Benchtop Brewing Company

Went here on Sunday with my girlfriend, my kids, and a couple of friends. This was my first time here. Located in the hip brewery rich Chelsea area of Norfolk, lies Benchtop Brewery. This is your standard local brewery serving your standard brew variations. It wasn’t bad by any means. It just didn’t stand out in a very long list of local brewery’s. We had a flight of four beers. We had a gose, porter, pale ale, and lager. None were bad. I particularly liked the Jam Pact Raspberry Gose as I have a taste for Gose’s. In fact, they have quite an interesting selections of Gose’s that might be the very reason why I go back. On this particular day, they had Hashi food truck on site. I will try to find a place to do a review for them specifically, but I can tell you the food was very well done. I mentioned that I brought my kids with me. A lot of brewery’s have a family environment, but I don’t feel that this is one of them. All my kids could do was play in the parking lot next to the patio and hang on the railings on the patio. I say that to say I wouldn’t bring my children back here.

Modern and cozy brewery. This is a great place if you're looking for a unique take on beer. It's a nice place to hang out with friends and family. There's inside seating and outdoor covered table seating. Outdoor seating is great during nice weather, and locals like to bring their pets. We came on a Sunday and made it just in time to catch the Hashi Chow food truck and bought the last 2 rice bowls left. There's limited parking around the site. I tried their beer called 1000 zombies, very refreshing and unique. There's also themed pinball machines and an old Ms PacMan and Galaga arcade machine.

Fuller's Raw Bar in Phoebus had the Proven Theory on draft and it was freaking amazing. We went back at least 3 times so I could have it again. Not too hoppy, not too citrusy, not to thick like some hazys can be... Just absolutely delicious. We're on our way back to Pittsburgh and I'm super bummed I won't get to have it again. It was delicious.

Been to a lot of breweries and this one is fantastic. Some of the best service I've seen at a brewery, bartenders attentive and on top of their game. I tried a couple IPAs and they were phenomenol. Highly recommend, will be coming back.

Small(ish) brewery that still had plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. I loved the half pour option so I could try more, and the "to-go" cooler had some additional styles. Parking in the lot was limited, but I don't think street parking would be bad during their normal hours. The bartenders were incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. Overall a great experience!

Maybe our best brewery experience during our entire Virginia getaway. Amazing beer and super friendly staff. So many foeder aged beers on tap!

Had the jam pact and if you like sours you’ll love that beer. Went for the Vegan Mart and the vendors were so friendly and vegan food was yummy. Nice atmosphere. Good time with good people!

In my opinion, one of the best breweries in the area! Great selection of beers and majority of time they have something for everyone. The staff is suburb and takes the time to get know their customer base. Fantastic atmosphere and vibe here! You have to try it!

Bench Top Craft Brewing is off the beaten path, but in a cool area with plenty of other things to do. There is inside seating in the tap room and also outside seating. I sat inside as it was November, but a warm November for Virginia. When I came in they were playing old school hip hop which I love, but about 30 minutes in they changed to that west coast alternative music that breweries are known for. So head phones in a vibe to my music. The BEER: Secret Stash... Sticke Altbier (pronounced "Shtick-uh ullt") 6% ABV... so very smooth, with malt and slightly hoppy. I love this. Jam Pact fruited Gose 7% ABV... It is a perfume gose. The combination is plum, strawberry and blackberry, but I got like raspberry which is Mt least favorite beer taste. It was okay. Proven Theory Citra IPA 7% ABV... It is a one note IPA, but that one note us quite perfect Brochachosaurus NEIPA 7.5% ABV... so very delicious, balanced and totally crushable Soft Kush Hazy IPA 7% ABV... higher in IBUs for a hazy, a tad bit dry, east coast or west coast flavor, quite good Brown Bear Honey Pot 6-7% ABV... I only tasted this and it was a sour. It was the first thing I tasted. Description said Oud Bruim w/ cherries, but I didn't catch the cherries. I liked this spot. I would return.

