If there was a competition for "most hipster bar in norfolk", this place just might win it. Love the ambience, love the draft selection, there are craft brews and sours here that you can find nowhere else, without going to the brewery themselves. Lots of imported European beers, and the tastiest grilled cheese sandwiches you can ever imagine. Cheese, meat, and beer. This place really just might be heaven. read more

The Birch - wowe. so amaze. very delish. a $50 flight of everything on Kuichi night see you again next year!! - Cheese Shops Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Had the pleasure of discovering this place during their Virginia Cider Festival this past winter. It's a lovely spot to grab a drink and bite. They have a great selection of beer and cider and everything I've eaten there has been great. 10 out of 10 recommend! read more

I love The Birch. It's very simple and extremely satisfying. Wonderful beverages, though I may need a second job to afford some of my favorites. They are a little lacking on snacks, but it is forgivable when I can find Mead. read more

Amazing, eclectic beer menu. Good vibe. Update: sour beer heaven for you sour beer lovers. You know who are, don't be ashamed. I love any bar that will do half pours. read more

First time at The Birch and it was a delightful surprise. You can't tell from the outside that it's a bar because it's in an area where not too much is surrounding it but it's such an awesome place and the atmosphere is very clam and chill. It's a small very hipster bar. Good for everyone, I even saw someone bring in there kid. The beer selection is huge. They also have a cheese plater or charcuterie selection which taste great. I had the truffle and chorizo that was my favorite. It's in the heart of Ghent so great place to check out local vibes. read more

The Birch - Cheese Shops Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Perfect wine & cheese spot! Loved the macaroons for dessert! Excellent service and a little gem tucked away towards the back of Ghent.

I don't know how the food is, but the beer selection and the service was on point. Our bar tender was awesome, and super patient. She pretty much let my wife taste every single thing that was on tap, in my books that = a great tip and review. I will be back read more

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Couldn't give them more stars because I didn't even get to try their food. I really wanted to try this place. Yelp said they were open at 3pm on Sunday's, but I checked their website just in case. Website said they were closed on Sunday's.... so I called around 2:20pm and got their voicemail which exclaimed "and now open on Sunday's at 3pm!!!" So we drove the 20 minutes to get there and guess what... they were closed. Chairs up and no one inside at 3:10pm. Pretty annoying experience. read more

This is one of the best places you can go for beer in the world, period. You probably won't know what 3/4 of the things on the tap list are, but there's never bad thing. The management does an incredible job sourcing great beers from around the world and the staff is fantastic and know their stuff. Possibly my favorite thing is the option for a half or full pour or each beer. This has spoiled me and now I'm always confused when other places don't offer this! I see people complain about food from time to time, but come on that's not why this place is here. You can't sell alcohol in many states without also selling a certain amount of food, get over it. read more

One of the best beer bars ever. Perfect selection on tap. A ton of other bottles to sample, you could come here time and time again and not order the same thing twice. Being next door to the Chelsea Bake House affords you the ability to also eat the best pizza in Hampton Road while sippin on a tasty beverage. read more

My partner and I road our bikes down from Ghent and tried out this trendy place. We sat inside because of their limited outdoor seating. The service was good and the beer was even better. However, I was disappointed when we tried the special cheese board. Portions are small. We've ordered a lot of cheese boards in our day. Their $15 cheese board will leave you wishing you had a little more to put on those 6 crackers. Value is where they really lost cool place points. We won't rush back. read more

This was our first time here and was greeted right away. Nick the bar manager showed us an amazing time. Not only did he answer all our questions, but he also recommended a beer according to our taste palates. Definitely a must go! You won't regret it. Getting a cheese and meat palate is also a must. Laid back and chill environment. read more

The Birch - Cheese and meat plater. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

What a cool little bar! Their beer selection is amazing! I love sours and most places don't have any. At Birch I was actually able to get a flight! The bartender was exceptional; very knowledgeable but unpretentious. I'm so glad I found a new favorite spot read more

The Birch - Sour flight ! - Cheese Shops Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Not thrilled with this place. I think it's way over priced. The beer is at the top of the price range. The small portion food they offered as well overpriced. We ordered a charcuterie plate . You couldn't even make a wish sandwich with the contents.Now I admit I'm a big eater but that was just Ridiculous. I did like that I was able to bring a pizza from next door. Not many place would let you do such a thing. The staff was pleasant and attentive. read more

Update: owner offered an explanation and a refund. Appreciate the time in her reaching out to me.

