OBX Cruise! Whalehead Brewery
Navy vet Christin Crowley returns to her childhood vacation spot to fulfill her entrepreneurial dreams of opening a craft beer taproom.
ROAD TRIP
Ben Marmaduke
10/30/20254 min read
Christin Crowley faced some difficult challenges in her 22-year Naval career – and sometimes, she finds the struggles involved in running a brewery/taproom/restaurant just as demanding. Still, as the owner/founder of Whalehead Brewery in Corolla NC, her connection to the community and her passion for craft beer make it a labor of love. This was one of the thoughts she shared when we visited Whalehead Brewery.
The brewpub is located in a strip shopping center in the northernmost city of the Outer Banks, Corolla, NC. The modest-sized room is cleverly and attractively appointed with high-top tables and stools, making the best of the space and allowing a clean, uncluttered feel. The ceiling is tiled with weathered wood panels and attractive lighting. A brick oven kitchen stands in the back – the source of Whalehead’s highly-rated wood-fire pizza. To the left there is a beer tap wall with 25 taps extending from a gigantic mural of a whale lounging at the beach, drinking a beer.
When we walked in the door, we were immediately greeted by Elton Lamm, General Manager. We let him know we were scheduled to meet with owner/founder Christin Crowley. He said she would be out in a few minutes – but meanwhile, he made us feel very welcome.
Elton gave us the beer wall tour, showing us how the wrist bans allow you to pour the beer you select into the glass you select. When you are done with all your beer/other beverage pouring, your wrist band can be scanned and your purchases added to your bill. Customers can ask for recommendations or simply read the descriptions located above each tap. This process was greatly appealing to us NC Beer Explorers! We were easily able to pick out five beers for sampling in flight glasses, and the beers were delightful – well-crafted with inventive twists on several classic styles. See Elton's tour in the video below, and check out our tasting notes following this post.
The Basics
Location: 887 Albacore Street, Corolla, NC 27927
Website: whaleheadbrewery.com
Social media: facebook.com/whaleheadbrewery, instagram.com/whalehead.brewery
Vibe/Atmosphere: modern, clean, inviting, sleek, innovative
Beers We Tried: Dark and Stormy, Cloak & Lager, Dunedrifter, Ichabod, Lighthouse Keeper
Parking: plenty - lot of a strip shopping center
Important NC Beer Explorer Tip: When consuming alcohol, always have a designated driver. Be safe out there, friends!
A Whale of a Tap Wall
Elton explained that when Christin was in the design/construction phase of Whalehead, he suggested using a beer wall to save space and to give customers the opportunity to easily sample multiple beers (and wines, ciders, and cocktails) that they could self-dispense. They later expanded on the concept by adding a full range of beer glassware, custom flight glasses, and whale-shaped flight boards.
But what about the bartender-customer rapport? Elton said he and the rest of the wait staff are ready to guide customers through the process, determine their preferences and point them to the beers they are most likely to enjoy. It all adds up to a rather unique, pleasant brewpub experience.
How North Can You Go in the OBX?
Meant to Be
When you hear Christin’s story about how she came to build, open and operate Whalehead Brewing, it feels like something from a storybook. She vacationed in OBX with her family and friends as a child. During her Navy career, she enjoyed a full spectrum of beer styles brewed around the world and had a vision of having her own brewery. And what better place to realize her dream than the place of her childhood dreams?
The tap wall at Whalehead Brewery is a beer lover's fantasy come true.
We could appreciate the tap wall even more when it yielded beer for us!
This beautiful wood-fired pizza oven is the star of the Whalehead Brewery kitchen.
This Place Calls to Us
Whalehead Brewery was the last of a series of Northern OBX breweries we visited during a glorious, weather-perfect week. Unfortunately, we were not able to try the highly-regarded wood-fire pizza. But from the reviews we have read and from our observation of customers enjoying their food, we will certainly be back on our next trip to enjoy Whalehead Brewery’s friendly, comfortable vibe, excellent beer – and their wood-fire pizza!
NCBE's Beer Notes - Whalehead Brewery
Dark & Stormy
Style: American Stout
ABV: 6.2%
Color: black
Aroma: chocolate, raisin, alcohol
Taste: dark chocolate, coffee, balsamic vinegar
Mouthfeel: astringent
Aftertaste: bittersweet, burnt toast
Cloak & Lager
Style: Schwarzbier (Black Lager)
ABV: 5.7%
Color: black
Aroma: coffee, cherry tobacco
Taste: intense coffee, cherry tobacco
Mouthfeel: juicy, full
Aftertaste: baking chocolate
Dune Drifter
Style: West Coast Pilsner
ABV: 5.7%
Color: straw, very clear
Aroma: pine, citrus
Taste: pine, grapefruit
Mouthfeel: buttery, smooth
Aftertaste: lemon-lime
Ichabod*
Style: Marzen/Oktoberfest
ABV: 6.5%
Color: gold, fine white head
Aroma: toast, baking spice, honey
Taste: toast, honey, figs, stonefruit
Mouthfeel: alcohol, medium
Aftertaste: apple cider vinegar
Lighthouse Keeper*
Style: Biere de Garde (French-Style Farmhouse Ale)
ABV: 9.0%
Color: amber (honey- colored)
Aroma: floral, baking spice, caramel
Taste: sweet/bitter, nutty, honey, raisin, vanilla, oak
Mouthfeel: Champagne-like bubbles
Aftertaste: sweet/bitter
