the birch bar

great beer, great atmosphere, great staff.. i went to birch bar last saturday night with my husband and two friends. we were thrilled to discover gordon working there. he's a mainstay of the ghent community and a really nice guy. i worked at azar's on colley when they opened in 2003 and gordon came in regularly and was one of our nicest customers. i think he has every right to expect courteous treatment as a server because he gives the same as a restaurant patron. the atmosphere at birch is great. it's crowded and lively, but not so loud you can't have a conversation. we didn't have any food while we were there, but i had already read online not to expect a full menu, so we ate at home before coming. i tried two beers, both i had never seen before in this area, and i loved them both. as for location, i think birch bar is in a great spot. i live just a few blocks away in west ghent, so it's an easy walk, but for those who live further away, they have a large parking lot available one block away. this makes parking much easier than anywhere in east ghent. contrary to the opinion of"thebeergoddess" in her review, the area is also quite safe, west ghent having some of the lowest crime rates in norfolk. this is no "mugging and raping" haven. according to the recently issued (oct 2010) police report on west ghent, the area has been essentially crime free other than a few car break-ins. i think some people are just afraid of the dark. : ) i would have no problem walking in this area at night with my girlfriends. another thing to note is while beergoddess sings the praises of grape and gourmet, they are not a bar, they are a retail store. grape & gourmet does have a nice selection of beer, but again, it's a store not a bar so i wouldn't consider them comparable to birch. anyway, birch is well worth a visit. it's a lot of fun and i'll definitely be back regularly.

enormous potential. everything about the birch is awesome. it's tucked away in the lambert's point area of west ghent - quiet and secluded. the vibrant colors of the building's facade are artsy and inviting. inside, the ambiance is dimly-lit, with the hubbub of patrons filling the room. it really is a joy to have a place like this, focused on craft beer, in ghent. with a large selection of craft beers on draft, bottles and cask, the birch is something of a norfolk bier garden (albiet with significantly less focus on food). for the record, i really enjoy the birch and have been up there with friends and family close to 10 times since they opened their doors. very glad to have them in norfolk!

but no establishment is perfect and i do have a few criticisms. i believe the birch to be understaffed, primarily with regard to bartending. on occasion, myself (and others i've witnessed) would patiently wait at our seat at the bar, with an empty glass in front of us. sometimes for a number of minutes. this shouldn't happen. i think part of the problem is that since it's a bar focused on craft beer and the conversations that surround it, some of the staff get involved in these conversations and unintentionally neglect other patrons ready to order more. if they were to hire an experienced bartender (or two), these people could engage the customers more, talk about craft beer more, help out on occasion, but primarily let the experienced bartenders do the heavy-lifting. especially when the birch is at maximum capacity and things are very fast-paced. i've heard similar concerns voiced about their lone waiter.

having said all that, i have complete confidence in the birch becoming a successful business and i believe they have enormous potential. the owners are very knowledgable and fun and really have something special with the birch. despite a few things they need to focus on, they've got everything in place to become a wildly popular venue!

the birch: a beer mecca. pound-for-pound one of, if not the, best beer selections of any bar i've ever been to. all killer, no filler. drafts change daily, so if you don't like the selection today, come back tomorrow! these beers are adequately priced and you can get great value on draft beer to go! if you're a beer fan, new or seasoned, you can find something for you. it just might change your life.

pleasant dark ambiance, and an always friendly, cohesive staff. handled the grumblers below appropriately. my thoughts:

(a. if you can't tip, don't go out, and b. if you can't afford to go out to an "expensive" beer bar (or ruth's chris, or fancy sushi dinner) then especially don't go out. this is america. the service industry works for tips; this is not uncommon knowledge. gordon pays his bills by his tips, not with his wages or with the revenue you spent in beer. and if you can't recognize the value and reason behind a $7-$8 small serving of a 10%+abv beer you can't find anywhere, then i suggest you take up another hobby.)

that is all.
the birch rules.

