| O’Connor Brewing Company 211 W. 24th Street | Norfolk, VA 23517 (757) 623-2337 www.oconnorbrewing.com |
O’Connor Brewing Company, located in Norfolk, Virginia, was founded by homebrewer Kevin O’Connor in 2010. He was so passionate about craft beer, he even wrote his final thesis on how to open a brewery. The original beers – Green Can Golden Ale, Red Nun Red Ale, Norfolk Canyon Pale Ale – were all first brewed in Kevin’s backyard.
O’Connor recently moved to their new location at 211 W. 24th St., between Llewellyn Ave and Granby St. They’ve also quadrupled in size. The new space offers a huge beer hall, which doubles as a 300-person music venue; a beautiful new tasting room with a 24-tap bar; a game room for shuffleboard, corn hole and private events; a movie theater-style projector; and a VIP mezzanine with a private bar.
During my visit, we sat at the picnic tables inside with a view of the brewing area. I enjoyed a sampler of 7 current draft offerings.
- Green Can – 5% ABV, 16 IBU Golden Ale
- Red Nun – 5.5% ABV, 35 IBU Red Ale
- Norfolk Canyon – 5.5% ABV, 40 IBU Pale Ale
- Lil’ S.I.P.A. – 4.5% ABV, 42 IBU Session IPA
- Bells Beach – 6% ABV, 25 IBU Fall Galaxy Saison
- All-In Wet Hop Wheat – 4.5% ABV Wheat
- Punkelweisse – 6.5% ABV, 20 IBU Pumpkin Ale
I especially enjoyed Lil’ S.I.P.A. This beer was brewed with 2-row pale malt, some honey malt, and a healthy dose of flaked rye. El Dorado hops are showcased, added throughout the brewing process. This seasonal is available from July through September. Hurry… maybe there’s still some left in the keg!
O’Connor brews can be purchased to go in growlers and six packs. Brewery tours are on Saturdays and Sundays on the hour from 12 to 4 PM. Tours are free, or a guided beer sampling can be added for $10-$12.
