O’ahu Beer Summary
Did I have plans of cracking this beer at the top of this hike? Yes. Instead I just took a ton of pictures with it.
Last month I had the opportunity to travel to O’ahu for a work trip. While beer wasn’t the primary focus of the visit, it definitely had its role.
Maui Brewing Co.
Maui’s Waikiki location was awesome from the atmosphere, to the food, and of course, the beers. Here is a quick rundown of the beers I tried (over a few visits):
Good:
Big Swell IPA - 6.8% deep gold IPA. The Big Swell was smooth and easy to drink with the perfect amount of tropical notes you’d expect from an island brewery.
Better:
Coconut Hiwa Porter - 6% dark brown porter. I love a good coffee porter. The Hiwa had the aroma, sweetness, and spice that you’d want from a porter. The coconut was also a nice touch. Great beer for the cooler days or nights.
Best:
Bikini Blonde Lager - 4.8% pale gold lager. A great refreshing lager - period dot.
Pineapple Mana Wheat - 5.5% Hazy light gold wheat. Maui Brewing found the right balance between sweet and tart.
Lanikai Brewing Co.
I stumbled onto Lanikai Brewing after tackling the Kaiwai Ridge or Lanikai Pillbox Trail; a moderate hike with a good amount of traffic. It was well worth the views in my opinion, and exploring the old observation stations was a fascinating bonus. Back to the brewery - Lanikai Brewing was about a 10 minute drive from the trail head, and it was the perfect post hike environment. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere was laid back. Light pizzas and sandwiches complimented an impressive beer selection. The bar, booths, and tables cater to pretty much any size party you plan on bringing.
Good:
Kainalu (Lime+Alae Sea Salt) - 6.8% Traditional Gose. I am not typically a sour fan, but the refreshing Kainalu did its best to convert me. The salt and key lime notes made me want to take a few to the beach for happy hour. If you are a Gose fan I’d assume this would land much higher on the list.
Better:
Pillbox Porter (Hawaiian+Tahitian Vanilla) - 6.5% Porter. The Pillbox won the 2021 Hawaii Craft Beer Award for Best Porter. I expected it to be a little sweeter, almost like the Vanilla Porter from Breckenridge Brewery. I came to find out that the rare Vanilla used in this beer is a little more bold, spicey and floral. Once my expectations were appropriately caged it really grew on me. Absolutely give it a shot if you’re a Porter fan.
Pouli (Waialua Dark Roast Coffee) - 10.5% Imperial Stout / Double Coffee. From their website: Pouli generally refers to the darkest part of the night. This Imperial stout is just that. Brewed with Oahu grown and roasted Waialua Coffee, this stout is loaded with bold coffee notes, maplewood, and stonefruit. It is topped off with a lingering tobacco colored dense foamy head. All that AND a 10.5%’er, what’s not to like?
Best:
Cheehoo IPA (Orange Zest) - 5.9% IPA. I had it in the flight and liked it so much I brought it home. Anytime I see an IPA advertised as “Crushable” I give it a shot. The Cheehoo delivered - crushable with the right touch of citrus. It’s a common misconception that an IPA needs to beat you over the head with hops. I wish every brewery offered an IPA like this.
Waikiki Brewing Co.
It was brew day at Waikiki’s …Waikiki location when I stopped in for lunch. My first impression was how cool the staff was . The bar from the photo runs parallel with their equipment on site. The brewer and beer server were both answering all the questions that the bar seemed to have. I also checked out their Kaka ’ ako location. In all honesty, both of my visits were a little rushed and I would’ve loved to spend more time at both. Everything I saw in my brief visit told me that it was worth coming back.
The Good/Better/Best: Aloha Spirit - 4.6% Blonde Ale. There is a reason I had the same beer at both visits, was pretty pretty good. I wish I could’ve given the rest of them a shot. Let me know if you’ve had any!
Yes, I had Kona too…
Look there is a reason Kona is so successful, their stuff is delicious. I know they don’t need my seal of approval (in fact none of these places do), but they have it. Their primary location is on the big island but they do have a brewing location on Oahu that I would’ve loved to visit. Their Big Wave is one of my favorite beers regardless of where I am. I also had the Mai Time Light for the first time when I was out there. That thing is awesome and I need to find more back home.
Let me know if I missed any good spots in the comments. I’ll also be in Kauai later this year so I’d love some suggestions before I head out. Cheers!