it's about time. thank god for this bar! i moved here from the chicago area about 6 months ago and have been to every so-called "craft beer bar" in the area searching for anything that resembles one. everything, until now, was laughable...at best.
ben, the owner, is great. this guy knows his beer and so does his wife and staff. the selection is second to none in this area. also, love that all the beer is also available to be taken home in a growler.
it attracts the people i want to hang out with as well. a place where a beer geek like myself can find others who appreciate and want to talk about the fine brews that are offered.
the bar is trendily understated with little to no signage to leave the beer to be the star of the show. simplicity at its best.
this is a place beer lovers absolutely should not miss! simply the best in the area!!!

the real deal for beer. really a great addition to the norfolk landscape. a much needed place for very excellent and huge selection of craft and cask beers. the landscape is ever changing as well with new additions all the time. haven't had a bad selection yet. ben and crew will tell you what you are in for in each selection. and there is a rhyme and reason for the cost of each beer and the glass you drink it from. as this is not just your average beer, the glass highlights particular styles and flavors. the food selection is fairly minimal at this point, but this is a craft brew place. their food choices compliment the beers and the cheeses and particularly the grilled cheese sandwiches are excellent. we'll see if the kitchen expands its selections, but be assured it won't be at the sacrifice of the beer. if this bud is for you, this might not be your place. but if you like taste, excellent beer and well....even more and different excellent beer, then stop by and make sure to talk to the staff about what to try. you won't be steered wrong. and be safe- a designated driver will be necessary, especially after a few selections. or, you can just live in west ghent and walk!

love this place. first off let me say that i love trying new things, and the beer world is one that has recently been opened up for me. there is no more perfect place than the birch for a guy like me - and a lot of others in the hampton roads area.

they still fill up quite quickly on these first few weeks of being open, but it's still a great place to congregate with friends or perhaps make new ones who share the same love for craft beer as yourself. great ambiance - no super loud music, no superiority complex, just a great place to go.

the owners and staff have great knowledge of the many beers they serve, which is amazing considering how much the beer list has already changed so much in so little time. it seems that there will always be new things to try, and friendly folks to recommend something that you might not have other tried otherwise.

i highly suggest going to the birch, pulling up a bar stool, getting a cheese plate or grilled cheese sandwich (both excellent) and trying something new. you can also buy a growler and fill it with your favorite beverage to enjoy at home.

finally, a real craft beer bar in norfolk!. i just got back from my first visit to birch and to say i was impressed is an understatement. my son is a regular and has been singing this bars praises so i had to give it a try and wow am i glad i did. first was the atmosphere: great lighting, great music playing, and a very cozy and inviting atmosphere. then the owners and staff: very friendly and helpful. ben was right there introducing himself and welcoming me. first he set me up with the cuvee brut: omg! i am a huge geueze and lambic fan and this did not fail to impress. a saison, followed by a kolsch and i was in beertopia! malia came over to make sure we were enjoying our experience and we assured her we were very happy! ben and malia keep it up! you have a regular customer! this is just what us craft beer lovers have been looking for!

thanks birch. let me say first and foremost, as a lover of craft beer, i'm used to having to drive out to richmond to get a great beer on tap. i have waited for a bar to come to this area that felt the same way i do about good beer. the birch gets it. ben, gordon and the whole crew are great people! they work themselves crazy making sure everyone gets taken care of. i wouldnt hesitate to recommend this place to anyone. go on over and you'll see what i mean.

this is honestly the best place in ghent, maybe hampton roads, to get a beer but only of you enjoy good beer. the selection is amazing and they have a great turnaround on bottles and taps so there is always something different. the food is perfect to just munch on while enjoying the beer and the menu reminds me of little beer bars in amsterdam and paris. don't let negative reviews sway you from checking this bar for the great brews and amazing workers. seriously, do yourself and mouth a favor and run to the birch bar and enjoy yourself.

awesome!. the birch had a great beer selection, awesome customer service, and great snacks too! if you're looking for a chill and welcoming atmosphere to try new beer, gain knowledge, and broaden your horizons, this is your place. the bar reminds me of the european bars i've been to in paris & spain...a knowledgeable, welcoming staff and homey atmosphere, all about the beer. i'm not an expert on beer and was a little intimidated by the selection, but the staff is very welcoming and warm and are willing to introduce you to new delicious brews!!

