OBX Cruise! Swells'a Brewing Beer Company
The beer at Swells'a Brewing is cool – and so is the vibe at this beachy taproom.
ROAD TRIP
Rebecca Marmaduke
10/27/20255 min read
The words “Outer Banks” bring many associations to mind such as beaches, watersports, Kitty Hawk, first flight, pirates, lighthouses, shipwrecks, and so on. Several books, movies, and TV series have been set in the Outer Banks because of the area’s natural beauty and mystique.
However, what you might not realize is that the Outer Banks are well-known for surfing, boasting some of the best and most consistent waves on the East Coast. And where there’s surfing, there’s a certain “cool” factor.
The coolness of surfing culture comes from a combination of elements: a laid-back aesthetic, connection to nature, physical and mental skill, and a sense of personal freedom. We picked up on the surfing references as soon as we strolled through the door of Swells'a Brewing’s original location in Kill Devil Hills, NC. The taproom’s cool vibes make sense, when you consider that Co-owner Brad Fitzgerald has surfed all over the world – but he would probably tell you that the coolness comes from his partner and Co-owner Sam Harriss, with her background in art and design
The Basics
Location: 1802 S Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
Website: swellsabrewing.com
Social media: facebook.com/swellsabrewing, instagram.com/swellsa_brewing
Vibe/Atmosphere: beachy, casual, laid-back, cool, minimalistic, artsy
Beers We Tried: Pond Ripper, Pea Island, Pequod’s Rudder, Tunnel Vision, Called in Seasick, Duck Dive, Spicoli’s Wild Ride, Gourd to Epic, Jimmy Buffet Ruined My Life
Parking: lot
Important NC Beer Explorer Tip: When consuming alcohol, always have a designated driver. Be safe out there, friends!
The Building
The building itself is stunning, its modern façade adorned with rustic wood shingles that are reminiscent of the older cottages along the Outer Banks. Inside, it’s spacious and airy with a vaulted ceiling and tile floors. Off to the side, the stainless-steel barrels reach toward the ceiling, and upstairs you can enjoy an ocean view from the deck. When we arrived on Wednesday around 11:00 am, several patrons were out on the deck, enjoying the early autumn sunshine, gentle breezes, and tasty beer. Life can definitely be good on the Outer Banks at any time of day and year.
Brewing Pedigree
When we sat down for a conversation with Brad and Brewer Mike Swartz, we quickly learned that Mike had passed through some legendary breweries on his way to Swells’a, including Tarboro Brewing Company, Hopfly Brewing, and Unknown Brewing in Charlotte. He was even briefly at Weeping Radish, or as we like to call it, the “Cradle of North Carolina Craft Brewing” (more on that in a later article).
Brad started out as a home brewer, getting a brewing kit and all the related gear, but his first results were disappointing, and he put it aside for almost two years. When he dove back in, he went deep, reading book after book and working at breweries in Charleston and Virginia, as he mentions in the video below. Fifteen years later, he is now head brewer and co-owner of Swells'a.
Word Association
We had heard some buzz from brewers in the Triangle about Swells’a, so we were excited to try their beers and learn about their approach to different styles. The brewery keeps a mix of soft-core brands that are drinkable in hot weather because 80% of their business happens in the summer. To keep things interesting, they may add one or two new beers a week to their core beers. When things slow down in the off-season, the brewers reflect on lessons learned during the busy season and fine tune their processes with the goal of making an even better product.
“You have to do everything right to make it over the long haul,” Mike said. “You have to have great beer, an attractive space, and good merchandise to stay in business. That’s how we have been successful.”
We had already seen that Swells’a had an attractive space and good merchandise – and after we finished filming, we were able to try out eight different beers and confirm that the beer is great as well, including one American IPA called “Spicoli’s Wild Ride.” Rebecca immediately picked up on the reference to the coming-of-age comedy, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, one of her favorite 80s movies, known for its memorable lines and indelible characters. Sean Penn portrayed the iconic Jeff Spicoli, a laid-back surfer who said "All I need is some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine." Change the word buzz to “beer,” and that is a fair summation of the fine time we enjoyed at Swells a’ Brewing Beer Company.
Rerences to the beach and surfing dot the interior of Swells'a Brewing. Local art is also on display.
Swells'a Brewing Beer Co. Co-owner and Head Brewer Brad Fitzgerald, Brewer Mike Swartz
We borrowed a photo taken from the Swellsa upper deck from their Trip Advisor listing. Ours wasn't as pretty.
This image of a surfing basset hound is only loosely connected to this story. However, we asked AI to create it, and we liked it. So, here it is.
NCBE's Beer Notes - Swells'a Brewing Beer Company
Pond Ripper*
Style: Bitter-Extra Special
ABV: 5.2%
Color: amber-brown
Aroma: Cracker Jack®
Taste: caramel, toffee, dark cherry, smoky
Mouthfeel: full
Aftertaste: malty
Pea Island
Style: Pilsner
ABV: 5.7%
Color: light yellow, lacy head
Aroma: lemon zest, butterscotch
Taste: lemon meringue, bready
Mouthfeel: slightly oily
Aftertaste: light, balanced
Pequod’s Rudder
Style: American Pale Ale
ABV: 5.3%
Color: golden
Aroma: grapefruit, pine, hint of diesel
Taste: bready, bittery, grapefruit, tropical fruit
Mouthfeel: carbonated, crisp, dry
Aftertaste: bittery, orange peel
Tunnel Vision Hazy Pale Ale*
Style: New England Pale Ale
ABV: 5.8%
Color: yellow, hazy
Aroma: tangerine, peach, campfire
Taste: honey mustard, pinot grigio, orange creamsicle, wet wool sweater
Mouthfeel: Very creamy
Aftertaste: tangy
Called In Seasick
Style: Coffee Stout
ABV: 7.1%
Color: black
Aroma: coffee, hint of detergent
Taste: coffee, caramel, milk
Mouthfeel: medium
Aftertaste: dry, dark roasted coffee
Duck Dive
Style: American Light Lager
ABV: 4.8%
Color: bright yello, white foam
Aroma: floral, herbal, citrus
Taste: slightly sweet like a Helles, fruit
Mouthfeel: bubbles
Aftertaste: tangy
Spicoli’s Wild Ride*
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.2%
Color: bright gold
Aroma: grapefruit, guava, butterscotch
Taste: clementine, baby aspirin, yogurt sourness
Mouthfeel: light, astringent. refreshing
Aftertaste: tart
Gourd to Epic*
Style: Barrel Aged Pumpkin Ale
ABV: 8.8%
Color: amber
Aroma: baking spice, cinnamon cereal
Taste: nutty, woody, caramel, vanilla, spiced rum
Mouthfeel: medium
Aftertaste: sweet, clove
Jimmy Buffet Ruined My Life* (Gold Medal, 2024 World Beer Cup)
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 8.3%
Color: hazy yellow
Aroma: tropical fruit
Taste: juicy, candied pineapple, alcohol, Grandma's Heavenly Hash Fruit Salad
Mouthfeel: creamy
Aftertaste: light, balanced sweet/bitter
