The world of craft brewing can certainly get wild—and Elation Brewing in Norfolk knows it firsthand. Since last summer, the brewery has been serving up pints that roar, thanks to a lively collaboration with the nearby Virginia Zoo.
As the zoo’s official local craft brewery partner, Elation has released three specialty brews inspired by some of its most beloved residents. The Otter Lager, a 5.1 percent ABV sip blooming with herbal and floral notes, is vegan, gluten-reduced, and a fitting shoutout to the Asian small-clawed otters at the zoo—Jilin and Elbe. The beer also nods to the area’s wild otters, whose numbers are making a comeback thanks to the Elizabeth River Project.
The Tiger Trail Ale takes a fruitier turn, flavored with apricots that echo the orange hide of its namesakes—Christopher and Cahaya, the Malayan tigers who prowl the zoo’s Asia–Trail
of the Tiger habitat. At 5.3 percent ABV, the wheat-forward ale is also vegan and as bold as its feline muses.
Most recently, Elation unleashed Red Pandamonium Red Ale in September 2025, celebrating Natasha and Sampson, the zoo’s resident red pandas—and Sunny, the mischievous escape artist who pulled a Madagascar-style getaway in 2017 and was never found. The Irish-influenced brew leans malty, with cozy notes of toffee.
Local artist Erik Leach designed the cans to match their spirited inspirations, each one a tiny work of art. And with more than 700 animals calling the Virginia Zoo home, there’s no shortage of wild ideas brewing for future releases. Elation.beer, VirginiaZoo.org
Featured photo courtesy of Virginia Zoo. This article originally appeared in the February 2026 issue.