I came for the Vuture Vegan Food Pop up shop. Not being a beer drinker, I didn't think there would be anything for me to drink while I waited. Boy was I wrong! The Lemonade spritzer/cider/I don't know what it's called/ I just know this cocktail was the cat's meow!!

I worked with the GM of Benchtop to arrange an informal small group gathering for a Friday night. It was right before their Oktoberfest celebration and they didn't need to accommodate our group but they made it work and I really appreciate it. Benchtop is in a quiet area of downtown. They had plenty of parking in a designated lot but there is also street parking. We had about 15 people and there was plenty of room inside for us together. There was also live music outside which was great. We used a single tab for our group and everything couldn't of been easier. The beers were tasty and we even indulged in some of their Jell-O shots. I'd definitely return to Benchtop and would encourage others to as well.

We were meeting with a friend and realized we hadn't tried the local Benchtop Brewing. We found their food truck schedule and saw that a taco truck was scheduled for Saturday and it was an easy decision after that. They open at 12pm on Saturday, and they already had some guests when we arrived at 12:05, so that seemed like a good sign. They have several tables but only one low top table, so I'm glad we didn't have to fight for it. High top tables with a toddler is a recipe for disaster! Staff were helpful and attentive and they had a few different styles of beer. I saw pilsners, IPAs, sours, and a couple stouts, so it seems they have you covered. The food truck underperformed in my opinion , which I don't blame on the brewery. My only suggestion would be to switch out or add a few more low tops and a few heaters to make it cozier. I'll definitely be stopping by again and am excited for any new beers they bring online.

Came here with a couple friends to try it out... they had a pizza food truck out front which I love to see. I pizza was okay, but that has nothing to do with the brewery so I'll leave it at that. I will say the service wasn't overly friendly like I'm used to, just kind of dull. I like a good upbeat friendly bartender but that's just personal preference. I did a flight because I like trying multiple beers at breweries. Here's what I tried and what I thought: Galactic Zombie: pretty hoppy beer, but very smooth and delicious. Proven Theory: My favorite of the day, great hazy IPA Soft Criminal: Probably one of the smoothest double IPAs I've had in a while. Very good. Jam Pact: Sour beer, but full of flavor. It's hit or miss on sours for me, but this one was very good. Love the vibe inside the place though, decent music, nice decor, was a nice little place here in Norfolk. I will definitely be back.

We visited Benchtop Brewing during a vintage market held in their back parking lot. It was a beautiful warm day, perfect for brews and shopping. The name escapes me but I indulged in their house IPA and my fiancé enjoyed a non-alcoholic hoppy Tea. Both were delicious and served in a chilled glass. Service was kind and efficient. There is plenty of space inside to sit and enjoy your beverages in AC. QR codes are located on the tables, making ordering easy. There are board games for added entertainment and plenty of patio seating outside. Restrooms were clean and well stocked. I really enjoyed our afternoon at Benchtop and I even scored a really cute $12 dress from one of the vintage vendors.

Pretty good beer and chill place to go to. Ambiance (3/5): indoor and outdoor seating. It felt like a normal brewery. Lots of high top seating. It had a cool mural to look at and you can see into the beer making area. Beer (5/5) We had their sours and all were pretty good. The Mermaid's Lure has oyster juice (?) in it. It was ok, but wouldn't get again. Quick Pickle was good. Jam Pact Tayberry was amazing; tasted like a berry smoothie. Parking (5/5): Tons of parking lot parking.

