Benchtop Brewing’s lightly hazy, dank and tropical flagship IPA, Proven Theory, was named the 24th best IPA in America.
Tasters praised the Norfolk beer’s bright citrus notes, apparently underlining the word “bright” over and over, and its resinous, hoppy dankness.

“The brewery might not specifically market this beer as 420-friendly,” Paste writes, “but we’re telling you right now – the potheads in the audience are going to be all about this stuff.”
Benchtop’s hazy, juicy, fruity Soft Crash IPA also cracked the top 50 in Paste’s rankings, slipping into 35th place.

This isn’t the only national accolade Benchtop has received in the past year. In October, it scored an impressive gold-medal win at the Great American Beer Festival – the most prestigious competition in beer – for its Mermaid’s Scorn Gose.