By David Hunter
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a fan of craft beer — and there’s an even better chance you’re a fan of Virginia craft beer specifically. And if that’s the case, you know the feeling of sitting down at a restaurant and discovering they not only have your Virginia favorites on tap, but a few you haven’t tried yet. That’s a good day.
That feeling is what inspired me to return to writing for Virginia Craft Beer Magazine after a few years away, with a simple mission — to shine a light on the restaurants across our state that make Virginia craft beer a priority. To get started, I did what any community organizer would do and crowd sourced it. I posted in Fans of Virginia Craft Breweries, a Facebook group I founded with over 21,000 members, asking which restaurants do the best job of featuring Virginia craft beer. The suggestions poured in — but one response stopped me in my tracks. 1608 Crafthouse in Virginia Beach jumped into the comments with this: “We have been supporting 757 and Virginia breweries for 10 years.” That was all I needed to hear.
Inside 1608 Crafthouse, it feels exactly like what owner and head chef Kevin Sharkey intended — a neighborhood tavern where everyone is welcome. Lawyers still in their suits share space with families and solo diners. It’s warm, relaxed, and familiar, like a neighborhood restaurant should be. Above the bar sits a wooden cutout of Virginia blanketed in Virginia craft brewery stickers, adorned with multiple Veer Magazine’s “757 Best of…” awards and a row of craft beer tap handles from Virginia and across the country. There’s also a street sign that reads “Craft Beer Blvd.” The room tells you everything you need to know about what to expect.
“We do not have any Anheuser Busch or Miller products here,” he says without hesitation. No Bud Light, no macro fallbacks. That was the plan from day one when Kevin cashed in a portion of his 401K, took over a vacant space that a previous tenant had left mostly furnished, and opened 1608 Crafthouse in 2015. “I’m a little guy,” he says. “I want to support other little guys.” As a chef, Kevin applies the same commitment to his kitchen. Everything at 1608 is made from scratch with fresh, local ingredients — no shortcuts.
That commitment has shaped everything about how 1608 operates. Kevin’s focus on Virginia and 757 craft beer wasn’t something that evolved over time — it was the plan from day one. He rattles off brewery names the way some people recite sports stats — Benchtop Brewing, Big Ugly Brewing, O’Connor Brewing Company, Reaver Beach Brewing Co., Smartmouth Brewing Co., Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Commonwealth Brewing Company, Triple Crossing Beer, Afterglow Brewing, Coastal Fermentor — barely pausing for breath. He was among the first restaurants outside the brewery to carry both Benchtop Brewing and Big Ugly Brewing when they first opened. “I believe in supporting it,” he says simply.
The beer list at 1608 is always evolving. With six taps that rotate constantly and anywhere from 40 to 70 cans and bottles on hand at any given time, the selection is never the same twice. Kevin receives emails from distributors every Sunday and Monday and adjusts accordingly. The majority of what he carries is Virginia craft beer. However, a few staples are always available — Peake Lager from Big Ugly Brewing, Proven Theory from Benchtop Brewing, Oh Dark 30 from 6 Bears & A Goat Brewing Company, and True Concept from Coastal Fermentor among them. “People follow us on Untappd,” he says. “Certain people I know are going to be here when we have something.” He knows his followers.
That reputation has earned 1608 some serious recognition. MSN.com ranked their bacon cheeseburger one of the top 20 in the country. A bone marrow and oyster dish was featured in Forbes Magazine. Last year they were the only Virginia restaurant to make Yelp’s top 100 places to eat in the country. In 2023, as the industry was finding its footing after COVID, Veer Magazine named Kevin Beer Ambassador — a recognition of his unwavering commitment to 757 breweries through some of the toughest years the hospitality industry has ever seen. And Virginia Craft Beer Magazine’s own editor Jeff Maisey presented the award. Not bad for a neighborhood tavern.
Beyond stocking local beer, Kevin has built genuine relationships with the people behind it. 1608 has hosted collaborative beer dinners with Smartmouth Brewing Co., Big Ugly Brewing, Reaver Beach Brewing Co., Benchtop Brewing, Crooked Run Brewing, Mad Fox Brewing Company and Hardywood Park Craft Brewery among others — capped at 45 guests, community style seating, brewery representatives on hand to talk about their beer and answer questions. “People look forward to them,” Kevin says. They slowed down after COVID but he plans to bring them back, moving them to Sunday afternoons so guests can, as he puts it, have enough time to recover before work on Monday.
The importance of that commitment extends beyond the walls of 1608. Brett Vassey, President and CEO of the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild, puts it plainly: “Support of local bars and restaurants are key to our survival and growth. Beer brands are built in that on-premise class of trade and without their support it would be next to impossible to stay in business.” Vassey also sees the relationship as something deeper than just shelf space — a true partnership that can include beer dinners, private label beers and tap takeovers that benefit both sides.
For Kevin it all comes back to community. “We should all be trying to help each other out instead of trying to beat each other down,” he says. It’s a simple idea, but in a competitive industry where small businesses fight for every customer, it means something when a restaurant puts it into practice every single day.
1608 Crafthouse is located at 1608 Pleasure House Road, Suite 103 in Virginia Beach. For hours and more information visit 1608crafthouse.com.
Do you know a restaurant that deserves a spotlight for their commitment to Virginia craft beer? Connect with me through the Fans of Virginia Craft Breweries group on Facebook.
David Hunter is the founder of Fans of Virginia Craft Breweries, a Facebook community of over 21,000 Virginia craft beer enthusiasts. Tap into the conversation at https://www.facebook.com/groups/FansofVACB.