in regards to the negative reviews about price, atmosphere, and parking - this bar is in ghent! when the has there ever been parking in ghent? considering the rarity of the brews they carry, the prices are more than reasonable and if you're looking for a place to "pick up the chicks and get wasted" then you're in the wrong part of town. nothing against downtown, but you might want to try granby for that. ** don't get me wrong, it is definitely becoming a regular for my friends and i, all because ben and his staff have been able to create a cultural and fun atmosphere for their customers, without sacrificing their focus and passion for good beer.

i'm proud to be a ghent resident because of places like the birch!!

cheers to you, birch bar.

my opinion. first, we feel the birch bar is a breath of fresh air for the ghent neighborhood! i'm not a true connoisseur, at least not yet, but i learn great things about beer every time i've been there, and i feel both ben and malia , are very knowledgeable about the beer, and have always been nothing short of friendly to me.
this is a new venture and as with anything new it takes a bit of time to work out any kinks, i think the owners are open to suggestions, but i think we all, as patrons should have patience, as was stated, this business is only 3 weeks old. but if the tap house (or the g & g) is more your speed then far be it from me to try and change your mind, (it's really hard to take into consideration the opinion of all when in this case the opinions seem to conflict.) your going to miss out on a wonderful experience not found anywhere else around this area!

birch bar is best. this is the best beer bar i have been to in hampton roads. it's not even close. their draft selection is a great mixture of many different styles of craft beer. the folks who are work there are very friendly and eager to answer any and all questions or make a great recommendation. this is a bar that the 757 can brag about! beer heaven!

it's about the beer!. i've been to the birch a few times since they opened on january 1st. whether the place is packed or has just opened with only a few customers at the bar, i receive the same service. knowledgeable and helpful. the staff converses with their customers more than i've ever seen. i've visited the birch alone a couple of times and never once felt that was actually the case. not only is the staff friendly and inviting, so are most of the people that go there. after sitting at the bar for an hour and a half last night, i had spoken with all of the wait staff and met four people. you couldn't ask for a better environment. great music lightly plays so it can be heard, but not so much that you have to yell to talk. the lighting is warm and cozy, allowing you to feel comfortable while giving off plenty brightness to see everyone around you. it's not your typical bar. they offer a few snacks, but it's obvious beer is the main course. i also love the authenticity of the birch when it comes to how they serve the beer. it's obvious they know what they're doing simply by the glass in which each beer is served. this place is quickly becoming my favorite spot to enjoy a great beer and some good conversation.

now that i think about it, i've probably doubled my beer knowledge in my few visits to the birch. i love beer, but my knowledge and understanding is quite limited. regardless, i never feel out of place when asking questions about what i'm drinking. come visit and you'll see what i mean within the first few minutes of stepping inside.

great place. i had an amazing time in this place last night with me a couple of good friends. the server was extremely well informed and recommended two beers i liked so much i took the bottles home to show more people. i will most definitely be back here very soon with more people to show. i was truly impressed with the wide selection of beers from around the globe. i saw so many other friends there as well, some i didn't even know were interested in craft beer. i can't think of a time when i have come to a bar and found this much diversity on the beer list. it seemed like they had something for everyone no matter what they liked about beer. i look forward to returning very soon. excellent experience all around.

best bar in town. this place is the new gem of west ghent. people with ill experiences are obviously not the right fit for the birch. and lady-- it is not okay to leave an 11% tip. if you can't afford to tip, don't go out.
the birch is unique from anything in the norfolk area. the experience is focused on the beer (let me emphasize this: the focus of the bar is beer) and any true beer geek appreciates and understands the purpose of correct glassware. the owners are knowledgeable and obviously enjoy investing in their curious customers looking to try the latest and greatest hard-to-find beer on tap (or cask). i've always gotten great recommendations and lovely service from employees and the birch.
the food is limited, but delicious. the atmosphere is chill and cozy. i've heard friends compare it to pubs in london and other areas of europe. there is a serious buzz-- i say keep up the good work! ben and malia know what they are doing and that are on to something good. i will continue to be a faithful patron at the birch. crazy people stay home, it leaves more room for those who actually understand what the birch is all about.