(Elation Brewing owner Kenny Van Hook (pictured center with hat) accepts the Green Brewery of the Year award in Virginia Beach.) 

By Jeff Maisey 

In late March, the Virginia Green Travel Alliance announced Norfolk’s Elation Brewing at the Green Brewery of the Year across the Commonwealth. The annual awards are presented to Virginia’s greenest tourism operators and partners for their outstanding commitments to sustainability and contributions to green tourism in Virginia. 

“Our Virginia Green Travel Partners are conserving natural resources, engaging customers, and working to increase sustainable tourism business in Virginia. The Virginia Green Travel Certification program works to support and promote those businesses that are committed to reducing the environmental impacts of their operations,” says Tom Griffin, the Executive Director of the Virginia Green Travel Alliance. “The Virginia Green Travel Star Awards recognizes the ‘greenest’ businesses and individuals that have demonstrated outstanding commitments to the environment in the past year. We are proud to recognize these businesses as they are true partners in our efforts to promote sustainable tourism in Virginia!” 

Runner-up in the brewery category was Stable Craft Brewing in Waynesboro.

Other 2023 Virginia Green Travel Star Award winners from Hampton Roads included Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center (Green Attraction of the Year), The Nature Bus (Green Eco Tour of the Year), Virginia Living Museum’s Lakeside Litter Cleanup (Most Innovative Green Projects), and Centerplate-Sodexol Live at. Virginia Beach Convention Center (Green Caterer of the Year).

Kimberlee Dobbins of Virginia Beach Convention Center was recognized with the 2023 Green Team All-Star Award.