Visiting the OBX Cigar Lounge: The Outer Banks’ Only Cigar Lounge

As much as I enjoy smoking cigars on the beach or a seaside porch when visiting the Outer Banks of North Carolina, it can sometimes be a challenge. Wind, blowing sand, and the occasional rain shower — especially common in the early fall when we usually visit — often put a damper on the smoking time.

That’s why I was especially glad to discover the OBX Cigar Lounge this year. Tucked inside Tap That OBX, which is also home to Shut the Barn Door Coffee (open mornings only), the lounge opened after our last visit in 2022. I’d been eager to check it out, and during this trip I managed to stop by twice.

On my first visit, I found the staff relaxing with cigars on the porch out front. After several days of outdoor smoking, I was ready for a more “civilized” setting. Mark, a knowledgeable and welcoming guide, walked me through the well-stocked humidor, where I picked a cigar to enjoy on the spot along with a few extras to take home.

The Tap That OBX bar in the front of the building wasn’t open yet — the three businesses keep different but slightly overlapping hours — but the cigar lounge staff are able to serve simple pours of beer or bourbon before the bar officially opens. I went with a local craft beer, Jimmy Buffett Ruined My Life from Swells’a Brewing to accompany a tasty Micallef Black cigar.

The lounge itself is intimate, with seven plush leather chairs. Despite the small footprint, the space feels bright and comfortable. White walls help open it up, and the air-handling system is impressive: a Rabbit Air purifier on the wall, a large air cleaning unit overhead, and a small but powerful air conditioner. Even later that day, when six of us were smoking at once, the air remained surprisingly clear.

The company was just as enjoyable as the atmosphere. That first afternoon I found myself chatting with visitors from Pennsylvania and Virginia, one of the lounge’s owners, and Mark, who stayed busy helping walk-in customers. The conversations were lively, friendly, and welcoming.

On a rainy afternoon later in the week, I returned for another visit and was greeted in the humidor by Rocco. I settled in with a small pour of 1792 Small Batch Bourbon with a Padrón 1964. The afternoon was spent swapping stories with fellow patrons, including another of the owners, Phil, who shared some fascinating insights about cigars and people in the industry.

Billed — accurately — as “the only cigar lounge on the Outer Banks,” OBX Cigar Lounge turned out to be exactly the kind of oasis every cigar smoker hopes to discover: inviting seating, friendly company, a well-curated humidor, and the option to pair it all with a good pour. I never need much convincing to plan a trip back to the Outer Banks, and the lounge has secured its place as a must-visit stop on every future visit.

Cheers!

Cigars by the Sea: A Relaxed Week in the Outer Banks

I took a short break from posting last week while we slipped away for a much-needed trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It had been three years since our last visit to the OBX, and the return reminded me why this stretch of coast is a popular destination. We've been visiting regularly for the last 40 years and still find it an amazing place — even if I am no longer tempted to jump in and battle the waves. This was not a trip packed with schedules or excursions. We simple enjoyed a laid-back week devoted to the art of leisure. We spent our days relaxing, eating well, laughing over board games, and, for me, savoring some good cigars.

Arturo Fuente Rosado Sungrown

Most of my smoking time was spent on the deck with a view of the Atlantic or right down on the sand, enjoying the steady rhythm of the surf. A persistent breeze occasionally forced a lopsided burn, but overall the oceanside weather cooperated nicely. I even carved out time for a couple of visits to the local lounge, OBX Cigar Lounge — a welcoming spot that deserves its own write-up, which I’ll share in a separate post.

Black Label Trading Company Royalty

As usual, I packed more cigars than I realistically expected to smoke. I like to give myself options depending on my mood, and there’s always the chance a stick might misbehave. That variety was further expanded by a few purchases at the lounge, which added some fresh finds to the rotation.

Perdomo Lot 23 Maduro

The weather turned out to be surprisingly kind. Aside from a few clouds, there was very little rain — quite a contrast to our last visit, when gusting winds and near-constant downpours limited me to a single cigar the entire week. This time, the conditions allowed for plenty of relaxed smoking sessions without interruption.

El Pulpo by Artesano del Tobacco

In the end, the vacation was everything it needed to be: unhurried time with family, simple pleasures, the sound of the ocean, good food, and cigars enjoyed without rush. Sometimes the best trips aren’t about doing more, but about slowing down and enjoying what’s right in front of you.

Cheers!

Lookout Brewery, Black Mountain, NC

A couple of weeks ago we escaped to western North Carolina to disconnect for a week of relaxation. We ensconced at a bed and breakfast for the week, which made for a nice base of operations. We would eat a hearty meal in the morning, then head out for a day of hiking, sight seeing, and brewery visits. 

We were treated to an appearance by the local bird feeder bandit one evening as we enjoyed dinner on the patio. The hungry bear stepped out of the woods, stared at us for a moment, then retreated back into the trees.

Naturally, I was looking forward to enjoying cigars at local breweries during the trip. Surprisingly, the NC breweries we visited were, with one exception, less than accommodating when it came to that pleasure. Of course, there are dozens of breweries in the Asheville area, so maybe we just hit the wrong ones. As so many of our local breweries allow cigars, many even having humidors onsite, I was shocked by the restrictions at breweries in our neighboring state.

