On our way to Charleston and made a stop. Here is what we liked: * Bat seating. Just not a fan of breweries where you can sit at the bar. * Beertender while being from Ohio was a pretty chill dude. Knew his beer stuff and was friendly. * Several good beer choices. * The misses loved the gift shop. Think we bought just about everything. What could of been better- * Wr loved our visit. While they didn't have food you could bring food in from other places. There is a deli right next door and it appears they often have food trucks. Cool vibe little place- will stop every time we travel in the area read more

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Large space inside. All the beers we tried were really good, and there is a good selection to please any taste. The bartender was friendly and knowledgable. No onsite food, outside of snacks, but the deli next door has great sandwiches you can bring in to eat while you drink. read more

Is Hawaii themed, without being tacky. Love this place. Beer is great, service is on top of it, decor is local without being stereotypical, and there's plenty of space! read more

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I like to visit micro breweries while traveling. I had high hopes for this location based upon the photos and discussion that I read on the Internet. I must've come here on a bad day because I was disappointed in my visit. First, the place was not very crowded, but it was very difficult to get served at the bar. Once we did get served, there was a mistake on what we received. We were given the stink eye because we pointed out the error. We then received no more attention to the point that I had to just go to the register to pay and leave. As for the beer, I tried a flight of eight beers. I was disappointed that none of them were up to the standard. For example, all of the IPAs taste exactly the same. Also, the Stout was just flavored like coffee and thin. The sour was tasteless. This location has all of the ingredients to be a nice micro brewery. Maybe I just came on a bad day for the service, but it was very difficult to get over both bad service and bad beer. read more

Although it was busy, and you could see that the bartender was alone, the fact that she did not acknowledge me in any way when I sat at the bar directly in front of her, forced us to leave without ordering anything. read more

We went in to have drinks and watch the Army Navy game which did not go my way but went my brother in laws way (If you know, you know). It is a very cool place with a Butcher sop right next door. If you dont mind being served by a Jarhead (Former Marine, Semper Fi Brother) this is a Great place to come and have a beer (and drinks for non-beer people) It was very busy and a lot of people had food, I am assuming it came from next door but when we walked through I did not see any food or areas to order. I Hope we do go back, I thought it was very relaxed and cool place. read more

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Have been coming yearly for 3 years! Love staff and your beer! So happy dog friendly too! Our girls enjoyed it read more

Makai Brewing Company - Love your beer tenders! - Breweries Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

I have sampled the beer at Sunset Beach when we have our concert during the summer and it's awesome!

Tasty local beer, cool AC, free Yahtzee and dog-friendly. Having a really nice deli next door makes Maki near perfect. It'd be great to see them improve the outdoor patio/tiki bar areas (which are pretty sad really) but this place still makes me very happy. read more

Went to a comedy show there and it was fun. Adult crowd tried a few beers but the laughs were fine. Food truck on site. Not sure if they have a kitchen inside. read more

Nice local brewery that is laid back, dog friendly with good service provided by one server Sara who is outstanding . They have a variety of beer and it's pretty good . Prices are a little steep with close to $13 bucks for two 16oz. pints . Everything is pricey now and the quality and convenience is there . We had a seasonal winter brew which and a Mango blonde and both were good. There is a market next door where you can get a great sandwich and bring over . They do not serve food . They have outside area which is a plus. They have non alcohol options and wine. Support local and give them a try. read more

Makai Brewing Company - Saturday afternoon brew time ! - Breweries Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Stopped in on our way back home from SC. I liked the name and Hawaiian theme. It's a very large place with a large bar and plenty of seating inside and out. I went with a flight with some bartender recommendations- Black ipa, West coast ipa, mango reef blonde ale and key lime gose! I liked them all. And they had a lot of different styles. read more

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Stopped in yesterday on a roadtrip to give the beers a try and they definitely did not disappoint. They have a great selection on tap as well as to-go beers. Give the Fire Knife or Makai Life a try! read more

Makai Brewing Company - Flight - Breweries Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Very fun brewery to visit while out in this area!! The flights were fun and delicious plus the theme is top notch here. They also have kombucha on draft and wine options. Our only wish was it was closer towards the beach so we could visit more often! read more

Makai Brewing Company - Breweries Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

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Great beer, great, friendly staff, and the sandwiches from the butcher shop next store are a fantastic complement to each other. My favorite lunch destination when out and about! read more

This brewery was fun, Makai means "toward the sea". My husband tried a pint of Glass Beach Amber Ale and I tried a flight of their beers: Kveik IPA, West Coast IPA, Lazy Daze Hazy IPA and Fire Knife IPA. The amber was good but I wasn't super impressed with the IPAs. You can sit inside or outside, seating outside is limited. Cans and crowlers are also available to purchase so that was a plus. Cheers! read more

