OBX Cruise! Northern Outer Banks Brewing
Come for the beer, stay for the stories at this small brewery in beautiful Corolla, NC.
ROAD TRIP
Rebecca Marmaduke
10/29/20255 min read
We know what you’re thinking – we’re only in this for the beer. WRONG. We are in this for the beer AND the fascinating stories (and the occasional giant pretzel with cheese sauce). We could go to any bottle shop or even Lowe’s Foods Beer Den and pick up some North Carolina craft beer, but it’s so much more enjoyable to travel around and talk to the owners and brewers in person. Based on our first-hand experience, breweries and taprooms are special because of the community they create among people who gather to rub elbows and spin yarns over a pint. It’s how humans interacted for thousands of years before screens and emojis took over, and pardon our soapbox, we would all do well to enjoy more of the camaraderie that local pubs help create.
The Basics
Location: 520 Old Stoney Rd, Suite J, Corolla, NC 27927
Website: northernobxbrewing.com
Social media: facebook.com/northernobxbrewing, instagram.com/northernobxbrewing
Vibe/Atmosphere: friendly, casual, exuberant, industrial, simple
Beers We Tried: Corolla Blonde Lager, Northern OBX Brewing Company Kolsch, Mexican Amber Lager, Corolla Saison Ale
Parking: lot
Important NC Beer Explorer Tip: When consuming alcohol, always have a designated driver. Be safe out there, friends!
Story Time
Take Northern Outer Banks Brewing Company, for example. We wanted to visit this micro brewery in Corolla as one of our final stops before heading back to the Triangle, but as always, there is our schedule, the brewery’s schedule, and everyday life competing for time on the calendar. We had been talking with Co-Owner Kathleen Cherry via text and negotiating a time when we could also talk to her husband and Co-Owner Michael Cherry who also works as a commercial pilot (Baron twin-engine). Kathleen insisted that we really needed to find a slot when Michael was available because not only is he the Master Brewer; he is also the Master Storyteller of the team. We stayed after it and eventually found a time to meet up on our last full day.
Kathleen wasn’t just playing to our propensities when she told us to talk to Michael: when we met him, we were quickly in the thrall of some incredible storytelling and a mini course in brewery construction.
Michael has a background in public health and is well-informed about things like chemistry, waste water, and environmental safety. With all this knowledge at his disposal (pun intended), one would think that opening a brewery and navigating the red tape and local ordinances that go with the endeavor would be a breeze. Far from it! He had to actually lobby to get commercial zoning laws changed at the same time that Currituck County was embroiled in a fracas about the sale of alcohol on Sunday mornings. He explains some of the challenges he had to overcome to open Northern OBX Brewing in the video below.
Secret to Success
Originally, distribution was meant to be a big part of their business plan, but they soon realized that what would work better for them would be selling beer by the pint. Nowadays, they sell by the can/pint, and we could tell by the steady stream of regulars coming in to stock up that the model is working for them.
When we began to taste the beer, we understood the most important secret of Michael’s and Kathleen’s success. Theirs was the CLEANEST, purest, most fully-realized beer we can ever imagine tasting. We couldn’t detect even the slightest hint of contamination, improper fermentation, or incomplete filtration, and every style we tasted was absolutely true to its character. To be honest, we have actually enjoyed some tiny flaws along our tasting journey because sometimes little quirks add novel flavors and satisfying attributes. This was not the case with Northern OBX Brewing. The beers we tried were impeccable. See our tasting notes below.
Pubs vs. Screens
Famous Connection
Michael has another somewhat secret connection that helps him perfect his brewing processes. Once upon a time, he was surfing down in Chile, whose coastline is internationally known for its powerful, consistent waves that range from small to over 20 feet. He came across a fellow surfer who was approachable and laid-back, and who also happened to be into excellent beer. They conversed and became friends over the course of a few days, and that’s when Michael’s new pal asked him a question.
“So, you've never watched The Sound of Music?” Sam von Trapp asked him.
Michael was a bit puzzled and said, “No. Why do you ask?”
And this is how Michael learned that he had befriended the heir to the von Trapp family legacy and all that it entails, including a highly rated resort in Stowe, Vermont, and Von Trapp Brewing. Michael and Kathleen have visited Sam in Vermont, and Michael has spent even more time at Von Trapp Brewing, a 30,000 square-foot facility using cutting-edge equipment, natural spring water, and precise German brewing practices to create high quality traditional beer. Not a bad place for the owner of a small brewing concern in Corolla, NC, to learn the ropes!
Before there was social media, there was The Pub.
Northern Outer Banks Brewing company is co-owned by Michael Cherry and Kathleen McCubbins Cherry.
We gave "Two Mugs Up" to all of the beers we tried at Northern OBX Brewing.
Von Trapp Brewing isn't just a name - it's an award-winning brewery with many accolades.
So Long, Farewell
We would have happily stayed and listened to the stories and drank the exceptional beer for the rest of the afternoon, but we had one more stop on the schedule. We said our good-byes to Kathleen and Michael, and we were grateful we had managed to find time to get together. As illustrated by Michael’s relationship to Sam von Trapp, nothing is more meaningful than listening to each other’s stories and sharing those commonalities that make our lives more pleasurable.
NCBE's Beer Notes - Northern Outer Banks Brewing Co.
Corolla Blonde Lager*
Style: Pilsner
ABV: 6%
Color: golden with fine white foam
Aroma: fresh air, tropical fruit, tangerine
Taste: pineapple, almond, lemon-lime, chamomile
Mouthfeel: light
Aftertaste: hoppy
Northern OBX Brewing Company Kolsch*
Style: Kolsch
ABV: 4.9%
Color: clear gold with lacy head
Aroma: floral, light alcohol
Taste: sweet grass, dill, cucumber peel, grapefruit zest, hoppy
Mouthfeel: clean
Aftertaste: grapefruit, hops
Mexican Amber Lager*
Style: Lager - Mexican
ABV: 6.3%
Color: light amber
Aroma: peachy, malty
Taste: caramel, piney/grapefruit, peach brandy, honey, lime
Mouthfeel: medium
Aftertaste: grassy, herbal, astringent
Corolla Saison Ale*
Style: Farmhouse Ale - Saison
ABV: 6%
Color: gold with fine bubbles
Aroma: apricot, baking spice
Taste: alcohol, malt, stonefruit, banana, pepper
Mouthfeel: medium, clean
Aftertaste: dry and peppery, slight bitter note