One notable exception was Lookout Brewing in Black Mountain. We stayed right outside of the town, so it was just a short drive to the brewery. That was fortunate as this was the only brewery that we opted to pay a return visit to, as much for the beer and atmosphere as the chance to enjoy a cigar.

We ordered a couple of beers, and grabbed a table on the side patio in the shade. I quickly lit a Liga Privada Sun Grown Maduro to enjoy with the Toasted Hazelnut Dunkel. The Dunkel had notes of coffee and a pleasing nuttiness. It was a refreshing foil to the rather warm temperature and as expected paired well with the cigar. The resident food truck was not open so we grabbed two delicious wood fired pizzas from the shop right across the street. (We were enjoying the leftovers at the B&B when the bear paid a visit.)

We returned later in the week for more good beer, food, and a smoke. This time the food truck was open and we gorged ourselves on some tasty, and large, hot dogs. This time I opted for Curren's Cloudbreaker Hazy IPA. For my smoke I lit one of my favorites, the Powstanie Broadleaf, in the Belicoso format.

The Hazy IPA was very well done. There was a refreshing fruitiness, without being overly sweet, and balanced with just the right amount of hop bitterness. Mouthfeel was creamy with a clean finish and the moderate 5.7% ABV made it easy to go for a refill. 

I was struck by the friendliness of the patrons at the brewery. The crowd seemed be mostly "local" rather than "tourist" like us. In fact, Lookout Brewing reminded me a lot of my favorite local haunt for enjoying beer and cigars, 1781 Brewing, where so many of these Musings originate. The patrons and staff were friendly, the beers delicious, there was food onsite, and they had no objections to the enjoyment of cigars. In fact, small ash trays were placed on many of the tables.

I talked to the bartender for a bit to express my delight with finding them, and shared how much we enjoyed ourselves. "We are just a small business trying to be welcoming," she replied. I think they are succeeding. If you are in the area, and want a break from the larger, more well-known, and crowded, local breweries you won't go wrong with a visit to Lookout Brewing in Black Mountain, NC.

Vacation Beer Notes

We spent last week down at the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The weather wasn't suitable for much time on the beach, but the overcast and very windy days provided no obstacle to eating and drinking. As usual, we enjoyed mostly, but not exclusively, North Carolina beers during the trip.

One of our first stops was to fill a growler at Chip's Wine & Beer Market. We selected Effortless IPA by Captain Lawrence Brewing Company of New York. This "session IPA" was a great accompaniment to the carry-out pizza we enjoyed after a long drive.

One of our favorite stops in the Outer Banks is TRiO Wine Beer & Cheese, so we stopped in on Sunday afternoon for lunch. I opted for a Maine Beer Company Peeper Ale. After finishing my beer and sandwich, I was debating about what to enjoy next. I noticed the bartender pouring something that was obviously on nitro. Looking closer I saw it was Belhaven Scottish Ale. This is a beer I've enjoyed in the past, but I couldn't resist trying the nitro serving. I'm glad I did because it was delicious, and was a reminder to not so easily overlook this ale in the future.

It wasn't until dinner on the second day of the trip that we finally got to the North Carolina beers. At a local seafood restaurant, we chose from a limited craft beer menu, but found Long Leaf IPA from Appalachian Mountain Brewery, and Foothills Carolina Blonde.

We made a much anticipated visit to Lost Colony Brewery and Cafe in Manteo. Formerly Full Moon Cafe & Brewery, it's another of our favorite stops in the area. We enjoyed Nags Head IPA, Charon Stout, and Hatteras Red Ale with our lunch on the outside patio.

Relaxing on the deck one afternoon, we opened a couple bottles of Fille de Ferme from Wicked Weed Brewing. We had picked these up earlier in the week. The moderately tart Saison was quite refreshing.

During another dinner, I combined a seafood and pasta dish with Backcountry Black IPA by Deep River Brewing Company. I rarely opt for non-draft selections when I'm out, but this canned offering was quite enjoyable.

We hadn't been to Outer Banks Brewing Station during our last couple of visits to the Outer Banks, so decided to stop in for lunch this time. The brewery doesn't offer Pale Ales and IPAs very often, so I was pleased to see 'Bout Time IPA while Colleen enjoyed a Hugh Hefeweizen with her meal.

We opted to forgo seafood one evening, choosing instead to have dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. For this meal I strayed from North Carolina selections and ordered a draft Modelo Especial. The beer was served in a frosted mug with a wedge of lime. I typically eschew cold glassware and fruit in my beer, but I drank this one as it was served, and yes, I enjoyed it.

Getting back to a seafood theme, a tasty lunch at the Salt Box Cafe found us enjoying Weeping Willow Wit from Mother Earth Brewing and Buckshot Amber Ale by Natty Greene's Brewing. Natty Greene's is one of those breweries that I don't see too often but which never fails to disappoint. The Amber Ale was an excellent malty accompaniment to my Mediterranean Salad, topped with grilled fish of course.

For our final "seafood feast" of the trip, I started my meal with Weeping Radish Farm Brewery's Maibock. This brought back memories as this was the first beer I had from the brewery years ago, when they were located in Manteo, and remains my favorite from the brewery. Colleen ordered a Limoncello by Deep River Brewing Company. This was a very flavorful American Wild Ale style beer, with a unique, lemony flavor. It truly did have a classic Limoncello-like flavor. The dinner capped off with Mother Earth Brewing Endless River Kölsch.

