Hawai’i never ceases to amaze. With a relatively small population and isolated geography, you can literally find a club or group for any interest. O’ahu has a few homebrewing clubs. I personally don’t have the space to brew at home, but it seemed like a great way to meet like-minded people and learn more about the process of making beer.
I jumped in at the right time. Homebrewers on Pacific Shores, or HOPS, had a pub crawl last weekend. Right from the start, people were friendly and ready for the day. Decked out in beer gear, we all met at Waikiki Brewing Company’s Kaka’ako pub for lunch and a tour. It was very well organized thanks to Cindy and Siri: name tags provided, arrangements made with breweries, and just a well thought out full day. The club is an all volunteer organization that supports the hobby. At Waikiki, we learned about the new facility with headbrewer Joe Lorenzen. They were clearly proud of the restaurant/bar area and their gleaming new equipment. The larger space gives them more room for canning and the ability to brew more than they ever could at the original location.
Drinking is fun, but drinking with new friends is even better!