it more of a piney flavor than a citrus profile. Very satisfying taste. I either like cream ales a or not at all and I can't say I enjoyed the Breakwater, even though the bartender told me it had won awards. Everything else, from Rules of the Road to the Foghorn tasted pretty decent, but nothing stood out one way or another. read more

Probably one of the best breweries in the area. Very overlooked but in all honesty the brewer Liam comes up with some solid recipes every time. It's awesome to go to a place where you really see and taste the love of the craft. read more

Awesome craft beer! First time we had went, I had the peppermint stout which was delicious. Tim, the bartender was one of the best. So knowledgeable and helpful with answering our questions about local stuff to do as we are new to the area. read more

Norfolk's newest brewery. It's not far from O'Connors and definitely worth checking out. It's small but cozy. Like many of the other local breweries, no food is served except for whatever food truck is parked outside. Enjoy and good luck to the owners! read more

Small venue, beers were ok, but nothing that knocked my socks off. Nice small brewery feel. Relaxed vibe with board games and a small bit cozy seating area. Worth a stop and within walking distance of OCB. So you can kill 2 birds with 1 stone. read more

Rip rap has a great vibe, of course it's Sunday morning and I'm having Coffee Stout for breakfast. The Belgian quad is the bomb, and I can do the cream ale all day loooonnnnngggg. read more

Rip Rap Brewing Co - Breweries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Open for only two months, this is an excellent new brewery in Ghent. It's not big, but more table space than O'Conner's was when it was small. The beer is great. No training wheels here. I enjoyed every sample I had and the carbed water on tap was an added bonus. As far as swag, they have the usual stuff but at least they have growler koozies which are essential for any brewery goer. All in all, this small start up is worth the trip and its five minutes from O'Conner on foot. read more

Rip Rap Brewing Co - Breweries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Riprap is a small brewery with some big flavors. Everyone was very personable and knowledgeable about the beer. They also have many board games to keep you occupied. We will definitely be going back again. read more

It was ok. Located in a sketchy area. Beer was ok. Really didnt stay long, just long enough to get a flight and sample the beer

Well made and eclectic selection of good beers. Atmosphere is very chill. Walked in on a Thursday and a very nice crowd was enjoying the excellent springlike February afternoon. I had the IPA and the Porter and they were both well made and free of flaws. Delicious. Bartender was very accommodating and knowledgeable. read more

The quality of craft beer here is excellent! I know they rotate their taps frequently, but I particularly remember the ESB ("Bitter End") and the Schwarzbier stood out as being very drinkable yet well-flavored. Liam and his staff are all great people, and everyone is very approachable. The environment is cozy and relaxing, but they still provide a fun atmosphere. It's a few blocks down the road from O'Connor Brewing Co. (another one of my favorites), so if you happen to be there and you're looking for a change of pace, try Rip Rap out. I'll definitely be back for more! read more

What a great new addition to the Norfolk Brewery scene. The place is very relaxed with a great staff and board games to pass the time. Most important: The beer is pretty good. I was pleasantly surprised. Even beers I am not normally a fan of were pretty tasty. I will definitely go back for another round. read more

I came here on a Friday night with my parents and a friend, excited to try Norfolk's newest brewery--Rip Rap did not disappoint! While parking was a bit sparse and the location slightly dicey, we felt fine walking from our car as a group of 4. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and patiently explained each type of beer several times while we tried to choose 4 for our flight. We ended up with Breakwater Cream Ale, Spinnaker Belgian Single, Park Place Porter, and the Middle Ground mild. Our favorite was a tie--the cream ale and the mild. While we sipped, we played a board game from the selection on a shelf. Super fun. We loved that the owners opened Rip Rap with a Kickstarter campaign, and wish them the best of luck! read more

I am disappointed in Rip Rap not having a Porter or Stout in the mix year round. The last time I was here (back a bit) they had an Awesome Stout on tap. Beertender says "the dark beers are out of season, so we don't brew dark beers in Summer!", so many other places to choose from, but I came here first only to be doubly disappointed. Maybe they should go to a bigger brewer and notice that they Always have Dark beer on tap. read more

This place is a gem. The beer is super good and a really cool vibe. The night we went there was a Super Nintendo set up which brought back some memories. There were a bunch of other games too. We'll be back for sure. read more

Great brewery. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. I had the flight with 4 of the lightest beers they had and each was fantastic. One of the guys in the group I was with was very interested in the process and the bartender was more than willing to show him around and explain it. I would definitely come back again. read more

A small brewery with pretty decent beer, although their tap beers rotate seasonally. The seating consists of four very long picnic tables, so you kind of have a German biergarten atmosphere where you may mix in with the other customers. While the brewery itself doesn't serve food, they frequently have a food truck outside if that is your thing. They have board games and host in-house entertainment, like trivia, from time to time too if you desire activity beyond drinking and casual conversation. read more

Worth checking out. Parking is a bit of a pain and walking too far in that neighborhood is not my dream scenario for an evening out; that being said, nice folks, you can tell they love what they make, good beers (Breakwater is solid and Akula is great when it's available). Avoid the hustle and bustle of their neighbors a few blocks away and go to Rip Rap. read more

My favorite brewery in Norfolk right now. I like this place a lot! Chill music, chill staff, chill vibe inside. I like sitting outside and taking in some of the gritty sites around... which is part of why I love Norfolk. This brewery is a great addition to our city. Where other breweries serve trendy beers to the masses, this one delivers a solid product to a select few who are cool enough to know. read more

Good selection - personal favorites are the darker ales. Flavors were high quality, some of the best beer I've had were the Running Rust and Danforth. Service was also nice, including a good atmosphere and seating area. read more

I'm not a big IPA fan but they brew an IPA here that they should call not your dad's IPA. Liam and Ben Brew some very good beer. They are located in an old garage and they have done a very good job fixing the inside. I have recommended this place to several of my friends. Come try them out. read more

Rip Rap has a nice environment and definitely gives off a Norfolk brewery vibe. The beers seemed to lack taste when my boyfriend and I went. We tried 3 different types and compared to other craft breweries in the area, they are pretty bland. But, it was still a nice place to just relax and have a beer. read more

Great quality craft beer! Super friendly service! And I love the rugged patriotic vibe with the painting of the Chesapeake Bay on the wall and the American flag! They even bring in food trucks regularly so you can enjoy some lunch or dinner with your beer! read more