After returning home Saturday afternoon, we arrived to an empty refrigerator, so opted for one more dinner out, at Harry's Ale House. Since I was back in Virginia, I selected a Virginia brewed beer to go with my meal. Lethe Pale Ale from Commonwealth Brewing Company provided a refreshing floral citrus and bitter balance in a low ABV beer. It was so good, I had a second.

It was a fun week of good food and tasty beer, and lots of each! There are still a couple off days left to enjoy before returning to work after the Memorial Day holiday. I suspect a few more beers await, but those will likely be coming from the fridge downstairs.

Trio: Good Food and Drink in OBX

Each year when we visit the Outer Banks, the Trio Wine, Beer, and Cheese shop is a regular stop to stock up on tasty beverages to enjoy during the trip. However, we've never taken the time to stop in to the bistro and enjoy the food and beer offered there. Finally, during our last trip we visited for lunch, on not one, but two occasions.

The Trio menu offers cheeses and other appetizers, soups, salads, panini and desserts. There are also 24 rotating beers on draft, including several served on nitro. The beer selection is prominently displayed above the bar on a large TV screen. During our first visit I tried a beer I have not had previously, Tyranny Hoppy Red Ale from Wicked Weed Brewing in Asheville, NC. Colleen opted for Rogue Brewing Shakespeare Oatmeal served on Nitro. For lunch we ordered an Olive and Feta Dip appetizer, and a couple of paninis. 

All of the food was well-prepared and very tasty. My Gouda and Roast Beef Panini with roasted tomato and arugula was quite good; the sandwich lightly grilled and flavorful. The Tyranny Red Ale was an especially good beer. The aroma was a mix of pine and citrus. In the flavor, the bitter grapefruit and pine hop notes where balanced by a slightly sweet caramel malt. A lingering tea bitterness completed the flavor profile. After lunch I searched the Trio retail shop hoping to find some bottles to take home, but was unsuccessful.

We returned for lunch second time during the trip. This visit I enjoyed another panini and a Hoppy Wheat from Hi-Wire Brewing, also from Asheville. (Sounds like we need to take a trip to Asheville someday.) The Hoppy Wheat was a tangy wheat ale with predominately grapefruit and orange citrus flavors. Another of Trio's tasty paninis completed my lunch menu. Colleen enjoyed a Belhaven Scottish Ale, again served on nitro.

We enjoyed all the foods we tried at Trio. The ever-changing beer menu is very interesting and offers a variety of beers sure to please most craft beer fans. I know we'll be back the next time we visit the Outer Banks. 

Capt'n Rolo's Raw Bar and Grill

During a recent trip to the Outer Banks, we took a drive from Kitty Hawk down towards Hatteras. It was one of the few days during the week when the sun made an appearance, so it was a very enjoyable and scenic drive. Eventually we decided to stop for lunch, and pulled into Capt'n Rolo's Raw Bar and Grill purely by chance.

Capt'n Rolo's is a small place and was quite busy when we entered. We had a seat at the bar, and soon realized that a single person was taking orders and serving food. The waitress was working hard and in constant motion, but soon got us our drinks with a smile, even taking time to offer a sample of a beer I was not familiar with.

My lunch beer choice was Double Barley Brewing Touche' IPA. This easy drinking beer has a floral and citrus aroma. The flavor leans towards citrus with a touch of bitterness. The creamy mouthfeel finishes clean with just a hint of bitterness. A moderate 6.8%ABV and well-balanced flavor made for a nice lunchtime libation.

For the food portion of lunch, I opted for a Fried Oyster Sandwich. I've ordered a lot of fried oyster sandwiches over the years. I've had some good ones, and some less than good offerings. Often I've been disappointed in the bread-to-oyster ratio. Well, the basket that was set in front of me was a sight to behold! Plump, lightly breaded oysters were piled high on the slightly toasted roll. I turned to Colleen and said, "I'm not sure how to eat this."

I put the pieces together and attacked with both hands. The sandwich tasted as good as it looked. The oysters were juicy and flavorful. Even the "salad" pieces of the sandwich were crisp and fresh. At the end, I had plenty of extra oysters left on the plate to enjoy alone. This was definitely one of the best fried oyster sandwiches, even oyster meals in general, that I've had in a long time. Colleen opted for a Caesar Chicken Wrap that was also flavorful, and huge. It reminded me, in size, of those giant California burritos we had out west many years ago. Half of her sandwich was brought home to be enjoyed later.

We finished our meals well after the mid-afternoon closing time of Capt'n Rolo's, but we were never rushed and the server was attentive, despite being busy and running the place by herself. (They reopen for dinner, BTW.) If Capt'n Rolo's wasn't about an hour's drive from where we were staying, I would have gone back for another meal. The food was delicious and served in generous proportions. We'll definitely return the next time we visit the Outer Banks.

North Carolina Vacation Beer Tally

Despite it coinciding with Virginia Craft Beer Month, our week on the Outer Banks, provided an opportunity to focus my beer explorations on beers from North Carolina. The sixteen different beers I had during our week, were but a small piece of the variety offered by local brewers. About half of those beers were enjoyed fresh, right at the source, at Full Moon and Weeping Radish breweries.

