If you care most about seeing cool breweries with good beer I'd be sure to hit The Veil, O'Connor, Wasserhund, Back Bay's Farmhouse, and Big Ugly. I probably wouldn't do them all in a day because they're so spread out but they're my favorites. I'd recommend hitting all of norfolk and an area of Va Beach for a long day of brewery hopping, then pottentially snagging the outliers another day. most rotate through food trucks, but you'll have to call or check their calendar to be sure; a few have food on-site.
If you're focused on Norfolk I'd hit Benchtop, Smartmouth, Elation, ( food at hanks? ), The Veil ( food at the veil? ), O'Connor ( normally food trucks? ), Rip Rap, Maker's w/ a cigar.
All pretty close to each other we've got...
Also good food / drinking spots in Chelsea and not far from Colley, the Ghent Hipster part of Norfolk.
- Benchtop Brewing Around the corner from Smartmouth. Nice, simple spot.
- Smartmouth Brewing Cool spot with some physical activity every Sunday earning a discount. Well-known locally.
Honerable Mentions Bearded Bird and Coelacanth both closed so ignore them if you find them in google results.
Great Ghent area continues along 21st street with more food options. Lattitude rock gym also nearby.
- The Veil 3-floor fancy brewery with interesting, rapidly rotating selection and on-site food. Well known and satellite from main brewery in Richmond.
- O'Connor Large open indoor and outdoor areas with interesting layout. Well known locally, one of my preferred spots, lots of events.
- Rip Rap Brewing Smaller spot with shipping containers inside. I haven't been yet but Gabrielle knows one of the owners; on my list.
- Maker's Craft Interesting beers and friendly brewmaster; a woman from NYC who's very passionate about her trade. Outdoor area, open indoor layout, and attached Emerson's if you're fancy'ing a cigar.
- Elation Brewing Down Colley headed out of the Ghent area. Also high on my list of places to check-out.
Honerable Mentions Hanks Filling Station is walking distance to Elation Brewing and sports a ton of local taps. If you want to try the area without hopping around too much, Hanks is a great place.
- Oozlefinch Chill spot right by the Fort Monroe National Monument. You'll have to go over the HRBT so plan according to traffic but could also show some VA history while out. A few interesting spots in that area too.
- The Bold Mariner In Oceanview, on the way back from Oozlefinch, on my list of places to check out. Also close to Jessy's Taqueria.
- Commonwealth Brewing Nice spot near the chesapeake bay bridge tunnel, converted firestation ( doesn't look much like a firestation anymore ). Close to Buoy 44, restaurant on the beach.
- Pleasure House Brewing Haven't been yet, on the list. Out by shore drive proper.
- Deadline Brewing Project Down the road from pleasure house, also haven't been here yet.
- Smartmouth Pilot House Try Smartmouth in Va Beach if you don't want to hit up Norfolk. This one has food.
- Home republic Brewing Idk, I guess it's on my list.
- Vibrant Shore Brewing ditto, guess it's on the list of places to try.
- Back Bay Brewing Cool small spot within an awkward shopping center. Next to my favorite tacos in Hampton Roads; Gringo's Taqueria.
- Wasserhund One of my favorite breweries, I really like the vibe. They are also a pizza joint, everything is dog-themed. This is off laskin in the Hilltop area, close-ish to the oceanfront.
Young Veterans and Reaver Beach are practically in the same shopping center with New Realm just down the road.
- Gordon Biersch Feels too corporate to me, I don't really go here unless I'm invited.
- New Realm Brewing Big open outdoors and indoors. They took over the Green Flash spot.
- Young Veterans All veteran themed; ammo cans etc.
- Reaver Beach Very beach themed.
- Back Bay's Farmhouse Super interesting location; it's an old farmhouse. Wine served downstairs and lots of open space outside. Check out the upstairs and rooms downstairs if you go.
- Big Ugly Brewing I've liked all the beer I tried here, and love the layout. Biker themed with truck engine bay fire-pits and tailgate benches.