Brewpub
Date and time reviewed: Tue, 15 Nov 2016 19:54:39 EST
Overall Score: 66.7
Selection: 3 | Service: 3.5 | Atmosphere: 3.5 | Food: 3.25
Reviewer: Curmudgeon
Traveling across the good ol’ US of A with wife Persimmon, we left Williamsburg in mid-November 2016 headed for the Outer Banks because we were told it was “the place” to go in North Carolina. “Can’t miss it” “Great atmosphere” “Fantastic food” “Beautiful.”
Yeah, yeah, yeah…but is there beer?
At this point in our travels (2 months), I had come to believe that no matter where we went, large city to small town, there is a brewery or brewpub within 5 miles.
I was not disappointed when we got to Kill Devil Hill, North Carolina,,,just a coupla miles south of Kitty Hawk (Yes! Where the first flight occurred. Which can’t be missed since you’re driving on Kitty Hawk Boulevard and have to turn onto Kitty hawk Memorial Drive.)
A mile from our motel was Outer Banks Brewing.
Now we had determined that our “big” meal of the day would be like the old time Southerners who knew what dining meant; a nice breakfast, a big meal mid-day then a light repast, perhaps of left-over dinner meats and veggies, at twilight.
So around 12-noon, we stopped in to partake.
The menu was basic brewpub; burgers (though even the bison burger lacked any distinctive taste), crab showder (meh!), sandwiches, fries…but we did order hush puppies (C’mon, I was in the South!)…and the beers, unfortunately were about the same in character.
IPA, Pale Ale, Hefe, Saison, Brown…the darkest, most potent beer available was a 5.5% Stout…typical…nothing different. An Oktoberfest tasted like a hopped – up Stone Brewing IPA.
Being from the West Coast I have grown sorely tired of most brews on tap trying to vie for the title of “Mouth Burner First Class.”
When I drink a beer, I want to feel, taste – the flavors, the layers…not just the straw and the citrus and the “burn” down my throat. When will it end???
Outer Banks Brewing must be commended for being around since 2001…the locals here think they’re doing something right and maybe, on this day we ate and drank (mid-November 2016) they were changing from summer to winter beers. So, good on them.
The music blared 1960’s classic R&R….the place had a definite laid back vibe…it’s easy to find. For all that, good on ya!
But dammit! It’s cool and crisp and threatening rain and I want a dark, delicious, malty, heavy brew to lay down deep in my gullet and be able to taste 2 hours after I’ve left the place.
So, in the words of ESPN, “C’mon, man!”
Source:Outer Banks Brewing Station
Brewery