• Terrapin Hopsecutioner
• Mother Earth Weeping Willow Wit
• Natty Greene's Southern Dry-hopped Pale Ale
• Natty Greene's Freedom American IPA 
• Natty Greene's Elm Street IPA (2014)
• Weeping Radish Corolla Gold
• Weeping Radish Bitter Bee
• Weeping Radish Ruddy Radish
• Weeping Radish Black Radish
• Big Boss War Hawk
• Big Boss High Roller IPA
• Full Moon Lost Colony English Brown Ale
• Full Moon Charon Stout
• Full Moon Over Time APA
• Sierra Nevada Flipside IPA (2014)
• Highland St. Teresa Pale Ale

With one exception, I avoided the Western breweries that had recently moved to the state, since those are readily available at home. It did cause me a moment's pause when viewing the North Carolina beer shelf at the Trio Wine, Beer and Cheese store I spied the cans from Oskar Blues, a brewery I still associate with my trips to Colorado.

We only brought a few beers home with us, in contrast to last year when I struggled to find room in the beer fridge for the beer bounty. We did indeed bring back many good memories.

Virginia Beer Month Tally

As promised, I did manage to limit my beer choices to Virginia-brewed beverages for most of Virginia Craft Beer Month. However, a week spent vacationing on the Outer Banks, meant a week focused on North Carolina beers. The weeks prior to vacation were naturally extra busy, which also limited my time for "exploration." Nonetheless, I had no trouble sticking to Virginia craft beers in the time I had.

While the list wasn't extensive, nine of the sixteen were new to me. That's a successful Craft Beer Month in my book.

• O’Connor El Guapo Agave IPA
• Port City Optimal Wit
• Parkway Get Bent Mountain IPA
• Champion Missile IPA *
• Starr Hill Grateful Pale Ale
• Devils Backbone Reilly’s Red
• Old Bust Head English Pale Ale
• Old Bust Head Chukker Pilsner *
• Old Bust Head Wildcat IPA *
• Old Bust Head Shorthorn Pale Ale *
• Old Bust Head Vixen Irish Red *
• Old Bust Head Chinquapin Chestnut Porter *
• Old Bust Head Gold Cup Russian Imperial Stout *
• Lost Rhino New River Pale Ale
• Lickinghole Creek Magic Beaver *
• Lickinghole Creek Til Sunset  *

* Denotes a beer tried for the first time during Virginia Craft Beer Month.

Full Moon Brewery

Located in the town of Manteo on Roanoke Island, the Full Moon Café & Grill, and Brewery, is a hidden craft beer destination on the Outer Banks. We first visited last year, and declared it a "must stop" during our vacation this year. After a tour of the nearby Elizabethan Gardens, we stopped at Full Moon for lunch. The café itself is quite small, and there actually seems to be more outdoor patio seating than indoor. We did choose to dine inside and were seated right away.

Rather than sample a flight of beers, we opted to focus on full servings of a single beer. Interestingly, we all selected beers that we did not try in our initial visit last Summer. Glasses of Lost Colony English Brown Ale for Checkered Flag, Charon Stout for Colleen, and Over Time Pale Ale for me soon appeared on our table. The English Nut Brown Ale was well done, with a slightly nutty flavor and a mild chocolate hint. Colleen's Irish Stout was equally enjoyable. The bitterness of roasted malt and caramel predominated, with a hint of smoke. The beer finished bitter and slightly dry.

The Over Time Pale Ale seems to be a newer addition to the lineup. Golden amber with a thin white head, the beer has a mild citrus aroma. The flavor leans towards grapefruit citrus, with a touch of pine. It was a well-balanced Pale Ale that finished clean with little aftertaste. I rather enjoyed it, and when my glass was empty, instead of changing beers mid-meal, I opted for a repeat pint.

I started my meal with a cup of a very thick crab bisque. Full of crab meat, and flavor, the soup was a fitting accompaniment to my first glass of Over Time Pale Ale. For the main part of my meal, and to go along with that second beer, I enjoyed a Hunter Wrap — chunks of grilled angus ribeye along with onions, tomatoes, and a white cheddar and horseradish sauce. The wrap was served with tortilla chips and a very spicy salsa. The Pale Ale was a fitting, and cooling, foil for the spice of the wrap and the salsa.

If the Full Moon Café and Brewery was just a bit closer to where we were staying in Southern Shores, I am positive we would have eaten more meals there. The combination of fresh craft beer, tasty food and fast, friendly service is hard to beat. It's become one of my favorite stops in the Outer Banks. We'll be back again the next time we're in the area.

Weeping Radish Farm Brewery

During a recent trip to the Outer Banks, we made a lunch time visit the Weeping Radish Eco Farm & Brewery in Grandy, NC. The brewery is just a short drive from the Outer Banks. Arriving for a late lunch on a Sunday, we had about a 30 minute wait for a table. The dining area is surprisingly small given the overall size, at least in appearance, of the operation. We frustratingly stared at two large, but empty, tables. Two tables with seating for at least 8 were empty our entire wait, presumably saved for large parties. I was tempted to introduce myself to another waiting party of four to make a group to qualify for an empty table.

We passed the time looking at the display of sausages, and perusing the menu with the current beer offerings taped to the checkout counter. When we were seated, the well-tattered food and beverage menu we were handed did not have a complete beer listing. The server informed us that the Hefeweizen was not available, but offered no other information. If we had not noticed the lone 8.5x11" paper taped to the counter, we would have had little info on what beers were being served.