The bottom line is that this is a place to go for beer and beer alone. The bottled craft beer list is extensive and the draft list ever-changing. Yes, it can be pricy, but you're not going there for $5 pitchers of crappy beer. You're going there because you like the adventure of hunting for the next great pint. Ultimately, though, it's about the staff. Half the fun is learning about the beer, so don't be afraid to ask for recommendations. With owner, Ben, behind the bar, you're sure to get something delicious. However, the main question is, how long can they last in Norfolk? They've got a great thing going but perhaps too limited of a scope. The eats are pretty limited and honestly not great beer food. And if you don't like beer, well, you're just out of luck. Fingers crossed though that Norfolk will support them and keep them in business. read more

If you are a fan of the weird, the obscure, the funky...this is the spot for you. Two of my friends raved about this joint so much that I popped in a few months ago and fell head over heels for it! The extensive (and very European) beer list is out of this world. Yes, the drinks are pricey, but they had to sail on a big ship to our shores, so consider that. If there are TRUE cider fans out there, then the Etienne DuPont will strike your fancy. Ben and Malia (owners, bartenders and the cutest married duo ever) are on hand, along with Malia's mom, to sling drinks and get you to try new things. They also have a cheese pairing menu, but I haven't tried it yet, so I can't speak on it, but it looked promising. All in all, if you need a new "fancy" joint to try, head over to West Ghent and get thee to The Birch Bar. P.S. Parking is a pain to find on busy nights, but don't let that discourage you. Think of the walk as exercise to melt the beer away ;) read more

Fist off, their beer selections are on point. The major problem with this establishment deals with their food! First off, their chips are worth more than their "grilled cheese sandwiches". There is nothing too the sandwiches! Now this wouldn't be a problem if the price was worth food, but the fact customers are paying for a schlenky " grafton maple smoked cheddar, green apple mustard, prosciutto"; this sandwich has nothing to it other than bread an cheese. Basically you're paying for a slice of prosciutto, a slice of cheese, and some mustard on bread. This place is a disgrace to the food industry! Would never recommend coming here if you are hungry. read more

I was visiting Norfolk, VA and looked high and low for a place like The Birch. Too bad I only found it on my last night there or I would have been there every night. This place is glorious! Great selection of craft beers and more. I loved the ambiance and I'm very glad that no one was weird-ed out that I was playing cards with with my fiancé. Strongly recommend this place if you like beers and I will be back next time I'm in Norfolk,VA :^) read more

Great place for intimate gatherings. You can even enjoy the ambiance by yourself. The food and beer is so wonderfully priced and absolutely great. The staff is over the moon to help you decide and discuss beer :) I just love this place! read more

This is a great, local bar in Norfolk. No where else in Norfolk can you find this great of a beer selection. Prices are somewhat high, but not for what you're getting. Every beer on the menu is top quality. Staff is friendly and kind and the atmosphere is fun and laid back. Only downside is lack of food on the menu. If you're looking for a great dinner with your beer, you might want to go elsewhere. All around though, great bar! read more

Great selection of beers, ciders, and meads. I surprisingly found some that I like even though I do not typically drink those types much. The food was good too. We will always make time to stop here for drinks when in the area. read more

I know I'm going against the grain here, but I've gotta agree with Samantha P. Alright, dynamite beer selection. But not worth the prices or the holier-than-thou hipster attitude. I'd rather go to the Bier Garden, get a reasonably-priced sandwich, and a beer recommendation with a smile, not a sneer. read more

