WHEREAS, in July 2023, Benchtop Brewing Company, a craft beer brewery based in Norfolk, earned multiple accolades, including the prestigious best in show award, in the Virginia Craft Beer Cup Competition, the largest statewide beer competition in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Benchtop Brewing Company triumphed over 125 breweries that participated in the 2023 Virginia Craft Beer Cup Competition, which featured a record number of 471 beers entered into 31 different categories; and

WHEREAS, Benchtop Brewing Company submitted four of its beers into the Virginia Craft Beer Cup Competition and received medals for three of them; and

WHEREAS, Benchtop Brewing Company received a gold medal for Crimson Gaze Red IPA, a gold medal for Brown Bear Honey Pot Batch 4 Cherry Brandy Barrel Aged Oud Bruin, and a silver medal for Crispy Whip Pilsner; and

WHEREAS, Benchtop Brewing Company also won the best in show award and brought home the Virginia Craft Beer Cup for the Crimson Gaze Red IPA; it was the first time an IPA had won the best in show award since 2015; and

WHEREAS, Benchtop Brewing Company has won six medals in the Virginia Craft Beer Cup Competition in the last two years, more than any other brewery in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Benchtop Brewing Company's success will help drive craft beer tourism in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Benchtop Brewing Company recently opened a second location on Hull Street in the Manchester area of Richmond to better serve patrons in Central Virginia; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Benchtop Brewing Company hereby be commended for winning the 2023 Virginia Craft Beer Cup Competition; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Benchtop Brewing Company as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the brewery's achievements.