These initial "trials" resolved, we got our much anticipated food and beverage orders placed in short order. Colleen and I both opted for three-sausage platters, served with sauerkraut with a soft pretzel. Between our two platters we tried Bratwurst, Apple Brat, Beer Brat, and Andouille. We were left to our own devices to sort out which was which, but the flavors are unique and easily distinguished. The sauerkraut was cut very fine, and cooked to an almost creamy state, with a very sharp "sauer." It was surprisingly tart for being so thoroughly cooked. In enjoyed it, Colleen found it a tad "too much." I think I was the only one to use the accompanying Curry Ketchup, into which I dipped my soft pretzel. We all shared some spicy Lusty Monk Mustard as well. Our son and Checkered Flag both selected Grilled Bratwurst on a roll, served with fries. All of the food was delicious. The servings were quite ample, and neither Colleen nor I managed to clean our plates.

Tasty food aside, I was there to try the beer. Our first round consisted of Corolla Gold Helles Lager, Bitter Bee, and Ruddy Radish. The Helles that Checker Flag ordered was the only one of the three I had tried previously. It was light bodied, with mildly sweet caramel malt and a toasted cereal grain base. Colleen's Bitter Bee was one of the beers that interested me. It is described as an IPA made with tulip poplar honey from the Shenandoah Valley. The beer was very floral in aroma and flavor. The overall flavor is mild with just a hint of citrus. It was an enjoyable, if unusual flavor. I did very much enjoy the Ruddy Radish Red Ale that I ordered. I've long felt that Red Ale is an oft-ignored style, even by myself. The Weeping Radish version is predominately caramel and toffee malt flavors, with a touch of citrus.

I had finished my pint of Red Ale before I had eaten much of my meal so ordered a glass of one of Weeping Radish's classics, the Black Radish Dark Lager. It took a while to get my beer. The waitress let me know it was coming during her stop by to refill our water glasses, and I saw her speak to the bartender several times, I assumed to check on that order. She finally poured the beer herself and brought it to the table, though I was halfway through my meal by then. This was one of the first Schwarzbiers I tried, many years ago, and looked forward to revisiting it. The aroma and flavor of roasted caramel and a hint of sweetness make this a smooth and easy sipping beer. It is still my favorite from the brewery.

Beer fans with a taste for the boldness of American-style craft beer may be let down by the Weeping Radish beers, which focus on a milder European-style, but the beers are solid. My impression from this visit is that Weeping Radish is set up for the take-out customer, be it beer, sausages, or farm produce. The seating and service left a little to be desired — the lack of a beer menu was telling. The food however was excellent, so it's definitely worth stopping in for the locally produced sausages.

Full Moon Café & Brewery

A few months ago I was in a local grocery store and I saw a guy wearing a t-shirt from the Full Moon Brewery in Manteo, NC. I'd never heard of it, and since we were planning a trip to the Outer Banks, I made a note to find out more. The small restaurant and brewery is located in old town Manteo. We've driven down the main drag through the island on the way to the aquarium, but have never veered off into the village. It's a charming town that we'll have to check out further on a future trip. But this trip was solely for the brewpub.

The lunch rush was in full swing when we arrived. Both the restaurant area and separate pub are quite small, and there is also an outdoor seating area. Despite the crowd, we got a table pretty quickly and service was friendly and prompt throughout our stay. 

Of course, the first order of business was to review the beer menu. Nine house beers were listed, along with one guest tap from Weeping Radish Brewery. Full Moon focuses on British and Irish style beers. I was impressed that, despite their outward size, they had that many house taps. This was going to be a tough decision so I opted to start out with a flight of four beers.

The first beer I tried was the Baltimore Blonde, a British-style Pale Ale. The flavor and aroma was mild caramel and honey, which carried over into the flavor. A barely noticeable citrus bitterness come into play at the end. I suspect this is a popular draft for less adventurous drinkers. Next up was the Devils Own IPA. This tasty British-style IPA had a golden color with a thin white head. The taste is a nice balance of citrus and bitter. It's a light flavor with a clean finish. 

Up third, I tasted the Paddy Wagon Red. Deep red in color with a malty aroma, the flavor is toasted caramel and barley. The mouthfeel is somewhat creamy. This was a well-done Irish Red Ale that I enjoyed quite a bit. At just 4% ABV it makes a good session beer. Finally, I moved on to the Vitamin O, an Extra Special Bitter. ESB's are one of my favorite styles, so I was looking forward to this one. The reddish-brown beer had a very thin white head, and a nutty, caramel aroma. The flavor was slightly sweet, and nutty with some mild bitterness. Caramel and toffee lingered in the finish. The beer was nicely balanced. I ended up ordering a pint of Vitamin O to enjoy with my food.

Colleen and Checkered Flag decided to go big and they both ordered glasses of Stone of Destiny, the brewery's 9% ABV Wee Heavy. The beer had an earthy, malty aroma. The flavor brought forth molasses, dark coffee, some dark fruit and a touch of smoke. Those two glasses of beer received rave reviews from their drinkers.