Went here on Sunday with my girlfriend, my kids, and a couple of friends. This was my first time here. Located in the hip brewery rich Chelsea area of Norfolk, lies Benchtop Brewery. This is your standard local brewery serving your standard brew variations. It wasn't bad by any means. It just didn't stand out in a very long list of local brewery's. We had a flight of four beers. We had a gose, porter, pale ale, and lager. None were bad. I particularly liked the Jam Pact Raspberry Gose as I have a taste for Gose's. In fact, they have quite an interesting selections of Gose's that might be the very reason why I go back. On this particular day, they had Hashi food truck on site. I will try to find a place to do a review for them specifically, but I can tell you the food was very well done. I mentioned that I brought my kids with me. A lot of brewery's have a family environment, but I don't feel that this is one of them. All my kids could do was play in the parking lot next to the patio and hang on the railings on the patio. I say that to say I wouldn't bring my children back here.

My husband and I hopped from brewery to brewery yesterday and landed at this one. Nice place with plenty of seating and plenty of drinks to choose from. I went with the Frozen Double Raspberry Beer - it was different! Lol very refreshing but I think for me maybe less raspberry since it was a little too sour. But that's just a personal preference. Bartender was friendly and helpful. and, for the hungry crowd, there was a food truck right outside.

Benchtop is one of the most creative breweries in the city. Their products are dynamic and amazing and include examples of almost any style one can imagine. The service was also great, as the beertender guided me through a couple flights to get a good sense of their offerings. They are located right on the Elizabeth River Trail, which makes it a perfect stop for a beer while on a ride. My only suggestions would be to offer some non-beer options and more regular food. I'd come here more if they did. My wife isn't a beer drinker but we will go out to breweries that have a cider or seltzer she will drink. It would also be nice if they had food trucks more often, to make it a destination for a night out. Overall, an amazing brewery and I will be back soon!

Awe yeah! One of my favorite breweries in the area. Located in a nice quiet area of Norfolk, Benchtop has plenty of parking and has always felt very laid back and cozy for me. Like all breweries, there's a mixture of "normal" style beers to the crazy sour ones. The one thing I like about this place is they offer a full pour or half pour. I have used the half pour option when I wanted to try something that I'm afraid to pay full pour for. And...like most breweries, they usually have a food truck during the week. With the combination of indoor seating, patio covered seating and sun worshipping patio seating, I'm happy. The staff has always been friendly, and I don't think I've ever had to wait for beer. Well done. Thank you for all the beer.

It's not large like a beer hall, but it was quiet during our mid-day Saturday visit (that was a good thing). Only one employee appeared to be servicing everyone while there were only very few open seats available. She seemed to be handling everything ably. I thought the brews were a tad expensive, but good. *** It is within walking distance from a large parking lot and was serviced by a food truck. We might stop in again and if we do, we will probably order half pours.

Benchtop was a super chill brewery. They had a good selection of beers. They had a food truck there as well. We had a good time. The person helping us was great as well.

This is an amazing addition to the Chelsea district. If you like IPAs, you'll love their selections. I, however, do not, but I was willing to try several things on their menu that did not fit that criteria. I started with their pilsner. It was definitely refreshing while sitting on their deck on what appeared to be the hottest day of the summer thus far. I segued to their porter next, which came highly recommended by a close friend who doesn't even like darker beers. I was definitely satisfied. Finally, I finished with their Jam V6 -- a pineapple and cherry gose. I snapped a shot of the amazing color. Definitely check this place out. The visiting food trucks are a bonus. The one here today was the Virginia Diner. Although tasty, it seemed like the food was reheated rather than fresh, but that's not Benchtop's fault. Taste of Maine and many others have been here as well. Definitely check this place out if you're looking to try something new.

Great little spot in Norfolk. Make sure to come down and walk around too. You can work in a few other breweries too. Definitely a stop on the tour

Pay attention to what they charge you. I was charged a dollar more than the price posted on the board. When I mentioned this to the bartender, he seemed perplexed and said there was nothing he could do about it. To be fair, he asked me whether I still wanted to buy it or not. This could have been an honest mistake, but having lived in New York for some time, I have learned that charging more than the listed price is a common trick. I hope the owner or manager rectifies this soon. The beer itself was OK. It was a German style pilsner but was a little bitter and lacked crispness compared to real German beers. The place itself is cool. They have lots of outdoor space, video games, and the brewing vats are in plain view.

