Discover the Best Breweries in Outer Banks, NC
After a long day spent surfing, fishing, or simply lounging on the beach, there’s nothing quite like an ice-cold beer to quench your thirst. If you’re heading to the Outer Banks in North Carolina and looking for a great place to enjoy a cold one, you’re in luck!
There are several breweries in the area that cater to beer lovers. Some of these breweries are located right on the beach, while others are a little further inland, but all of them offer delicious brews that are sure to satisfy. North Carolina is home to over 120 microbreweries, with more opening up all the time, and some of the best can be found in OBX.
Northern Outer Banks Brewing Company
The Northern Outer Banks Brewing Company is in Corolla, in the Northern Outer Banks region. It is known for its exceptional craft beers. The brewery offers six taps that serve their delicious concoctions such as the Corolla Lager, which has a moderately hoppy taste and is very light, the Swan Beach Honey Pale Ale, which is an excellent beer with floral undertones from the honey and a dry finish, and Oak Aged Corolla Saison, a smooth and American Oaked aged version of their standard saison. It is important to note that the selection of beers may vary depending on availability.
Visitors are welcome to sit on the patio and enjoy a glass of their favorite beer or try a flight to discover their new favorite. The brewery does not serve food, but guests can bring their own food and sit outside. Some excellent restaurants are nearby, including Cosmo’s Pizza, located right next door.
Whalehead Brewery
If you want a unique brewery experience, head to Whalehead in Corolla. They have a self-tap wall where you can choose from a wide selection of beers. They offer beers from all around North Carolina, as well as some of their own special brews.
Some of their beers include the Whalehead Blonde, a refreshing and light but pretty potent beer with an ABV of 6.7%. The Dark and Stormy is a well-balanced Stout with dark chocolate flavors and a roasted finish that is very drinkable. The Saint Scott IPA is a hoppy beer with a fruity citrus aroma and a pine taste. The self-tap wall also offers wines, ciders, hard seltzer, and the Whalehead Mojito made with Kill Devil Silver rum.
The Whalehead Brewery not only offers a wide selection of beers, it also serves delicious pizzas and small bites that can be enjoyed indoors and on the outdoor patio. It’s a great place to grab a cold beverage and some tasty food.
Lost Colony Brewery
The Lost Colony Brewery actually has two separate locations. The first location is where the beer is brewed in Stumpy Point. The second location is “The Lost Colony Brewery Waterfront Beer Garden” in Nags Head, where you can taste their delicious craft beers. They produce eight unique and very tasty beers. The brewery uses many of the old techniques of the British Isles in the making of their brews, using British hops and Irish malts in some of their beers.
The Kitty Hawk Golden Ale is a refreshing beer that uses British hops and has a citrusy taste. The Hatteras Red is a red ale made with sweet Irish malt, roasted barley, and British hops, giving it a slightly hoppy taste and a ruby color with a hint of sweetness, malt, and toast. The Holy Hand Granade Imperial Stout is a strong beer with a 9.0 ABV brewed like the British did to transport beer overseas to Imperial Russia. It has an aroma of dark fruit and chocolate, and although it is strong, it is still very drinkable. This beer will help you forget about all the drama around you.
This microbrewery supplies its tasty beverages to over 100 restaurants and bars. Even if you are unable to visit Nags Head, there is still a great chance you can enjoy them.
You can access the brewery by kayak or small watercraft, but like Northern Outer Banks Brewing, it doesn’t serve food. You can bring your own or visit one of the great restaurants in the area and enjoy your drinks there.
1718 Brewing Ocracoke
Ocracoke Island is situated in the Southern Outer Banks region and is the home of 1718 Brewing Ocracoke, a small craft brewery that offers a wide selection of beers. The brewery rotates its beer menu depending on the season, but there are always great options available for you to enjoy.
Some of the favorite beers available are Sun Days, which is a summer wheat ale made with orange zest to give it a floral aroma. Another popular choice is the Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout, a chocolaty, stout beer with a smooth finish and a little bit of spiciness. Additionally, there is the unique Notorious FIG, a beer made with figs that has a sweet taste with a hint of sourness, making it a perfect thirst-quencher on a hot day.
The Plum Pointe Kitchen is located inside the brewery and serves delicious small bites and larger plates. Some of the favorites among the customers are the crab-stuffed jumbo pretzel and the BBQ ribs. All the food is made in-house from scratch and pairs perfectly with the brewery’s beers.
Swells’a Brewing
Kill Devil Hills is home to a fun beach hangout that also happens to be an exceptional brewery – Swells’a Brewing. The brewery offers a variety of 15 different ice-cold craft beers. With such a wide selection, everyone is bound to find their favorites and maybe a few new favorites, too. All of them are sure to satisfy everyone’s taste buds. This is the kind of place to come have a few and then come back the next day and have a few more.
Craft beers are available on rotation; you never know what you might get. However, one of the popular ones is Grateful Shred Pale Ale, which is a refreshing beer with citrus, tropical fruit, and pine flavors. All Rights, All Rights, All Rights IPA is another popular choice with a slightly hoppy taste and pine and blood orange undertones. It’s perfect for relaxing after a day of surfing or sunbathing. If you’re looking for something to take your mind off your troubles, then Grandma’s Cookie Stout is the beer to choose from. Named after Grandma’s peanut butter-covered Ritz cracker dipped in milk chocolate, this beer is actually brewed with peanut butter. It is strong, with an ABV of 9%, making it an excellent choice for melting away all your stress.
Swella’s is a fantastic place to hang out and enjoy your favorite brew. It has a fun and exciting atmosphere and is pet-friendly, so you can even bring your furry friend along. On Mondays, there’s a special offer of $5 for select drafts, along with a 20% discount on Nags Head Pizza delivery. Although there’s limited food available at Swella’s, you’re welcome to bring your own from outside. Whether you prefer relaxing on the outdoor rooftop or inside in the cool air conditioning, Swella’s has got you covered.
“They are a member of One Percent for the Planet, an organization that supports the Outer Banks National Parks through the Outer Banks Forever Foundation. As part of their commitment to the cause, they donate 1% of their total sales to the foundation. By enjoying their delicious beverages, you are also contributing to the preservation of the planet.”
Fish Heads Bar & Grill
Fish Heads is not a brewery, but it still offers a great selection of local beers on tap, so I included it on the list. Located on the Outer Banks Fishing Pier in S. Nags Head, it’s the perfect spot to grab a cold one after a day at the beach or return from offshore fishing.
With an impressive selection of 30 beers on tap and many more bottled options, Fish Heads has something for everyone. Some of the local beers that you can try are Happi Jaq from 1718 Brewing and You Gose Left I Gose Right from Swells’a, as well as a variety of craft beers from all over the country. It’s important to note that Fish Heads only serves beer, cider, hard seltzers, and wine – no other types of alcoholic beverages are available.
Fish Heads is an excellent seafood restaurant that serves fresh and delicious seafood, such as 20-cent shrimp, during happy hour (minimum order of 20). You can enjoy the beautiful sunset while hanging out on the pier, sipping on an ice-cold brew, talking about the fish you’ve caught and the ones that got away.
On your next trip to the Outer Banks, don’t miss out on the opportunity to visit the many breweries located on the islands. While you might be tempted to spend all your time on the beach or in the water, incredible craft beers are being brewed all over, from Corolla to Ocracoke. Take some time to seek out these tasty brews and experience the amazing creations of the talented brewmasters in the area. Your visit to OBX won’t be complete without trying at least one of these brews.
Please note that all of the descriptions of the beers above were based on the selections available at the time of publication.