Speaking of food, we were quite impressed with what we ate, and saw, at Full Moon. Colleen and I both ordered Shrimp and Grits. The sautéed Shrimp are accompanied by andouille sausage, peppers, tomatoes, onions, black beans and Creole spices, and served in a creamy sauce over grilled polenta. The dish was very flavorful and had enough kick to live up to the Creole label. It was also quite filling. The rest of our party ordered bacon cheeseburgers made with Angus beef, and real chunks of crispy bacon. Their sandwiches were huge and quickly devoured. The other food dishes we saw looked good, and like our selections, appeared to come as generous portions. At one point we all turned longingly to watch attractive platters of Fish and Chips being carried to other tables. Full Moon seems to do "pub food" quite well.

In proper Irish (or British if you prefer) pub style, Full Moon's beer repertoire also included a Stout, an Imperial Stout, and a Porter, but I was unable to get to them this visit. I regret that we didn't visit earlier in our trip so we'd have time for a return visit. I'm thinking those Fish and Chips would go quite well with a pint of Manteo Porter. Next time, for sure. 

I am glad I spied that Full Moon T-shirt as it led us to a great new beer destination. We bought a couple shirts ourselves, maybe we'll lead some other fans to good food and beer in Manteo. The next time we visit the OBX, we'll definitely be back. 

Outer Banks Brewing Station

What's a vacation in the Outer Banks without a stop at the Outer Banks Brewing Station? At least for us, it's a required stop. This trip we opted to avoid the usual dinner crowds and stopped in for a late lunch. Four beers were listed on the beer menu; Ölsch (a Kölsch), LemonGrass Wheat Ale, Intergalactic IPA, and Captain's Porter. Our party all opted for our usual favorite styles; the IPA for me, Colleen ordered the Wheat, and our travel companion, Checkered Flag, chose the Ölsch.

IPA, Wheat, Kölsch

The Intergalactic IPA was a cloudy, but attractive orange color with a moderate white head. Keeping with the space theme, and paraphrasing Darth Vader, "the hops are strong with this one." The aroma is full of grapefruit citrus. The taste follows suit with grapefruit, orange and a hint of lemon zest. The finish brings about some grassy bitterness. This is a slightly out of balance, bold, and tasty beer. I spent a lot of time swirling and sniffing the hoppy aromas while savoring my pint.

I grabbed a couple sips of Colleen's LemonGrass Wheat Ale. The aroma is earthy with notes of lemon and pepper. The flavor is that of a hefewiezen with banana and yeast. The lemongrass adds a bit of a zestiness, along with some mild peppery notes. Quite refreshing, and served without a fruit slice thankfully.

The Ölsch has always been on the menu during our visits in the past to the Brewing Station, but I've never ordered it. Towards the end of our meal I realized I hadn't gotten a taste of the Ölsch. I stole a sip and found it to have a nice flavor of sweet, grainy malt. A surprisingly bitter finish comes up in the end. Next time I'll try to do a more complete, um, review of this one.

I enjoyed the pub's "Bratwich" for lunch. The grilled Bratwursts are from the Weeping Radish Butchery, and served with sautéed onions, peppers, sauerkraut and creamy mustard on a hoagie roll. It was quite a tasty accompaniment to the IPA. I would have enjoyed another pint of the Intergalactic IPA, but there was a beach to get to!

Crab Cakes and IPAs

We headed over to Red Drum Tap House for dinner one evening while in the Outer Banks. I like this stop as they have a decent selection of North Carolina beers AND a seafood menu. Upon entering I noticed one of the specials was a Crab Cake platter, so my main course selection was made before I sat down. Now to get down to the beer selection.

I opted to start out with Hoppyum IPA from Foothills Brewing Company. We were starting our meal with the spicy Taphouse Wings, and I figured the hoppy beer should be a good match for the spicy appetizer. I could tell right away from the strong citrus aroma that I had made a good choice. The flavor was bitter and resinous, and full of citrus juiciness. Quite frankly, it was my kind of beer. And indeed, it was a good foil to the spicy hot wings.

I finished my glass of beer about the time the main course arrived. I decided to go with Freedom IPA by Natty Greene's Brewing Company to accompany the crab cakes. Another bold American-style IPA, this beer was noticeably different than the previous beer. The citrusy hops were balanced by a hint of sweetness. The sweet malt mitigated the citrus, but did not hide it. My crab cakes were accompanied by a Aioli sauce and the beer made a nice pairing with the garlicky and tart sauce. I enjoyed both of the IPAs very much. They each went especially well with the accompanying foods.

Red Drum is decorated with a lot breweriana. The bar also has a mixed and varied glassware collection, and it's interesting to see what brewery's logo accompanies the beer, such as this National Bohemian glass from a previous trip. This visit, my Hoppyum IPA was served in a thick-walled Dos Equis glass. The Natty Greene's beer came in the usual shaker pint, but with a Sweetwater 420 Pale Ale logo. No glass snobs here, drinking a beer at Red Drum, with its eclectic glass collection, reminds me of drinking at my own home.

Endless River Kölsch

If I'm not tracking down Maryland beers in North Caroline, I try to stick with local beers when visiting. Another new to me beer I tried out during our trip was Endless River Kölsch, from Mother Earth Brewing.