OMFG. The Birch calls itself a beer bar. I guess that's what it is. To me it's a destination. Their menu is Spartan at best (a $7 PB&J) but let's face it, food isn't the reason you go there. Beer is. Phenomenal beer. Unless you're a real connoisseur of beer chances are you've never heard of the beers they have on tap. There isn't a collection of beers like this anywhere near it. You're going to throw down some coin - no doubt about it, but chances are you're getting a beer you've never heard of, nor will taste again. The Friday cheese and beer pairings are spectacular. A thrill to the senses. If you are a fan of craft beer, I couldn't recommend it more. Warning - don't ask for a bud light, or pretty much any beer you've ever seen on a commercial.. Because they're so not gonna have that. read more

Beer selection was top notch. The service bordered between disinterest and rude. I can get great craft beer from a lot of other places and plan to do so. read more

Comfortable environment, good tunes, delicious food (and you're allowed to bring in pizza from next door!) The beer selection here is always interesting and delicious, and the staff does a great job of educating and guiding you towards your perfect brew. Brendan has provided top-notch service to my friends and I time & time again.. I'm overdue for praising this establishment and Brendan! read more

Ok... So initially, I gave The Birch a fairly negative review. After that review, I was kindly invited back, via private message, by the owner. We gave it a couple of weeks and decided to give it a go. So now, I'm sitting at the bar, having been swayed. Personally, I think getting a seat at the bar is key! Matt, the bartender has been extremely helpful and friendly. We had a much easier time making our beer selections and decided to even give the food a go! I started with a canned lager while my boyfriend ordered a porter. Nice start! Usually, we haggle over sharing foods but we easily decided on a share grilled cheese sandwich- the My Blueberry Nightmare and also ordered a 7 meat charcuterie plate. Awesome, across the board. FYI- go with the Spicy Plum Chutney! After a game of name the meat (they were all named yummy in my book), we decided on our second beers. My boyfriend enjoyed his porter so much, he opted for a second. I went with a super delish honeysuckle saison. Again, Matt was super informative, patient and friendly. I'm happy to say that I have no problem changing my review and will gladly return! read more

The good, THE BAD and THE UGLY...... THE Good....Great beer selection and the quality of the beer is good. Good use of glassware. On the down side, BEERS ARE POURED WITH WAY TO MUCH HEAD!! You pay eight bucks for a beer and get 4 inches of beer and 4 inches of head. THE BAD....Now I understand that maybe they aren't making food a focus and just need to have food since it's VA, but really THE FOOD SUCKS! For example, I payed $15 for a cheese tray and here is what I got: 4 slices of one cheese, a few crumbles of another, 4 small pieces of sausage, some stale crackers and some dipping honey. My friend got a $9 grilled cheese which was basically one piece of cheese and one piece of ham on two huge slices of bad bread. FOOD IS HORRIBLE AND OVERPRICED!! DON'T EAT HERE! THE REALLY, REALLY UGLY......WORST SERVICE AND RUDEST STAFF EVER!!! If you want to wait forever for your beer, go here. If you want to sit at a dirty table and wait an hour for it to be cleared, go here. If you want to sit at an empty table and then be told to move, go here. If you want a server to tell you they can't get you a beer because you're not in their area, go here. If you want to be yelled at to move because you're standing in front of the draft list, go here. I could give many more examples but what it basically comes down to is that the staff is rude and unfriendly and treats a lot of customers badly. It is unfortunate that a place with such good beer is so lousy. I WON"T BE BACK TO THE BIRCH!! Fortunately there are other places to get good beer in the area. COGAN'S PIZZA has great food, better than average beer and a way nicer staff. TAPHOUSE GHENT has decent food, good beer and a mostly nice staff. And if you just want to pick up really great beer to take home, go to GRAPE & GOURMET in VA Beach. They have an unbelievable selection and the nicest staff ever. read more

