NORFOLK, VIRGINIA
A family-owned enterprise located at a pale blue brick auto garage, COVA BREWING & COFFEE HOUSE became Norfolk’s second coffeehouse/brewery in June 2020 (months after Elation opened for biz). Spread over a generous expanse in the city’s Ocean View section, Cova includes a tent-covered cement-floored deck, large black gated grass courtyard (with large Adirondack chairs and firepits) and a tiled patio.
A proud community-minded business, Cova supports several local non profit organizations. Its pristine neo-Industrial interior features epoxy floors, elegant wood-plastic furnishings, cozy walled benches and a mod self-help 14-draught serving station with brew tanks stationed towards the left.
On my July ’23 Sunday morning stopover, head brewer Matt Topping’s rangy brews caught the attention of my old college pals, Bob and Jeff.
Crisp light-bodied German-styled OV Pils retained dank grain musk and light floral herbage, reaching its toasted white bread base.
Sessionable You’re So Golden Ale let lemon zest brighten its grassy hop stead over mineral grained pilsner malting.
Polite amber lager, The Rocket, plied light red apple ripeness, subtle coffee-stained toffee and cellared peat mossing to gluey pale malting.
Amiable summertime flagship, East Coast Blonde, let Mandarina Bavaria hops provide lemony tangerine tartness for sweet amber graining in an easygoing manner.
Delightful gose mainstay, Aloha State Of Mind, linked tart passionfruit and floral hibiscus adjuncts to salty coriander-spiced lemon liming, sour green grape esters and herbal lemongrass minting.
Strawberry salted dog cocktail knockoff, Sour Street Strawberry Basil Gose, picked up limey watermelon brining and white peach tartness.
Another fruited gose, Watermelon Crawl, let its watermelon-candied tartness receive blush champagne, sparkling wine, rosé and cranberry illusions as well as mellow rhubarb souring.
Sweet orange peel regaled Shoobie Cold IPA, gaining lemony tangerine and pineapple tanginess over sugary pale malts.
Milk-sugared coffee and Tahitian vanilla beans combined for heavenly Coffee Snob, a vanilla latte stout with bittersweet dark chocolate syruping, nutty caramel sweetness and gentle black peppering.