Endless River Kölsh-style Ale pours a clear straw-yellow color with a brilliant, pure white head. As with my Red Sky At Night I lost some of the foam to the strong winds blowing off the ocean. Despite the windy venue, I was still able to pick up the yeast and grain aromas of the beer. The flavor was light with a grainy, toasted bread flavor. There was a buttery biscuit aspect to the taste. The creamy mouthfeel leads into a dry finish, with a very mild bitterness left behind.

I enjoyed my glass of Endless River Kölsch, with some pita chips and humus. The salty chips complimented the flavors of the beer quite well. The moderately low 4.9% ABV made for a refreshing early afternoon beachfront snack.

Red Sky At Night

Nope, not a post about a picturesque sunset. I'm talking about the tasty Saison from Baltimore's Heavy Seas Brewing. Red Sky At Night is a favorite of ours, but one that's been an elusive libation. Last year the brewer was only able to brew a limited quantity, and none of it seemed to make it to Fredericksburg. I knew the beer was back this year, but again, never saw it locally.

Since I knew we'd be traveling to the Outer Banks for vacation, I held out hope that Chip's would have some. A couple years ago I found some other Heavy Seas beers there that I couldn't get locally. (Now as then, I consider this a failure of our local distributor, not the brewery.) Entering Chip's I immediately scanned the shelves and, sure enough, spied 2 six packs of Red Sky. Colleen grabbed one and asked at the counter if we could get a case. The answer was there's two sixers left in the cooler, and two left on the shelf. That's all that was left, so we grabbed what was left.

Back at the beach house that afternoon, we cracked a few open to enjoy before dinner. The beer is as we remembered. It presents a pleasing Belgian yeast and sweet banana fruitiness, in combination with some wheat in the background. There's a bit of mild white pepper in the finish. This is an enjoyable beer with a light mouthfeel.

Taking the accompanying photograph turned in to an adventure, but one that was quite apropos. As soon as I finished pouring my beer, a gust of wind came off the ocean, scattering the foam from my glass into the wind. Three times the bottle blew off the deck railing before I snapped the picture. Despite my desire to drink this "stormy" beer outside, I was quickly forced to retreat indoors.

Wall of Beer

A feast for the eyes.

Vacation.

Chip's Beer & Wine.

Questions?

The Truth IPA

The press release from Flying Dog started out like this, "Full disclosure: This beer came to fruition because we saw a gap in our portfolio and we wanted to increase our market share." Well, being an avowed capitalist, of course I had to try it out. Okay, that, and it's an Imperial IPA.

Flying Dog The Truth pours a copper color with a very thin, and short-lived head. The aroma is sweet and a little boozy. The flavor is like grapefruit pith, citrusy and bitter at the same time. The initial sip caused a bit of a cheek pucker and eye blink, but that may have been more from surprise, as the aroma didn't prepare me for the big flavor. I recovered quickly and went in for another sip. And another. And another. Well, you get the picture. The subtle, sweet malt backbone helps to pull it all together. A bitter, dry finish rounds out the enjoyment. The Truth checks in at 8.7% ABV, but other than a hint in the aroma, it was pretty well hidden behind the robust flavor profile.

This is a big beer, and one that will appeal to fans of bold IPAs. Needless to say I enjoyed my single bottle of The Truth. Finishing the glass was bittersweet (no pun intended) as Flying Dog is being released on August 15, but only in Washington, DC and Maryland. Since this is a year-round addition to their beer portfolio we can hold out hope to see greater distribution in the future.

In classic Flying Dog manner, the brewery stirred up a bit of a controversy with a short-lived ad campaign for The Truth. I saw the ad poking fun at all the breweries expanding operations to North Carolina, and frankly, I laughed. We've covered the recent growth in that state with much anticipation. It seems there are some humor-impared beer fans in North Carolina. But, those sensitive types probably couldn't handle such a bold beer anyway. (And probably stopped perusing these Musings a long time ago.) Their loss, seriously.

Notice for the Bureaucrats: Flying Dog sent me an unsolicited bottle of The Truth. It is through my own free will that I enjoyed the beer. No compensation, other than the pleasure of tweaking some sensitive types in NC, was received for its review.

Deviant Dale's IPA

It seems we're on a bit of a Colorado beer memory tour. To that end, I enjoyed a pint of Oskar Blues Deviant Dale's IPA the other evening. I first had this amped up version of the brewery's iconic Dale's Pale Ale at Oskar Blues in Longmont last year. At the time, the beer hadn't yet made it to Virginia. However, it appears the new Virginia brewery has helped improve that distribution limitation.

Deviant Dale's pours a thick looking dark orange with creamy head. The foam is long lasting, leaving a sticking coating behind on the sides of the glass. The aroma is strong with sweet malt and a hint of fruitiness. The flavor is a mix of bitter and sweet, with the sweet malts being the predominant aspect. The pine and citrus hops help to provide balance, but this IPA leans to the sweet rather than citrus. An oily, resinous coating of sweet malt lingers in the mouth afterwards.

I couldn't help but contrast Deviant Dale's with my old Colorado favorite, Great Divide Hercules. The Hercules focus is on the bitter citrus, with the sweeter flavors providing a supporting role. Two beers, two interpretations. At 8% ABV, Deviant Dale's isn't as extreme as some India Pale Ale's, but it's still worthy of respectful sipping.

My beer didn't have to travel far to get to Virginia. The 16 ounce "tall boy" can (How cool is that?) prominently notes the Brevard, North Carolina point of origin. Turning the can over to get the last drops into my glass, I noticed the April 1 canning date, complete with an April Fool's Day joke.