Good Beer & Cheese, but Over Priced I've visited the Birch Bar twice now in the past year. I was recommended to check it out by a fellow Yelper for the first time. I ended up sitting at the bar and enjoyed a few beers and cheese boards with a good friend of mine. We both figured that they were both good but a little on the pricey side. I however returned 9 months later during the middle of the week and the place was literally a dead zone, except for a small group of people sitting at the tables. Being a craft beer enthusiast I have to agree with Joe D's review, along with a couple of other Yelper's in that the beer is over priced and not entirely worth the effort in visiting this establishment. It would be nice if they could incorporate some beers that are locally brewed along with the others to help support the LOCAL economic beer scene. As for the overseas beers it would be cool if they could get some Scottish "Brewdog" beers in here, which I would happily pay top dollar here to drink. But at the current rate The "Yard-house" has a lot bigger selection of beer for a decent price. The cheese they serve; however good, isn't anything that is going to fill you up, given the very minute amounts you receive for the price. **Overall I still have a lot of mixed feelings about this place. And only ever stop by if I'm in the area, as Virginia Beach is a ways to drive. Even then the price of the beer is still too pricey. Cheers! read more

Came here yesterday!! Great beer selection. Yummy cheese and sausage. Lovely ambiance. Perfection :)

The beer selection at Birch is the best I've seen in Norfolk. It might be surprising, then, that I would not give this bar more than one star. Things The Birch Bar did well: great beer list; a very cool space (high ceilings, big patio, huge garage-style door that will give the place a great outdoor feel on hot summer afternoons); and did I mention a great beer list? So, why only one star?? Things The Birch Bar did poorly: without exaggerating, I can say that Birch had the worst service of any bar or restaurant I've been to. Ever. My friends and I arrived, and saw that the bar was mostly full. There was a table available with three chairs, and although our group had 6 people, we decided that a small table was better than none. The guys in the group let the girls sit down while we stood. A waiter walked by (without actually stopping), and rather than taking our order, he barked that they had no more chairs available so we should be prepared to stand. We took turns standing and sitting for about twenty minutes without being served before we finally started going to the bar to order drinks one-by-one. Eventually we found a larger table so we could all sit, but still - no server ever decided we were worth serving. Finally, after we had been at a table in the bar for over ninety minutes, the same barking server stopped and said "you don't need anything, do you?" At that point, we decided that we did not need anything from the Birch and we should take our business elsewhere. In short, I was very very disappointed with the Birch. Obviously, any new bar faces some small problems. Birch, for example, appears to only have one credit card reader, and paying one's bill takes far longer than it should. But I that does not excuse the fact that my friends and I were actually ignored by the service staff. We actually tried to get the attention of the waiters for the first forty-five minutes or so that we were there, but to no avail. My verdict: don't go to the Birch. While no other bar in Norfolk has the same beer selection, nearly every other bar in the city will treat you with more respect. I wanted to like this place, but they had different ideas. read more

Probably the best beer bar south of Richmond. Some of the reviews that aren't 5's kind of make me laugh...I guess if you aren't a beer lover, you wouldn't be as enthralled, as for the complaints about price....Yes there are some REALLY pricey beers here, but most of the drafts by the glass are reasonable. If you can't find something amazing and unique in a price range that you can deal with, you are being way too picky. The cheese and charcuterie boards are on the high end, but the items that they are serving are amazing quality. It's not really a place I would plan on going to eat, its clearly a beer lovers paradise, I wish I lived closer! read more

Holy awesomeness! I don't even drink beer but I was super happy about the cider choices and the fabulous charcuterie and cheese plates. It was an excellent night out! read more

Probably the best craft beer bar in Hampton Roads. This place is really just designed to emphasize the beer and everything else comes second. That being said the cheese boards at this place are probably the best in the region! I wouldn't necessarily go there for dinner per se but they have decent snacks to complement the beer drinking experience. I never actually got any growlers there but they always has something interesting on tap. The ambience is pretty cool and I generally enjoy that little offshoot of Norfolk anyway. Definitely a must see if you're even somewhat into craft beer. read more

Customer service is spelled S-H-E-L-B-Y! Wow this place rocks! Could not ask for more of an awesome staff that knows their products! First time customer, but will make this place a regular occurrence! read more

