Fans of craft beer form a community around our shared passion and enjoyment of those glorious liquids. One of the most active forums for the community in Hawaii is the HI Beer Friends Facebook group. Boasting almost 1,000 members across the islands and beyond, it’s become a place to share photos and events, ask for…
Stewbum & Stonewall Brewing Returns to Honolulu
When I first started getting into craft beer in Hawaii, one of my favorite places to go was Stewbum & Stonewall Brewing Company at their original location in Kaneohe. The beer styles were what I was used to growing up, so I always made an excuse to drop by for some tasters and a growler….
Hana Koa Brewing Co. – Oahu’s Newest Brewery!
Hana Koa Brewing Co. opened its doors this weekend to a series of private events for friends, family, industry, and others who shared in Josh Kopp and Chrissie Pinney’s adventure into building a community brewery. The grand opening will be held on Wednesday, November 20, 2019, and will be open six days a week 11am…
Brew Oahu Homebrew Competition & Brew Camp 2019
Best of Show HIP Fermenters threw their third annual Brew Oahu Homebrew Competition and the newly dubbed Brew Camp in time for Learn to Homebrew Day. The judging was AHA/BJCP sanctioned again this year, with judges coming from around the islands. October 24 and 25 we all met at Homebrew in Paradise in Kalihi to…
There and Back Again: Our New Zealand Road Trip
Hobbiton in Matamata It’s impossible to write about everything we saw and did. For anyone interested enough to be reading my blog, I thought I’d do an abbreviated rundown of all the beer related stops. We went to New Zealand for a little over two weeks in September. We tried to see as much as…
Hawaii Craft Beer Awards 2019
Medals The first ever Hawaii Craft Beer Awards were held this weekend. It was a two-day celebration of 100% locally made craft beer. I was thankful to be invited. Steve Haumschild of Lanikai Brewing Company came up with the idea and hosted the event at Tap & Barrel in Kailua. The event benefited the Hawaiian…
New Breweries and Beers Land in the Aloha State
Odom Corporation Launches New Beer Portfolio in Hawaii For over 80 years, the Odom Corporation has been a beverage distributor and wholesaler for Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Hawaii. In the Aloha State, they are expanding their beer portfolio and bringing breweries never before offered. Officially hitting store shelves and bar taps on August…
Hilo Brewfest & Homebrew Competition 2019
View from the Festival The seventh annual Hilo Brewfest was held on June 29th, 2019 at the Wainaku Center along the coast. The festival started as the Hilo Rotary Club’s fundraiser, 100% of ticket sales still go to local charities each year. Beer and food are donated to the event. A VIP hour offered additional…
TWO New Breweries Open on O’ahu! Bent Tail Brewing and Olomana Brewing
With permitting and approvals in Hawaii working slowly, I feel like there’s more new breweries announced than ones that actually open. This month, not one but two, breweries finally started pouring their beer after months or years of planning. First is the Honolulu staple REAL gastropub’s on-site microbrewery, Bent Tail Brewing Company. REAL reopened in…
Kona Brewers Fest 2019 – A Weekend of Beer
Tasting Mug & Sustainable Spork I had an epic weekend of drinking beer from 8am on Thursday until I left for the airport at 7pm on Saturday. There were just too many new things to try! I volunteered to be a judge at the 24th Annual Kona BrewersFest‘s Rocket Rod Homebrew Competition a few weeks…