Commonwealth Brewing Co — Restaurant in Virginia Beach

Since opening its big garage doors over 8 years ago in the old Chesapeake fire house off Pleasure House Drive Commonwealth had evolved.

They now offer more brews in their tap room and have expanded to Richmond, Va. Their second generation brewmaster has been phenomenal!

I have not been a regular at Commonwealth for sometime now with pandemic woes and business travel, but have returned this Spring. All aspects of the business are firing red hot after their expansion. The pandemic years seemed to never have slowed them down.

Commonwealth now offers food from their own kitchen which was a struggle with the city to get it done. So food truck days are gone which is a bit sad, but it's progress as the neighborhood constantly complained of their presence where it parked. It'ssimple menu they can do well featuring signature wood fired pizza, but also burgers, wings and a few healthy options like salads. Everything is done by using a QR code and ordering off an app They even now offer a menu of their own coffee brand Common Coffee. Most recent was a great burger, fries and Wealth brew.

A few years ago they expanded their footprint and added a huge park like area to the side with picnic tables. Its actually larger than what they need on a daily, but can be used for special events outdoors. They still offer a special events room indoors.

For me what's changed the most is the atmosphere, yeah, yeah we now call this vibe in cool places. It's a beer destination with local vendors that offer items outside under tents, live music and a beefed up merchandise selection.

From the beginning I felt Jermey, the savvy owner was tapping into areas where he could grow. It started with quick local distribution and has evolved into much more of a branding of the business. Locals have supported his tweaking of a vision that now seems to be hitting its stride.

A strong 5 stars and will return this Summer for bites, music and friendships with epic brews in hand. Keep up the great work...

Commonwealth Brewing Company and Wapatoolie

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

During my recent visit to Commonwealth Brewing Company, I had a fantastic time with family, enjoying the vibrant atmosphere and exceptional beer selection.

Beer Highlight: Wapatoolie

A standout choice for me was Wapatoolie, a tropical American IPA that perfectly embodies the essence of summer in a glass. The beer presents a delightful blend of vibrant flavors, with juicy notes of pineapple and ripe mango that create a refreshing experience. The hop profile is well-balanced, providing a pleasant bitterness that enhances the fruit-forward taste without overshadowing it.

The aroma of Wapatoolie is enticing, featuring strong tropical fruit scents that set the stage for an enjoyable sip. Its golden-amber hue and slight haze, topped with a creamy white head, only add to its appeal. With a smooth mouthfeel and a crisp finish, this beer leaves a lingering tropical aftertaste that's hard to resist.

Atmosphere and Experience

Commonwealth Brewing Company offers a welcoming and lively environment, making it a great destination for family outings. The brewery's ambiance combines a rustic charm with modern touches, creating a comfortable space for patrons to relax and enjoy their drinks. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, adding to the overall positive experience.

In addition to Wapatoolie, the brewery features an impressive selection of other craft beers, catering to a variety of tastes that everyone in my family was able to enjoy.

Overall Impression

My visit to Commonwealth Brewing Company was delightful, highlighted by the exceptional Wapatoolie and the warm, inviting atmosphere. Whether you're a local or just passing through, this brewery is definitely worth a visit for its excellent beer and welcoming environment. I look forward to returning for more good times with family...

been here at least a dozen times. do love the place but last night was a BIG hiccup on multiple levels. after ordering the wife noticed we had been sitting around for over 40 minutes waiting on our pizza. I looked around and nobody in the entire room had food. I walked to the counter and sure enough the server noticed that nothing had been ordered in the system for the last 40 + minutes. I suggested he check with the back. he did and came back out and everything showed up on the screen now and we were last on the list. we continued to wait while I had another beer and another 4 minutes went by before we were served and they served people who had come in after us before they served us. the pizza was a tad lame compared to the other versions of the same pizza I've had there before. it was the appalonia and the sausage pieces were about the size of a pea or lima bean......very small and very few pieces per slice. almost invisible. the hell of it is when you buy, the POS system makes you tip before the food is served or the service is experienced. last night I woulda walked out without tipping.

I'm also of the opinion that something should have been done to mitigate the egregious error because there were 5 people standing around behind the bar and nobody noticed that no food was coming out for just about a full hour.

this won't stop us from going but overall, there were multiple people (including the entire kitchen staff) that didn't notice the issue. bad service and that pizza is something I wouldn't order again because it was great ingredients but miniscule ratios that...