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Synergy at its best - we brought in heroes from the NY Butcher next door, and ordered a few beers flights at Makai. They have a great selection, and the bartender helped us with our choices. No paper receipts, the bill comes on an iPad, we just added tip and clicked ok. Seating indoor was spaced apart, or you could sit outside. A great way to spend a Wednesday afternoon. And we got some hot sausage, fresh mozzarella and braciole for dinner (but that's another review). read more

Makai Brewing Company - Craft beer flights with an Italian sub. - Breweries Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Five stars for their beers...seriously...loved every beer I tried here. Minus a star because they don't serve food, though you can go next door and get yourself a sandwich if you want. Flights are 4 beers for 11 dollars. Totally impressed that they have only been open about 7 months and have a killer brew repertoire. Saying that, it's a total bummer that right now they are only doing 32 oz crowlers and they are 13 bucks!!!!! Ouch. Looking forward to the 13 dollar GROWLERS....where they at? I preferred their beers here to those at New South Brewing in Myrtle by a lot. Hawaiin theme thing here was fine though just seemed odd since owners aren't Hawaiin and it's nowhere near Hawaii...who cares though? Their beer is great. Strong and free WiFi, just like 'Merica. Open 7 days a week!!!!!!! read more

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Great little place on highway 17 near OIB Sunset and Holden. We were visiting friends down at OIB and it was a rainy day so we headed out to check out a few places. This had a nice vibe and was more of a neighborhood bar atmosphere. The beers are good with a broad selection to choose from. They also have wine for the folks who aren't beer drinkers. I ended up purchasing a four pack of the Carolina Citrus IPA as a surprise for my neighbor after a copy of flights. I will visit this place again !!! read more

We loved the beer selection and games for our daughters while we enjoyed lunch from the deli next door.

I've driven past this spot dozens of times but today decided to stop and check out the action plenty of seating inside with a great atmosphere and friendly people on the cusp of their 4 year anniversary you could feel the excitement in the air very beachy vibe with plenty of beers to choose from I had the red ale with my Ruben and picked up a cozy for my tall boys down the road my lover had the mango blonde that she said was over the moon things could get interesting tonight hit up the deli next door then come on over for a pint you won't be sorry read more

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Stopped in today on way home from Myrtle beach. I had seen this place many times in the bright yellow building There is seating outside under an awning and inside there's a few couches and lots of tables. The young ladies up front at the counter were very nice and helpful. They let us sample a few.. there was a coffee porter that was pretty good and a mango blonde I was fond of. Had a glass with a sandwich I got from next door. Hubby got a red ale he said was good. They had flights or minis. The samples were free. They sell some of their beers in 4 packs to take home. Today we didn't but I think the next time I pass thru I will pick up a pack . There's a small gift shop next to the counter in the corner of glasses and tshirts for purchase. I really liked this place. Combination of locals and tourist.. wasn't crowded either. Right now hours were 12-6 all week. They have a Facebook page you can follow them on and it tells you when special events are and what they are. Sometimes the food trucks come too. Seemed like a cool place to hang out. read more

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Awesome local beer next door to a great deli and market. Check calendar to see if there's music or food trucks.

Sarah was our bartender and she was most excellent! This is a great place right off of 17 .. and a def addition to our rotations when we come to OIB. They even had cheap snacks to go with the beer. Worth a visit if you are in the area. read more

Makai Brewing Company - Breweries Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

This place is still the best, I've been here multiple times and they beers are always good. I went during covid and the place is clean, tables, are spread out, and they are constantly cleaning. The staff there are also always friendly and there's a an Italian market next door with sandwiches and more. If you are in Brunswick county or passing by definitely check this place out for great beers! read more

Makai Brewing Company - Breweries Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Grabbed a quick drink at Makai. The front door slides open automatically as if this maybe were once a little market. I had a stout and my friend had a Humuhumunukunukuapua'a. Yes, that's the name of their pale ale. That kept us entertained for a few minutes trying to pronounce it correctly. What else? Deli next door, you can bring a meal into the brewery. Board games. 3 pinball machines. Foosball table. Hawaiian theme, but not enough to make you feel close to the islands. read more

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Makai is a new and impressive Hawaiian-inspired brewery in this rural area of NC (opened October 2017). It's quite obviously a small operation but you wouldn't think it by the size of their beer offering, showcasing 9 of their own beers and 6 from other microbreweries around the area (on tap). I went with a flight ($11) choosing their two favorites, the Carolina Tropical IPA and the Nightingale (coffee porter), as well as their Blackbeard IPA (black IPA) and Humuhumu-...-something-kuapua (a pale ale). In my opinion, the undisputed best was the Carolina Tropical IPA and this coming from an IPA skeptic. Its name fits perfectly-- It's fruity aromas and taste are balanced by just the right amount of hop, making this a fun and easy summer brew, one just adventurous and unpretentious enough for the novice beer drinker while at the same time satisfying the more experienced hops connoisseur's expected desire for flavor, balance, and the unexpected. In second came the Humhumu-something or another-- a basic pale ale that got the job done well, a crisp, refreshing and infinitely drinkable ale. Stop by Makai if you want quality beer, friendly service, and-- oh, yes! -- a delicious italian sub from next door's local deli and butcher. Prost! read more

