Tugs Soundside Taphouse & Brewery

Tugs Soundside Taphouse & Brewery sits along NC-12 in Avon, one of the strung-out villages that make up Hatteras Island inside Cape Hatteras National Seashore. True to its name, it's built on the sound side of the highway — the side that faces Pamlico Sound rather than the ocean, and the natural spot for a beer at sunset rather than a beach day. It operates as both a taproom and a working brewery, and its listing includes retail beer sales alongside pours on site, so it's worth calling ahead if you're after cans or a growler fill to go rather than a seat at the bar.

Good to Know

• Open daily, 10am to 10pm, with no seasonal closures listed
• Located in Avon, between Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo to the north and Buxton and Hatteras village to the south along NC-12, the island's only road
• Call (252) 987-8847 or check tugs.beer for the current tap list, since a small-batch brewery's lineup changes
• Worth checking NC-12 conditions before a special trip during hurricane season (June–November), since the road can close during storms