Smartmouth Brewing Company (Norfolk Va.)

    Norfolk now has to make room for two local breweries. Smartmouth brewing got off the ground in November of 2012. The principal owner, porter, left his career in law to get more serious with his hobby of home brewing. He is extremely modest about his experience making beer but has a good sense in what a brewery and tasting room should look like. The tasting room is contemporary simple and industrial. Smartmouth already has a line of merchandise including t-shirts, hats, magnets, and growlers. They even offer an aluminum insulated growler with flip top. The core beer line up includes a IPA, an amber, and a saison. These beers have found several on premise homes in Norfolk, as the big chalk board at the tasting room shows over 40 taps in the market. 

  

      The location of this new brewery is convenient to those leaving work in the city or heading out from the ODU campus. The parking was very limited and the seating situation the weekend before Christmas was sparse. There didn't appear to be room for music, outdoor seating or a food truck. It has been these things that have grown Hardywood into the place to be, on a mild winter or cool summer evening. I also would like to see more variety in what they brew. All of the beers they currently produce are known for the hop flavor. I just saw today where they are producing a porter for January. I'll get back down there sometime I'm sure.