Very IPA / Hop lovers dream-with a side of good sours and dark beers. Basically, a well rounded brewery. I really love the atmosphere with a good selection of indoor and outdoor seating. The parking lot is a little small, but it's accommodating for a weekday, on the weekend-battle royale on the streets ensues.

Benchtop truly has some of the best beer in the Hampton Roads area. Not only is their menu diverse, they regularly put out new brews that are great quality and delicious. There is almost always a food truck on site - and the location of this brewery is to be envied. Right next to Chelsea Bake House and the Birch, Benchtop has a warm interior and outdoor seating area and their own parking lot. Whether you come here just for the beer, atmosphere, or event you will not be disappointed.

Nice microbrew here in Norfolk. Seating is on picnic style benches inside the place. This a a lace to grab great beer and talk to friends you know or maybe make new ones. There's no food available inside so hopefully the "Hangry" food truck shows up. I probably should do a review on them because they were great, and hit the spot from a night of drinking. Needless to say you need something while consuming so much beers so eat before you get here. There's a semi-live band there. I say that because it was more people singing with a tambourine but it was still nice and put everyone in a good mode. The beers are amazing and you can't go wrong on anyone of them. Just don't come hungry or you better hope the food truck shows up.

Delicious beer made from organically sourced products; what more could you ask? Very knowledgeable bartender.

I tried four different beers, and all of them were at least good. The Gusano Borracho had some orange, sour, and some chipotle spice on it, I think this would go great with some Mexican food. The Gong Water had a lot of hype, and it was a good New England IPA, but I've had some that were better. The Natural Juicy was my favorite, and this is a double IPA. It had a dry finish and while there was certainly some bitterness, it wasn't overwhelming on my palate. The white grape and mango flavor kept this beer tasting refreshing. The bartenders were very friendly and personable; they did a good job at helping me find a beer that I liked. This was a fine brewery, but with all the other quality breweries in coastal Virginia, I can't say this was a place that I'll frequent, but I may visit now and then.

Best brewery in Norfolk and that is saying something. Fantastic selection and unmatched creativity. You can absolutely taste the food science background of the owner.

Great beer with better service! Wide range of IPAs, stouts, sours etc. food trucks are always delicious.

Breweries in the 757 WATCH OUT!!! BENCH TOP IS HERE TO BEER!!!! Stumbled upon this private oasis last night. We were on our way to the Birch and happened to see some string lights and tons of people on a patio drinking beer so we stopped to check it out. Much to our surprise it was a brewery!!! It was poppin too. Tons of people conversing & enjoying the night. There was music & brews and the atmosphere was so lively!!!! We both had a flight of beer and every single beer they had was AMAZING. Literally did not taste 1 beer that wasn't delicious. They were cold and juicy and hoppy and just very tasty. It's a little small inside but they have an outdoor patio for seating as well. They also will make you a 32oz tallboy to go of whatever beer you want. I think it was like $10. MAKE THIS YOUR NEXT BREW SPOT I PROMISE YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!

I did not like their selection of beer one bit. Every single beer they have (or had) is so hoppy. They didn't have any lager or amber style beer. Maybe this brewery is more geared towards real craft beer drinkers (which I totally am not) and that's fine with me. But I feel like they need to be more inclusive of people who don't necessarily like hoppy beers and add a lighter beer to the menu. I like that they have a patio outside which adds more seats since the inside is pretty small. But they have board games and pretty good food trucks. My 2 stars mainly focus on the beer.

Nice selection of their own beer with flights available so you can find something you like. Staff is friendly. Pet friendly with indoor & outdoor seating available, weather permitting. Food is not available but some restaurants might deliver. Non-alcoholic drinks also not available.