NC Sectional Championship

Last Friday I travelled down to Creedmore, NC with a couple of shooting buddies to participate in the USPSA NC Sectional Championship match. We planned to meet at 0500 to depart. I woke up with a start at 4:40 AM realizing I had overslept. I rushed out the door to be only a few minutes late to the rendezvous point. (Later I realized that I had set the extra early alarm on the clock radio for Saturday, rather than for Friday.) We arrived at the Sir Walter Gun Club even before check-in was open so we headed out in search of breakfast. We found a wonderful diner nearby and had a hearty meal for a great price. Back at the range, we still had time to walk through the stages.

In previewing the printed course of fire drawings, while I was excited to shoot the match, the stages did not strike me as especially interesting. However, that initial impression was totally incorrect. The nine stages (Flicker photos) were all excellent, challenging, and most importantly, fun! There was a variety of challenges, including many moving and strategically hidden targets. Most of the stages required plenty of movement by the shooter. The gun club has many large bays that they made good use of to provide opportunities to get in the "run" part of "run and gun." Also interesting, and initially uncomfortable, was that a lot of the courses were run right to left, which can be challenging to right handed shooters, especially when performing reloads. Another aspect I found interesting was the number of shots that were taken down the edge of the 180° line. The stage designers took advantage of  the full 180° of shooting. There were a couple of places where I had to look further left or right than I am used to.

I started out the day strong, completing the first three stages with good accuracy. I did remark that I felt I could be timed with a sundial. After that, I started struggling with accuracy and had to force myself to slow down. It was a frustrating to not be able to find my stride, or apparently the front site, in the later stages.

Stage 7, "Pick 'em Up," had an interesting prop where the shooter hit a large button above a small window. That action opened the port and activated a "Max Trap" that exposed the target for very short time, requiring a fast response by the shooter. It was interesting that I could pull that off with fast A zone hits, yet still have a C hit on a stationary target. I remarked that perhaps I should treat all targets as disappearing!

Another interesting prop setup was found on Stage 4 "BPS The Delivery." This course of fire started out with a series of very tight shots, leaning out over the side fault lines. (And yes I shot the "no-shoot" on the edge, twice.) Then the shooter had to carry a package across the field and place it down a "mail slot." That action exposed two ports through which more targets were engaged. Behind both those ports were more Max Trap disappearing targets.

The final stage we shot, Stage 5, "The Swamp," had perhaps the longest shots in the match. During the morning walk through, my plan had been to take the four mini-poppers at the beginning, despite their distance. By the end of the day, I was discussing it with other shooters and we felt we were too tired to risk relying on making those shots. So, I took the last 2 poppers at the end of the course of fire. That added movement to one more shooting position at the end, but shortened the distance to two of the small poppers. Surprisingly, I shot the initial two mini-poppers dead on, while still nicking an up close no-shoot.

The Sir Walter club has a reputation for putting on an excellent monthly match. I know of shooters from Northern Virginia who make the drive every month, but this was my first time at the club. They certainly put on an outstanding Sectional match. There was a long list of match sponsors supporting the match and offering "goodies" for the shooters. Through random selection I received a $75 certificate from Precision Delta, which I'll be putting towards an ammo purchase soon.

Despite a disappointing performance, the match was a lot of fun, and that's what matters. The road trip with shooting friends Alex and Clay was a blast too. We frequently joked during the long drive, "Who's idea was this anyway?" (I checked the Facebook messages guys, and I think I hold the blame.) There was plenty of friendly ribbing and fun conversation. I'm looking forward to the next time.

I was quite exhausted by the time I returned home that evening. Although I made predictions of a night cap for the evening, I settled for a refreshing bowl of ice cream before hitting the sack. But not before I reset the Saturday morning alarm time!

And Now, Oskar Blues

First it was Sierra Nevada. Then New Belgium. Now the state of North Carolina has attracted another west coast brewery, Oskar Blues Brewing Company. Our friend Dave over at Fermentedly Challenged has the story.

OSKAR BLUES FINDS DOWNHOME VIBE AT GATES OF PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST 

Longmont, CO. Funky little Oskar Blues Grill & Brew started 15 years ago when Dale Katechis and his high school sweet-heart stumbled across the small town of Lyons, Colorado while on a road trip north from their home in Alabama. That Rocky Mountain trip continues east as Dale finds the same downhome feeling in the rolling hills of Pisgah National Forrest of Brevard, North Carolina. 

Oskar Blues, named “The hottest place to be on a Saturday night in Colorado” by Rolling Stone Magazine, has announced plans for a restaurant/music venue and brewery location just off the bike path to Bracken Mountain in the small downtown of Brevard, N.C. The brewery plans to have the soul-savin’ live music venue and brewery up and running by December 2012.

I'm partial to Virginia, but I'll celebrate any east coast craft beer expansion. I got to spend some time at an Oskar Blues restaurant in Longmont recently, and also the brewery, and had a great time. For all intents and purposes, the future location in North Carolina isn't any more convenient than the one in Colorado for me (in fact I may be able to visit the Colorado venues more often), but the folks around Brevard are in for a treat.

Read the complete article at "Oskar Blues makes plans for second brewery in NC".