This place was dreadful. First, the bar furniture looks like it came straight out of a 1970s ponderosa restaurant. It was dark and completely uninviting. The beer selection was odd and extremely expensive for the amount they pour. Their food options consist of a 9 dollar brat or a 6-8 dollar grilled cheese sandwich. Do us all a favor and don't bother serving food if that's all you are going to serve. Do yourself a favor and go ANYWHERE else read more

Money, money, money... For sure, if you want fine craft beer, this is the place in Norfolk. The proprietor, Ben, has done an amazing job of somehow getting his hands on a wide variety of top quality kegs that are diverse, tasty, complex, and often high in alcohol. A true beer lovers dream, and worth a visit for sure when you are Jonesin for some true-brew. But make no mistake about it, this place is about money first, beer second. Sure, I get it--people open businesses to make money; good beer costs money to get here; start up costs have to be recouped; etc. Yes. But be prepared to shed some serious coin, and perhaps even to get no respect as a result. Problem one is the pour. Look at the menu on-line and there are numerous instances of $1 an ounce. The Birch embraces the "correct" glassware rhetoric, but the overly numerous instances of 9 oz. pours out of "sniffers" and slightly more than that out of "tulips"--many at $7-10 a glass, and it adds up quickly. Go to the Bier Garten in Portsmouth if you want good beer AND a real pour that doesn't hide behind this rhetoric of "proper" style as mask for money making. My own experience that suggests the money motif runs deep here is this: on a Saturday night, a large party spends $450 on beer and the few cheese plates and pretzels we can manage to get out of the wait staff (the bill probably would have been $550-600 if the staff were more plentiful or efficient). We are approached at the same time by the owner and waiter and informed that if we don't continue drinking, we'll have to leave. Uh, Norfolk's core of Home Brewing enthusiasts (you know, the people who show up on a slow Tuesday night because they can't live without good beer) just spent $450, are still drinking (and would drink more if we can flag the waiter), and essentially told, well, time to turn over these tables. A one-finger salute if I've ever seen one, and a nice anecdote to demonstrate the ham-handed, mistake prone owners' money instincts at play (not to mention the irony of this instance given the rhetoric of "small proper glassware shaped for "sipping" and "enjoying" your beer"). In short, the Birch has great beer, but be prepared to wrestle with the staff and the costs a bit. Hopefully the young owner will learn from his rookie mistakes and recognize that quality, value, and service is the triad that will make him a successful entrepreneur over the long haul. Until then, for less hassle and more beer, go to the Bier Garten. read more

Good selection of beer and small bites but way overpriced. I'm sure there are reasons for such prices, but I won't be frequenting this bar.

What an amazing find! We found this place on Beer Advocate and stopped in for a few drinks on a Friday evening. Our waitress was amazingly nice and knowledgeable, and the atmosphere was low-key and cozy. Since we were visiting from out of town, I was taking lots of annoying photos, but the waitresses actually encouraged me and helped me get better shots! They had some really rare craft beers on taps and an extensive list; the fella got some Firestone Walker and Evil Twin Biscotti, and I got a Rodenbach Grand Cru on tap, which I'm not sure I've ever seen. Awesome beer bar (with a huge cheese list and grilled cheese list) with knowledgeable, friendly staff, and an intimate atmosphere. read more

Excellent beer selection. And I'm OK with beer, don't get me wrong. But what I really love about this place is the cheese selection and the Friday night beer-cheese pairing. This weekly offering pairs three beers (a generous "tasting" pour of a couple of ounces) with three cheeses. Try one for $5-$6 or all three for $15. I always choose all three, of course! The owners are friendly, and all over social media promoting other small businesses too. The space is funky and interesting and fits in well in West Ghent, near Tortilla West and Cruzers. The beers head to the pricey side, so just beware when you order. Oh, and a final note: On the menu, don't order the popcorn, snack mix, etc. It's pretty much a ripoff when you get microwave popcorn or snacks from CostCo-size buckets in a tiny bowl. Stick with beer and cheese - nothing wrong with that! read more