If you are looking for IPA this is the place!! This is a awesome brewery to say the least. Its a great place in Ghent/Norfolk. Beer is awesome but the service is bad! if you don't know the servers, they are no help. My first visit here was ehh... When we came here we kinda got the cold shoulder really no interaction with info on the beers they have, service, testers etc. I was asking about whats more popular and asking details about beers on tap and didn't get much from her. The server then later had friends or family that came in and they got the royal treatment, with a smile included. I guess you have to know them to get service. Music is good, they had a good curation. They have food trucks that comes weekly and have a schedule posted. Its bike-able from where I live and have been back. Nice that there are a few other breweries in the area too.

Love this new brewery! We had a flight of all 4 beers that were on tap when we were there, and I was impressed with every one. Especially loved Mermaid's Scorn, and took a growler of it to go. It's unlike any other beer I've ever had...crisp, refreshing and with a surprising salty kick. My husband and I are still talking about it. The interior is really nicely done. A gorgeous wooden bar, lots of seating, good lighting, very clean, and they even have a play table to keep the kids happy. I'll be back!

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

The beer is very good, but a little pricey. Hard to truly enjoy a $7 beer. Definitely not a place to drown your sorrows after a divorce, but if that's your issue, the staff is friendly and will help you through it.

Helpful employees and I love the patio and the food trucks. I will be back again and again for their coastal heirloom lager. Their Oyster Raspberry Gose was a really fun surprise- so fresh tasting (and a beautiful color). I love that you can get an $8 flight so you can try a variety of what they offer. This'll be my go-to patio this summer.

Love the beers but as a couple with children who are older the little ones running around everyone can be a bit much when you just want to relax and enjoy some yummy craft goodnessthe food truck today off the chain great!

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!

Benchtop Brewing was hopping on Saturday. While exploring the neighborhood, my boyfriend and I stopped in and tried a few beers. They weren't offering flights at the time but they do offer half pours which was the perfect amount! I will definitely be back next time I'm in the area.

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.

Edit 18May: I guess breweries cannot sell food, so I upped it to 4 stars. PLEASE READ FOR WHY IT HAS 3 STARS! There's no food. That's it. Their beer is incredible. 5/5. But I can't in good heart give it even a 4/5 because when you're sitting around having a beer and you feel like you're missing something, that great burger or sandwich or what have you is the thing that is missing. BUT THAT IS OK! THEIR BEER IS AMAZING! (Don't be mad at me Benchtop). If they have since started serving food or what not I'm open to try it!

This is my favorite brewery in the area, which is saying a lot since there are plenty to choose from. Benchtop stands out in several areas - beer (arguably the most important), atmosphere, and entertainment. From IPAs to imperial stouts, this place nails beer styles across the board. Most Friday's you can throw back some beer while listening to live music, often strings bands and folk music. Their bar has plenty of seating and the large tables inside are perfect for groups up to 10. Hungry? Check out their Facebook page for their food truck lineup for the week. OR go to Chelsea Bakehouse two blocks away for arguably the best pizza in Norfolk.

Great beer selection and live music some days. There was a food truck outside too that everyone seemed to be pretty happy with. Beer selection and caliper were better than you'd expect!

Great beers in cozy tasting room. Unlike most micro brews this actually has a real bar with stools to belly up to. A major plus to me when alone or with friends. There strong suits are hoppy, cloudy IPAs. Along with some solid stouts. Some of the sours are sometimes a little lacking. Overall great place. Food trucks sometimes.

Not great descriptions of the beers- only the video board. One sour on tap but the IPAs were pretty good. I'm visiting from Iowa and had a few questions- the resting bitch face response from the bartender was not very welcoming....on to the next spot...

This place was the place to be on a Saturday afternoon because the line was outrageous. That being said, the Proven Theory was a delicious citrusy IPA that was not at all disappointing. The inside was pretty busy but had a fair number of tables and seating but given the popularity of the brewery, my group had to sit outside. The outdoor space is not great and pretty small. This place is definitely worth checking out, but probably in a smaller group.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!