Makai Brewing Company - tropical ipa, coffee porter, black ipa, pale ale - Breweries Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Makai just had a "soft" opening 7 weeks ago, but you wouldn't know it seeing how busy they are already! They have three of their own already on tap, with 4 more being prepared for their grand opening in one month. Their own are solid and unique (a Ginger Brown Ale, a Tropical IPA, and a Porter) -- they also sell other local brews as well on tap. We truly didn't try a beer we didn't love here. Also love the Hawaiian theme and well stocked variety of games to play. Location is awesome-- right off Hwy 17 in a bright yellow building! Can't miss it. Probably explains why they already are so popular, even prior to their official opening. Definitely worth a stop to come and check them out! read more

Makai Brewing Company - Breweries Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

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Great fun place! Fantastic beer and even better service! Clean, friendly and super nice. Will definitely come back. read more

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So glad this was open on a rainy OIB day! Decided to give it a try and so glad we did. Delicious flight tastings allowed us to determine which one we liked we best and got growlers to go of it. Socially distanced tables, sanitized tables and wonderful friendly bartender & environment. We definitely be back again whenever we are in the area! read more

Makai Brewing Company - Delicious flights! - Breweries Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

The beers were excellent. Staff was very professional and friendly. They don't serve food but, you can run to the place right next door, grab a sandwich, and you're welcome back to eat while enjoying a beer or four. We'll worth your time. read more

I was very excited to have brewery near our new house in the Calabash area. I love craft beer and had enjoyed the Makai brews I have had locally at the restaurant scene so i was eager to stop by and check it out. Ive been there twice now with the same results and will not go back. Both times were Saturdays and the first time was extremely busy so when the bartender acted like she didn't want to fill my growler i figured i would give them another shot. I needed to stop by the butcher next door so i took my growler and grabbed a beer at the bar. Again, it was like i had leprosy and the two bartenders seemed to not want to wait on me. If its that big a deal to fill growlers, just don't do it. I left with my sealed growler and the next day when i went to get my pork shoulder on the smoker i opened it up and it was barely half full. Will never return...lowes fills them without the attitude. read more

Great atmosphere, people, and brews! Always amazing i have to stop in for Makai and their next door neighbor Butcher of Brunswick and make my own picnics! A must visit gem in the area! read more

Makai Brewing Company - Picnic perfect !! - Breweries Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

1 star for the beers, but I rounded up to a 3 because it was a nice place to hang out and the service was great. Also, my beer palate is probably wrecked being from California. Ended up here while visiting family in Shallotte because Red Hare was closed on New Years (despite their website saying they were open). Service took a bit of time, but that was likely because people were ordering tasters. My husband and I both did tasters of four of their beers and had trouble getting ANY of the four down. Maybe it's just that we're used to west coast styles of these beers, but the porter was the only one that didn't immediately make either of us cringe. We ended up getting some cans of cider from the cooler after, so there's at least non-Makai options. I will give my review a giant asterisk because we went to Chattanooga in the same trip and tried a ton of other pale ale and IPA-style beers from different breweries while we were there and disliked a number of them. read more

Just a hand full of beers on the menu, and unfortunately, I am not an IPA fan, so the options were limited. The Mango beer was OK. My wife had a flight and 2/4 beers were OK. One we could not finish. Perhaps the biggest issue was the beer was simply not cold. read more

Let me first say the outside atmosphere is my style, not pretentious. You would miss it like I almost did if you're not paying attention. The interior decor was cool in look and feel. My favorite was the lighting a perfect level not too bright and not too dark. There is plenty of room for social distancing. Now for the main reason the beer. Oh my goodness how delicious. If I lived near by Makai would have a good portion of my beer money. Every one of their beers are smooth. We will be leaving with merch. read more

Makai Brewing Company - An awesome flight. - Breweries Near Me - Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

Great spot! A must stop if you are in the area. Solid beer selection, great swag and friendly staff.

Nice, casual atmosphere with a good selection of craft beer. We enjoyed our visit and look forward to returning soon.

Beers have great flavor, and happens to be right beside a good deli. Sit outside with a great tasting beer and sandwich from the deli.

A very friendly place with a great place to build a sandwich next door. Great Craft Brews are on tap.